Illnesses are common diseases, often caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Illness is a broad term used to refer to a number of different symptoms and illnesses, and may refer to a disease, an infection or a medical condition. Everyone is bound to experience multiple illnesses over the course of their life; there is no way to completely avoid getting sick. Short-term illnesses are known as acute and typically do not exhibit symptoms for more than a few months. Chronic illnesses, however, are much longer-lasting, and can present symptoms for several months, even for years. Some chronic illnesses exhibit consistent symptoms, while others come and go, often with greater severity.

What is an acute illness?

An acute illness typically develops suddenly and lasts for a short time, often only a few hours, days or weeks. These acute conditions are often caused by a viral or bacterial infection, but can also be caused by the misuse of drugs or medications. Acute illnesses come on rapidly, are accompanied by distinct symptoms that require urgent or short-term care, and improve, even completely disappear, once they are treated. Sometimes an acute illness, such as the common cold, will go away on its own with only at-home care and treatment. Most people with acute illnesses will soon recover.

What is a chronic illness?

A chronic illness typically develops slowly and may gradually worsen over an extended period of time, generally several months to years, or even decades. Chronic conditions are often caused or exacerbated by unhealthy behaviors that increase the risk of disease, including inadequate physical activity, poor nutrition, excessive consumption of alcohol, or smoking. Social, emotional, environmental, genetic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors also play a role. As people age, they are more likely to develop one or more chronic conditions, with over 80% of seniors living with at least one chronic condition.

These illnesses take longer to develop, gradually progress over time, and may have any number of warning signs or even no signs at all. Common chronic conditions include: arthritis; diabetes; heart disease; Alzheimer’s disease; high blood pressure; and chronic kidney disease. Unlike acute conditions, chronic health conditions cannot be cured, but can only be managed through an on-going treatment plan. Living with a chronic illness or managing the symptoms of a chronic condition can often be done by creating a health care plan in partnership with a primary care physician, which may include healthy eating, taking medication, regular exercise, physical or occupational therapy, or complementary treatments, such as acupuncture or meditation. A lot of the time, chronic conditions can be prevented by practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as: maintaining a healthy weight and nutritional status; staying physically active; refraining from drugs, smoking, and excessive alcohol use; and limiting sun exposure.

What is the difference between acute and chronic illnesses?

The difference between an acute and chronic illness lies primarily in its duration: acute illnesses last from a few hours to a maximum of three months, whereas chronic illnesses last for longer than three months, oftentimes several years.

How is acute and chronic disease treated?

Treatment for acute illnesses often involves first-line treatments such as medication, including antibiotics for infections. Other times, they require lifestyle modifications like bed rest and avoidance of certain foods or environmental triggers. Treatment for chronic illness comes in many forms, such as physical therapy, psychological therapy, chiropractic care, radiotherapy and surgery. Medication is also a common form of treatment for chronic illnesses.

If you need treatment for an acute or chronic illness, come to Heartland Emergicare today. Our kind and compassionate professionals are experienced in treating both acute and chronic illnesses and can help you feel better, sooner. Call us today to book an appointment, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 2429 M Street, Omaha, NE 68107. Our medical center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and our urgent care is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM; we are closed Sundays. We look forward to serving you!

We serve patients from Omaha NE, La Vista NE, Papillion NE, Boys Town NE, and Bellevue NE.