Chronic diseases in old age - causes and prevention. Chronic diseases - type, list of those with any chronic diseases

So, we know that illness is a special temporary state of the body, during which the body moves from a stable state (health) of functioning to another (painful) state that is not characteristic of it. The body, brought out of “equilibrium” by disease, expends effort (and therefore vitality, energy) to return to its original (healthy) state. If the vital force is not enough to completely return the body’s work to its previous (healthy) stable state, then the body stabilizes its work in some intermediate state between disease and health. This “intermediate” state is called a “sluggish” or “chronic” disease.

A chronic disease is characterized by the fact that the pathogenic principle remaining in the body seeks to strengthen and develop in it, and the body, in turn, seeks to return to its original healthy state. In both the first and second cases, the body must expend vital force and adapt to the “world on the brink of war.” This leads to the fact that certain compensatory mechanisms are activated, and the body of a chronically ill person continues to exist in a more or less tolerable state as long as there is enough vital energy to maintain them. As soon as the body is unable to maintain the compensatory mechanisms that restrain the disease, a new exacerbation of the disease occurs, and it “wins” “additional living space” for itself. The body, in turn, fights this formation of new compensatory mechanisms, directing even more vital force to their maintenance.

As a result of the redistribution of vital force, the body “turns off” a number of secondary biological functions for the sake of the organism’s survival. First of all, the most energetically wasteful function - sexual - is switched off: the general tone of the body decreases, early old age and accompanying diseases develop, and life expectancy is sharply reduced.

Based on the above, the healing work to restore the body will take place in stages. Thanks to energy-saving means and techniques, the level of vitality will first begin to be restored, which will transfer the body from one compensatory level to another until the last one - truly healthy. The transition from one compensatory level to another will be marked by acute conditions - exacerbations of the corresponding chronic diseases, which will eventually disappear. Every person can completely get rid of any chronic disease only by going through a series of exacerbations of these diseases.

After each such exacerbation, you will regain the previously lost function. First, vigor will come, then the signs of premature aging will disappear, then sexual function will be restored.

Now let's talk about how hunger helps us fight chronic diseases.

Any chronically ill person has combinations of chronic diseases of various profiles. The use of one method of therapeutic fasting allows you to obtain a lasting cure for the entire complex of chronic diseases. This is because fasting, first of all, qualitatively and quantitatively restores the work of the most important human system - the immunogenetic apparatus, strengthens the barriers of cells, organs and systems, revives the blood depot (microcirculatory bed), and, no less important, provides long-term therapeutic and preventive impact on the body. A person undergoes a “major overhaul.” If the “depth” of the impact of fasting destroyed the “roots” of diseases in the human field, then some diseases leave the human body earlier and for good. If it is small, then diseases may return over time due to a vicious lifestyle. It all depends on the neglect of the process, and to a greater extent on the persistence of the patient himself in achieving a lasting therapeutic effect. A prerequisite for such persistence is the repetition of preventive courses of fasting annually, and, if necessary, a series of fastings (fractional) for several years in a row to achieve final healing. There are many striking examples of how patients who were seemingly doomed to death, stubbornly continuing to repeat long courses of fasting, became practically healthy people after a few years.

Chronic disease primarily reduces the absorption of carbon dioxide by cells. Conventional treatment does not lead to normalization of this main indicator. In the end, a person’s compensatory and adaptive mechanisms are exhausted, both with and without conventional healing methods.

The symptoms themselves or a set of symptoms (syndromes) of chronic diseases, to a greater or lesser extent, provide relative compensation for the pathogenic process. For example, the body’s temperature reaction activates immunity (the body’s protective reaction) to pathogenic microbes and viruses. Pain syndrome enhances the analgesic effect inside the body, activating the so-called opiate receptors that release internal narcotic substances, and so on.

Timely use of fasting can ensure restoration of the processes of assimilation of carbon dioxide by cells.

The most important feature of fasting for chronic diseases is the rapid elimination of waste, the rapid release of the body from accumulated toxins - the causes of disease, and further correct lifestyle helps to restore energy and health.

It is a mistake to assume that one fast, even a long one, can completely cleanse the body of accumulated toxins. Toxins that have accumulated in the body for many years cannot be removed immediately in a few days or weeks. For diseases such as arthritis, major inflammations and tumors, three or more courses of fasting are required to achieve noticeable improvement in each case individually.

For inflammation of the respiratory tract, digestive tract and genitourinary canals, as well as all other organs that have a mucous membrane, one 20-30-day fast is enough for a complete cure. Thus, ear inflammation, conjunctivitis, gastritis, colitis, volvulus - all this can be cured during a course of long fasting. Only in relatively few cases are two courses required. Hay fever and asthma are also cured by fasting.

Observations of the results of fasting in many thousands of cases and for more than 130 years have shown that when during fasting the main burden of “work” is removed from the digestive organs, all that is released Vital energy The body is used to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins. With the help of its own vitality, the body can restore strength, health, and energy to itself after it gets rid of the toxic load.

Pernicious anemia resolves quickly during a two-week fast. During this time, the number of blood cells increases approximately five hundred thousand times. In all these cases, autointoxication from the large intestine occurs, which pollutes the blood and impairs the functioning of the hematopoietic organs. Similar septic pollution apparently occurs in cancer diseases, also causing anemia.

Diabetics can safely and successfully fast, especially if they are overweight. But if they have been injected with insulin for a long time, they must fast under the supervision of a specialist. May starve with great benefit suffering from chronic nephritis. In these and similar cases of illness, it is more important than fasting to correct the general lifestyle. We need to teach these sick people how and what to eat, and force them to work on their vicious eating habits. They can regain good health, gradually improving it, if all debilitating habits are stopped and the person follows the laws of proper nutrition.

During restorative and subsequent nutrition, chronic patients need to remember the following. Recommended " balanced diet", including the simultaneous intake of dairy and meat products, which are most saturated with allergenic proteins, especially aggravates protein antagonism. With such a diet, the digestive system is not able to fully respond and break down all protein structures into the original amino acids that are absorbed by human cells. It has been proven by radioimmune methods that with such nutrition penetration occurs through gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream of protein molecules that are not absorbed by the tissues until an allergic antigen-antibody reaction occurs.

The body spends a lot of energy on this reaction. It is also spent on paying off the consequences of this reaction. Even for healthy people, such nutrition is burdensome. And in chronic patients, allergic reactions are aggravated, followed by a more powerful damaging effect on the walls of blood vessels. Therefore, they need to adhere to a separate diet with a predominance of natural and fresh food. This diet has already been described before.

Chronic diseases are understood as diseases that cannot be treated with traditional methods in a short time; they can last for years and even a lifetime, accompanied by periods of remission and relapse.

Chronic diseases most often occur without obvious symptoms, but they occur regularly in the presence of provoking factors. Unfortunately, chronic diseases can accompany a person throughout his life. According to statistics, more than 60% of annual deaths occur due to chronic health problems.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

Description of chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system

The list of chronic diseases is very long. Diseases of the cardiovascular system lead in the number of deaths, most often affecting older people.

The most common among them:

• Atheroscrelosis. A very common arterial disease. It can already be called an epidemic. As a rule, it begins in youth and gradually gains momentum. Atherosclerosis can be hereditary or acquired during life due to bad habits and other diseases. This disease destroys the walls of arteries and leads to the formation of plaques that grow over time, causing heart attacks and sudden death.
• Cardiac ischemia. This is a dangerous chronic heart disease that affects the coronary arteries and impairs the functioning of the heart. There are several varieties of this disease, some of them lead to myocardial infarction and death, others are more harmless. The most dangerous form is the painless form, since the person is unaware of the disease. It can only be detected during an ECG.
• Chronic myocarditis. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, usually caused by infection. It may be asymptomatic or accompanied by chest pain and arrhythmia. The mild form of the disease is curable, but the more serious course of chronic myocarditis is fatal.
• Cardiomyopathy. This disease is dangerous because its causes are still unclear. The heart muscle enlarges due to lack of nutrition, and then stretches and gradually breaks down, leading to sudden death.

Infectious diseases

Description of chronic infectious diseases

Some viruses and bacteria can cause infectious chronic diseases.

