FAQs About Chronic Conditions
Many of the top health threats in this country—and among members of
The Sound Partnership—are related to lifestyle. You can reduce your
risk for certain conditions—like cancer, diabetes or heart disease—through
healthy habits, like eating a balanced diet or exercising. Learn more
about the conditions that are common to Tacoma School District employees
and what you can do to prevent these conditions, or at least, reduce your
risk for developing them.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Coronary artery disease
Congestive heart failure
Digestive disorders
Mental health issues
Musculoskeletal conditions
Weight and obesity
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Q. What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
A. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a slowly progressive disease of the airways, characterized by a gradual loss of lung function. In the U.S., the term COPD includes chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive bronchitis, or emphysema, or combinations of these conditions. It represents the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.
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Q. How do I know I have COPD?
A. The symptoms of COPD can range from chronic cough and phlegmproduction to severe disabling shortness of breath. In some individuals, chronic cough and sputum production are the first signs that they are at risk for developing the airflow obstruction and shortness of breath characteristic of COPD. In others, shortness of breath may be the first indication of the disease. There is no known cure for COPD at the present time. Treatment is usually supportive and designed to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
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Q. My family has a history of heart disease. What can I do to avoid COPD?
A. In the U.S., the most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking. Pipe, cigar, other types of tobacco smoking, and passive exposure to cigarette smoke are also risk factors.
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Q. For more information, where should I go?
A. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
National Lung Health Education Program
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Coronary Artery Disease
Q. What is coronary artery disease?
A. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease, affecting
seven million Americans. It is a condition caused by thickening of the
walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. When these
arteries become blocked, the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen and
it can become damaged. Unfortunately, coronary artery disease develops
so slowly that there are no symptoms. People are often unaware that they
have it, until they have a heart attack.
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Q. How do I know I have coronary artery disease?
A. Because coronary artery disease develops slowly, there are no obvious
symptoms. However, risk factors for coronary artery disease include family
history of heart disease, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure,
smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. Nearly one-third of all Americans
with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it, so it’s
important to ask your doctor what your levels are for blood pressure and
cholesterol.
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Q. My family has a history of heart disease. What can I do to avoid
coronary artery disease?
A. You can reduce your risk by not smoking, reducing your cholesterol and
blood pressure, exercising and managing your weight. Certain foods can
also help protect you against all types of heart disease: fiber, soy,
fish and fish oils, antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C and E and carotenoids,
such as beta carotene), and folic acid.
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Q. For more information about this condition, where should I go?
A. You can check the American
Heart Association or the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
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Congestive Heart Failure
Q. What is congestive heart failure?
A. Congestive heart failure is a common form of heart failure that happens
when a person retains an excessive amount of water, often leading to swelling
of the legs and ankles and congestion in the lungs. Nearly five million
Americans are living with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed
each year.
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Q. How do I know if I’m at risk for congestive heart failure?
A. Congestive heart failure affects people of all ages, from children to
young adults, to the middle-aged to senior citizens. However, it’s
more common among older people, especially those who smoke, are overweight,
eat foods high in fat and cholesterol and don’t exercise. If someone
experiences heart failure, chances are they have (or had) coronary artery
disease, past heart attacks, high blood pressure, abnormal heart valves,
heart muscle disease or swelling, heart defects present at birth, severe
lung disease, diabetes, severe anemia, hyperthyroidism and abnormal heart
rhythm.
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Q. What can I do to prevent congestive heart failure?
A. Congestive heart failure is typically due to a weakening of the heart
over a long period of time. To help prevent heart failure, you should
takes steps to prevent the diseases and conditions that cause it, like
coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Maintaining
a healthy diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, saturated
fat, cholesterol and sodium, maintaining an ideal weight, exercising regularly
and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels can help reduce your chances
of developing congestive heart failure. In addition, your doctor may also
prescribe medications to help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure
levels.
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Q. For more
information about congestive heart failure, where should I go?
A. You can check the American
Heart Association or Mayo
Clinic Online.
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Digestive Disorders
Q. What is a digestive disorder?
A. Digestive diseases range from the occasional upset stomach to more life-threatening
conditions, like colon cancer.
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Q. What is the digestive system?
A. Your digestive system includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small
intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
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Q. How do I know if I’m at risk for a digestive disorder?
A. Most digestive diseases are very complex, with slight symptoms, and
the causes of many remain unknown. They may be inherited or develop from
multiple factors such as stress, fatigue, diet or smoking. Abusing alcohol
imposes the greatest risk for digestive diseases. Although digestive disorders
can affect people of any age, many of these problems occur more frequently
in older people.
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Q. Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of having a digestive
disorder?
A. In general, eating a diet high in fiber will lower your risk for digestive
disorders, and may also improve a variety of conditions, like chronic
constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disease, irritable bowl syndrome
and colorectal cancer. The American
College of Gastroenterology recommends eating 20-35
grams of fiber per day—about twice the amount of fiber the average
American eats each day. It’s important to increase fiber levels
in your diet gradually and to increase your fluid intake (water, soup,
broth, juices) as you increase fiber. Quitting smoking, limiting your
consumption of alcohol and managing your stress level will also reduce
your risk of developing or aggravating digestive disorders.
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Q. Should I increase my fiber levels in my diet if I have a digestive
disorder?
A. If you have ever received medical treatment for a digestive problem,
you should check with your doctor to find out if a high-fiber diet is
the right choice for you.
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Q. For more information about this condition, where should I go?
