Final answer:
A nurse describing chronic illnesses might explain that these are long-term or lifelong health conditions that can be both noninfectious and infectious. They often have lifestyle components and are largely preventable with proper interventions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's statement accurately describing chronic illnesses as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) might emphasize that chronic diseases are long-term or lifelong health conditions that persist over time. Chronic diseases can include both noninfectious conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some forms of cancer, as well as infectious diseases where the pathogen remains in the body, such as herpes and AIDS. It is important to note that while chronic diseases are often associated with noninfectious conditions, their chronicity is not limited to them as some infectious diseases can also be chronic. Furthermore, many of these diseases have lifestyle components and are largely preventable through early screening, lifestyle modifications, and proper medical interventions.