The most common viral chronic infections include:

• Herpes. The virus is quite unpredictable. It can affect almost any area of ​​the skin, organs and tissues. It appears in a variety of places. Primary herpes is often accompanied by complications; subsequently, the disease is accompanied by constant relapses in the form of a cold on the lip, genital herpes, stomatitis, etc.
• Cytomegalovirus. This virus is capable of causing various diseases by provoking immune changes in the body. Pregnant women are always tested for cytomegalovirus infection, as it is often congenital and transmitted from mother to fetus. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways, from prematurity to developmental delay.
• HPV. It affects epithelial cells and mucous membranes. This virus causes various warts and papillomas on the human body, and can also cause cancer.

Lung diseases

Description of chronic lung diseases

Common chronic pulmonary diseases include:

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It is a mixture of bronchitis and emphysema. It poses a real threat to life, as it does not allow a person to breathe normally. The patient has shortness of breath and a persistent cough with sputum. This disease can progress for years and, unfortunately, does not respond to any treatment.
• Chronic lung abscess. The acute form can develop into a chronic form. Pus accumulates in the lung tissue, causing inflammation. An abscess is treated with antibiotics, but the most effective treatment is surgery. The area of ​​the lung along with the purulent formation is removed.
• Chronical bronchitis. Under the influence of unfavorable factors (smoking, dust, smoke), the tissues of the bronchi undergo changes and become susceptible to infections. Thus, chronic inflammation of the bronchi occurs, which constantly worsens and lasts for years.
• Bronchial asthma. This is chronic inflammation respiratory tract, accompanied by periods of severe shortness of breath, coughing at the slightest irritant.

Chronic diseases in children

Children can experience the same chronic diseases as adults. They can be congenital or acquired, when the acute form eventually becomes chronic.

Pediatricians note that in many cases the child’s health depends on the vigilance of parents.

Common diseases:

• Chronic pyelonephritis. Mothers need to closely monitor their baby's urination frequency. If the volume of urine becomes small, it becomes cloudy and acquires a pungent odor, these are alarming symptoms. The infection, entering the kidney tissue, causes inflammation, pain, and impaired urination. Even after a course of antibiotics, there is no certainty that the disease will not worsen again.
• Diathesis. A fairly common childhood illness. The baby's skin becomes very sensitive. When irritants appear (food, medications, dust, etc.), a reaction immediately occurs in the form of a rash and redness. Doctors tend to believe that the cause is a feature immune system child.
• Rickets. If there is a lack of vitamin D or a metabolic disorder, rickets occurs, causing dangerous changes in the growing bones of the child. The nervous system also suffers. The child becomes restless and irritable. The bones of the skull, legs, spine, and chest are bent. The whole condition worsens: the child often gets sick and suffers from shortness of breath.
• Chronical bronchitis. Bronchitis occurs quite often among children. This is due to poor environmental conditions and an increase in allergic reactions. Children with chronic bronchitis require special care: diet, constant immune support, protection from infectious diseases. It is especially difficult for such children in kindergarten; they often get sick for a long time.
• Rheumatism. As a result of exposure to streptococcal infections or hereditary factors, a chronic disease develops that affects the heart, blood vessels and joints. The first symptoms may not appear soon. The disease progresses slowly. During an exacerbation, the joints swell, hurt, and the temperature rises. It is difficult for the child to make small movements.

Kidney and bladder

Description of chronic kidney and bladder diseases

The main function of the kidneys is to cleanse the blood and remove various substances from the body. Impaired kidney function leads to various complications and diseases.

Common problems:

• Pyelonephritis. The infection enters the kidneys along with the blood and causes inflammation. Sometimes the cause is weakened immunity, when bacteria and microorganisms already present in the body are activated. A person experiences difficulty urinating and lower back pain. Chronic pyelonephritis is aggravated by hypothermia.
• Chronic cystitis. Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder mucosa. Most often it affects women, which is due to anatomical features. Chronic cystitis is rarely accompanied by severe pain; its symptoms are more smoothed out. If the cause is a chronic infection, it should be treated first.
• Stones in the kidneys. With poor diet and lifestyle, as well as with impaired metabolism, stones and sand form in the kidneys. As they move along the ureters, they cause pain. Treatment may vary depending on the type, size and location of the stone: medical, surgical or endoscopic.

More information about the treatment of chronic pyelonephritis can be found in the video.

Read: Tests for TORCH infections during pregnancy and their interpretation

Chronic gastrointestinal diseases

The gastrointestinal tract includes several organs, so the list of chronic gastrointestinal diseases is quite large.

We will look at the most common ones:

• Chronic gastritis. With gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes inflamed. Abdominal pain occurs, especially on an empty stomach and when the diet is violated. Chronic gastritis requires strict adherence to a diet.
• Chronic pancreatitis. A very common disease, the cause of which cannot always be determined. The outflow of pancreatic juice is disrupted, causing the gland to digest itself. Treatment consists of enzymes and diet.
• Chronic colitis. The term “colitis” can hide various pathologies, processes and diseases. Most often this refers to inflammation of the large intestine. The patient experiences abdominal pain, flatulence, and nausea.

Genitourinary system

Chronic diseases of the genitourinary system

Chronic diseases of the genitourinary system most often result from various infections and inflammatory processes in the body:

• Urethritis. This is an inflammation of the urethra that is sexually transmitted. In women, the symptoms of urethritis are very similar to cystitis. The main symptoms are pus from the urethra, itching and burning in the perineum, painful urination. In men, chronic urethritis can lead to prostatitis, in women – to infertility. Treated with antiseptics.
• Prostatitis. Chronic inflammation of the prostate gland affects about 30% of men under the age of 50 years. Prostatitis can be caused by infections or fluid retention. For the first few years, no obvious symptoms appear; the man feels well and does not experience serious problems. However, after a while, erection problems arise.
• Orchitis. This is a chronic inflammation of the testicle, which occurs as a result of the transition from an acute form to a chronic one. Drug therapy is aimed at relieving inflammation and maintaining the general condition of the body.
• Epididymitis. Inflammation of the epididymis can occur as an independent disease or as a complication against the background of another disease. There is pain in the perineum, the scrotum swells and turns red. Symptoms of chronic epididymitis appear only during an exacerbation.
• Adnexitis. Inflammation of the uterine appendages is in first place in terms of prevalence among gynecological diseases. It is dangerous because it is asymptomatic and leads to many complications, such as purulent inflammation and adhesions on the fallopian tubes

When treating chronic diseases of the genitourinary system, they first begin with treating the root cause, otherwise a relapse will not be long in coming.

From this article you will learn:

Why are chronic diseases more common among older people?

What chronic diseases do older people suffer from?

How to treat chronic diseases in old age

Society conventionally groups men and women over sixty years of age into the category of senior citizens. Older people have characteristic features approaching old age - changes in appearance and decreased ability to work. The aging of the human body begins much earlier - at about thirty years of age, when growth processes slow down and then end. By the age of 60, most people have already managed to “acquire” many different “sores”, the accelerated development of which begins in old age. Let's talk about what chronic diseases in old age are considered the most common.

What chronic diseases occur in old age?

Most older people in their youth collect a whole “bouquet” of diseases that become chronic over time. Basically, these are inflammatory processes and dysfunction of any organs. In addition, they suffer from acute forms of diseases (for example, infectious), which, due to weakened immunity, “linger on” and then become permanent.

Quite often, old age causes a sluggish asymptomatic course of the disease, and then complications quickly develop. Hidden chronic nature are tuberculosis, pneumonia, diabetes. Gastric ulcer, acute pathological processes in abdominal cavity requiring surgical intervention have virtually no symptoms.

Paradoxically, none of the common chronic diseases in old age is incompatible with life, that is, cannot lead to death. However, from them old man constantly gets problems that negatively affect his quality of life.

results scientific research showed that only 301 cases of pathology out of 2337 are considered indirect and not characteristic of old age.

Scientists have not found a healthy elderly person; perhaps their number on Earth is so small that it cannot be of serious significance for statistics.

Almost every elderly person suffers from caries, headaches or severe back pain of a chronic nature.

Doctors consider infectious diseases and injuries to be the most common.

