Chronic Disease Management
Many health problems can be treated with medications or surgery, followed by a period of recovery before full health is regained; these are acute health problems such as influenza, broken bones, appendicitis or gall bladder inflammation, etc.
Chronic conditions, on the other hand, tend to develop slowly, often taking years before they affect your quality of life. Some examples of chronic conditions include diabetes, asthma, arthritis, depression and heart disease. There are often no quick solutions to these conditions; however, it is the consequences of the conditions which can have the greatest affect on your daily life, abilities and personal relationships. This can include decreases in energy levels, balance, mobility, flexibility, and increases in fatigue and pain. Not only do chronic conditions affect your lifestyle but often have very detrimental affects on internal organs and the body's systems.
Chronic diseases are a major contributor to the burden of disease in Australia. All top ten leading causes of disease burden are chronic conditions; with heart diease the number one killer.
Although there is often no cure for chronic disease, something can be done to reduce the impact it has.
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