Three must-know things about three important things.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a mental health (really a set of different conditions) condition characterised by increased nervousness, worry, and concern, typically regarding future events or possibilities. Anxiety is often experienced as a blend of mental and physical symptoms including worry, nervousness, agitation, fear, nausea, rapid heart rate, sweating, and tremor.

  1. Anxiety is universal in the sense that we all experience some of it, some of the time. This may be considered normal. It is when anxiety becomes excessive and or persistent that it starts to seriously affect quality of life, productivity, and more. This becomes a serious medical condition worthy of medical attention.
  2. Anxiety disorders include generalised anxiety, panic disorders, and phobias. These are among the most common mental health problems seen today.
  3. Anxiety is usually treated with a blend of medications and counselling. Results are quite variable given the wide and complex and varying nature of this set of mental health conditions. But results are generally positive with most patients improving. There can be challenges around medication dependency, treatment compliance and the life circumstances of the patient (often a major causative factor and often difficult to change).

Asthma

Asthma is an allergic condition characterised by airway obstruction that causes breathing difficulty. Asthma ranges in severity from very mild to life threatening.

  1. The diagnosis of asthma is often missed or delayed. The main symptoms are wheeze, cough, and breathlessness. These symptoms may be triggered or worsened by a viral illness (cold and flu), exertion (exercise), pollens (flowers and grass), and animal dander (pets).
  2. The successful treatment of asthma almost always involves the use of inhalers. These work well when properly used. But a great many patients do not use inhalers properly. It is a tricky technique but one that can (and must) be mastered.
  3. Asthma treatment ideally involves two elements: prevention (usually daily inhalers used every day regardless of symptoms) and relief (inhalers used as-needed to relieve symptoms short term). Both are important. The most common problem in asthma treatment is inadequate use of prevention.

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s  disease is a condition characterised by memory loss and a decline in cognitive ability.

  1. This condition is inadequately understood. We do not understand the cause. We do not understand the detailed nature of the condition. We do not have any effective proven treatments. As desperately frustrating as this is, it is the case and needs to be understood and accepted. For now anyway.
  2. Alzheimer’s is typically a disease of older age, usually affecting the over-60s. But around 10% of cases start younger than 60. The classical symptoms start with short term memory loss but progress to increasing memory problems, language difficulty, disorientation, mood swings, and more. Over time Alzheimer’s results in a general decline and patients usually become unable to live independently before dying some 10-15 years after initial diagnosis.
  3. Alzheimer’s is a tough disease. It is heartbreaking to be part of in any way. A great deal of compassion, support, and general care is needed. For everyone involved.

Written by Dr Colin Burns