A HEALTHY YOU
Chronic Disease Awareness
Building Healthier Workplaces Through Prevention
Chronic Disease Awareness is observed annually in July and is dedicated to increasing public understanding of chronic illnesses, advocating for better access to health care and supporting those living with long-term health conditions. 70 percent of the top leading causes of death in the US are from chronic diseases.
Chronic diseases – such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity – are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and around the world. As of 2025, more than 76% of U.S. adults are living with at least one chronic condition, and over half have two or more.
These illnesses impact individuals, families, workplaces, and the healthcare system. In the United States alone, chronic disease management costs exceed $1 trillion annually, with lost productivity adding billions more.
Chronic Diseases are increasing for several reasons including:
- Unhealthy Lifestyles: such as poor nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Mental Health Challenges: Depression and chronic stress are closely linked to physical health problems.
- Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors: Limited access to healthy foods, safe spaces for exercise, and lack of preventive healthcare.
- Aging Population: As life expectancy rises, so does the prevalence of age-related chronic conditions.
Chronic conditions are a major driver of healthcare costs, employee absenteeism, and lost productivity. Employers and health plans are encouraged to move towards a strong focus on prevention and early intervention and strategies that improve employee health and reduce costs
Employers can take several steps to support employees with chronic diseases including:
- Offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options or adjusted hours to allow employees to manage their health needs while keeping on top of their workflow.
- Offering wellness programs that focus on fitness, nutrition, and mental health can help employees manage their conditions more effectively and improve overall well-being.
- Facilitating access to virtual healthcare services can enhance treatment adherence and reduce missed appointments, making it easier for employees to manage their chronic diseases.
Other Resources
A recent article from FitOn Health shares strategies employers can take around managing chronic disease in the workplace:
THATCH HEALTH provides useful information about how chronic disease affects the workplace and how employers can support chronic disease management:
About the Author
Cynthia Conigliaro has been in the field of health and wellness for over 25 years. She has a BA in Psychology from College of the Holy Cross and graduate degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Business (MBA) with a focus in both Leadership and Marketing from Boston College.
Cynthia is the founder of her corporate wellness presentation business Work Well Webinars, a company that designs and delivers wellness presentations virtually and in person to companies, schools, hospitals, libraries and groups across the country. Cynthia’s wellness presentations span body, mind and spirit as she takes a holistic approach to wellness.
For the past six years Cynthia has been an active volunteer at the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) where she is on both the Programs and Marketing committees. Cynthia is an Ambassador for the Corridor 9/495 Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Programs Committee for the chamber. Cynthia volunteers at All Paths as an Infertility Support Group Leader and Facilitator coaching resilience, stress management and mindfulness for women dealing with infertility and pregnancy loss.