Asthma
Asthma is a common condition that causes coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and breathlessness. Most people with asthma who take the appropriate treatment can live normal lives, but left untreated, asthma can cause permanent damage to the airways.
Asthma UK
This website has been revamped to meet the needs of the thousands of people with asthma who visit the site each day, either to find important information about asthma and how to control it.
How to use my inhaler: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhaler-videos/
Cancer
Non-urgent advice:
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support
Europe’s leading cancer information charity, with over 4,500 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for cancer patients, their families and carers.
There are videos available Macmillan and the support they offer on the Macmillan Video Site
Other Resources
Free information service provided by Cancer Research UK about cancer and cancer care for people with cancer and their families. Information is formatted in such a way that makes understanding the website an easy process
There is further information and educational videos on the Cancer Research UK Video Site
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease is a condition in which fatty substances build up inside the arteries that run to your heart. This makes them narrower, which can reduce the supply of oxygen to your heart.
CHD is the most common cause of death (and premature death) in the UK. 1 in 5 men and 1 in 7 women die from CHD. There are 80,000 deaths from CHD in the UK each year.
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart foundation has some useful information about CHD.
Here are some of the resources provided by them:
- Order our keep your heart healthy booklet.
- Call our Heart Helpline on 0300 330 3311 between Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
- Speak to others with heart conditions by joining a support group or online community.
- Sign up to our Heart Matters magazine and online information packed with health and lifestyle advice.
- Find out more about how your heart works.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. It is also known as diabetes mellitus. There are two types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2.
More than three-quarters of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes mellitus. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing as it commoner in the overweight and obese, which is itself a growing problem.
The remainder have type 1 diabetes mellitus, which used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
What is the treatment for diabetes?
It’s recognised that the sooner the blood sugar levels are brought under control, the better the long-term prospects of preventing damage. Lifestyle advice about diet, weight management and regular activity is the first step.
Type 1 diabetes will require immediate insulin therapy, Type 2 diabetes will first be managed with a drug called Metformin, if lifestyle changes alone aren’t effective. There are now several other drugs used in type 2 diabetes, although eventually some type 2 diabetics will need insulin therapy as it’s a progressive disease
Diabetes UK has lots of fantastic resources on how to prevent and better manage Diabetes.
Website: Diabetes UK
Pain
Living with Pain
Help from your GP and use of NHS services dedicated to pain management can help make sufferers more independant, reduce the severity of pain and assist in day to day with coping with what can be a debilitating condition.
Other useful resources:
Stroke
Stroke
A stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
Like all organs, the brain needs the oxygen and nutrients provided by blood to function properly. If the supply of blood is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to brain damage and possibly death.
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
A TIA or ‘mini-stroke’, is caused by a temporary fall in the blood supply to part of the brain, leading to a lack of oxygen to the brain. This can cause symptoms that are similar to a stroke, although they don’t last as long. A TIA lasts only a few minutes and is usually resolved within 24 hours.
As TIAs are serious, it is important that they are always investigated so that appropriate treatment can be given quickly. With treatment, the risk of a further TIA or a full stroke can be greatly reduced.