Overview
The American Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines chronic diseases as “conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both.” The most common chronic diseases in the United States are heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, which are considered preventable to various extents. The vast majority of adults in America have at least one chronic health condition, with more than half having two or more. This isn’t skewed much by older demographics; 60% of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 have at least one chronic condition.
Many of these health issues can increase the vulnerability to other issues. The global cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has more than doubled since 1990, and about 15% of adults in the United States developed it. The risk for CKD increases through diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Up to 90% of people with early-stage CKD are unaware they have it or appear asymptomatic until severe damage triggers emergency visits, though basic blood tests and urine assays can screen for it early. Their chronic impact on lifespan and quality of life is comparable to major respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Stress, anxiety, and depression elevates hormones like cortisol and increases systemic inflammation, which produces a higher baseline risk for heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
The global prevalence of mental health conditions have increased by 95.5% since 1990, with depression and anxiety contributing the most. More than 1 in 8 Americans have met the diagnostic criteria for clinical depression. That number is even higher among adolescents, as the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) finds that almost 1 in 5 adolescents screened positive for depression. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) finds that almost 1 in 3 adolescents will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder before turning 18 and 1 in 5 high schoolers have had serious suicidal ideation in the 12 months before the survey.
Asian, Black, and Hispanic students experiencing targeted racial discrimination have more than twice the risk of developing suicidal ideation or attempting suicide. The vast majority of adolescents regardless of ethnicity do not receive the required prescription medications for their diagnosis. Only 17% of white teens, 10% of Hispanic teens, 8% of Black teens, and 4% of Asian teens are able to access appropriate medication for themselves.
Asian-American teens are the least likely to receive any form of mental health services, and when they do, it’s usually after the condition has become severe and begun to produce acute crises. Even after that, 55% report difficulties finding a provider who understands their cultural backgrounds and lived experiences. There are nuances that emerge across gender: Asian-American girls are more likely to report suicidal ideation and depression while 70% of suicide mortalities among Asian-American youth are male. It’s hardly a wonder that many of these teens turn to substance use to self-medicate, and some fraction of those develop a dependence or substance use disorder in the attempts to regulate themselves.