For example, in 2013, there were approximately two billion reported cases of infection by pathogens of the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract.

Ordinary caries, as a disease, is considered a serious problem. For example, in 2013, it was found in 200 million elderly people, and in all these cases the disease occurred with complications.

For more than two billion people (of whom 1.6 billion are elderly), headaches make life very difficult.

Chronic diseases in old age include severe, persistent back pain and major depressive disorders. They often cause disability. In all countries of the world, doctors classify these two pathologies as the most common diseases.

What statistics say about chronic diseases in old age

From 1990 to 2013, scientists from 188 countries conducted scientific research on chronic diseases of older age. As a result, they concluded that the number of diseases “accompanying” old age is constantly growing and the nature of their course is taking on more and more severe forms.

This fact is explained by the fact that as people age, their immunity weakens. An elderly person “does not bother” himself with physical activity as before. In addition, his habitual way of life and stereotype of thinking, which had developed over the years, collapsed. An elderly person is more inclined to pay attention not to “minor” (from his point of view) external factors, but to his internal problems.

Old age inexorably makes its own adjustments, and maintaining health becomes increasingly difficult. Numerous diseases of a chronic nature overshadow long-awaited leisure, because an elderly person is forced to spend most of it on fighting his “sores.”

IN last decades doctors different countries the world is studying problems associated with deteriorating health modern people due to climate change and living conditions. Much attention is paid to finding effective means of combating pain. Scientists are looking for ways to solve the problems experienced by older people with disabilities.

In the course of research, it was revealed that life expectancy has changed, and the list of major diseases (chronic) that “accompany” old age has remained the same, but their “character” has “deteriorated” greatly.

The conclusion suggests itself that an increase in life expectancy leads to an increase in the number of chronic diseases in old age and the severity of their course.

The question arises - what to do? Take painkillers and doomedly convince yourself that old age should be exactly like this, or look for effective ways to eliminate these “old people’s” problems that are chronic in nature - back pain, migraines, asthma and depression.

Despite the fact that “old age is not a joy” and an elderly person receives a lot of disappointment and torment from it, humanity continues to persistently search for ways to prolong life.

A modern elderly person, in addition to dealing with “temporary” ailments, must also “deal with” diseases that are chronic in nature. Typically, this means the presence of several diseases, such as:

arterial hypertension;

• diseases nervous system.

Quite often there are cardiovascular diseases with circulatory disorders, deterioration or loss of vision, complicated by chronic depressive conditions.

During the study period (from 1990 to 2013), the number of older people suffering from the above chronic diseases increased by fifty-two percent.

Scientists have named the most common chronic diseases in old age. Moreover, 81% of people who have more than five diseases in their “bouquet” have not crossed the sixty-five-year mark.

It turns out that an elderly person, having waited until retirement, enjoys life for several years, travels, and gets to know the world. It would seem that live and be happy, but the “fairytale” life ends, and he begins to be treated, treated, and treated again.

Nowadays there is even such a concept as pensioner syndrome- when the euphoria from retirement “goes off scale”, and then the blues attack, indifference to everything and the elderly person feels inner emptiness.

An elderly person begins to feel tired of life, he “has nowhere else to rush”, he loses the meaning of existence. During this very difficult psychological period, an elderly person can even “dissociate” himself from others and plunge into his “sores” and insoluble problems.

The most common chronic diseases in old age

A list of the ten most common chronic diseases in old age, the treatment of which modern elderly people devote a lot of time, effort and money, is as follows:

Chronic back pain.

Severe depression.

Iron-deficiency anemia.

Neck pain.

Hearing loss (caused by old age, but may also be due to other reasons).

2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

   Restlessness, anxiety.

   Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The list shows that diseases that arise for physiological reasons are closely intertwined with mental illnesses.

Scientific research conducted in June 2015 showed that even the highest quality medical care cannot guarantee the health of people over seventy. And this is not surprising, because in parallel with the increase in the average life expectancy of a person, the number of chronic diseases in old age is steadily increasing throughout the world.

You can list other diseases from the above list that are chronic in nature.

Elderly and especially senile age of a person implies a change in the nature of diseases - the number of acute forms is reduced and the chronic type of course progresses. The most common diseases that have a chronic form include arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, lung diseases, neoplasms, and cerebral vascular damage.

The advanced age of patients imposes special requirements on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases. This is explained by the peculiarities of physiological processes in an aging body. In this regard, the degree of deviation from age standards and the emergence of new adaptive mechanisms of the body.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

Cardiac ischemia. The cardiovascular system one of the first to undergo age-related changes. Her diseases include coronary heart disease, which occurs very unusually in old age. IHD is often observed without pain - the pain is “replaced” by attacks of shortness of breath. In some cases, changes in the psyche may be the reason for the absence of complaints. All this greatly complicates the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and angina.

Gastralgic form of myocardial infarction. If in young people it is accompanied by colic, then an elderly person will feel only mild discomfort in the epigastric region or lower abdomen, and sometimes there may be a frequent urge to urinate. If the pain is localized in the neck, chest or shoulder, the possibility of coronary circulation disorders should not be ruled out (even taking into account the ineffectiveness of nitroglycerin). That is why an elderly person must undergo an ECG diagnosis. Acute myocardial infarction in this category of patients is initially often similar to a stroke; it is also caused by age-related changes in the blood supply to the brain.

An analysis of the symptoms of myocardial infarction in elderly patients shows that often the temperature reaction to the disease is weak or absent. The blood reaction changes significantly, ESR increases, and leukocytosis appears. In elderly patients, myocardial infarction is often complicated by disorders heart rate and cardiovascular failure, and in the post-infarction period, cardiac decompensation may develop.

Arterial hypertension

Severe hypertension in elderly patients is very rare because a patient with rapidly developing hypertension often has a myocardial infarction or stroke. Symptoms of hypertension in the elderly are very mild and chronic (general weakness, tinnitus, uncertainty and unsteadiness of gait). All of them are consequences of cerebral circulation impaired by atherosclerosis. Very rarely, an elderly patient complains of a “typical” sign for hypertension - headache.

Sometimes the elderly age of the patient is accompanied by hypertensive crises, which are chronic and less pronounced than in young people. In such patients, antihypertensive therapy is indicated when blood pressure rises above 160/65 mmHg. Art., with shortness of breath or symptoms of coronary insufficiency. It is necessary to reduce blood pressure extremely carefully - with the help of antihypertensive drugs, so as not to cause a sharp change in blood supply to the vital systems of the body.

With age heart rhythm is disturbed, it is chronic. Disturbances are accompanied by rapid fatigue, weakness, anxiety and other signs that are often mistaken for “harbingers” of old age rather than manifestations heart disease. Pharmacological therapy for arrhythmia in elderly patients has characteristic features. For example, due to possible disturbances in cardiac conduction and a sharp drop in blood pressure, intravenous infusions of novocainamide are not recommended; quinidine and some other drugs are used carefully.

Heart failure

Most often, heart failure in elderly patients develops slowly and quietly takes on a chronic form. Unexpressed symptoms are explained by hypotension due to general weakness, impaired vision and damage to the musculoskeletal system. The clinical picture of the disease depends on the degree of cardiosclerosis, circulatory disorders in the vital organs of the body, the activity of the neuroregulatory apparatus and the endocrine system.

Often, due to a decrease in stroke volume, signs of ischemic brain disease are detected earlier than congestion in the organs. Cerebral circulation disorders are accompanied by fatigue, tinnitus and dizziness. At night, an elderly person experiences anxiety, confusion, motor agitation, and suffers from chronic insomnia. All these manifestations may indicate insufficient blood supply to the brain.

The initial symptoms of left ventricular heart failure may include coughing when physical activity or changing the vertical position of the body to a horizontal one. The occurrence of shortness of breath can be a signal of the development of cardiac decompensation, and if it appears at rest at night, it is always considered pathological. Heart failure of the right ventricular type at the onset of the disease can manifest itself as mild dyspeptic disorders and swelling of the legs and feet. However, they should be distinguished from swelling caused by diseases of the joints and veins.

