Optimal health refers to an individual's physical, emotional, and mental well-being and their ability to achieve personal health goals. Chronic conditions are long-lasting medical issues that can be managed but not cured, and they are the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. Maintaining optimal health through good nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle habits can help prevent chronic conditions and allow those with chronic conditions to experience fewer symptoms and a lower risk of additional health issues. However, adapting new health behaviors requires commitment over the long-term.

2. What is the correlation between chronic conditions and optimum health?

3. What is optimal health?
 Optimal health is an individual person's physical, emotional and mental health
abilities.
 Health goals that a person can realistically achieve to feel their personal best.
 No two people's health goals are the same, that's why optimal health is such an
individualized matter.
 One person might focus on physical health while to another healing emotional
wounds are a more pressing matter.

4. What are chronic conditions?
 Chronic Disease is a long-lasting condition that can be controlled but
not cured.
 Chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the
United States. It accounts for 70% of all deaths in the U.S., which is
1.7 million each year.
 Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly
health problems, they are also among the most preventable and most
can be effectively controlled

5. • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Obesity
• Diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2)
• HIV
• Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
What are chronic conditions?

6. Optimum health is
essential to
prevention of
chronic conditions.
Good nutrition and
physical activity are
essential for a disease
free and healthy life.
Poor eating and lifestyle habits are linked to chronic conditions.

7. • Eating foods rich in nutrients and balancing energy consumption with the right
physical activity is necessary to prevention of chronic conditions.
• It is vital for a person with chronic condition to maintain optimal health to
prevent acquiring new conditions as well as limit the problem of the condition.

8. So can a person with a chronic condition also experience optimum health?

9. A person with a chronic condition can also experience optimum health.
The person needs to consult a doctor to help assess his/her current food and physical activity
habits to determine areas of improvement.

10. The person needs to adapt good dietary choices as well as lifestyle habits.

11. Persons who have chronic conditions but maintain optimum health lower their risk of
dying by 40% (Parekh, Goodman, Gordon and Koh, 2011).

12. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Are Linked
Protein helps build muscles, organs, and a strong immune system. To get enough of the right
types of protein.
• Aim for 100-150 grams a day, if
you are an HIV-positive man.
• Aim for 80-100 grams a day, if
you are an HIV-positive woman.
• Choose extra-lean pork or beef,
skinless chicken breast, fish, and
low-fat dairy products.

13. Calories are the energy in foods that provide your body with fuel. To maintain your lean
body mass, you may need to increase calories.
Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Are Linked
• Consume 17 calories per pound
of your body weight if you've
been maintaining your weight.
• Consume 20 calories per pound
if you have an opportunistic
infection.
• Consume 25 calories per pound
if you are losing weight.

14. However, it is important to
acknowledge that it is very difficult to
adapt new thinking patterns which will
translate to good dietary and lifestyle
habits and hence achieving optimum
health requires devotion, hard work and
persistence.
The person must be willing to put forth the
necessary effort to create change in his life.

17. References
Barile JP, William WW, Zack MM, Krahn GL, Horner-Johnson W, Haffer SC.
Activities of daily living, chronic medical conditions, and health-related quality
of life in older adults. J Ambul Care Manage 2012;35 (4):292–303.
Parekh AK, Goodman RA, Gordon C, Koh HK; The HHS Interagency Workgroup on
Multiple Chronic Conditions. Managing multiple chronic conditions: a
strategic framework for improving health outcomes and quality of life. Public Health
Rep 2011;126 (4):460–71
US Department of Health and Human Services. Multiple chronic conditions: a
strategic framework. Optimum health and quality of life for individuals with multiple
chronic conditions. Washington (DC); 2010.