Introduction
Chronic diseases are considered those diseases that are incurable for a long period of time mainly from three months onwards. They are referred to as chronic since they develop over a long period of time and in most cases they are incurable and therefore the individuals have to live with the consequence of the diseases. Some of the diseases that are considered chronic include arthritis, diabetes, asthma, hepatitis, cardiovascular complications and high blood pressure among others. Most of these diseases are prevalent in old age with 90% of the senior citizens having one or two chronic diseases (Bardana, 2007, p. 12).This paper will look at the main effects of chronic diseases in the lifestyle of the individuals and analyze the causes and the preventive measures of diabetes as a chronic disease. The paper also analyses asthma and its relations to air pollution
Consequences
Chronic diseases are a big challenge to the individuals suffering from them since they affect the normal living of the persons. The first major consequence is the cost of treatment which requires a lot of resources. The chronic illness patients need a lot of care and counseling which requires financial resources. Chronic illness also means that such individuals will have to bear the chronic pain that comes with the chronic illness. The individuals are also on medication through out their lives in order to prevent the occurrence of other complications or reduce pain. This may become very frustrated especially if the individuals do not have enough resources to cater for their medication. Fear of death is a major effect that affects the individuals psychologically (Bardana, 2007, p. 18). They are sure of no cure and some may give up and just wait for death. Most of these patients actually will suffer from depression if they lack proper care and counseling. Another effect of the chronic diseases is that in most case it leads to disability especially on reaching its advanced stages. This may cause stress to a lot of individuals who may not be able to do their normal duties as they used to do them. They result in relying and depending on other people for simple tasks. They may find this difficult to cope with as they view themselves as a burden to other individuals.
Causes of Diabetes
According to the medical fraternity the main causes of diabetes are still unknown. However there are those factors that are considered to cause the condition. One of the risk factors is the inheritance factor. If a family has a history of diabetes running in the family for many years then hereditary factors will play a big role in it developing within the individuals from that family. Another major cause is poor diet. Taking foods that contain too much carbohydrates, proteins and fats can lead to diabetes in the long run. Too much of these foods impair the pancreas from producing insulin and thus leading to diabetes. A close condition related to diet is obesity which is considered another cause of diabetes. Excess body weight normally leads to diabetes mellitus. Some conditions of diabetes can result from viral infections such as the Coxsackie’s B virus. This virus impairs the production of insulin and increases the level of sugar in the body. Other causes include age factors, emotional stress and also smoking (Shlomo, 2007, p. 12)
Preventive measures of the risks of diabetes
In order to prevent the risk of diabetes and its complications, individuals who are at risk should continuously take blood tests to check their sugar levels. Other conditions that should be medically monitored include the blood pressure and the cholesterol levels for those who are at risk. In this way one can be able to control their sugar levels and avoid diabetes (Schnitzer, 2004, p. 35). Another effective preventive measure of risks of diabetes is a change in diet. It is very possible for people who are at risk of getting diabetes to prevent it and delay its occurrence by taking a balanced diet. The diet should also contain very low fats. Another important factor is continuous involvement in physical exercises which helps a lot in losing body weight. These are especially useful in preventing diabetes type 2.
Asthma and air pollution
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that normally affects the lungs. The interaction of an individual with the conditions of the air may deteriorate the effects of the disease. Air pollution will accelerate the effects of asthma in an individual. The quality of air that such individuals breathe affects the occurrence of asthma. Smoking and high polluted air from traffic increases the chances of suffering from asthma especially in children. The pollutants in the air contain a lot of particles which eventually irritate the respiratory system (Adams, 2006, p. 28). Polluted air may result to difficulties in breathing and also a lot of coughing. Asthma can be prevented by avoiding air that is polluted with a lot of dust, mold, tobacco, smoke, chemicals among other pollutants.
Conclusion
In conclusion, chronic diseases can be a big challenge to the patients suffering from them. They change the individual’s lifestyle with most of them becoming disabled and have to depend on others. The live with the pain of the diseases especially when it advances to the maturity stages (Bardana, 2007, p22). They are a major cause of death especially to the senior citizens. However, these diseases can be prevented or delayed by taking the necessary precautions. Diseases such as diabetes can be prevented by ensuring proper medical checkups, proper balanced diet and physical exercises. In cases of diseases such as asthma, the quality of air breathed in may affect the prevalence and therefore one should always avoid areas which are highly polluted.
References
- Ben-Shlomo, 2007. Diabetes: causes and prevention. McGraw-Hill publications
- Emil J Bardana, 2007. Chronic illness and the quality of life. Prentice hall
- Francis V. Adams, 2006. Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures. National Aca
- Johann Georg Schnitzer, 2004. Diabetes Causes & Cure – including Cure of Later Diabetes Consequences. Sage publications.