CHRONIC

HEALTH
PROBLEMS
CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEM

Chronic disease is disease that persists

over a long period of time. Chronic
disease can hinder independence and the
health of people with disabilities, as it
may create additional activity limitations.

A chronic disease is one lasting 3

months or more.
 Important things to know about
chronic diseases for Persons With
Disabilities
People with chronic disease often
think that they are free from the disease
when they have no symptoms.
Having no symptoms, however,
does not necessarily mean that chronic
disease has disappeared.
The good news is that chronic
disease can be prevented or
controlled through:
1) Regular participation in physical
activity
2) Eating healthy
3) Not smoking
4) Avoiding excessive alcohol
consumption
 Health damaging behaviours,
particularly:

Tobacco use
Poor Eating Habits
Lack of Physical Activity

are major contributors to the leading chronic

diseases.
 Chronic diseases tend to become more
common with age. The leading chronic
diseases in developed countries include A
rthritis, Cardiovascular Disease such as
heart attacks and Stroke, Cancer such
as Breast and Colon Cancer, Diabetes,
epilepsy and seizures and Obesity.
Listed below are examples of common chronic
diseases:

Arthritis 

is the “wear and tear” on the joints such as the

knees, hips and wrists.
  Cancer 

is the uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells

in the body.
 Stroke 

is a blockage of blood flow to the brain.

 Heart attack

is a blockage of blood flow to the heart.

 Obesity 

is a chronic health condition of being above

normal body weight. It is a risk factor for
other chronic diseases such as arthritis,
stroke, heart attack, asthma, Type 2 diabetes,
and other social and emotional issues.
 SYMPTOMS
What are some effects of a chronic illness?

In addition to disease specific symptoms, people

commonly complain of invisible symptoms such as
pain, fatigue, and mood disorders.

Pain and fatigue may become a frequent part of your

day. Physical changes from a disease may affect your
appearance.
 Physical changes from a disease may affect
your appearance. These changes can turn a
positive self-image into a poor one.

When you don't feel good about yourself,

you may prefer to be alone and withdraw from
friends and social activities.

Mood disorders such as 

depression and anxiety are common complaints
of people with chronic conditions, but they are
extremely treatable.
 Chronic illness can also influence your
ability to work. Morning stiffness,
decreased range of motion, and other
physical limitations may force you to
change your work activities and
environment.

A decreased ability to work may also

lead to financial problems.
 Stress can build and can shape your
feelings about life. Prolonged stress can
lead to frustration, anger, hopelessness,
and, at times, depression.

