Chronic Medical Conditions

✦ Cardiovascular Diseases:
➢ Hypertension (High Blood Pressure):
- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic; may cause headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision.
- Risk Factors: Age, genetics, obesity, high salt intake.
➢ Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):
- Symptoms: Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, fatigue.
- Risk Factors: Smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle.
➢ Heart Failure:
- Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fluid retention, fatigue.
- Causes: CAD, hypertension, cardiomyopathy.

✦ Diabetes:
➢ Type 1 Diabetes:
- Symptoms: Increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme fatigue, weight loss.
- Cause: Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
➢ Type 2 Diabetes:
- Symptoms: Similar to Type 1; may also include slow-healing sores and frequent infections.
- Risk Factors: Obesity, inactivity, family history.

✦ Respiratory Conditions:
➢ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):
- Symptoms: Persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing.
- Causes: Long-term exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke.
➢ Asthma:
- Symptoms: Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing.
- Triggers: Allergens, respiratory infections, exercise, cold air.

✦ Musculoskeletal Disorders:
➢ Osteoarthritis:
- Symptoms: Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced range of motion.
- Risk Factors: Aging, joint injury, obesity.
➢ Rheumatoid Arthritis:
- Symptoms: Joint pain, swelling, and morning stiffness; can affect multiple joints.
- Cause: Autoimmune inflammation of the joints.

✦ Neurological Disorders:
➢ Alzheimer’s Disease:
- Symptoms: Memory loss, confusion, difficulty with daily activities.
- Risk Factors: Age, family history, genetics.
➢ Parkinson’s Disease:
- Symptoms: Tremors, stiffness, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), postural instability.
- Cause: Progressive neurodegeneration affecting motor control.

✦ Gastrointestinal Disorders:
➢ Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):
- Types: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Symptoms: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue.
➢ Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
- Symptoms: Abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both).

✦ Endocrine Disorders:
➢ Hypothyroidism:
- Symptoms: Fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, dry skin.
- Cause: Underactive thyroid gland producing insufficient thyroid hormone.
➢ Hyperthyroidism:
- Symptoms: Weight loss, heat intolerance, rapid heartbeat, tremors.
- Cause: Overactive thyroid gland producing excessive thyroid hormone.

✦ Kidney Diseases:
➢ Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):
- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic in early stages; may include fatigue, swelling, and changes in urination.
- Risk Factors: Diabetes, hypertension, family history.
➢ Kidney Stones:
- Symptoms: Severe pain in the back or side, hematuria (blood in urine), nausea.
- Causes: Dehydration, certain diets, family history.

✦ Mental Health Conditions:
➢ Depression:
- Symptoms: Persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, changes in sleep and appetite.
- Risk Factors: Genetics, trauma, chronic illness.
➢ Anxiety Disorders:
- Symptoms: Excessive worry, restlessness, fatigue, physical symptoms like palpitations.
- Types: Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder.

✦ Cancer:
➢ Breast Cancer:
- Symptoms: Lump in the breast, changes in breast shape or skin, discharge from the nipple.
- Risk Factors: Gender, age, family history, genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA1/2).
➢ Prostate Cancer:
- Symptoms: Difficulty urinating, blood in urine or semen, pelvic pain.
- Risk Factors: Age, family history, race.

More Types of Cancer...

✦ Obesity:
- Symptoms: Excess body fat leading to increased risk of other chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea.
- Risk Factors: Poor diet, lack of physical activity, genetics.

Managing chronic conditions typically involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and regular monitoring to control symptoms and prevent complications.