Respiratory diseases

Manifestations of chronic pulmonary diseases in old age differ characteristic features. For example, diagnosing pneumonia becomes more difficult with age. An elderly patient may not complain of chest pain, chills and fever. The clinical picture of the disease consists mainly of general symptoms (weakness, apathy, loss of appetite, etc.). Uncoordination of movements often occurs. On examination, there is no increase in vocal tremor and shortening of percussion sound.

Pneumonia in the elderly, it is diagnosed by the presence of a history of acute respiratory viral infection and general symptoms (weakness, apathy, shallow rapid breathing, cyanosis of the skin of the face, lips). But the final conclusion is made on the basis of blood tests and x-rays taken. Weakened immunity, chronic bronchitis (especially in smokers), obstructive emphysema and changes in the vascular system of the lungs complicate treatment and contribute to the transition of the acute form of the disease to chronic.

In old age, the patient's excretory capacity of the kidneys and metabolism of drugs in the liver decreases, so the choice of therapy for the treatment of pneumonia is very limited. In these circumstances, toxic antibacterial sulfonamide agents are not used due to the fact that they are poorly tolerated by the elderly. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed in combination with cardiac glycosides and respiratory analeptics. If necessary, medications for sore throat and arrhythmia are added. In addition, bronchodilators, physiotherapy, herbal medicine and vitamins are often recommended.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

In old age, the digestive system works differently. An elderly person experiences gastrointestinal diseases differently than younger people. Stomach ulcer in old age (it is also called “senile ulcer”) most often has a chronic symptomatic nature. It is caused by trophic disorders of the mucous membrane, which are associated with changes that worsen biochemical processes and blood supply to the stomach.

In old age, peptic ulcer disease, which is chronic in nature, worsens. The risk of stomach ulcers degenerating into malignant neoplasms increases. Along with this, the likelihood of pancreatitis increases, chronic colitis, hemorrhoids and cholelithiasis appear.

Not proper nutrition, excess body weight and bad habits lead to decreased immunity and early aging. The processes of nutrient absorption and tissue regeneration are inhibited, and the functioning of organs and body systems deteriorates. For example, scientists have proven that the mass of the human brain is gradually decreasing, and the convolutions are becoming thinner.

Nervous system

Nervous system a person undergoes changes with age. Weaken nervous processes inhibition and excitation. Vision and hearing become less sharp than in youth, and the analytical abilities of the brain and motor activity decrease. In the cardiovascular, endocrine and respiratory systems age-related changes also occur. The risk of cancer increases.

Angina pectoris, heart failure, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease very often they “accompany through life” older people whose diseases are chronic.

In old age, the mass of the heart becomes smaller. At rest, the heart rate is slow. And even with increased physical activity, there is no rapid heartbeat. As a result, the blood supply to the organs deteriorates, becomes chronic and leads to insufficient blood circulation in the heart muscle. Many at this age, mostly men, with heart failure die from a heart attack.

A very common chronic disease - hypertension, which develops due to decreased elasticity of blood vessels and the aorta.

A very common chronic disease in old age is atherosclerosis. Its cause lies in the disruption of lipid metabolism in the body and the formation of “cholesterol plaques” on the walls of blood vessels. This disease often foreshadows myocardial infarction, and cerebral atherosclerosis leads to stroke.

Sclerosis of cerebral vessels often causes dementia (senile dementia). Brain function deteriorates, the elderly person gradually loses acquired practical and mental skills, and with great difficulty assimilates new information.

One form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. This is a degenerative disease and only progresses with age. The early stage is almost impossible to diagnose; it most often develops in people over the age of 65.

Shaking paralysis, or Parkinson's disease- another misfortune that accompanies old age. The disease is most severe after the age of seventy. The disease is diagnosed on early stage, and with the help of modern therapy, the severity of its symptoms is quite easily reduced. Paralysis occurs due to a lack of a certain chemical compound (dopamine) in the human central nervous system. As a result, control of movements is partially lost, gait becomes uncertain, and hands begin to tremble involuntarily.

After forty years, the body’s absorption of calcium noticeably deteriorates; it begins to “wash out” from the bones. Partly for this reason, osteoporosis occurs (a disease bone tissue), leading to skeletal deformation and frequent fractures. In most cases, the disease “occurs” in women over sixty years of age, but it can also “happen” in men.

Many elderly people experience bladder weakness, which is chronic in nature. The disease can be caused by kidney dysfunction, tumors in the genitourinary system that put pressure on the bladder and cause uncontrollable urination. Quite often, older women experience prolapse of the genital organs, leading to urinary incontinence during sudden movements, as well as when laughing, sneezing or coughing.

Many older people experience unreasonable fear, stress and anxiety. This can be caused by age-related changes in the human psyche and be chronic.

General methods of treating chronic diseases in old age

It turns out to be a rather unsightly picture of the lives of elderly people, “concerned” with numerous problems due to their steadily deteriorating health. But not everything is as hopeless as it might seem at first. In effective ways prevention of many diseases and treatment of chronic diseases that have already been “accumulated over the years” are an active and mobile lifestyle, good nutrition, rich in vitamins and all necessary microelements.

Doctors recommend an integrated approach to solving health problems. For example, back pain cannot be cured with medications alone. It is necessary to strengthen the human immune system and nervous system. This means that good rest, feasible physical and sports activities and occupational therapy are of no small importance.

Modern medicine currently has available various, including preventive, measures aimed at minimizing the symptoms of chronic diseases in old age, removing pain syndromes, and in psychological terms - providing assistance in adaptation to society. At present, unfortunately, no fundamental changes can be expected in this direction.

Chronic diseases These are diseases that people suffer from for a long time. Most often, it is impossible to recover from these diseases; you can only achieve stable remission - the absence of exacerbations of the disease for a long time (sometimes several years).

People are born with some diseases, others arise in childhood or in adulthood due to insufficient or untimely treatment of acute diseases.

Any chronic disease requires observation by an appropriate medical specialist, adherence to a certain diet and lifestyle, possibly long-term use of medications with individual selection and periodic adjustment of the dose of medications taken.

Pregnancy and childbirth involve a significant increase in the workload of all organs and systems of your body, therefore, if you have any chronic diseases, consult your doctor - are you allowed to become pregnant and give birth, how to prepare for childbirth, is it possible to cancel medications and how their intake can affect the development of the fetus.

In addition, find out whether you can give birth on your own or whether a caesarean section is necessary, get recommendations for childbirth and the postpartum period.

Varicose veins in pregnant women

This disease is predisposed by hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy, due to which the tone of the venous wall decreases and varicose veins veins lower limbs and pelvic organs.

Often in the postpartum period, varicose veins significantly decrease or disappear completely.

In the initial stage of the disease, varicose veins are insignificant, the veins are soft, the skin over them is not changed. At a later stage, the veins are tense, the skin over them is pigmented, and eczema may appear. Women experience a feeling of heaviness in their legs and fatigue, dull pain in the legs, cramps in the calf muscles. These phenomena usually disappear after a night's sleep.

Prevention:

• repeated (5-6 times) rest during the day for 10-15 minutes in a horizontal position with raised legs
• wearing elastic tights
• It is possible to use medications on the recommendation of a doctor
• During childbirth, it is necessary to bandage the legs with elastic bandages or use special stockings.

Chronical bronchitis

This is a long-term inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. Characterized by a cough with the release of a small amount of mucous or mucopurulent sputum and shortness of breath, which last more than three months.

Causes:

• repetitive colds
• smoking

With exacerbation of bronchitis, the cough intensifies, the amount of sputum increases, the temperature rises, and weakness appears.

Treatment of exacerbation:

• semi-bed rest
• frequent hot drinks (tea with honey, chamomile, raspberries, hot milk)
• inhalation

Bronchial asthma

This allergic disease, manifested by attacks of suffocation. There are two forms of bronchial asthma: infectious-allergic and non-infectious-allergic, or atopic.

The first form develops against the background of infectious diseases of the respiratory tract (pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, etc.), the main allergen is microbes. In the atopic form, allergens can be street and house dust, plant pollen, wool, pet dander, food products, medicines, chemicals.

