Chronic Disease

Around 60% of men and women in the United States suffer from chronic diseases that are among the leading causes of death. At CHAP Med in Sherman Oaks, California, family and osteopathic medicine specialists along with their experienced team, provide chronic disease management to ease or eliminate symptoms and avoid complications. Call CHAP Med today to schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation or request an appointment online. Walk-ins by established patients are welcome.

What are chronic diseases?

Chronic diseases are long-term (often lingering for a lifetime) conditions that require routine medical monitoring to reduce the risk of severe complications. The experts at CHAP Med provide comprehensive disease management services to men and women to optimize their health and avoid heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening medical events.

Common chronic diseases include:

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

It’s common for someone to have more than one chronic disease — 42% of Americans have two or more chronic conditions.

What are the risk factors for chronic diseases?

Chronic disease risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Carrying excess body weight
• Lack of exercise
• Poor dietary habits, including eating highly processed foods
• Aging
• Family history of chronic diseases
• Ongoing or extreme stress

While not all chronic diseases cause symptoms (at least not initially), they could eventually lead to increased urination and thirst, nerve damage (neuropathy), weight loss or gain, fatigue, shortness of breath, or other signs of a medical problem.

Do I have a chronic disease?

The CHAP Med experts diagnose chronic diseases by discussing your symptoms, medications, medical history, and lifestyle. They weigh you, check your blood pressure and other vital signs, and complete a physical exam to screen for signs of disease.

Diagnostic tests for chronic diseases include bloodwork, heart- and lung-function tests, urinalysis, biopsies, and X-rays (or another imaging procedure). If you need a more in-depth diagnostic test that requires medical procedures, CHAP Med refers you to the appropriate specialist.

How are chronic diseases managed?

The CHAP Med specialists devise chronic disease treatment plans that offer exceptional management with a low risk of complications. They might suggest making lifestyle changes, like losing weight, eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods (particularly those with added sugar), getting more exercise and sleep, and minimizing stress.

You might take medication or dietary supplements and try deep breathing or other relaxation techniques. If you have diabetes or hypertension, monitoring your blood sugar and blood pressure levels at home is helpful. You might need to see another specialist for therapy, surgery, cancer treatment, or other solutions for a complex chronic condition.

CHAP Med provides convenient telemedicine visits for some appointments, allowing you to speak with a primary care specialist from the comfort of your home or office.

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