Addressing Chronic Disease

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Meadowood Health Partnership identifies Covid-19, Diabetes, and High Blood Pressure as just a few of the common chronic diseases prevalent in society today. For more information regarding these chronic diseases and other health concerns and updates, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Website at cdc.gov

COVID-19

COVID-19 is a disease that is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 can cause mild symptoms for many people, however some people can become severely ill. For many people, symptoms are temporary, but post COVID conditions are ongoing health conditions that may be enhanced or that people may develop after being infected with SARS-CoV-2. People who are older and people who have underlying medical conditions; such as diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, and more, may be more likely to contract COVID-19. 

COVID-19 can spread when someone who is infected with the virus breathes out particles and droplets that contain the virus. When these particles are breathed in by others, or they land on their eyes, nose, and/or mouth, one can become infected as well. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea. If these symptoms develop, it is recommended that one gets a COVID-19 test as soon as possible. Wearing masks, staying 6 feet apart, and getting an authorized COVID-19 Vaccine are proven ways to protect against COVID-19.    

COVID-19 Vaccines and Children

The CDC now recommends that everyone age 5 and older get a COVID-19 Vaccine. The Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine has been approved for children aged 5 to 17. All other vaccines have been approved for individuals 18 years of age and older. Everyone who receives a COVID-19 Vaccine may experience the following symptoms: Pain, redness, and swelling around the area of the injection, as well as Tiredness, Headache, Muscle pain, Chills, Fever, and Nausea. Children are at a lower risk of becoming ill with COVID-19 than adults. However, children can still contract the virus and get sick, have short- and long-term health complications, and spread COVID-19. Children who get vaccinated can help protect their family members and other individuals who are unable to be vaccinated and can help protect those who are at higher risk of contracting the virus.  COVID-19 vaccines are being monitored very closely and have been determined safe for everyone age 5 and older. Children 12 and older are able to receive the same vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that adults can receive. Children between the ages of 5 and 11 receive a dose that is one third of the adult dose of the Pfizer vaccine. A second shot three weeks after the first dose is needed. 

Diabetes

The CDC defines Diabetes as a “chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy”. Some food that we eat gets broken down into sugar, also known as glucose, which is then released into your blood stream. When this occurs, your blood sugar levels go up and your pancreas is signaled to make insulin. If someone has diabetes, their body is unable to use the insulin it produces as well as it should, or their body does not make enough insulin. When one does not have enough insulin, too much sugar will remain in one’s bloodstream which can cause heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, and other serious health conditions. 

Types of Diabetes

There are three common types of Diabetes. When someone has Type 1 Diabetes, it is thought that their body is attacking itself by mistake. This stops the body from producing insulin. About 5-10% of people who have diabetes have Type 1. There is no method of prevention for Type 1 Diabetes. Symptoms develop quickly and it is usually diagnosed in children and teens. People living with Type 1 Diabetes must take insulin every day. 90-95% of people living with diabetes have Type 2 Diabetes. When someone is living with Type 2 Diabetes, their body does not use insulin as well as it should, and therefore cannot keep normal blood sugar levels. Type 2 Diabetes can develop overtime and is usually diagnosed in adults. Symptoms are sometimes uncommon, so it is important to be tested if one is at high risk. Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes like weight loss, diet changes, and becoming more active. Lastly, Gestational Diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. It can cause higher health risks for the baby, as well as an increased chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes and obesity later in life. Gestational Diabetes goes away after the child is born, but can also cause the mother to develop Type 2 Diabetes. 

High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure, also commonly known as Hypertension, is when someone has a higher blood pressure level than normal. Blood pressure levels change throughout the day but having a consistently high blood pressure can lead to a diagnosis of High Blood Pressure. The CDC defines blood pressure as “the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries”. Arteries have the job of carrying blood from one’s heart to other parts of their body. High blood pressure puts individuals at higher risk for other health problems like heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. 

Blood pressure is measured using one’s Systolic Blood Pressure number and Diastolic Blood Pressure number. Systolic blood pressure “measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats” and diastolic blood pressure  “measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats”. A normal blood pressure measure is 120/80, which means the systolic measurement was 120 and the diastolic measure was 80. This can be written as ‘120 over 80’ or ‘120/80mmHg’. The guidelines that doctors use to diagnose high blood pressure varies, but most healthcare professionals diagnose individuals with high blood pressure if their pressure is consistently between 140 over 90 or 130 over 80, or higher. 

There are no signs or symptoms for high blood pressure, and therefore many people are unaware that they have it. The only way to know if someone has high blood pressure is if they have their blood pressure measured. High blood pressure develops overtime and can occur due to unhealthy lifestyle choices. Individuals with other health conditions. Like obesity and diabetes, may be at higher risk for developing high blood pressure. Pregnant women may also develop high blood pressure. High blood pressure can be very damaging to one’s health, but in most cases, one can manage their blood pressure.   

All information found at The Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, CDC.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, November 16). What is diabetes? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html.  

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 18). High blood pressure symptoms and causes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm.