Chronic Disease Awareness Day

What & When is Chronic Disease Awareness Day?

• Observed annually on July 10 in the United States. The date reflects the statistic that 7 out of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. are chronic diseases.

• Launched in 2014 by the nonprofit Good Days (formerly Chronic Disease Alliance) in partnership with over two dozen patient advocacy groups.

Purpose & Objectives

1. Raise Awareness
   Highlight the prevalence and impact of chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, cancer, COPD, autoimmune conditions) and the challenges they pose to individuals and public health .

2. Promote Prevention & Management
   Encourage regular check-ups, healthy lifestyles, and early detection to prevent or delay onset. Emphasis on education about managing lifelong conditions.

3. Advocate for Policy & Care Access
   Drive conversations about increased funding, insurance coverage, equitable healthcare policies, and support for patient-centered care.

4. Unite Community & Patient Voices
   Build solidarity with stories of resilience and campaigns like #IStayStrong, encouraging individuals living with chronic illness to share their motivations and shine a light on their journeys.

Why July 10?

The choice of July 10 is symbolic:

7 out of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. are due to chronic illnesses, including:

• Heart disease

• Cancer

• Stroke

• Chronic lower respiratory disease (e.g., COPD)

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Diabetes

• Chronic kidney disease

Understanding Chronic Diseases

A chronic disease is a long-term condition that typically progresses slowly and requires ongoing medical attention. Most are noncommunicable, and many are preventable or manageable with early intervention.

Common Categories:

Type	Examples
Cardiovascular	Heart disease, stroke, hypertension
Metabolic	Diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome
Respiratory	COPD, asthma
Autoimmune	Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, IBD
Neurological	Parkinson’s, MS, Alzheimer’s
Renal	Chronic kidney disease
Oncology	Breast, lung, colon cancers
Mental Health	Depression, anxiety (often comorbid)

Statistics That Drive the Movement

• 6 in 10 U.S. adults live with at least one chronic illness.

• 4 in 10 live with two or more chronic conditions.

• 90% of U.S. healthcare spending goes toward chronic and mental health conditions.

• Many of these conditions are preventable through:

• Diet and nutrition

• Physical activity

• Tobacco/alcohol cessation

• Preventive care

Key Organizers & Partners

Good Days Foundation

• Founded Chronic Disease Day in 2014

• Supports people with life-altering conditions through:

  • Financial aid for treatments

  • Education programs

  • Patient advocacy and community outreach

Chronic Disease Coalition (CDC)

• Advocates for patient rights and policy change

• Works on issues like:

  • Insurance barriers

  • Access to treatment

  • Disability rights

Partners

• Includes 40+ nonprofits like:

• Lupus Foundation

• American Diabetes Association

• American Kidney Fund

• Arthritis Foundation

• Multiple Sclerosis Society

• Cancer support alliances

Campaign Themes (2024–2025)

“I Stay Strong” Campaign

• Encourages people to:

  • Write “I Stay Strong For…” on their palm (e.g., “my kids,” “myself,” “my patients”)

  • Share photos with #IStayStrong and #ChronicDiseaseDay

“Unite for Chronic Health”

• Push for:

  • Equity in healthcare delivery

  • Recognition of underdiagnosed groups (e.g., minorities, women)

  • Education to reduce stigma around invisible illness

Legislative & Public Engagement

• State Proclamations: Multiple governors (e.g., in Texas, Oregon, and Illinois) have signed proclamations recognizing July 10 as Chronic Disease Day.

• Capitol Hill Events:

  • Healthcare forums

  • Congressional staff briefings

  • Patient lobbying for:

    • Lower drug costs

    • Insurance protections

    • Increased research funding

• Summits: Health Equity & Innovation Summits held in Dallas and virtually

Core Advocacy Goals

1. Reduce Preventable Disease

   • Increase funding for preventive screenings and nutrition programs.

   • Empower community-level education.

2. Fight Insurance Discrimination

   • Protect patients from being denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

   • Limit harmful policies like step therapy and non-medical switching.

3. Support Family Caregivers

   • Expand protections, training, and mental health support for unpaid caregivers.

4. Strengthen Health Equity

   • Address social determinants of health (housing, education, food insecurity).

   • Ensure underserved groups are not left behind in care or policy.

Public Participation: How You Can Help

As an Individual:

• Post a photo with #IStayStrong

• Educate friends/family on early symptoms and risk factors

• Join a webinar or support group

• Schedule a screening appointment

As a Patient or Advocate:

• Share your story to inspire others

• Contact your legislators about chronic disease policy

• Volunteer with local or national health nonprofits

As a Provider:

• Promote routine check-ups and screenings

• Train staff on chronic illness care coordination

• Reduce health disparities in practice

What Makes Chronic Disease Unique?

• Invisible Pain: Many illnesses (like lupus, IBD, or MS) have no outward symptoms.

• Intersection with Mental Health: Depression and anxiety are common among patients managing lifelong illness.

• Financial Toxicity: Even with insurance, many face crushing out-of-pocket costs.

• Misdiagnosis & Dismissal: Especially common in women and minority communities.

Organizers & Recognition

• Good Days leads the national campaign with backing from dozens of chronic disease nonprofits.

• Supported by state and city governments: multiple governors have officially proclaimed July 10 as Chronic Disease Day and July as Chronic Disease Month.

• Activities include Capitol Hill forums, healthcare leadership summits, and events across the country.

Key Components & Activities

1. Policy & Advocacy Events

• Capitol Hill Policy Forum – July 2025: advocacy training, congressional briefings, meetings with legislators.

• Healthcare & Biotech Leadership Summit – July 10, 2025 in Dallas: brings together leaders to advance healthcare equity.

2. Social Media Campaigns

• #IStayStrong: write your reason ("for my family", etc.) on your palm, snap a photo, tag friends, share on Facebook/Instagram.

• Use #ChronicDiseaseDay to spread awareness and highlight chronic disease challenges.

3. Public & Community Outreach

• Educational posts, peer-to-peer storytelling, events to reduce stigma, encourage empathy and support .

• Encourage check-ups for blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, autoimmune markers.

4. Structural & Symbolic Initiatives

• Health equity talks and summits.

• Public landmarks lit in orange—to symbolize chronic disease awareness nationwide.

Why It Matters

• Scope: Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the U.S. and consume over 90% of healthcare spending (~$4.1 trillion).

• Personal Impact: Affects 6 in 10 U.S. adults, causing disability, financial stress, and a heavy burden on families .

• Systemic Effect: Reducing preventable chronic illness could lower health costs, reduce mortality, and improve life expectancy in the U.S. .

• Pandemic Learnings: COVID-19 magnified vulnerabilities for people with chronic conditions, highlighting health inequities and the need for resilient care systems .

How You Can Take Part

• Join campaigns: Post your “I stay strong for…” message with #ChronicDiseaseDay.

• Attend events: Tune into virtual forums, local meetups, health screenings.

• Contact policy-makers: Help advocate for funding and patient-centered healthcare laws.

• Share stories: Write or speak about your experience, or support someone you know.

• Get screened: Book regular check-ups or preventive health assessments.