Chronic Disease Management
Chronic Diseases persist for 3 months or longer and may get worse over time. They tend to occur in older adults and can usually be controlled but not cured. The most common types are:
- Asthma
- Alzheimer’s & Dementia
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Heart disease & Stroke
- High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia)
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Lung Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Osteoporosis or Osteopenia
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Urinary tract infections
If you have a chronic condition, you can manage it by making regular visits to your general practitioner or specialist, having a healthy lifestyle e.g. eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep, and taking your prescribed medicines as advised.
It is prudent to include the following:
- Observe a constant evaluation
- Monitor the progress of your disease and stay vigilant for any signs of additional chronic conditions
- Manage medication
- Make lifestyle changes
- Stop bad habits
These checks can prevent or delay complications and slow the progression of your disease. If you have a chronic illness, you will likely benefit from having a team of health professionals who are involved in your care.
