Chronic disease management involves managing the symptoms of a long-term disease, thereby allowing you to enjoy life.
Through managing your chronic disease, doctors can help slow down the progression of your disease and help control the symptoms – so you can take back control of your life.
Our Chronic Disease Management Clinics included:
If you have asthma we need to see you at least once a year (or every six months if you are under 16 years) for a review of your asthma symptoms and current inhaler medication. If your asthma is kept well controlled you should be able to undertake your normal daily activities, sleep and exercise with no or very few asthma symptoms and have little need of your inhaler. If you have been admitted to hospital or attended out of hours it is important that you contact the surgery for an appointment as soon as possible.
At an asthma review the nurse will:
- Ask about your asthma symptoms during the day, night and during any activity/exercise
- Check your peak flow rate
- Check your inhaler technique and discuss any alternative devices if you are experiencing any problems
To book an appointment for an asthma review, contact the surgery and ask for an asthma review appointment with our asthma nurses either Lyndsey or Kerry, and bring along your current inhalers, spacer and peak flow meter when you attend.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a common disease which affects about five million people in the UK and often starts in childhood, but it can happen for the first time at any age – even in people in their 70s or 80s.
Asthma affects the airways – the tubes carrying air in and out of the lungs. People with asthma have sensitive airways which become irritated in some situations. The airways become narrow and sometimes produce more mucus than usual, making it difficult to breathe.
Asthma may get better or disappear completely during teenage years, but about one third of children with asthma will go on to have problems as an adult. Asthma can run in families, but many people with asthma do not have relatives with the condition.
Asthma can’t be cured, but it can be controlled so that attacks can be prevented. Most people with asthma who receive proper treatment (and take it correctly) can lead normal lives.
Further Information
It’s perfectly normal for your blood pressure to fluctuate, depending on what you’re doing, for instance it’s lower when you’re asleep and higher when you exercise. Some people have low blood pressure, which can cause dizziness, but many millions of Britons suffer from high blood pressure – hypertension – which, if not treated, can lead to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke or kidney damage. Hypertension is treated with medication.
We recommend all patients over the age of 45 to have their blood pressure checked at least every 18 months. If you are diagnosed with hypertension, we will ask you to attend for more regular blood pressure monitoring every six months. To do this, book an appointment with a healthcare assistant.
If you have diabetes we need to see you at least once a year for a review of your symptoms and medication. If your diabetes is kept well controlled you should be able to lead a normal and healthy life. A week or two before your review you will be asked to have a blood test with a phlebotomist to check your thyroid, liver and blood count. The results from this blood test will be discussed with you during your review with the nurse. At a diabetes review the nurse will:
- Check your blood glucose control
- Check your kidney function
- Check your cholesterol
- Review the results of your blood tests
- Measure your weight
- Examine your legs and feet
- Check your blood pressure
- Conduct a questionnaire to monitor symptoms of depression
- Discuss and possibly adjust your medication
In addition, your eyes will be checked annually at the hospital or at a mobile screening unit (retinopathy testing). You should also ensure that you have the annual flu vaccination and the one-off pneumococcal vaccination. To book an appointment for a diabetes review, contact the surgery and ask for a diabetes review appointment with a nurse.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an increasingly common disease and one which many people suffer from without knowing. It is predicted that over the next ten years the number of people with diabetes will double. Diabetes occurs because the body can’t use glucose properly, either owing to a lack of the hormone insulin, or because the insulin available doesn’t work effectively.
There are two types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 usually starts in childhood or young adulthood.
Type 2 is the more common disease and tends to affect people over 40. Both are serious conditions which require regular monitoring and treatment in order to prevent further health complications.
Further Information visit - Diabetes UK - Know diabetes. Fight diabetes. | Diabetes UK
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots.
It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.
CVD is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, but it can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.
To read more about the many different types of CVD please visit the NHS Cardiovascular Disease website
Epilepsy is a common condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures.
Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms.
Epilepsy can start at any age, but usually starts either in childhood or in people over 60.
It's often lifelong, but can sometimes get slowly better over time.
Symptoms of epilepsy
Seizures can affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved.
Possible symptoms include:
- uncontrollable jerking and shaking, called a "fit"
- losing awareness and staring blankly into space
- becoming stiff
- strange sensations, such as a "rising" feeling in the tummy, unusual smells or tastes, and a tingling feeling in your arms or legs
- collapsing
Sometimes you might pass out and not remember what happened.
When to get medical help
See a GP if you think you might have had a seizure for the first time.
This does not mean you have epilepsy, as a seizure can have several causes and sometimes they're just a one-off, but you should see a doctor to find out why it happened.
Find out more about tests for epilepsy you might have
Find out what to do if someone has a seizure
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. The condition usually affects the hands, feet and wrists.
There may be periods where symptoms become worse, known as flare-ups or flares.
A flare can be difficult to predict, but with treatment it's possible to decrease the number of flares and minimise or prevent long-term damage to the joints.
Some people with rheumatoid arthritis also experience problems in other parts of the body, or more general symptoms such as tiredness and weight loss.
Find out more about the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
When to get medical advice
See a GP if you think you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, so they can try to identify the underlying cause.
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis quickly is important, because early treatment can prevent it getting worse and reduce the risk of joint damage.
Find out more about diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
It's normal for your memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines. But if you're becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if you're over the age of 65, it's a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia.
Memory loss can be annoying if it happens occasionally, but if it's affecting your daily life, or it's worrying you, or someone you know, you should get help from a GP.
Dementia is not only about memory loss. It can also affect the way you speak, think, feel and behave.
It's also important to remember that dementia is not a natural part of ageing.
Visit the NHS website to read more about Dementia
Talk to your GP first
Your can book an appointment with a GP to talk about your mental health who can help introduce you to the right mental health service for your needs.
This is known as a GP referral.
Get help without talking to your GP
There are also some mental health services that you can use without talking to your GP first. This is known as self-referral.
For example, you may be able to refer yourself for help with drug problems and alcohol problems. You can also use self-referral to access talking therapies.
Visit Help with Mental Health for further help and guidence