Chronic diseases appear under different names in different contexts.  Sometimes the term "non-communicable diseases" is used to make a distinction from infectious or "communicable diseases".  Yet several chronic diseases have an infectious component to their cause (source: WHO Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment)In the Philippines, "non-communicable" or "degenerative disease" is  commonly used depending on the perspective.

These are diseases that can cause premature disability, mortality and morbidity (henc, the word degenerative). These diseases include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The leading causes of death are diseases of the heart, diseases of the vascular system, pneumonias, malignant neoplasms/cancers, all forms of tuberculosis, accidents, COPD and allied conditions, diabetes mellitus, nephritis/nephritic syndrome and other diseases of respiratory system.  Among these diseases, six are non-communicable and four are the major NCDs such as CVD, cancers, COPD and diabetes mellitus.

The risk factors that are linked with lifestyle-related disease are smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and stress.

"Lifestyle-related disease" is a term used to emphasize the contribution of behavior to the development of chronic diseases.