Chronic Disease Prevention
A chronic disease is a disease that you have for at least one year and requires you to see a doctor regularly. It can be a disease that limits what you can do on a daily basis. Click on the chronic diseases below to learn more about programs and resources within the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD).
Cancer
Cancer is one of the top causes of death in the country and the second leading cause of death in Baltimore City. Almost 33,000 people have cancer in Baltimore City. However, many cancers can be prevented. You can lower your risk for getting some types of cancer by making healthy choices in your daily life. Being active, not using tobacco, and eating healthy foods are all healthy choices. To find and treat cancer early, you can get screenings.
Diabetes Prevention
1.6 million adults in Maryland have prediabetes. About 500,000 people in Maryland have diabetes. Over 54,000 adults in Baltimore City are living with diabetes. Odds are you know at least one person with diabetes. It is even more likely that you know someone with prediabetes. The thing is, most people with prediabetes do not know they have it. Many people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years if they do not address their prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented if caught in the stage of prediabetes. By making healthy lifestyle changes, prediabetes can be reversed.
Heart Disease & Stroke
Heart disease is the top cause of death in Baltimore City. Heart disease is a disease of the heart and blood vessels. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke. A stroke occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. However, there are ways to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Nutrition and Food Access
Many people have trouble getting healthy foods in Baltimore City. Some even have trouble getting to supermarkets. It is hard to have a healthy diet when you cannot access healthy foods easily. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not eating healthy foods can lead to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Tobacco & Smoking Cessation
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), as of 2021, 28.3 million adults in the country smoke cigarettes. Of that number, 16 million people have a disease caused by smoking. 58 million people who do not smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke. Per the 2021 Maryland Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System(BRFSS), nearly 65,000 adults in Baltimore City smoke cigarettes. Based on the 2021 Youth Behavior Risk/Youth Tobacco Survey(YRBS/YTS), 3.6% of high schoolers and 1.4% of middle schoolers in Baltimore City also smoke. Tobacco is the main cause of preventable disease, disability and death. There are resources available at the Baltimore City Health Department to help you quit or prevent tobacco use.