Most of the conditions described in this book are acute illnesses, which means that they get better after a short while. Chronic conditions, on the other hand, last long periods of time or come and go, often for the rest of your life. Having a chronic disease does not mean you can no longer enjoy the good things in life: chronic diseases may not be curable, but they can often be controlled.

• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol

Some conditions that can be chronic are covered in other places in this book.

• Allergies, See Allergies.

• Arthritis, See Arthritis.

• Asthma, See Asthma.

• Back pain, See Back Pain.

• Bronchitis (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD), See Bronchitis.

• Depression, See Depression.

• Fibromyalgia, See Fibromyalgia.

• Headaches, See I'm very brave generally, only today I happen to have a headache..

• Irritable bowel syndrome, See Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

• Neck pain, See Neck Pain.

• Osteoporosis, See Osteoporosis.

• Skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, See Acne See Psoriasis.