An attack of bronchial asthma often begins at night with a prolonged cough, the sputum is not separated. There is a sharp difficulty in exhaling. You have to sit down, tense all the muscles of the chest, neck, and shoulder girdle in order to exhale the air. The face becomes blue. The skin becomes covered with perspiration.

An attack of bronchial asthma that cannot be treated can turn into status asthmaticus, when the small bronchi are clogged with thick mucus, the bronchial mucosa swells, and oxygen deficiency develops. The condition becomes extremely serious.

Immediate hospitalization in a hospital intensive care unit is required. During childbirth, attacks of bronchial asthma are extremely rare. Bronchial asthma is not a contraindication for pregnancy.

It is believed that in the absence of treatment for bronchial asthma, the risk of complications in the mother and fetus is higher than from the use of medications. Inhaled drugs do not increase the risk birth defects in the fetus.

Prevention:

• spend more time outdoors
• Replace down pillows and blankets with synthetic ones
• change and boil bed linen weekly
• ventilate rooms more often
• do breathing exercises
• exclude foods with high allergenic properties: citrus fruits, strawberries, nuts, peppers, mustard, spicy and salty foods
• drink alkaline sodium mineral water, for example "Borjomi"
• take medications as recommended by a doctor
• for a mild attack, hot drinks, mustard plasters or jars will help.

Hypertonic disease

This is a chronic disease in which blood pressure persistently rises and is associated with impaired vascular tone. Blood pressure also increases with diseases of the kidneys, adrenal glands, thyroid gland and other organs.

For pregnant women, blood pressure is considered elevated, above 140/90 mm Hg. In the development of hypertension great importance has a hereditary predisposition.

With an exacerbation of hypertension, a crisis develops with a sharp rise in blood pressure.

During a hypertensive crisis, a sharp headache appears, often in the back of the head, dizziness, palpitations, tinnitus, spots before the eyes, nausea, vomiting, redness of the face and chest. In such a situation, you need to immediately call an ambulance.

Pregnant women with hypertension need to regularly measure blood pressure, conduct an ECG, urine tests with protein determination, and consult an ophthalmologist.

Visit a doctor antenatal clinic necessary every 2 weeks, and after 30 weeks - weekly. If blood pressure increases and health deteriorates, hospitalization in the pregnancy pathology department is necessary.

Prevention:

• good rest
• limiting salt intake (up to 5g per day)
• drug treatment must include sedatives

Arterial hypotension

This disease is characterized by a decrease in blood pressure below 100/60 mmHg and is associated with impaired vascular tone. Normal blood pressure is considered to be 100-120/70-80 mmHg.

Women are not considered sick if their blood pressure remains low wellness. If you feel unwell, there are complaints of headache, dizziness, weakness, palpitations, pain in the heart area, sweating, insomnia.

The disease affects women of asthenic build with pale skin and hands that are cold to the touch. These women often have varicose veins in their legs. Arterial hypotension may precede pregnancy or may develop during it.

Women with hypotension that existed before pregnancy tolerate it more easily. But it is necessary to control blood pressure, since an increase to normal may be a consequence of the addition of gestosis. For hypotension not accompanied by pathological symptoms, treatment is not carried out.

In case of hypotension due to other diseases, treatment of the underlying disease is required.

Prevention:

• 10-12 hours of sleep at night
• 1-2 hour nap
• morning exercises
• walks in the open air
• high protein diet
• you can drink strong tea and coffee with milk, cream
• taking multivitamins.

Mitral valve prolapse

This is a condition in which one or both leaflets of the mitral valve bulge into the left atrium during contraction of the left ventricle.

At the same time, half of the patients are not bothered by anything, and the pregnancy proceeds safely. Mitral valve prolapse is not a contraindication for pregnancy and spontaneous childbirth.

Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy

Diabetes mellitus is a disease whose pathogenesis involves an absolute or relative lack of insulin in the body, causing metabolic disorders and pathological changes in various organs and tissues.

Insulin is a hormone that promotes the utilization of glucose and the biosynthesis of glycogen, lipids (fats), and proteins. With insulin deficiency, the use of glucose is disrupted and its production increases, resulting in the development of hyperglycemia (increased blood glucose levels) - the main diagnostic sign of diabetes mellitus.

Carbohydrate metabolism during physiological pregnancy changes in accordance with the greater needs of the growing fetus for energy material, mainly glucose. Changes in carbohydrate metabolism are associated with the influence of placental hormones: placental lactogen, estrogens, progesterone, and corticosteroids. In the body of a pregnant woman, the level of free fatty acids, which are used for the mother’s energy expenditure, thereby preserving glucose for the fetus. By their nature, these changes in carbohydrate metabolism are regarded by most researchers as similar to changes in diabetes mellitus. Therefore, pregnancy is considered as a diabetogenic factor.

IN Lately There is a trend towards an increase in the number of pregnant women with diabetes. The number of births among women with diabetes increases from year to year, accounting for 0.1% - 0.3% of the total. There is an opinion that out of 100 pregnant women, approximately 2-3 have carbohydrate metabolism disorders.

The problem of diabetes mellitus and pregnancy is the focus of attention of obstetricians, endocrinologists and neonatologists, since this pathology is associated with a large number of obstetric complications, high perinatal morbidity and mortality, and adverse consequences for the health of the mother and child. In the clinic, it is customary to distinguish between obvious diabetes in pregnant women, transient, and latent; A special group consists of pregnant women with impending diabetes.

Diagnosis of overt diabetes in pregnant women is based on the presence of hyperglycemia and glucosuria (the appearance of glucose in the urine).

Mild form - fasting blood sugar level does not exceed 6.66 mmol/l, there is no ketosis (the appearance of so-called ketone bodies in the urine). Normalization of hyperglycemia is achieved by diet.

Moderate diabetes - fasting blood sugar level does not exceed 12.21 mmol/l, ketosis is absent or eliminated by following a diet. In severe diabetes, the fasting blood sugar level exceeds 12.21 mmol/l, and there is a tendency to develop ketosis. Vascular lesions are often observed - angiopathy (arterial hypertension, ischemic myocardial disease, trophic ulcers of the legs), retinopathy (damage to the retina), nephropathy (kidney damage - diabetic nephroangiosclerosis).

Up to 50% of cases of the disease in pregnant women are transient (transient) diabetes. This form of diabetes is associated with pregnancy; signs of the disease disappear after childbirth; diabetes may recur with a second pregnancy. Latent (or subclinical) diabetes is distinguished, in which there may be no clinical signs and the diagnosis is established by a modified glucose tolerance (sensitivity) test.

A group of pregnant women at risk for diabetes deserves attention. These include women with diabetes in the family; who gave birth to children weighing over 4500 grams; pregnant women with overweight body, glucosuria. The occurrence of glucosuria in pregnant women is associated with a decrease in the renal glucose threshold. It is believed that the increase in kidney permeability to glucose is due to the action of progesterone.

In almost 50% of pregnant women, a thorough examination can reveal glucosuria. All pregnant women in this group need to have their blood sugar determined on an empty stomach, and when numbers above 6.66 mmol/l are obtained, a glucose tolerance test is indicated. During pregnancy, repeated research of the glycemic and glucosuric profile is necessary.

Signs:

• feeling of dry mouth,
• feeling of thirst,
• polyuria (frequent and heavy urination),
• increased appetite along with weight loss and general weakness,
• skin itching, mainly in the area of ​​the external genitalia,
• pyorrhea,
• furunculosis.

Diabetes during pregnancy does not occur in the same way for all patients. In approximately 15% of patients, no significant changes in the picture of the disease are observed throughout pregnancy (this applies mainly to mild forms of diabetes).

In most cases, three stages of diabetes change are detected. The first stage begins from the 10th week of pregnancy and lasts 2-3 months. This stage is characterized by increased glucose tolerance and altered insulin sensitivity. There is an improvement in diabetes compensation, which may be accompanied by hypoglycemic comas. There is a need to reduce the insulin dose.

The second stage occurs at the 24-28th week of pregnancy, a decrease in glucose tolerance occurs, which is often manifested by a precomatous state or acidosis, which requires an increase in the dose of insulin. In a number of observations, 3-4 weeks before birth, an improvement in the patient’s condition is observed.

