Recent studies show that chronic conditions now affect nearly one in two Americans. Our physicians are specially trained to diagnose, treat and help prevent chronic conditions. To help ease the impact a chronic condition might have on your life and to help you enjoy a higher quality of life, we offer comprehensive and expert medical care with compassion. We provide support, treatment and management of these chronic medical conditions.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airway causing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Asthma can affect anyone at any age, and it varies from mild, moderate to severe causing symptoms to appear inconsistently. For some symptoms may occur repeatedly for a period of time, while others may have an episode and then it will be a while before another attack occurs.
Generally, people with asthma can continue with their normal daily activities. The key to managing asthma is prevention and control. The first step to treating/managing your asthma is to avoid the triggers of the asthma attacks. Monitoring your breathing daily can also help you recognize symptoms early and treat them before an attack comes. Other treatment options that may be considered for managing your asthma includes medications, inhaled corticosteroids, immunotherapy and quick relief medications. We will work with each patient individually to determine which treatment option will be most beneficial for their specific needs.
Allergies
Allergies affect one out of four people in the United States and are the fifth leading chronic disease among all ages. Allergies can affect anyone of any age or gender. Some risk factors for allergies include heredity, stress, hormones, smoke, fragrances or other environmental irritants.With allergies, the immune system overreacts and responds to external factors (allergens) such as pollen, dust, food, etc. This overreaction causes a wide range of symptoms including coughing, sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, and a runny nose. In some cases, it can also cause hives, rashes and difficulty breathing. When severe, it can even lead to death.
Arthritis
Arthritis is the inflammation (swelling) of the joints. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, including juvenile arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but the most common is osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. The exact cause of osteoarthritis isn’t fully known, but it is related to the normal wear and tear of joints, and might also be hereditary. It is recognized by the fraying, wearing down and decay of the joints, and typically causes constant or intermittent joint pain, a hindrance or loss of motion in the joint, and in some cases, complete disability of the joint itself.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease where there is too much sugar in your blood, thus complicating how your body will use the blood sugar (also referred to as “blood glucose”). There are four types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes. Both pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes are preventable and sometimes reversible, unlike Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, which are chronic types of diabetes. Symptoms may vary depending on the type of diabetes one has, and may include increased hunger, excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, unexpected weight loss, various infections, blurred vision or sores that are slow to heal.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition that can eventually lead to heart disease. It occurs when the force of the blood against the artery walls is too great. Blood pressure is determined by how much blood your heart pumps and the resistance it faces when flowing through your arteries.
A normal blood pressure is 120 over 80 (120/80). Blood pressure is considered high if it is constantly over 140 over 90 (140/90). The top number is your systolic pressure, which is the pressure your heart creates as it beats. The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, which is the pressure that is inside your blood vessels when your heart is at rest.
Typically, high blood pressure develops over several years. A person can go years without showing any signs or symptoms of high blood pressure. However, some common symptoms include: dizzy spells, tedious headaches and more frequent nosebleeds.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is the waxy matter in the blood lipids (fats) that is needed to build healthy cells; however, too much can increase a person’s risk for developing heart disease. High cholesterol is when there is an excessive amount of cholesterol build up in the fats found in your blood making it difficult for an adequate amount of blood to flow through your arteries. This could lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
Heart Disease
Heart disease also referred to as cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death among men and women in the United States. It is a term used to describe a condition that involves blocked or narrowed blood vessels. There is a wide range of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels that are considered heart disease. These disorders include: congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease and heart rhythm problems.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by the thinning and weakening of your bones, causing them to become fragile and breakable. Throughout your life, your bones are constantly in the process of building up and breaking down. After about age 30, however, more bone material is broken down in a year than built up. Over time, this can lead to the bones becoming frail or brittle.