Definition:
From the Greek word khronos, which means lasting for a long time.
Medical providers use the word chronic to describe symptoms, diseases or conditions that affect a patient for three months or longer, such as chronic pain, chronic fatigue or chronic indigestion. It can also be used to describe symptoms or problems that recur over a span of time (flares), such as chronic colitis.
A medical problem that is not chronic may be described instead as "acute" or "subacute".
