Lessons to Be Learnt from Ayurveda
D. Suresh Kumar in Ayurveda in the New Millennium, 2020
The term chronic condition is a state of physical or mental health that can last for more than a year with functional restrictions or the condition requiring ongoing management (Basu et al. 2016). It affects health and quality of life globally, leading to death and disability (Raghupathi and Raghupathi 2018). Chronic diseases which are also known as non-communicable diseases include a range of disorders such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes (Kunnumakkara et al. 2018a; Khwairakpam et al. 2018). The general risk factors that are related to these chronic diseases include unhealthy lifestyles with physical inactivity, poor routine in diet, exposure of the body to radiation, stress, excessive consumption of tobacco or alcohol and infection to pathogenic microorganisms (Kunnumakkara et al. 2018a). Three essential components such as research, performance measurement and quality improvement are required for continued management of chronic diseases (Davis et al. 2000).
Chronic conditions
Phelps Charles E, Parente Stephen T in The Economics of US Health Care Policy, 2017
By far the most common chronic condition problems are hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes, and rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. One single human behavior exacerbates each of these—obesity/lack of exercise. Tobacco smoking contributes to many of these and others as well—hypertension, IHD, heart failure (HF), hip fracture (especially for women, due to increased rates of bone depletion), atrial fibrilation (A-Fib), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, lung cancer, cataracts, breast cancer (especially for those who began smoking before their first child), and others. Hypertension is a known precursor to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, among other major causes of death. It seems manifestly clear that if we are ever able to reduce the cost consequences of chronic conditions, we need to address head-on their prevalence, which in turn requires addressing head-on the lifestyle choices of tobacco use and obesity, topics to which we return shortly.
Encephalitis: what it is and what it does
Ava Easton in Life After Encephalitis, 2016
What we have, therefore, is a condition which is complex, about which there is little understanding and patients who are often discharged quickly and without follow-up. In many cases it is an acute illness, which if the patient survives, is often superseded by acquired brain injury. In particular the acute illness is not in itself the start of what is expected to be a chronic condition. It is only as the injury to the brain emerges in some people over time, and as their awareness and acceptance of it begins, that having had encephalitis can be said to have resulted in a chronic condition. Where people die it is likely to be quick and unexpected for the families. In more rare forms of encephalitis people may experience a long and lingering death, which may have some similarities to other chronic (but unrelated) terminal conditions (for example CJD – Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease).
Randomized clinical trial of a community navigation intervention to improve well-being in persons living with HIV and other co-morbidities
Published in AIDS Care, 2019
Allison Webel, Maryjo Prince-Paul, Stephen Ganocy, Evelina DiFranco, Charles Wellman, Ann Avery, Barbara Daly, Jacquelyn Slomka
Intervention procedures occurred in the participant’s home and/or clinic or other community sites according to participant preferences and availability. PLWH were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, English-speaking, had at least 1 chronic condition in addition to HIV, were not currently enrolled in a palliative care program, lived within 30 miles of the study offices, and received HIV primary care at one of 3 study recruitment sites. A chronic condition was defined as any physical ailment that required medical management over time. PLWH solely with mental health diagnoses and/or substance abuse in the absence of other comorbidities were excluded. The chronic conditions most frequently-reported by participants were mental illness, hypertension, substance abuse and pulmonary problems.
Fractional CO2 laser for the treatment of sclerodermatous cGVHD
Published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2020
Jessica G. Labadie, Cory Kosche, Rachel Kyllo, Tyler Johnson, Peter R. Shumaker, Murad Alam, Jennifer N. Choi
The fibrotic changes and contractures associated with sclGVHD can significantly impair function and quality of life (2). Both patients in our case series demonstrated marked subjective improvement in pain and mobility. As highlighted by patient 2, high energy, low-density fractional CO2 laser therapy followed by clobetasol ointment under occlusion is potentially a promising treatment modality for refractory sclGVHD. The limited areas of treatment attempted in these cases may explain the lack of significant improvement in DLQI and Rodnan skin scores. Furthermore, ongoing treatments may be required for sustained effects in patients with this chronic condition. The improvement in skin thickness and subjective pain in the treated arm of patient 2 suggests that this modality could be used to successfully treat involved, non-joint areas, as well.
Targeted synthetic pharmacotherapy for psoriatic arthritis: state of the art
Published in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2020
Francesco Caso, Luca Navarini, Piero Ruscitti, Maria Sole Chimenti, Nicolò Girolimetto, Antonio Del Puente, Roberto Giacomelli, Raffaele Scarpa, Luisa Costa
PsA is characterized by different pathogenetic innate and acquired immune mechanisms involving multiple cytokines and molecules. The disease represents a chronic condition, and there is the need for effective therapies with a favorable long-term safety profile. At present, the complexity of PsA aspects continues to be investigated with a collaborative effort, ranging from molecular research to clinical studies, and this needs to be implemented. csDMARDs and bDMARDs are routinely used in clinical practice by rheumatologists, but numerous patients present a lack of efficacy or contraindications to these drugs. In recent years, increased awareness of intracellular pathways underlining PsA and other inflammatory conditions has led to the development of tsDMARDs, widening the panel of treatment options.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Asthma
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Autoimmune Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Natural History of Disease
- Course
- Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder
- Genetic Disorder