The third stage of change is associated with childbirth and the postpartum period. During childbirth, there is a risk of metabolic acidosis, which can quickly turn into diabetic acidosis. Immediately after childbirth, glucose tolerance increases. During lactation, the need for insulin is lower than before pregnancy.

The reasons for the change in the course of diabetes in pregnant women have not been fully established, but the influence of changes in the balance of hormones caused by pregnancy is certain.

The course of diabetes in pregnant women is greatly influenced by changes in kidney function, namely a decrease in the reabsorption of sugar in the kidneys, which is observed from 4-5 months of pregnancy, and impaired liver function, which contributes to the development of acidosis.

The effect of pregnancy on complications of severe diabetes mellitus such as vascular lesions, retinopathy and nephropathy is generally unfavorable. The most unfavorable combination of pregnancy and diabetic nephropathy, since the development of late toxicosis and repeated exacerbations of pyelonephritis are often observed.

The course of pregnancy with diabetes mellitus is accompanied by a number of features, which are most often the result of vascular complications in the mother and depend on the form of the disease and the degree of compensation for carbohydrate metabolism disorders.

The most common complications are spontaneous premature termination of pregnancy, late toxicosis, polyhydramnios, and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract. The frequency of spontaneous abortion ranges from 15 to 31%; late miscarriages are more common at 20-27 weeks. The high frequency of late toxicosis (30-50%) in these pregnant women is associated with a large number of predisposing factors: generalized vascular damage, diabetic nephropathy, impaired uteroplacental circulation, polyhydramnios, and genitourinary infections. In most cases, toxicosis begins before the 30th week of pregnancy, the predominant clinical symptoms are hypertension and edema. Severe forms of late toxicosis are observed mainly in patients with long-term and severe diabetes. One of the main ways to prevent late toxicosis is compensation of diabetes mellitus with early dates, while the incidence of nephropathy is reduced to 14%.

A specific complication of pregnancy with diabetes is polyhydramnios, which is observed in 20-30% of cases. Polyhydramnios is associated with late toxicosis, congenital fetal deformities and high perinatal mortality (up to 29%).

A serious complication is urinary tract infection in 16% of patients and acute pyelonephritis in 6%.

The combination of diabetic nephropathy, pyelonephritis and late toxicosis makes the prognosis for the mother and fetus very poor. Obstetric complications (weakness of labor, fetal asphyxia, narrow pelvis) are much more common in diabetic patients than in healthy ones, which is due to the following points: frequent early termination of pregnancy, the presence of a large fetus, polyhydramnios, and late toxicosis.

The postpartum period often has infectious complications. Currently, maternal mortality in diabetes mellitus is rare and is observed in cases of severe vascular disorders.

Children born to women with diabetes mellitus have distinctive features, since during intrauterine development are in special conditions - fetal homeostasis is disturbed due to hyperglycemia in the mother, hyperinsulinism and chronic hypoxia in the fetus. Newborns are different appearance, adaptive abilities and metabolic characteristics.

A characteristic feature is a large body weight at birth, which does not correspond to the period of intrauterine development, and an external Cushingoid appearance due to an increase in the mass of adipose tissue. There are changes internal organs; hypertrophy of the pancreatic islets, increased heart size, decreased weight of the brain and thymus. Functionally, newborns are distinguished by the immaturity of their organs and systems. In newborns, severe metabolic acidosis is observed in combination with hypoglycemia. Respiratory disorders are often observed, high perinatal mortality is up to 5-10%, the frequency of congenital anomalies is 6-8%.

The most commonly observed malformations are the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, and malformations of the skeletal system. Underdevelopment of the lower torso and limbs occurs only in diabetes mellitus.

Contraindications for continuing pregnancy are:

1) the presence of diabetes mellitus in both parents;

2) insulin-resistant diabetes with a tendency to ketoacidosis;

3) juvenile diabetes complicated by angiopathy;

4) combination of diabetes mellitus and active tuberculosis;

5) a combination of diabetes mellitus and Rh conflict.

If pregnancy continues, the main condition is full compensation of diabetes. The basis of nutrition is a diet that includes a normal content of complete proteins (120 g); limiting fats to 50-60 g and carbohydrates to 300-500 g with the complete exclusion of sugar, honey, jam, and confectionery. The total calorie content of the daily diet should be 2500-3000 kcal. The diet should be complete in terms of vitamins. Strict timing between insulin injection and food intake is necessary. All patients with diabetes should receive insulin during pregnancy. Oral antidiabetic drugs are not used during pregnancy.

Considering the variability of insulin needs during pregnancy, it is necessary to hospitalize pregnant women at least 3 times: at the first visit to the doctor, at 20-24 weeks. pregnancy, when the need for insulin changes most often, and at 32-36 weeks, when late toxicosis of pregnancy often occurs and careful monitoring of the condition of the fetus is required. During this hospitalization, the issue of timing and method of delivery is decided.

Outside of these periods of inpatient treatment, the patient should be under the systematic supervision of an obstetrician and endocrinologist. One of the difficult issues is the choice of the timing of delivery, since due to increasing placental insufficiency there is a threat of antenatal fetal death and at the same time, the fetus with diabetes mellitus in the mother is characterized by pronounced functional immaturity.

Continuing pregnancy to term is permissible if its course is uncomplicated and there are no signs of fetal distress. Most experts believe that early delivery is necessary; the optimal period is considered to be from the 35th to the 38th week. The choice of delivery method should be individualized, taking into account the condition of the mother, fetus and obstetric history. Operation frequency caesarean section in patients with diabetes mellitus it reaches 50%.

Insulin therapy continues both during childbirth and during cesarean section. Newborns from mothers with diabetes, despite their large body weight, are considered premature and require special care. In the first hours of life, attention should be paid to identifying and combating respiratory disorders, hypoglycemia, acidosis, and damage to the central nervous system.

Chronic tonsillitis

Chronic tonsillitis is a chronic inflammation of the tonsils. The palatine tonsils are an organ that takes an active part in the formation of the body’s immunobiological defense mechanisms.

The greatest activity of the tonsils is in these defense mechanisms manifests itself in childhood and the inflammatory processes occurring in them lead to the development of stable immunity. However, frequently recurring inflammation of the tonsils due to bacterial infection inhibits the development of immunity and causes the development of chronic tonsillitis. In addition, the development of immunity is sometimes delayed due to improper treatment with antibiotics, as well as the unreasonable use of drugs that reduce body temperature when it is not high (37-37.5).

The development of chronic tonsillitis is also facilitated by persistent impairment of nasal breathing (adenoids in children, deviated nasal septum, enlargement of the inferior turbinates, nasal polyps, etc.). Local causes are often infectious foci in nearby organs: carious teeth, purulent sinusitis, chronic adenoiditis.

Of great importance in the development and course of chronic tonsillitis is a decrease in immunity, the body’s defenses and an allergic condition, which in turn may precede or, conversely, be a consequence of chronic tonsillitis. What happens to the tonsils during their chronic inflammation? The changes are most often localized in the lacunae of the tonsils; soft lymphoid tissue is affected, which is replaced by harder, connective tissue. Cicatricial adhesions appear in the tonsils, some lacunae of the tonsils narrow and close, and as a result, closed purulent foci are formed. In the lacunae, so-called plugs accumulate, which are an accumulation of desquamated epithelium of the mucous membrane of the lacunae, food particles, living and dead microbes, and leukocytes. In addition to plugs, there may also be liquid purulent contents. With chronic tonsillitis, the tonsils may become enlarged, but they may also remain small. In the lacunae of the tonsils, very favorable conditions are created for the preservation and reproduction of pathogenic microbes. With their vital activity they support the inflammatory process in the tonsils. Microbes often spread through the lymphatic tract. Hence the enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes.

Signs:

1. Hyperemia and roller-like thickening of the edges of the palatine arches.

2. Cicatricial adhesions between the tonsils and palatine arches.

3. Loose or scarred and hardened tonsils.

4. Caseous-purulent plugs or liquid pus in the lacunae of the tonsils.

5. Regional lymphadenitis - enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes.

The diagnosis is made in the presence of two or more of the above local signs of tonsillitis.

