Chronic Conditions

Chronic conditions (diseases) affect nearly 6 in 10 US adults. At CHAP Med in Sherman Oaks, California, family and osteopathic medicine specialists  and their highly trained team help you manage chronic conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, to lower the risks of complications. Schedule an in-person or telemedicine evaluation at CHAP Med by calling the office or using the online booking feature today. Walk-ins are welcome for established patients.

What are chronic conditions?

Chronic conditions, also called chronic diseases, are long-term conditions you often have to manage for the rest of your life. They’re common. When these conditions are managed effectively, you can live a long, healthy, pain-free life.

The CHAP Med experts screen for chronic conditions and offer treatments that reduce the risk of complications.

What are some common chronic conditions?

Common chronic diseases include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia)
• High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
• Diabetes
• Metabolic disorders
• Thyroid disorders
• Heart disease
• Arthritis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Osteoporosis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Asthma and allergies
• Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions
• Obesity
• Cancer

CHAP Med provides a robust chronic care management program for people with chronic conditions.

What are the symptoms of chronic conditions?

Chronic disease can cause the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Sleep or appetite changes
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Frequent urination or thirst
• Nerve damage (numbness, tingling, etc.)
• Difficulty concentrating

Not all chronic conditions cause symptoms, at least in the initial stages. Regular checkups and screenings often find these conditions well before they become major health problems.

How are chronic conditions diagnosed?

To diagnose chronic conditions at CHAP Med, your specialist weighs you, calculates your body mass index (BMI), checks your blood pressure and other vital signs, and completes a physical exam to screen for health problems.

Your provider might order bloodwork and/or urinalysis, heart- and lung-function tests, imaging, or other diagnostic tests to confirm a diagnosis and determine effective treatment.

How are chronic conditions managed?

Effectively managing chronic conditions will involve one or more of the following treatments:

• Diet and exercise changes
• Stress management
• Not smoking
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol
• Taking dietary supplements
• Medically supervised weight management
• Taking medication
• Therapy
• Specialist referrals

The CHAP Med team refers you to medical specialists for complex or severe chronic conditions that require in-depth treatments, like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, a medical procedure, or surgery.

Follow up with your family medicine provider as directed to ensure effective disease management and routinely screen for potential complications. You might see them monthly, every few months, biannually, or yearly. CHAP Med also offers convenient telemedicine visits. 

Schedule an in-person or telemedicine evaluation at CHAP Med by phone or request one online today. Walk-ins are welcome for established patients.