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Chronic Conditions and Injury
Chronic conditions are those which are long term (lasting more than 6 months) and can have a significant impact on a person's life. Chronic conditions can affect people of all ages. Many chronic conditions can be managed to minimise the severity of the symptoms and the impact on a person's life. Management of chronic conditions may be through medication and/or significant lifestyle changes (for example: dietary changes, taking up exercise programs and/or stress management techniques).
The chronic conditions listed below are not an exhaustive list, but include those conditions which are the focus of the Commonwealth Sharing Health Care Initiative (SHCI) [Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing].
The Chronic diseases and associated risk factors [Australian Institute of Health and Welfare] website links to information on the 12 preventable chronic diseases that cause a significant health and cost burden in Australia and the seven risk factors associated with them.
You can find information about other conditions, lifestyle issues and life events by clicking on the links in the navigation bar at the left or on any of the links to resources listed below.
Updated August 2010
Related HealthInsite Topics
HealthInsite Topic Page
Linking to information on arthritis and specific topic pages on rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to general information on asthma, and topic pages on the causes and complications of the disease, as well as management and control treatments, support services and statistics.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on the various types of cancer, including prevention, risk factors, treatment, support services and statistics.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to guidelines for preventing and managing chronic conditions, including asthma, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about managing chronic diseases.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on chronic pain.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on chronic respiratory diseases.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on diabetes and its types, prevention, treatment, risk factors, complications, support services and statistics.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about the Australian Government´s Enhanced Primary Care.
Heart, Stroke and Vascular Health
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to a range of information on issues associated with heart, stroke and vascular disease.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on high blood pressure or hypertension.
Injuries and Injury Prevention
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on specific types of injuries, as well as information about how to prevent injuries and stay safe.
Kidney and Urinary Tract Diseases
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about kidney diseases and urinary conditions.
Self Management of Chronic Diseases
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on self management or self care for people with chronic illnesses.
Travelling with Chronic Conditions
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about travelling for people with chronic conditions.
Systematic Reviews of Treatments for Chronic Conditions and Injuries
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to summaries of systematic reviews of the evidence for treatments for chronic conditions and injuries.
49 Resources Found
| Title: | MBS Primary Care Items |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing |
| Description: | he Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) primary care items support primary care services including: general attendances, after-hours attendances, health assessments, chronic disease management and mental health care. Some of these services provide particular target groups with preventive health care or improve coordination of multidisciplinary care for people with chronic (or terminal) conditions and complex care needs. |
| Date: | Jun 2010 |
| Title: | How do you measure up? |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing |
| Description: | Is your lifestyle seriously affecting your health? Find out how you Measure Up. |
| Date: | May 2010 |
| Title: | Livewire |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Livewire |
| Description: | Livewire uses online communities to connect, support and empower young people living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability. Livewire also supports and connects siblings and parents. |
| Date: | May 2010 |
| Title: | About us |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Livewire |
| Description: | Livewire is working towards providing free and safe online communities for families affected by a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability. |
| Date: | Mar 2010 |
| Title: | Risk factors and participation in work |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare |
| Description: | In 2004-05, nearly all (96%) working-age people in Australia reported one health risk factor, and three-quarters reported more than one. People who reported three or more risk factors were significantly more likely to not participate in the labour force compared with those who reported no risk factors. |
| Date: | Mar 2010 |
| Title: | Chronic childhood illness - managing the emotional impact |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia) |
| Description: | Sometimes children have an illness that is not 'curable' but continues on into adulthood. Coping with chronic childhood illness can be very difficult at first, not only for the child, but for the whole family. |
| Date: | Feb 2010 |
| Title: | Fact sheet 23 - chronic physical illness and depression |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | beyondblue |
| Description: | beyondblue Fact Sheet 23 - Chronic Physical Illness and Depression. Information on depression and links with chronic physical illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, stroke, arthiritis, diabetes and cancer. |
| Date: | Jan 2010 |
| Title: | Alcohol |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing |
| Description: | Here you will find answers to some frequently asked questions relating to Alcohol |
| Date: | Nov 2009 |
| Title: | Wounds - how to care for them |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | A skin wound that fails to heal, heals slowly or heals but tends to recur is known as a chronic wound. Some of the many causes of chronic skin wounds can include trauma, burns, skin cancers or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Chronic wounds need special care. |
| Date: | Oct 2009 |
| Title: | Sleep disorders - narcolepsy |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | A person with narcolepsy is extremely sleepy all the time and, in severe cases, falls asleep involuntarily several times every day. It is thought that narcolepsy is caused by a malfunctioning of the hypothalamus in the brain. This is a rare condition with no cure. |
| Date: | Jul 2009 |
| Title: | Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants: technical report |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare |
| Description: | The reporting of statistics about chronic diseases and their associated determinants enables the monitoring of outcomes of interventions and health programs, and helps to assess the needs for health services in the future. This report describes forty-two indicators developed to measure the progress in prevention of chronic disease in Australia. |
| Date: | Jun 2009 |
| Title: | Helping a friend with a chronic illness |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Inspire Foundation |
| Description: | A chronic illness, is a medical condition that will last a long time or may even be permanent. There's lots of different illnesses that can be classed as chronic. This factsheet gives you more info about what they are and suggestions for supporting a friend with a chronic illness. |
| Date: | Feb 2009 |
| Title: | Chronic disease and participation in work |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare |
| Description: | Chronic disease can result in functional limitation and disability associated with ill health. As a result, people with chronic disease may be limited in their ability to participate fully in the workforce. |
| Date: | Feb 2009 |
| Title: | Cachexia |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Virtual Medical Centre.com |
| Description: | Cachexia means 'poor condition' in Greek. Cachexia has been defined as a syndrome characterised by progressive loss of lean tissue and body fat. Losses are often in excess to that explained by the associated anorexia. Cachexia oc |
| Date: | Dec 2008 |
| Title: | Non-English speaking background resources |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing |
| Description: | Non English Speaking background factsheets, print and radio advertisements and an Educator Tool Kit for the 'How do you measure up?' campaign. |
| Date: | Dec 2008 |
| Title: | Modern management of thyroid replacement therapy |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Prescriber |
| Description: | Hypothyroidism is a common and chronic condition. Lifelong thyroxine therapy relieves symptoms and restores 'normal' thyroid function. |
| Date: | Dec 2008 |
| Title: | How do I measure myself? |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing |
| Description: | Find out how to measure your waist to see whether you are at risk of chronic disease. |
| Date: | Dec 2008 |
| Title: | Chronic disease |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing |
| Description: | Here you will find answers to some frequently asked questions relating to chronic disease. |
| Date: | Nov 2008 |
| Title: | Health risks |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing |
| Description: | Unhealthy eating and not enough physical activity can easily lead to an increased risk of developing a chronic disease such as some cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. |
| Date: | Nov 2008 |