It is customary to distinguish two main forms of tonsillitis: compensated and decompensated. In the compensated form, there are only local signs of chronic inflammation of the tonsils, the barrier function of which and the reactivity of the body are still such that they balance and even out the state of local inflammation, i.e. compensate for it, so a pronounced general reaction of the body does not occur.

In case of decompensation, there are not only local signs of chronic inflammation, but also tonsillitis, paratonsillitis, paratonsillar abscesses, diseases of distant organs and systems (cardiovascular, genitourinary, etc.).

Any form of chronic tonsillitis can cause allergization and infection of the entire body. Bacteria and viruses located in the lacunae under appropriate conditions (cooling, decreased body resistance, and other reasons) cause local exacerbations in the form of sore throats and even peritonsillar abscesses.

Diseases associated with chronic tonsillitis

There are quite a lot of them. Such diseases may be directly or indirectly associated with chronic inflammation of the tonsils. First of all, these are collagen diseases (rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus, periarteritis nodosa, scleroderma, dermatomyositis), a number of skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, polymorphic exudative erythema), nephritis, thyrotoxicosis, peripheral nerve damage (plexitis, radiculitis). Long-term tonsillogenic intoxication can contribute to the development of thrombocytopenic purpura and hemorrhagic vasculitis.

Chronic tonsillitis often causes a prolonged increase in low temperature (low-grade fever), pathological auditory sensations (tinnitus), worsens the course of vasomotor dysfunction of the nose, vegetative-vascular dystonia, vestibular dysfunction, etc.

Treatment methods for chronic tonsillitis

The choice of treatment method depends on the form of tonsillitis and, if it is decompensated, then the type of decompensation is taken into account. Before starting treatment, carious teeth and inflammation in the nose and paranasal sinuses should be cured.

There are two main methods of treatment: surgical and conservative. Each method also has its own varieties and variants.

Surgical methods

Let us briefly consider surgical treatment options. As a rule, surgery is prescribed for decompensated tonsillitis and in cases where repeated conservative treatment has not improved the condition of the tonsils. Often, tonsils are removed without the above, even without conservative treatment. And the effectiveness of correct and complex treatment proven by many scientific and practical otolaryngologists. Removal of tonsils must be fully justified.

Tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) has never been an urgent operation and the patient always has time to undergo several courses of complex, conservative treatment of tonsillitis before surgery, if it is truly indicated.

Surgical treatment may include either complete removal of the tonsils (most often done) or partial removal for large tonsils (done much less frequently).

Surgical methods also include galvanocaustics and diathermocoagulation of the tonsils (now rarely used).

In recent years, new methods of surgical treatment have been developed, such as laser lacunotomy or tonsillectomy using a surgical laser.

The tonsils are also affected by surgical ultrasound.

A fairly common cryosurgical method is freezing the tonsils. The method is used for small tonsils; some doctors also sound the tonsils with ultrasound before freezing, which helps reduce the tissue reaction to freezing and improve the healing of the wound surface on the tonsils.

Contraindications to tonsillectomy:

• Hemophilia, severe cardiovascular and renal failure,
• severe form of diabetes mellitus,
• active form tuberculosis,
• acute infectious diseases,
• recent months pregnancy,
• menstruation period,
• If you had a sore throat the day before, the operation should be performed in 2-3 weeks.

Conservative treatment methods

Conservative treatment is indicated for the compensated form, as well as for the decompensated form, manifested by repeated sore throats and in cases where there are contraindications for surgical treatment. Quite a lot of conservative treatment methods have been proposed.

Briefly and schematically, the means of conservative treatment, according to the nature of their main action, can be grouped as follows:

1. Means that help increase the body's defenses:

• correct daily routine,
• balanced diet with sufficient amounts of natural vitamins,
• physical exercise,
• resort climatic factors,
• biostimulants,
• gamma globulin,
• iron supplements, etc.

1. Hyposensitizing agents:

• calcium supplements,
• antihistamines,
• ascorbic acid,
• epsilon-aminocaproic acid,
• small doses of allergens, etc.

1. Immunocorrection means:

• levamisole,
• taktivin,
• prodigiosan,
• thymalin,
• I.R.S.-19,
• bronchomunal,
• ribomunil and many others etc.

1. Means of reflex influence:

• various types of novocaine blockades,
• acupuncture,
• manual therapy cervical region spine,
• osteopathy.

1. Means that have a sanitizing effect on the palatine tonsils and their regional The lymph nodes(these are active, medical manipulations):

• Washing the lacunae of the tonsils. It is used to remove the pathological contents of the tonsils (plugs, pus). They are usually washed with a syringe and a cannula, using various solutions. Such solutions can be: antiseptics, antibiotics, enzymes, antifungal, antiallergic, immunostimulating, biologically active drugs, etc. Correctly performed rinsing helps reduce inflammation in the lacunae of the tonsils, the size of the tonsils usually decreases.
• Suctioning the contents of the tonsil lacunae. Using an electric suction and cannula, you can remove liquid pus from the lacunae of the tonsils. And by using a special tip with a vacuum cap and supplying a medicinal solution, you can simultaneously wash out the lacunae.
• Introduction of medicinal substances into the lacunae. A syringe with a cannula is used for administration. Various emulsions, pastes, ointments, and oil suspensions are introduced. They linger in the gaps for a longer time, hence the more pronounced positive effect. The drugs have the same spectrum of action as those used for rinsing in the form of solutions.
• Injections into the tonsils. Using a syringe with a needle, the tissue of the tonsils itself or the space surrounding it is impregnated with various medicines. Some time ago, in Kharkov, it was proposed to make injections not with one needle, but with a special nozzle with a large number of small needles, which turned out to be more effective, since the tonsil tissue was actually saturated with the medicine, in contrast to injection with only one needle.
• Lubricating the tonsils. For lubrication, a fairly large number of different solutions or mixtures with a spectrum of action similar to that of rinsing preparations have been proposed. The most commonly used drugs: Lugol's solution, collargol, chlorophyllipt oil solution, propolis tincture with oil, etc.
• Gargling. Performed independently by the patient. Countless number of rinses suggested traditional medicine. In pharmacies you can also find a sufficient number of ready-made solutions or concentrates for rinsing.

1. Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment.

• ultrasound,
• microwave therapy,
• laser therapy,
• Microwave, UHF,
• inductothermy,
• ultraviolet irradiation
• tonsils,
• magnetotherapy,
• electrophoresis,
• mud therapy,
• inhalations and other methods.

The course of treatment for chronic tonsillitis usually consists of 10 - 12 procedures, both medical manipulations and physiotherapeutic methods. The course of treatment should include agents that affect many parts of the pathological process. The course can be conducted up to 2 times during the year, usually in early autumn and spring. The effectiveness of treatment increases if other members of the patient’s family are examined and, if chronic tonsillitis is detected, simultaneous treatment is carried out.

OSTEOMED AND CHRONIC DISEASES

Various types of diseases during pregnancy can be treated completely painlessly using soft osteopathic methods, acupuncture, and manual therapy.

For example, it has been observed that in patients with chronic tonsillitis and frequent sore throats, there is impaired mobility in the cranio-cervical joint, in most cases between the occiput and the atlas, with spasm of the short extensors of the neck, and that blockade at this level increases susceptibility to recurrent tonsillitis. And therefore, therapy of the cervical spine by an osteopathic doctor helps patients after the first visit.

WikiHow works like a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. This article was produced by 18 people, including anonymously, to edit and improve it.

The long course of chronic diseases can lead to serious problems with your health and the health of your family members, so getting used to such an illness is not enough, it is important to overcome it. Examples of chronic illnesses include: asthma, diabetes, depression (and other mental disorders), cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cerebral palsy, emphysema, celiac disease, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, Parkinson's disease, some forms of heart failure, severe arterial hypertension, various forms of arthritis.

Chronic illnesses lead to long-term financial stress. Such diseases reduce productivity. This change in employment may result not only in the loss of current employer-provided health insurance, but also in the inability to obtain cheaper coverage. Medical assistance will be provided only to disabled people.

To some extent, it is easier to deal with a life-threatening or acute illness than a chronic one. Some patients also have concomitant diseases due to improper treatment of the main one. It is important that doctors clearly understand how to properly treat a specific disease, then they will provide high-quality and correct treatment. In addition, it is important for the doctor to have a positive attitude towards treatment for the patient. Teach the patient how to fight, so depression will not affect them.

