If we talk about acute and chronic in a broad manner, acute conditions happen abruptly, causing sudden or immediate symptoms, which means they don’t occur for a longer period. On the other hand, Chronic conditions last for a very long time as compared to acute conditions. Chronic condition tends to worsen the condition of the patient over time, like in Crohn’s disease.
Acute vs Chronic
The main difference between acute and chronic is that acute conditions occur rapidly and stays for a limited duration, while chronic conditions develop over time and remain for a longer period in the body. Most of the illnesses are either categorized as chronic or acute. The seriousness of a disease can be understood with these terms. After knowing this, the diseases can be treated correctly, appropriate treatment can be decided, and the expected time for the patient’s recovery can be estimated.
Acute does not primarily indicate that the symptoms are new or severe. However, some newly diagnosed diseases have been found which show acute symptoms. Acute only implies that the symptoms have grown rapidly and that some kind of clinical medication is required.
Likewise, the word Chronic also should not be interpreted as fatal in nature or something that somehow shortens your life. It only indicates that the chronic condition cannot be cured easily. But chronic conditions can sometimes be managed with proper treatment. Examples are diabetes or high blood pressure.
Comparison Table Between Acute and Chronic
| Parameter of Comparison | Acute | Chronic |
| Symptoms | The symptoms develop immediately and quickly. | Starting of the symptoms is slow and happens over time. And they can also get worse over time |
| Duration | Expected to be resolved under 6 months | It may continue for 6 months and beyond. |
| Cause done to human body | Does not cause any harm as such to the patient’s body. | Major damages are caused in the patient’s body. |
| Nature | These are not fatal. | These are fatal in nature |
| Examples | Typhoid, malaria, cold, etc. | HIV, Cancer, etc. |
What is Acute?
Acute infections happen quickly, and their symptoms require grave and momentary care. The acute symptoms goes away once the patients are treated well. At times, acute illnesses like fever and normal cold will simply disappear after some medication and rest, but a wrecked bone that may result from a fall should be treated by a specialist and will take time to heal. Most of the people with acute diseases recover shortly. Whenever someone is hospitalized for an acute disease, their condition improves after a short period. Then they’ll likely become anxious to get back to the solace and comfort of home. However, being released from the clinic does not mean you’re completely well.
These conditions are often caused by flu, infection, or by a virus. Also, these can be caused by any injury that happened during an accident, and also by taking excessive drugs.
What is Chronic?
The occurrence of chronic conditions is slower than acute conditions. Their seriousness may increase over the long run, and they may show quite a few signs of warning or in some cases, no signs and symptoms are felt in the body. Usually chronic conditions are joint pain, Alzheimer’s sickness, diabetes, coronary illness, hypertension, and ongoing kidney infection. Unlike acute conditions, chronic health conditions can’t be completely cured but they can be controlled.
Living with chronic disease or dealing with the side effects of chronic conditions are difficult but it is possible with the help of a good medical services plan made in partnership with your physician. The plan might incorporate taking medicine, good dieting, physical or occupational treatment, exercise, or integral therapies, like meditation or acupuncture. The chronic conditions can be prevented after adopting a healthy lifestyle, for example, doing exercise daily, keeping a healthy weight and a healthy status, restricting refined foods, and avoiding drugs, smoking, and unnecessary alcohol use.
These conditions are usually caused by unhygienic and unhealthy behavior and evidently the risk of diseases increases. Some of the major reasons include not doing physical activity, not getting a decent amount of nutrition, too much consumption of alcohol, etc. There are other factors that contribute to chronic conditions, like social, emotional, genetic, and environmental factors.
Main Differences Between Acute and Chronic
- The medical condition that occurs rapidly and in a shorter time period refers to acute conditions.
- Chronic conditions grow gradually in our body and may keep going for a lifetime.
- In most cases, chronic conditions are lethal and incurable. Acute conditions are generally non-lethal.
- Chronic diseases that stay in our body for a more extended time period can end up being deadly, however they can be possibly treated by specific medications. Acute diseases can be cured with easily available treatments and medicines.
- Normal cold, typhoid, jaundice, cholera, are some of the diseases which constitute in acute diseases.
- Chronic conditions incorporate AIDS, elephantiasis, cancer, tuberculosis, etc.
Medical Conditions of Acute and Chronic conditions
Acute Medical Conditions
- Broken Bone
- Burn
- Asthma Attack
- Flu
- Pneumonia
- Heart Attack
- Common Cold
- Respiratory Infection
Chronic Medical Conditions
- Depression
- Arthritis
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Obesity
- High Blood Pressure
- Stroke
- Heart Diseases
Conclusion
We can say that the chronic conditions are more hazardous when it is compared with the acute conditions, and they need proper medical care, attention and examination in light of the fact that these conditions make a long term effect on the patient. Unlike chronic conditions, the acute conditions are not much hazardous and these conditions make a person ill but the duration of it is very less than that of chronic conditions.
People should adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent these conditions. For instance, one should have regular consumption of fruits and vegetables and a lesser intake of calories from different sources should be maintained. Also, it is advised to limit the use or consumption of sugar and sodium in every meal you eat.