Fueling Healthcare on Chronic Disease Day
July 10th is Chronic Disease Day, and roughly one in six Americans will be affected by chronic disease at some point in their life. According to the CDC, chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. The millions of Americans who are affected by chronic disease may require ongoing medical care, whether that be in patient assistance, increased pharmaceutical use, or even support from medical technology. Natural gas is a reliable partner in this care, helping keep costs lower and treatment available for those living with chronic disease.
Anyone who has a chronic disease can tell you that especially when first getting your diagnosis, you spend a lot of time in hospitals and doctors’ offices, and more often than not, those buildings are fueled by natural gas. Survey data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that 74% of hospitals use natural gas for space heating, and 80% of hospitals use natural gas for water heating. These buildings also tend to consume more energy per square foot than any other commercial building type, and unlike most other buildings, hospitals remain open 24/7 every day of the year. All of this supports essential care for those who need it most, including people living with some of the most disruptive chronic diseases like Lupus or sickle cell disease that make accessible to reliable care critical.
Natural gas is also a necessary part of keeping pharmaceutical costs low. Most chronic disease symptom management includes the use of pharmaceutical treatment, often with uncommon drugs, or trying out various medications until your care team settles on the best plan. As many as 99% of pharmaceutical feedstocks and reagents – the chemicals that serve as the basis for drug manufacturing – are derived from petrochemicals like natural gas. What’s more, natural gas provides a reliable fuel source for the manufacturing lines responsible for some of the most innovative treatments on the market. These are irreplaceable products for the millions of Americans living with chronic disease relying on these prescriptions to just live their lives in relative comfort.
Chronic Disease Day is a powerful reminder of how many Americans are living with long-term health challenges that require reliable, affordable care. While it might not be the first thing you think of when you imagine healthcare resources, natural gas plays a crucial role in supporting the systems that make patient care possible – from fueling hospitals to fueling the production of life-changing medications.