It is important that people with chronic illnesses are encouraged and motivated to continue their treatment. They should enjoy life as much as possible and remain independent - this gives them more self-confidence and allows them to establish a trusting relationship between patient and doctor.

This article contains information, patient tips, and treatment strategies that can help a person who has a chronic illness and wants to continue to maintain an active lifestyle.

Steps

Understand what a chronic disease is. Many people have symptoms but don't even know what's wrong with them. They live without treatment for years. The main problem of public health is the connection between diseases and the state of the environment. Those who experience strong, constant exposure to chemicals become more sensitive to them. People whose illnesses are associated with poor condition environment, note the presence of symptoms affecting several organ systems. Symptoms appear more often the more frequently they are affected Chemical substance or any other irritant.

Consult your doctor Once you notice symptoms that concern you, consult your doctor. Remember: these symptoms can be caused by many diseases, so getting a diagnosis is important. Don't put off going to the doctor just because you want to avoid it. It is always better to detect the presence of a disease at its early stage.

• The main symptoms of diseases of the central nervous system: fatigue, tension, headaches, confusion, memory impairment, depression, hyperactivity, sleep disturbance, dizziness.
• Gastrointestinal tract: bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, cramps.
• Genitourinary system: frequent urination, incontinence.
• Skin: eczema, urticaria, rash.
• Musculoskeletal system: muscle spasms, joint pain, back pain, swelling of the limbs.
• Respiratory system: frequent colds, bronchitis, asthma, difficulty breathing.
• Cardiovascular system: rapid or uneven heartbeat, hypertension, migraines.
• Ear, eye, nose, throat: nasal congestion, ear pain, watery eyes, sinusitis.

1. Determine a team of professionals. Multidisciplinary intervention is the collaboration of doctors, nurses, and specialists of different profiles. Such cooperation is extremely important for the correct diagnosis of the disease and further treatment. The patient, as well as the medical team, needs to clearly understand how to cope with the disease. The more a patient knows about his illness, the greater his chances of improving his health. It is important to create good program self-management to combat chronic illness

   • Personalize your treatment plan
   • Discuss your treatment plan with your doctor
   • Review the treatment plan regularly in group meetings
   • Connect with health communities to solve health problems together
   • Reassess your current health with special tests
   • Self-organization and public relations
   • Coaching and self-organization play an important role in the self-management strategy
   • Assisting in community development. Use whatever resources you can to cure the disease. There is a huge need for social programs to treat diseases. They can reduce financial costs, as well as help a person cope with their illness and improve their health.

2. Go for a walk if possible. Walking outdoors has a positive effect on your lungs, heart and mind. You should do exercises or go for walks at least three times a week. Start exercising with light exercises, gradually increasing the complexity, so you can develop endurance. You can use a walker or cane to make walking easier. You can also ride a scooter - with it you can be in the fresh air for a long time, especially in the summer. All this allows a person to maintain independence.

3. Consider alternative treatments

   • Consider a massage: Massage helps to relax the body and improves well-being. For some people with chronic illnesses, massage may cause pain that lasts several days. Be aware of what methods to use for your illness. Everything is individual.
   • Swimming in the pool: This is a very beneficial activity if a person has the opportunity to join an exercise program for people with chronic illnesses. There are special heated pools and classes for chronically ill patients with specially trained staff. Exercises can be done in a heated pool with a suitable water level. Some pools even have a Jacuzzi section.
   • Medical prescription: Sometimes medications are needed to treat those who are very ill, it is very important that these medications are prescribed family doctor. Think carefully about the possible risks and side effects, if your disease is not treated. Remember: the fact that you accept this moment medications don't mean you'll take them for the rest of your life. This is just part of a treatment plan, not a constant struggle to live a normal life.
   • Physiotherapy: Physical therapy includes treatment both in a clinic and at home. The therapist uses the following treatment methods: myostimulation, ultrasound, thermal radiation, exercise, cycling and exercise bike. The goal is to reduce pain, improve mobility, develop endurance and motivate the person to change their lifestyle. Some of the methods can be used at home.
   • Intravenous therapy: Intravenous nutritional therapy is very helpful for patients with fatigue and muscle pain. First of all, the patient is tested for magnesium levels in the body. If its content is low, a test is carried out with small test doses of magnesium, bicarbonate of soda, vitamin C. This is a fairly safe treatment method carried out by nurses. After it, many patients note an improvement in their health.
   • Consultations: Rehabilitation programs are a public health model that assists with: employment assessment, job search, job placement, resume writing, interview participation. There are also other, more spiritually oriented rehabilitation programs that work with the patient's emotional state.
   • Follow a proper diet: Good food- means good health. One of the best ways To improve your diet is to eat in limited quantities. Try to eat organic food and water.
   • Reconsider your spiritual path: Research has shown that believing in God, saying prayers, and attending services can reduce both stress and physical symptoms. Friendship and communication with people will reduce pain, and maybe cure the disease. Recent studies note that those who pray recover much faster than those who do not. Do not ignore your spiritual state in the fight against illness.

4. Make your home safe: Make sure all elements of your home are safe.

   • walls
   • furniture
   • latrines
   • bed
   • bed sheets
   • pillows
   • laundry
   • personal habits
   • filtration system
   • ventilation system
   • general home maintenance

5. Understand that the treatment of chronic diseases requires an integrated approach; this problem is a real epidemic. With the aging population, the problem of chronic diseases is becoming increasingly urgent. Any community should ensure that it has done everything possible to help older and disabled people stay in their homes for as long as possible.

   For people providing assistance

   • Learn. Find out more about your illness to help you find a treatment plan. There are many resources available today. They can also be found here.
   • Check it out. In order for a person to feel that his treatment is structured correctly, check how he feels. Let him know if something goes wrong and that things will get better with time.
   • Listen. Ask how they are feeling and be willing to listen for a while. Find out their fears and habits so they will feel comfortable. Allow them to express their complaints, surround them with care and attention.
   • Empathize. This is a pretty attractive idea that can be difficult to implement. This is not pity. This is an expression of sympathy and compassion. And this is better done through actions, not words.
   • Encourage. Provide emotional support, encourage any efforts to improve their health, and do not let them lose hope. However, be careful with incentives. Don't let them think that they can do whatever they want.
   • Be patient. The hardest thing for loved ones of chronically ill people is to remain patient. Patience is one of the most important qualities of a person.
   • Help. It's simple and doable. A person with a chronic illness may feel overwhelmed. If possible, help him find solutions to problems. Look for any ways.
   • Be positive. Some difficulties may arise with this due to the constant struggle with the disease. As mentioned above, be smart.
   • Be active. There are always new interesting things that you can enjoy learning. Look for answers. Help them take responsibility for their treatment. Also recommend new treatment methods.

   For patients

   • Connect. There are many online support groups where people chat, share their experiences and provide help. Connect with such groups, the people in them can give you enormous useful tips and recommendations.
   • Think one step ahead. Many support groups have local chapters that allow you to get to know each other better in a more informal setting.
   • Eat healthy. Research has shown that a diet rich in whole grains, legumes and vegetables (especially green ones) is not only a good source of nutrients and fiber, but also has beneficial effects on blood pressure and blood lipid levels.
   • Start a daily exercise regimen. Physical exercise will help increase muscle mass and metabolic rate, which promotes efficient calorie burning. Even with low to moderate levels of activity (walking the dog, walking stairs, or gardening), exercise will be very beneficial.
   • Take quality nutritional supplements. Add healthy eating additional nutrients that are difficult to obtain from the daily diet (in reasonable doses, of course). Before taking any medications, consult your doctor.
   • Learn to cope with stress. Changes of any kind are stressful. Using medications to combat stress cancels out all the previous efforts: proper nutrition, fitness. Therefore, methods such as massage, yoga, and breathing exercises have a significant advantage in combating stress.

   Warnings

   • Before using one of the above treatment methods, please contact your family doctor or healthcare professional to ensure which method is right for you.
   • Do not stop current treatment without first consulting a specialist.