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Medicine vocabulary · Diseases by System

Chronic

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˈkrɑːnɪk/adjectiveCore term

In medicine, chronic means: Lasting a long time, usually more than three months, or coming back again and again; used for diseases that are controlled rather than cured.

In Turkish: kronik, süregen

How it is used

Common in diagnoses (chronic kidney disease, chronic pain) and in talk about long-term care. Doctors speak of chronic conditions, chronic disease management and patients with several chronic conditions.

Example sentences

  1. He has chronic kidney disease and sees the renal team every six months.

  2. Chronic pain affects sleep, mood and work, not just the body.

Common collocations

  • chronic disease
  • chronic pain
  • chronic condition
  • chronic cough
  • acuteStarting suddenly and lasting a short time, often needing quick attention; the opposite of chronic.
  • conditionAn illness or health problem, especially a long-term one; also the general state of a patient's health at a particular time.
  • COPDShort for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease, usually caused by smoking, in which damaged airways make it hard to breathe out.
  • diabetesA long-term disease in which the body cannot control blood sugar properly, because it makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.
  • managementIn clinical English, the overall plan for dealing with a patient's problem, including tests, treatment, monitoring and follow-up.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Diseases by System

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.