LONG TERM CONDITIONS
Chronic Disease is a long-term condition that can be controlled but not cured. Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable and most can be effectively controlled.
Chronic Disease Management
According to RCGP, "Chronic disease management comprises any medical or pharmaceutical intervention designed to improve both outcomes for the patient and cost effectiveness. It recognises that a systematic approach is an optimal and cost-effective way of providing healthcare."
Chronic disease places a huge burden on NHS resources. Those with chronic conditions are significantly more likely to see their GP, to be admitted as inpatients, and to use more inpatient days than those without such conditions.
Below is the information related to some of the chronic illnesses.
Asthma
Asthma is a common long-term condition caused by inflammation of the airways, that can cause a cough, wheezing, and breathlessness. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. Asthma can be controlled well in most people most of the time.
OVERUSE OF BLUE INHALER IN ASTHMA
Your blue inhaler is an essential emergency treatment if you are having an asthma attack BUT using a blue ‘reliever’ inhaler more than three times a week is a sure sign that your asthma is out of control unless advised to do so by hospital specialist. Overuse can increase your risk of dying from the condition.
While deaths from asthma attacks are still relatively rare, they do occur. Most asthmatics are prescribed two types of inhaler - one designed to relieve the wheezing symptoms, and another to control the condition and reduce the frequency of attacks or prevent them entirely.
Research suggests it is possible to spot asthma patients at greatest risk of dying simply by checking how many ‘reliever’ inhalers they are getting through.
We are here to help you get your asthma under better control and stop you getting daily symptoms of shortness of breath, wheeze and/or chest tightness.
We will NEVER not issue a blue ‘reliever’ if you have run out. You may, though, have to speak to the Respiratory nurse or GP before we re-issue it. We will then arrange an appointment for you with one of our doctors or nurses to help you get your asthma better under control.
There are a lot of things we can do. Our aim is to get you using one or two blue ‘reliever’ inhalers a year BUT to ensure that you always have a blue inhaler available to hand in case of an asthma attack.
We are doing this because we know that uncontrolled asthma is a serious issue and one we can help you with. We are not trying to be difficult. We can get rid of your usual symptoms and help you get back to living your life without being short of breath, feeling tight chested or wheezing.
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Cancer
Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.
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Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the UK's biggest killer, causing around 82,000 deaths each year. About one in five men and one in eight women die from the disease. In the UK, there are an estimated 2.7m people living with the condition and 2m people affected by angina (the most common symptom of coronary heart disease).
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is the name used to describe a number of conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, where people have difficulty breathing because of long-term damage to their lungs. It is thought there are over 3 million people living with the disease in the UK, of which only about 900,000 have been diagnosed.
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Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.The two main types of diabetes are:
- type 1 diabetes
- type 2 diabetes
In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.9 million people. There are also thought to be around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes..
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Mental Health
Mental health describes a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder. One in four people in the UK have a mental health problem at some point in their lives, which affects their daily life, relationships or physical health.
Mental health disorders take many different forms and affect people in different ways. Schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders are all examples of mental health problems. Diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia generally develop in old age, whereas eating disorders are more common in young people.
Useful Links
- NHS Choices - Mental Health
- Mental health helplines
- Mental Health Foundation
- Mental health | Talk about mental illness | Time To Change
- Alzheimer’s Society
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It usually develops gradually, over time. Several different joints can be affected, but osteoarthritis is most frequently seen in the hands, knees, hips, feet and spine.
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Pain
The GP and use of NHS services dedicated to pain management can help make sufferers more independent, reduce the severity of pain and assist in day to day coping with what can be a debilitating condition.
Useful Links
- NHS Choices - Living with pain
- NHS Choices - Back Pain
- NHS Choices - Complex regional pain syndrome
- British Pain Society: people with pain
Stroke
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off, causing your brain cells to become damaged or die. The two most common types of stroke are ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke.
- Ischaemic strokes: Happen when the artery that supplies blood to your brain is blocked, for example by a blood clot.
- Haemorrhagic strokes:Happen when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds into your brain, damaging brain tissue and starving some of your brain cells of blood and oxygen..
Useful Links
All the links on this page come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
