What is a chronic condition?

A chronic condition is a long-lasting condition. It needs ongoing medical attention and may limit what you can do. Often there is no cure.

One in 2 Australians has a chronic disease. This makes chronic conditions the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia.

Chronic conditions describe a range of health conditions, including:

• chronic (ongoing) and complex conditions
• mental illness
• trauma
• disability
• genetic disorders

One in 5 Australians has 2 or more chronic conditions.

Many people living with a chronic condition need to manage their condition long term.

Chronic conditions can often lead to your health gradually getting worse. They can lower your quality of life and affect your independence.

What are some examples of chronic conditions?

Common chronic conditions in Australia are:

• asthma
• arthritis
• back pain
• cancer
• dementia
• diabetes
• endometriosis
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• heart and cardiovascular conditions
• mental health conditions
• osteoporosis

Chronic conditions can affect people of all ages. But they become more common with older age.

How are chronic health conditions managed?

If you have a chronic condition you will need to learn how to manage it.

You can manage a chronic condition by:

• seeing your doctor or specialist regularly
• taking the medicines you have been prescribed
• following your management plan
• eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep

Being engaged with managing your condition and helping treat the symptoms can improve your quality of life.

What can I do to help manage my condition?

Learning about your condition can help you manage it and take control of your health. It will also allow you to choose treatments that suit you.

Read widely, although be careful — not everything you read is true.

It will also help you to ask your doctor the right questions.

What medicines can help manage my chronic condition?

Understand what medicines you are taking and take them as prescribed by your doctor.

If you are taking medicines for long periods, ask your doctor for a Home Medicines Review. They will arrange for a pharmacist to visit your home and check that:

• you are taking your medicines correctly
• your medicines are working for you

Which health professionals can help manage my chronic health condition?

If you have a chronic illness, you may benefit from having a team of health professionals involved in your care. This is called a multidisciplinary team.

Your doctor

Make sure you have a doctor who understands you and the way you live your life. Having one person who is central to your health care can make things easier for you.

You may also want to set up a My Health Record. This is a digital health record that can be used by your doctor and other healthcare professionals you see.

Ask your doctor for a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan. These plans give a structured approach to managing your illness.

The plan is agreed on between you and your doctor. It includes ongoing care from a team of health professionals.

Learn more about Chronic health plans (Easy Read).

Specialist doctors and allied health care

Your doctor may refer you to a specialist. The type of specialist that you see will depend on your condition.

You may also have allied health professionals involved in your care. These may include the following.

• A dietitian, who can offer expert nutrition and diet advice.
• An exercise physiologist, who can help improve your health through exercise.
• An occupational therapist to help you keep, regain or improve your independence.
• A physiotherapist if you have a problem with pain or movement.
• A podiatrist, who can help with problems with your feet, ankles and lower legs.
• A psychologist to help you deal with chronic mental health conditions and the challenges of chronic illness.
• A social worker, who can give counselling and information about government and community support services.

Access to allied health care may improve your health and wellbeing. It can also lower the long-term impact of your condition.

Can chronic conditions affect my mental health?

Living with a chronic disease can be challenging. Chronic illness can affect both your physical and mental health, as well as your social and work life.

You have a higher chance of getting depression if you have a chronic condition.

This may be caused by:

• anxiety and stress caused by having a chronic condition
• medicines that treat your chronic condition
• brain changes caused by your chronic condition
• a family history of depression

Talk to your doctor if you feel like you are depressed. It may help to see a psychologist to help you adapt to the challenges of having a chronic illness.

People who have depression are also more likely to get chronic conditions such as:

• Alzheimer's disease
• diabetes
• heart disease
• osteoporosis
• pain
• stroke

Preventing chronic conditions

Having a healthy lifestyle can help lower your chance of developing a chronic condition. A healthy lifestyle includes:

• a good diet
• being as active as you can be
• getting enough sleep
• being a healthy weight
• not smoking
• reduce the amount of alcohol you drink

Resources and support

There is plenty of help and support available to help you manage your chronic condition. Sources of support can include:

• support groups to chat with people who have the same condition as you
• support services
• support for carers

Support groups

Many organisations have support groups. They will give you information about the best way to manage your chronic disease. Some of these organisations are listed below.

• Arthritis Australia — call 1800 011 041
• Asthma Australia — call 1800 278 462
• Dementia Australia — call 1800 100 500
• Diabetes Australia — call 1800 177 055
• Healthy Bones Australia — call 1800 242 141
• Heart Foundation
• Stroke Foundation — call 1800 787 653

Support services

You can find a list of resources to help manage chronic conditions on the Department of Health website.

Emotional support is available if you're stressed, anxious or depressed.

• You can phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day), or text or chat online.
• You can phone Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (24 hours a day) or use the webchat support service.

Support for carers

Carers of people with chronic conditions can also join self-management programs and support groups.

Carer Gateway offers emotional, practical and financial support and advice for all carers. Call on 1800 422 737.

More information

If you need help finding support services, talk to your doctor or call healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).