The person with the illness is not the

only one affected; family members are
also influenced by the chronic health
problems of a loved one
10 Steps for Coping with a
Chronic Condition
 1. Get a Prescription for
Information
The more you know about your
condition, the better equipped you'll be to
understand what's happening and why.
First direct your questions to your doctor
or nurse. If you want to do more in-depth
research, ask them about trusted sources
of medical information on the Web.
2. Make your Doctor a Partner
in Care.
One way to do this is to listen to your body
and track its changes. If you have hypertension,
learn to check your blood pressure. If your heart
has rhythm problems, check your pulse. For
heart failure, weigh yourself every day and chart
your symptoms. This kind of home monitoring
lets you spot potentially harmful changes before
they bloom into real trouble.
3. Coordinate Your Care.
In an ideal world, the specialists you see for
your heart, your diabetes, and your arthritis
would talk with each other every now and then
about your medical care. In the real world, this
doesn't usually happen. A primary care physician
can put the pieces together to make sure your
treatments are good for the whole you.
 4. Build a Team
Doctors don't have all the
answers. Seek out the real experts. A
nurse might be a better resource for
helping you stop smoking or start
exercising. You'll get the best
nutrition information from a
dietitian.
5. Make a Healthy Investment
in Yourself
Part of the treatment for almost any
chronic condition involves lifestyle
changes. You know the ones we mean —
stopping smoking, losing weight,
exercising more, and shifting to healthier
eating habits. Although these steps are
sometimes relegated to the back burner,
they shouldn't be.
 The people who make such changes
are more likely to successfully manage a
chronic condition than those who don't.
Investing the time and energy to make
healthy changes usually pays handsome
dividends, ranging from feeling better to
living longer.
6. Make it a Family Affair
The lifestyle changes you make
to ease a chronic condition such as
high cholesterol or heart disease are
good for almost everyone. Instead of
going it alone, invite family
members or friends to join in.
7. Manage Your Medications
Remembering to take one pill a day is
tough; managing 10 or more is daunting.
Knowing about the drugs you take —
why you take them, how best to take
them, and what problems to watch out for
— is as important as learning about your
condition. Talking with your doctor,
nurse, or a pharmacist can put drug
information into perspective.
8. Beware of Depression
Dark, dreary moods plague a third or
more of people with chronic diseases.
Depression can keep you from taking
important medications, seeing your
doctor when you need to, or pursuing
healthy habits. Read up on the signs of
depression. Let your doctor know if you
think you're depressed or heading in that
direction.
 9. Reach Out
Doctors, nurses, and other health care
professionals aren't always the best
reservoir for information about what it's
like to recover from open-heart surgery or
live with heart failure. To get the real
scoop, look for a support group in your
area and talk with people who have been
through what you are facing.
 10. Plan for End-of-Life
Decisions
If the diagnosis of a chronic condition, or life
with one, has you thinking about death, channel
those thoughts to the kind of care you want at
the end of your life. Spelling out whether you
want the most aggressive care until the very end,
or whether you'd prefer hospice care and a do-
not-resuscitate order, can save you and your
loved ones a lot of confusion and anguish later
on.
 Chronic Illness Coping at
School

 A ‘whole school’ approach to support a student

with a chronic illness is important.
 Relevant information about the student’s condition
should be shared with appropriate school staff.
 Maintain regular communication between the
school and family regarding how the student is
coping at school and at home.
 Explore possible sources of additional support.
 Beginning primary school, or moving
to secondary school, can be a challenging
time for any student and family. This can
be even harder when the student has a
chronic (ongoing) health condition. To
get the most out of their schooling,
students with a chronic illness need
ongoing and coordinated support from
their families, schools and medical cares.
 Chronic Illness Affecting Children

Chronic illnesses are usually

associated with older people and not
with children. However, a small but
significant number of children in
Australia suffer from chronic
illnesses – mainly asthma, but also
diabetes and cancer.
 Cerebral palsy, epilepsy and
cystic fibrosis, along with
musculoskeletal disorders and
illnesses affecting sight, hearing and
allergic reaction affect smaller
numbers of children.
 Effects of Chronic Illness on Schooling

Students with a chronic illness

may miss a lot of school. This might
be because they need to go to
hospital, recover at home or attend
regular medical appointments. This
can lead to:
Difficulty Completing Work on
Time or Taking Part in Exams
Decreased Academic
Performance
 Difficulty Keeping Up
Relationships With School Friends
Difficulty Getting Around The
School Environment
Difficulty participating
in some school
activities (for example,
physical education or
excursions)
Feeling less confident and less motivated, also
possibly affecting self-esteem and body image.
 Supporting students with chronic illness

The family and the school need to work

together to establish and maintain good
communication and cooperation. Everyone
needs to understand what is needed and expected
to support your child. The family and the school
also need to be clear about what can, and cannot,
be done so that everyone’s expectations are
achievable and realistic.
 The Important Things To
Remember Are That You:
O Share information
O Develop a care plan
O Keep up good communication
O Make changes where necessary
O Seek extra support.
Special Services For Students With Chronic Illness

A variety of specialist staff may be available

or may be called in to assist your child. These
include visiting teachers, education support
officers, psychologists, guidance officers, speech
pathologists, social workers and other allied
health professionals. Talk to your principal about
whether any of these services may be available.
END OF DISCUSSION
BY:

ROWELA M. ZONIO
JELLAH MAY Z. CUATRIZ
JOELYN BERMUDO