Chronic vs. Acute Medical Conditions: What's the Difference?
You may already be aware that there are two main classifications for medical conditions, but do you know the differences between them?
Simply put, acute and chronic conditions can be explained by their definitions:
Acute: ‘Having a sudden onset, sharp rise and short course’
Chronic: ‘Continuing or occurring again and again for a long time
However, there is a lot more to each of these medical conditions than can be explained by a simple definition. Often these terms can fall short of what you may be experiencing with an acute or chronic diagnosis.
Read on as we help you to understand the differences between chronic and acute medical conditions.
Timeframes
Acute conditions are classified as the sudden onset of new symptoms that often need treatment straight away. Examples of acute medical conditions could be heart attacks, broken bones or the flu.
In comparison, chronic conditions occur if symptoms last longer than three to six months, for example, arthritis, back pain or diabetes.
Causes and Symptoms
Acute conditions are often very specific and present quickly. Common causes can be accidents or injuries. Symptoms could include fever, severe pain, headache, heart palpitations or nausea.
Chronic conditions are usually caused by longer-term illness or disease. Sometimes this can be related to unhealthy behaviours such as inadequate physical activity or poor nutrition. Symptoms can be harder to identify as they may relate to several diseases such as cancer, chronic pain or obesity. It is important to note, however, that if left unmanaged chronic conditions can lead to acute symptoms and episodic flare-ups.
Treatment
Treatment for both types of conditions vastly differ, however in both cases it is crucial to see a medical professional help you determine the best form of care.
Acute treatments can vary depending on the issue but will generally get better once treated. For example, recovery from the flu may involve increased fluids and rest, whereas a broken leg will involve a hospital visit, cast and physiotherapy to regain movement.
Chronic conditions are often incurable, and treatment instead focuses on managing symptoms. Treatment commonly involves individual care plans, such as a specific diet and exercise routine for someone suffering from back pain to reduce symptoms.
Prevention
Prevention for acute conditions can be fast and easy. A common example of this is reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure through diet and exercise, to decrease the risk of a heart attack.
Preventing chronic conditions is much more complex for several reasons. One reason is that for some chronic conditions such as certain cancers, the causes are still largely unknown and therefore preventative measures can be guesswork. Secondly, prevention often needs to stem from changing bad habits or learned behaviours, which can take time and effort. In the case of many chronic conditions, treatment can be easier than prevention.
How the Power Physiology Team Can Help you With your Acute or Chronic Condition
Acute and chronic definitions often fall short when you are faced with a potential diagnosis. This is because every injury, disease or illness is complex and a chronic or acute label cannot predict outcomes.
Through understanding the simple definition of acute and chronic conditions, you may be able to have a better grasp of your diagnosis, however, it is still important to speak to a professional so that you can have full clarity.
We are trained to help your recovery if you are suffering from an acute injury or proper management of your chronic condition. We offer a wide range of therapies and services such as exercise physiology and behaviour coaching to provide you with an individualised treatment plan. Book an appointment online today here.