133 million Americans – or 45% of the population – have at least one chronic disease. Each year, chronic conditions are responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million Americans and generate a healthcare cost of over $1 trillion resulting from medical treatments and economic losses. Fortunately, these diseases are often preventable or highly manageable through early detection, treatments, and lifestyle improvements. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s Chronic Disease Day?

👉 Official Name: Chronic Disease Day
💚 Cause: Advocate for prevention, treatments, and public awareness of chronic diseases
📅 Next Date: July 10, 2025
🌐 Official Website: https://chronicdiseaseday.org
🐦 Hashtag: #ChronicDiseaseDay, #ChronicDiseaseAwarenessDay

Keep reading to find out all the important information about Chronic Disease Day at a glance: its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About Chronic Disease Day at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: Chronic Disease Day, also called Chronic Disease Awareness Day, is observed on July 10 each year as a reminder that chronic diseases are responsible for 7 out of every 10 deaths in the US. This observance promotes healthy living so that the healthcare system can better support individuals with unpreventable chronic conditions and invisible illnesses. In addition, it raises awareness of the impact of chronic diseases and equips people with the knowledge and resources to protect their health and serve the affected.

2️⃣ Why it is important: Chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death in the US. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $4.5 trillion annual health care costs. Chronic illnesses can be disabling and reduce a person’s quality of life, especially if left undiagnosed or untreated. More worryingly, the chronic disease crisis is projected to increase: ⅓ of children are expected to develop diabetes, and over half of the world might be considered obese by 2035. This is because many preventable chronic diseases are caused by common risk behaviors such as smoking, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use. 

3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can observe Chronic Disease Day by improving your lifestyle to prevent chronic conditions, sharing patient experiences, or supporting the chronic disease community:

1. Raise your awareness and self-care: Participate in awareness events, healthcare conventions, and webinars to learn lifestyle changes you can make to improve your long-term health outcomes and prevent chronic illnesses. You can also consider scheduling a wellness checkup and check out self-care tips for good health.
2. Share tips and experiences: Call attention to the public health crisis of chronic conditions by using the hashtag #ChronicDiseaseDay and sharing tips for healthy living. If you are living with a chronic disease, voice your experiences, struggles, and personal advice for other people in the community.
3. Support the affected: Get involved in this event by donating to dedicated organizations that increase access to care and raise funds to improve current treatments. In addition, you can join advocacy efforts to urge policymakers to increase federal funding for chronic illness prevention and health promotion. 

Below are our favorite charities that are relevant for Chronic Disease Day:

• Best Charities That Fight Chronic Illnesses
• Impactful Ninja: Cancer Support Charities
• Best Charities That Fight Kidney Disease
• Best Charities That Combat Liver Diseases
• Best Charities That Fight Heart Disease
• Best Charities That Combat Parkinson’s Disease
• Best Charities That Fight Alzheimer’s Disease

A Brief History of Chronic Disease Day

When was this event established: Chronic Disease Day was founded by the US nonprofit organization Good Days in partnership with more than 25 patient advocacy institutions. They chose the date of July 10 to highlight the fact that 7 out of 10 deaths in America are due to chronic diseases. They wanted to raise awareness of accessible lifestyle improvements and preventive medical interventions to reduce the number of people suffering from chronic illnesses and fight the high fatality rate.

How has it developed since then: Today, Chronic Disease Day unites governments, patient advocacy groups, and healthcare professionals to support the public through events and funding initiatives that promote health and disease prevention. The event has also become an opportunity for patients to voice their experiences and struggles. For example, in 2024, the campaign’s theme was #IStayStrong and encouraged patients to “share who motivates you to be your strongest self. Whether it’s a loved one, a friend, or your own inner strength, we want to hear your stories.”

3 Interesting Facts About Chronic Disease Day

1. Preventable or Manageable: Many chronic diseases can be prevented, delayed, or alleviated through lifestyle changes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that eliminating the risk factors of poor diet, inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use would prevent 80% of heart disease and stroke rates, 90% of type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancer. 
2. Increased Healthcare Costs: Americans with chronic conditions can spend $5,000 on treatments annually – more than double what the average American spends on gasoline. Cardiovascular disease (CAD) and diabetes are the most expensive chronic conditions, with annual spending of over $400 billion each. What’s more, the costs of CAD alone are projected to hit $2 trillion by 2050. 
3. Affecting Children: Obesity – also a chronic disease – affects 20% of children, surging the risk of chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. In addition, almost half a million youth have epilepsy and 1 in 6 primary school children have cavities, a chronic condition that leads to problems with eating and learning. For example, 34 million school hours are lost every year because of emergency dental care. 

Upcoming Dates of Chronic Disease Day

Chronic Disease Day is observed every year on July 10. 

Never Miss an Awareness Event Again

Sources

• National Library of Medicine: An Empirical Study of Chronic Diseases in the United States
• National Library of Medicine: The Burden of Chronic Disease
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventing Chronic Diseases: What You Can Do Now
• National Library of Medicine: Prevention of Chronic Disease by Means of Diet and Lifestyle Changes
• National Library of Medicine: Real-time detection and management of chronic illnesses
• Chronic Disease Day: home page
• Science Direct: chronic disorders – an overview
• National Library of Medicine: Use Your Words Carefully: What Is a Chronic Disease?
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Chronic diseases in America
• The Growing Crisis of Chronic Disease in the United States
• The Guardian: More than half of humans on track to be overweight or obese by 2035
• Chronic Disease Day: events
• Parkview Health: Can a healthy lifestyle overcome chronic disease?
• Cleveland Clinic: Physical Examination
• Chronic Disease Day: self-care
• Chronic Disease Day: join the community
• Chronic Disease Day: donate
• Chronic Disease Day: legislative agenda
• Chronic Disease Day: sponsorship
• MyGoodDays: home page
• Facebook: Good Days post about Chronic Disease Day
• National Library of Medicine: The Role of Nutrition in Chronic Disease
• National Library of Medicine: Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases
• National Library of Medicine: Chronic disease as a risk factor for cigarette and e-cigarette use
• MI Blues Perspectives: Why Alcohol Use is a Risk Factor for Chronic Conditions
• NCOA: Get the Facts on Chronic Disease Self-Management
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fast Facts: Health and Economic Costs of Chronic Conditions
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: about obesity
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: about cavities