Chronic Issues

Chronic Diseases We Treat

• Arthritis: This common, painful condition causes joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness that worsens over time. Its symptoms can cause mild discomfort or complete immobility. If you think you have arthritis, there is help. In many cases, medication management may be all that is necessary for pain management and pain-free movement.
• Asthma: This respiratory disease is caused by a lung inflammation that makes it more difficult to breathe. Asthmatics may have symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma flare-ups occur intermittently and may have specific triggers such as allergies, cold/dry weather, or overexertion. While there is no cure for asthma, symptoms are manageable.

• Type 2 diabetes: High blood sugar leads to type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition in which the body cannot process the glucose (sugars) you consume. Over time, serious problems can result if you are statistically one in four adults with type 2 diabetes who are unaware you have the condition. This is why regular preventive medicine and annual physical exams are essential. A simple blood test can identify whether you are at risk for or have type 2 diabetes. Without treatment, diabetes can damage the nerves, kidneys, heart, and eyes. Treatment may include oral medication or insulin injections and lifestyle changes such as losing weight.
• Heart disease: Called a “silent killer,” heart disease often has no symptoms until a serious cardiac event occurs like a stroke or heart attack. That’s why it’s essential to be screened regularly for hypertension (see below) and other factors that increase your risk of heart disease. If you’re living with heart disease, our doctors will give you the necessary information for you to manage your condition. That’s why a long-term doctor/patient relationship with an internist is so important, they can provide you with effective treatment options most likely to work for you and improve your health.
• Hypertension: High blood pressure is a common cause of heart disease, but it often goes undetected until a serious heart condition occurs. Hypertension has no obvious symptoms until it has damaged your heart or cardiovascular system and caused an event such as a heart attack. While hypertension cannot be cured, you can effectively manage it with lifestyle changes and medication.
• High cholesterol: This waxy, fatty substance in the blood (cholesterol) can be found through a standard blood test. It’s important to have your cholesterol levels monitored at least once every 5 years to check for high cholesterol levels, which can narrow and clog your arteries and lead to a heart attack. Ongoing treatment for high cholesterol includes diet, exercise, and possibly medication management.
• Thyroid disease: The thyroid is a hormone-producing gland that regulates many bodily functions, including metabolism. A blood test can identify thyroid problems and thyroid hormone production levels to better control your metabolism and improve symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, being under- or overweight, and improving sleep. There is no cure for thyroid disease, but it can be effectively managed through thyroid hormone medication to correct imbalances.
• And more