Chronic and Infectious Disease Paper
Lakeshia Jackson
HPE 170
December 19, 2011
Jackie DePaulis

Chronic and Infectious Disease Paper
In today’s society many individual are living with a chronic or infectious disease. Chronic disease is one the most common and preventable of health problems in the United States. Although, chronic diseases are more common in older adults, but it can affect people of all ages. Some infectious disease is caused by bacteria or viruses in an individual body. These types of disease can be passed from person to person. This paper will discuss the characteristic of chronic illness, the relationship between healthy nutritional program and cardiovascular disease, effects of chronic and infectious disease on the immune system, how exercise affects the immune system, and last it will focus on the importance of awareness and education as it relates to health enviorment and chronic illnesses.
Characteristic of Chronic Illness Chronic disease can be caused by different factors such as heredity, lifestyle factor, and emotional and psychological factors (CNS, 2011). Chronic illness does not match the common pattern of how illness unfolds. Chronic illnesses are illnesses of long duration and are usually slow progressing meaning it can last for long periods and slowly progress worse many times leading to severe damage to the body and eventually death in most cases. Sometimes the long term effects of chronic illness can be difficult to anticipate. Heart disease, Irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, emphysema, and diabetes are all examples of chronic illnesses. There are many harmful habits that can be preventing from this illness. These individual can break these habits to prevent certain chronic diseases is to relate a good nutrition; an individual must stop these harmful habits if he or she want to stay young. Stop consuming foods high in fat and calories. Getting just 30 minutes of physical activity each day through walking will make a difference in how an individual look and feel. Healthy Nutritional Program and Cardiovascular Disease
The relationship between a healthy nutritional program and cardiovascular disease is that a healthy nutritional program helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. A healthy nutritional program prevents obesity, blocked arteries, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and many other cardiovascular diseases that a person would be at a higher risk for without a good nutritional program. Decreasing the intake of saturated fats and cholesterol can significantly reduce the blood cholesterol levels, which are key factors in the risk of cardiovascular disease (Powers & Dodd, 2009).
Effects of Chronic and Infectious Disease
Chronic and infectious disease can cause serious damages to an individual body. The immune system protects the body from infections and diseases. If an individual immune system does not work properly, the body can get various infectious diseases. An individual who has chronic or infectious disease can or will have a weak immune system. Developing chronic and infectious disease can begin to affect one part of the body, and it may get worse to where it can affect the whole body as well. Some researchers believe that immune system dysfunction is behind every severe and chronic disease. Some examples of infectious disease could be common cold, HIV, and aids. Examples of chronic disease would be heart disease, obesity, breast cancer, and etc.
How Exercise Affect the Immune System
Most individuals say that regular exercise makes them feel healthier and better about themselves. Some individual needs to remember that it is essential to keep the immunity healthy to help the body assist in fighting off illnesses. Exercising is important to promoting a good health and wellness (Powers & Dodd, 2009). Exercising is important to the immune system because it can function effectively in several different manners. Regular and moderate amounts of exercise appear to enhance immunity and reduce the number of infectious episodes that an individual suffers (Pool & Axford, 1999). Also studies say that moderate exercise can prevent the average person from catching some type of virus. Although it is good to exercise but exercise do have a positive and negative effect on the immune system.
Consumer Awareness and Involvement in the Health Enviorment
Consumer awareness and involvement in the health enviorment is very important in obtaining wellness and an individual good health. Having a good health and awareness can help prevent diseases such as infectious and chronic disease. Making consumers aware of chronic and infectious diseases helps prevent the spread and can improve prevention and treatment if possible. When the public knows about genetic, lifestyle, and environmental risks that cause diseases, people may be better equipped to prevent disorders like heart disease and cancer (Wise geek, 2011). Consumers need to be aware of the proper nutrients the body needs to function such as vitamins, fiber, and proteins. Proper nutrition and physical activity will help to eliminate chronic and infectious disease from occurring.
Conclusion
Many individuals have suffered from some type of chronic or infectious disease. Chronic and infectious disease can be prevented by exercising and staying healthy. Individual should understand the relationship between exercise, nutrition, and the immune system would prevent an individual from some type of chronic illness. Consumer awareness is also important for an individual to obtaining wellness and health. Individuals should remember to keep the body healthy and strong.

Reference
CNS (2011). Living Healthy with a Chronic Illness. Retrieved on December 13, 2011 from www.cns.med.ucla.edu (n.d). The science of stress, bad habits, and risk of chronic disease. Retrieved on December 13,
2011 from www.yalestress.org
Pool. A.J., & Axford. J.S. (1999) The effects of exercise on hormonal and immune system. Vol
40 (6) pp. 610-614. Retrieved on December 13, 2011 from rheumatology.oxfordjournal .org
Powers, S.K., & Dodd, S.L. (2009). Total fitness & wellness (5th ed.). San Franscisco, CA:
Pearson/Benjamin Cummings.
Wise geek (2011). What is consumer health? Retrieved on December 15, 2011 from www.wisegeek.com Rubric
Resources: Total Fitness & Wellness
Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you analyze chronic and infectious diseases. Include the following items:  Identify the characteristics of chronic illness. 1
 Examine the relationship between a healthy nutritional program and cardiovascular disease. 4
 Describe the effects of chronic and infectious diseases on the immune system. 4
 Explain how exercise can affect the body’s immune system. 4
 Examine how consumer awareness and involvement in the health environment can educate the consumer concerning chronic and infectious diseases. 4 Provide at least two references in your paper. 1
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines, sentence structure, spelling and grammar 2