What are chronic diseases?
Chronic diseases are long-term health conditions that you often have for a lifetime. Common chronic diseases in the United States include:
- Diabetes
- Chronic renal failure (CRF)
- Chronic lung and kidney diseases
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Depression
- Asthma and allergies
- Osteoporosis
Early detection and chronic disease management is the key to reducing your risk of serious, life-threatening complications. See the Millennium Park Medical Associates team if you experience symptoms or have chronic disease risk factors.
What are the symptoms of chronic diseases?
Not all chronic diseases cause symptoms, which is why routine screening is so important. If you do experience symptoms of a chronic condition you may notice fatigue, stiffness, swelling, unexpected weight gain or weight loss, dizziness, frequent thirst or urination, or nausea. See the Millennium Park Medical Associates team at the first sign of unusual symptoms.
What are the risk factors for chronic diseases?
While anybody can develop a chronic disease, some common risk factors include:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- High triglycerides
- Smoking
- Chronic stress
- Inactivity
- Poor dietary habits
- Genetics
- Older age
To keep chronic disease risks low, don’t smoke, get regular exercise, maintain a healthy weight, eat nutritious foods, manage stress, cut back on alcohol and added sugar, and see your primary care specialist routinely for health screenings.
How are chronic diseases diagnosed?
To diagnose a chronic disease and develop a treatment plan, Dr. Khan and your Millennium Park Medical Associates provider review your symptoms, risk factors, and medical history.
They complete a comprehensive physical exam and might use blood tests, urine tests, lung function tests, allergy testing, electrocardiograms (EKGs), bone scans, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or other diagnostic imaging procedures.
What is chronic disease management?
Chronic disease management helps you better manage your condition, reduce symptoms, and improve the quality and longevity of your life. The Millennium Park Medical Associates team might recommend the following chronic disease management solutions:
Lifestyle changes
Making diet, dietary supplement, exercise, and other lifestyle changes can help you properly manage a chronic disease. Your provider may suggest combining lifestyle changes with additional treatments.
Medications
Medications can help you manage diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, or other chronic diseases. Nasal sprays, eye drops, or inhalers are effective treatments for allergies, asthma, or chronic lung disease.
Dialysis
If you have chronic kidney disease, your provider might recommend dialysis to artificially remove extra fluid and waste products from your blood when your kidneys aren’t able to do so.
Surgical procedures
With some chronic diseases, such as heart disease, your internal medicine specialist might suggest a surgical procedure to repair blocked arteries or other disease-related problems.
Don’t let a chronic disease diminish your quality of life and reduce your life expectancy. Schedule an appointment with Millennium Park Medical Associates by phone or online to find out which chronic disease management solution is right for you.
