A chronic illness is an illness that lasts for a long time or that last longer than acute illnesses, which are brief and do not linger. Chronic illnesses can be treated but usually not cured entirely. One author writes, "The term 'chronic illness' refers to those disease categories for which there is no known 'cure,' to conditions that are ineradicable and usually progressive" (Royer, 1998, p. 1). It is estimated that at least 50 percent of the population suffers from some kind of chronic illness at any given time (Royer, 1998, p. 4). In fact, many health care professionals believe chronic illnesses may be the biggest challenge in health care today (Vickers, 2001, p. 12). Healthy can be described as in good health – the patient does not suffer from any known diseases or illnesses, and they "feel" healthy and fit. Usually, this implies the absence of disease, but that is not always the case. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger is certainly a healthy individual, and yet he suffers from a rapid heartbeat from time to time, which can be considered a chronic disease, because it reappears in a patient during certain situations. Schwarzenegger is certainly healthy and fit, but even the healthiest patient can harbor a chronic illness like arthritis or asthma. Therefore, a person can be healthy and still suffer from a chronic illness.
             In another example, they may be suffering from a condition, such as diabetes, and not know it. They feel well, engage in their normal activities, and feel little or no discomfort from their chronic illness until it reaches a point where the symptoms begin to be more noticeable and bothersome. This does not mean the person is unhealthy. Their diabetes can be treated, and for many, they can live totally normal, active lives, while they monitor their diabetes and keep it in check. They suffer from a chronic illness but are still healthy in other aspects of their life.
             Chronic illness never goes aw...