Degenerative are diseases those that can cause premature disability, mortality and morbidity (that’s why is it called degenerative). The major degenerative diseases include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic diseases usually appear under several different names in other contexts. Most of the times, the word "non-communicable diseases" is used to distinguish from infectious or "communicable diseases". Many and various 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.

The "Lifestyle-related disease" is the word used to give emphasis to the contribution of behavior of an individual to the development of chronic diseases.

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

The leading death causing diseases are:

• Diseases of the heart
• Diseases of the vascular system
• Pneumonia
• Malignant neoplasm/ cancers
• All forms of tuberculosis
• Accidents
• COPD and allied conditions
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Nephrities/ nephritic syndrome
• Other diseases of respiratory system.

Among these death causing diseases in the Philippines, six are considered non-communicable and four are the major NCDs, they are:

• CVD
• Cancers
• COPD
• Diabetes Mellitus