• Heart Disease: This is a term covering any disorder of the heart, including coronary artery disease and heart failure. It’s the leading cause of death worldwide.
• Diabetes: This is a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). The two main types are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
• Chronic Kidney Disease: This condition describes the gradual loss of kidney function. It can lead to end-stage kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.
• Asthma: This is a chronic lung disorder that causes swelling and narrowing in the airways, causing difficulty in breathing.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): This is a type of obstructive lung disease characterised by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow.
• Arthritis: This is inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age. The most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): This is a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. It can lead to severe health complications like heart disease.
• Depression: This is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.
• Cancer: This is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.

Chronic diseases usually require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living, so they have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities.

In essence, chronic disease management is a team effort involving both family doctors and specialists, with the shared goal of improving patient outcomes and enhancing quality of life.