Chronic disease is a phrase that carries a hidden threat. In modern conditions, it is difficult to find an adult and even a child who does not have a history of such a diagnosis. What are the features of chronic diseases, when they carry a serious danger, and how to prevent their occurrence, let's try to figure it out in more detail.
What is a chronic disease?
The specificity of chronic diseases is hidden in the term itself, which comes from the Greek word "chronos" - "time". Diseases that last a long time, and the symptoms are not subject to a complete and final cure, are considered chronic.
Doctors most often distinguish between acute and chronic diseases, depending on the clinical picture. The acute form is often characterized by high fever and pronounced pain syndrome. Treatment in this case is necessary urgently. Chronic diseases require an integrated approach, as inexamination and treatment.
Most often, the goal of chronic disease treatment is not to achieve a complete cure, but to reduce the frequency of exacerbations and a longer remission period.
Peculiarities of the course of chronic diseases
Regardless of the affected area, there are several features characteristic of the course of diseases in a chronic form.
- Acute onset. The main symptoms are pronounced, the general condition of the patient worsens significantly.
- Periods of remission, which at the initial stages can be perceived by the patient as a cure. After the first "cures", the symptoms of the disease return, but the clinical picture may not be as bright as at the beginning of the disease.
- Smoothing symptoms. At the beginning of a chronic disease, the patient can clearly determine the beginning of a relapse or a period of remission of the disease. Over time, these pronounced stages of the disease are smoothed out: relapses may not be too acute, or, conversely, during remission, the disease continues to bother.
Chronic illness is far from a death sentence. It requires a more attentive attitude to one's he alth and a certain lifestyle correction.
How is the diagnosis made?
Chronic diseases can be diagnosed with the help of an examination by the attending physician, who prescribes appropriate tests and diagnostic methods.
Chronic human diseases can developquickly and be the result of incorrect or untimely treatment of an acute infection. In this case, the attending physician can immediately notice that the patient's condition does not improve and the disease takes on a chronic form.
Another variant of the development of a chronic disease has the following picture. Dysfunction of any organ or organ system does not cause noticeable discomfort to the patient. The condition worsens gradually over a long period of time. The history of the development of the disease can help the doctor diagnose the presence of a chronic form. A chronic disease as a diagnosis can only be established after studying the entire clinical picture.
The most common chronic diseases
The current environmental situation and not very high-quality food products lead to the fact that few people can boast of the absence of chronic ailments. They bother some more, some less, but almost everyone has a similar diagnosis in history.
Depending on the cause of chronic diseases and the severity of their course, supportive and restraining therapy is selected. The most common chronic forms in the following diseases:
- Various forms of dermatitis (psoriasis, eczema, neurodermatitis).
- Pyelonephritis.
- Cholecystitis.
- Stomach or duodenal ulcer.
- Heart failure.
- Vascular diseases.
Such diseases are most oftenare not curable and require patients to be permanently restricted and lifelong supportive.
Do children get sick?
A chronic disease is a type of disease that requires observation of the patient's condition for a rather long period of time for the diagnosis.
When it comes to young children, it is impossible to talk about long-term monitoring of the course of the disease. The only exceptions are congenital malformations in the functioning of organs that affect the development and he alth of the child.
But even in this case, the prognosis for young patients is always more optimistic than for adults. Chronic diseases of children have one feature - it is likely that the baby will simply "outgrow" the disease. Children's organs are often immature and cannot fully perform their functions. Over time, the work of the body systems normalizes, and even chronic diseases can recede.
Chronic care
Chronic diseases are no reason not to see a doctor, even knowing that a complete cure is almost impossible to achieve.
It is important to tune in correctly: you don’t have to wait for the doctor to give you a “magic pill”, after which the disease will subside. Also, do not trust intrusive advertising and pseudo-specialists who promise an instant cure for a disease that has been tormenting for years.
You need to be aware that a chronic disease is a serious malfunction of everythingan organism that is accustomed to not working properly. The task of the patient is, together with the doctor, to correctly direct his body to full-fledged work.
A competent specialist should prescribe an extensive course of examination, including not only the disturbing organ, but also other body systems.
Treatment is usually long term. In addition to targeted medications, it may contain drugs to improve the functioning of the immune system, the nervous system, as well as vitamin complexes.
Prevention of occurrence
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. In the case of chronic diseases, this principle is also relevant. You need to be attentive to the state of your body so as not to miss the first alarming bells. Prevention measures for chronic diseases include:
- Any acute infectious diseases must be brought to a complete cure. The fact of recovery must be confirmed by a doctor.
- Don't carry infectious diseases on your feet, expecting your body to handle itself.
- Pay attention to unpleasant symptoms that recur repeatedly (eg, heaviness in the side after eating, poor sleep).
- Undergo regular examinations, at least within the minimum: fluorography, blood and urine tests, cardiogram. If you conduct a survey every six months, even a slight deterioration in performance will be noticeable.
When an emergency is neededhelp?
In the presence of chronic diseases, patients usually know what an exacerbation looks like and what to do. But if the aggravation of the disease came suddenly, the attack is more acute than usual, accompanied by a high fever or unusual symptoms - you should seek medical help.
In this case, you should immediately go to the hospital on your own to see your doctor or call an ambulance. In the event of the arrival of an ambulance, it is necessary to inform the doctor about a chronic disease that is in the anamnesis, as well as about the drugs that the patient managed to take before the arrival of medical help.
Also, do not neglect to see a doctor if the usual methods of stopping an exacerbation do not help or if you need to increase the dose of the drug.
Chronic diseases can significantly impair the quality of life, but with small restrictions and regimen, you can achieve long periods of remission and many years of happy life.