A. If you more information about this condition, you can check the following
websites:
American College of Gastroenterology
Discovery
Health.com
Medline
Plus
National
Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
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Mental Health Issues
Q. What are some types of mental health issues?
A. Mental health issues range from slight depression to more serious illnesses,
like schizophrenia or autism. Generally speaking, these disorders disrupt
a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others
and capacity for coping with the demands of life.
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Q. How does a person know if they have a mental health issue?
A. Mental health issues are generally linked to chemical imbalances in the
brain—resulting in a reduced ability to deal with stress—and
are often heredity. They generally strike individuals in the prime of
their lives, during adolescence and young adulthood. All ages are susceptible,
but the young and the old are especially vulnerable. In addition, those
who are dealing with major life stresses, such as death, job stress, or
other chronic health conditions are at risk for developing mental health
issues, such as depression.
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Q. Is there anything I can do to prevent mental illness from
happening to me?
A. You need to recognize that for many people it is impossible to prevent
mental health issues from occurring —especially those who are genetically
predisposed to developing mental health issues and those who are under
extreme stress. It is critical that these individuals treat their condition
like any other health issue, and seek medical care.
If this does not describe you, you can reduce your risk of developing mental
health issues by managing your stress level as well as the way you respond
to stress. In addition, eating right, exercising, getting a good night’s
sleep, quitting smoking and limiting your intake of alcohol will also
help reduce your risk.
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Q. How do I manage my stress level?
A. The best way to manage your stress level is to make it a priority to
incorporate time for yourself—and the things that make you feel
good—into each day. This will allow you to relax and unwind, and
to feel like you have control over your life and schedule. When major
stresses do occur, try to take a minute to think about and plan your response
before you react. This is especially helpful for individuals who are prone
to anger.
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Q. For more information about this condition, where should I go?
A. If you more information about this condition, you can check the following
websites:
Medline
Plus
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Institute of Mental Health
National Mental Health Association
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Musculoskeletal Conditions
Q. What are musculoskeletal conditions?
A. Musculoskeletal conditions affect the nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting
structures of the body. They range from painful, but non-life threatening
conditions, such as bunions and carpal tunnel syndrome, to debilitating
conditions like lupus and muscular dystrophy. Among the most common musculoskeletal
conditions are the over 100 types of arthritis.
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Q. How do I know if I’m at risk?
A. You are at risk for some of the more common musculoskeletal disorders
if you are involved in heavy physical labor, don’t get enough exercise,
perform tasks with repetitive motions, have experienced trauma to your
musculoskeletal system (such as being in an auto accident), or if you
have poor posture. In addition, research shows that you may be more likely
to develop symptoms of certain types of arthritis and related conditions
if you are overweight and eat a poor diet.
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Q. What can I do to reduce my risk?
A. Although some musculoskeletal conditions are genetic, many are preventable
by practicing good behaviors. For example, you should eat a healthy, well-balanced
diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grain products;
limit your intake of sugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat found
in animal products), and take the recommended daily amounts of vitamins
and minerals.
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Q. I exercise regularly. Am I still at risk?
A. You could be. Although exercise is a good behavior, it’s important
to exercise safely and maintain your body’s flexibility. Make sure
to ease into any new activity or sport, and always perform warm up and
cool down exercises (such as light jogging or gentle stretching) to minimize
the chance of muscle strain or other soft tissue injuries. And, let injuries
heal completely before engaging in activity that might cause the injury
to recur.
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Q. If my job includes heavy physical labor, what should I do to
prevent musculoskeletal disorders?
A. If you do heavy physical labor, such as repetitive tasks, make sure to
use items like back support belts or wrist guards to minimize the chance
of injury. Also, maintain proper form when doing certain activities, such
as lifting (e.g., lift with your legs, not your back), as well as good
posture, and wear supportive, comfortable footwear.
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Q. For more information about this condition, where should
I go?
A. If you more information about this condition, you can check the
following websites:
National Institute
of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Medline Plus (A
service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National
Institutes of Health)
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Weight and Obesity
Q. How do I know if I’m overweight?
A. You can calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI measures body fat based
on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. Calculate
your BMI. You are:
- Underweight if your BMI = <18.5
- Normal weight if your BMI = 18.5-24.9
- Overweight if your BMI = 25-29.9
- Obese if your BMI = 30 or greater
The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits.
The limits are:
It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who
have a muscular build.
It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others
who have lost muscle mass.
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Q. If I am overweight, is my health at risk?
A. Yes. People who are overweight are at increased risk for cancer, diabetes,
high blood pressure and early, preventable death. And, overweight and
obese children are now developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, which
in the past was only found in adults.
Obesity has become our country’s leading health problem. According
to a recent report in the Journal
of the American Medical Association, more than 64% of Americans
are overweight, about 30% are considered obese, and the numbers are rising.
And, the number of children who are overweight has doubled in the last
two to three decades, and now one in five children are considered overweight.
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Q. How do I go about losing weight?
A. To lose weight, you need to burn off more calories than you eat. You
can do this by eating fewer calories, becoming more physically active
or a combination of both. To start, set a realistic goal. Even moderate
weight loss can improve your health, so don’t try to lose too much
too fast. A loss of one-half to two pounds a week is generally considered
safe.
You can also help your students to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
by modeling and sharing your healthy eating and exercise habits with them
and their parents, and encouraging them to participate in physical activities—at
recess or outside of school hours.
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Q. For more information about obesity, where should I go?
A. If you more information, you can check the following websites:
National
Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases
American
Dietetic Association
General information on weight loss and
exercise
Diet and nutritional information
Weight Watchers
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