Chesser Surgery - Chronic disease

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Budgets
Patients are quite rightly getting more and more frustrated at not getting what they want, when they want it! Please be assured that we are your advocates and we act in your best interests. But we do have to prescribe cost-effectively, and refer for medical reasons when we can't manage your problem, not simply for your peace of mind. You will not find a GP practice these days which will oblige your every wish without discussion!

Photo ID

You may be asked for a photo for our records. This reduces problems where patients are mistaken for each other when they consult another GP within the practice. PHONE CALLS may be recorded for your protection.

Sickness Certificates

The first 7 days of sickness do not require a certificate from your GP. If your employer insists on a sickness form, complete a Self-Certification form, which can be found here

In the UK, around 360,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year. We know there are over 200 different types of cancer, but we do not know all the causes.

But we do know about the possible risk factors that can affect your risk of developing cancer. Some people make lifestyle changes to try and reduce this risk. Changes can include:

stopping smoking
eating a healthy diet
being physically active
keeping to a healthy weight
following recommended alcohol guidelines.

Cancer

CoordinateMyCare

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

It includes:

emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways

COPD is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. Many people don't realise they have it.

The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit your normal activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control.

Symptoms of COPD

The main symptoms of COPD are:

increasing breathlessness, particularly when you're active
a persistent chesty cough with phlegm – some people may dismiss this as just a "smoker's cough"
frequent chest infections
persistent wheezing

Without treatment, the symptoms usually get slowly worse. There may also be periods when they get suddenly worse, known as a flare-up or exacerbation.

When to get medical advice

See your GP if you have persistent symptoms of COPD, particularly if you're over 35 and smoke or used to smoke.

Don't ignore the symptoms. If they're caused by COPD, it's best to start treatment as soon as possible, before your lungs become significantly damaged.

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and whether you smoke or have smoked in the past. They can organise a breathing test to help diagnose COPD and rule out other lung conditions, such as asthma.

Causes of COPD

COPD occurs when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed. The main cause is smoking, although the condition can sometimes affect people who have never smoked.

The likelihood of developing COPD increases the more you smoke and the longer you've smoked.

Some cases of COPD are caused by long-term exposure to harmful fumes or dust, or occur as a result of a rare genetic problem that means the lungs are more vulnerable to damage.

Treatments for COPD

The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is permanent, but treatment can help slow down the progression of the condition.

Treatments include:

stopping smoking – if you have COPD and you smoke, this is the most important thing you can do
inhalers and medications – to help make breathing easier
pulmonary rehabilitation – a specialised programme of exercise and education
surgery or a lung transplant – although this is only an option for a very small number of people

Read more about how COPD is treated and living with COPD.

Outlook for COPD

The outlook for COPD varies from person to person. The condition can't be cured or reversed, but for many people treatment can help keep it under control so it doesn't severely limit their daily activities.

But in some people COPD may continue to get worse despite treatment, eventually having a significant impact on their quality of life and leading to life-threatening problems.

Social care and support guide

If you:

need help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability
care for someone regularly because they're ill, elderly or disabled - including family members

Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support.

Preventing COPD

COPD is largely a preventable condition. You can significantly reduce your chances of developing it if you avoid smoking.

If you already smoke, stopping can help prevent further damage to your lungs before it starts to cause troublesome symptoms.

If you think you need help to stop smoking, you can contact NHS Smokefree for free advice and support. You may also want to talk to your GP about the stop smoking medications available.

Read more about advice about stopping smoking or find a stop smoking service near you.

Coronary Heart Disease

BHF Women

Stroke

Heart Failure

Hypertension BP

Many healthy people have Hypertension (which is the disease where BloodPressure, BP is persistently raised), and it is important to spot this condition and treat it to prevent damage to the arteries (blood vessels supplying oxygen to the body). Untreated, it can lead to Heart Disease, Kidney Disease and Stroke.

Once diagnosed, reduction in salt in diet (check diet with your GP if you have other conditions) exercise, weight loss and BP medicines are essential in order to reduce the chance of more serious problems like Heart and Circulatory diseases.

There are two readings measured. The first is the Systolic, the maximun pressure generated by the heart as it pumps out the fresh red blood. The second lower reading is the Diastolic, which is the forward pressure remaining in the arteries, when the heart relaxes, giving the blood momentum to keep flowing, and preventing the blood simply flowing back into the heart!

Ideal=120/80 Vaguely acceptable is 140/85.
Sustained Systolics over 150, or Diastolics over 90, are quite dangerous.

Diagnosing Hypertension

Because it is normal for the heart to pump faster when someone is suddenly stressed or upset, this builds up pressure in your arteries (the elastic pipes supplying red blood to your body). Some if someone comes to the doctor and his/her BP is measured to be high, it might not necessarily mean that the BP doesn't drop right back to normal the minute you leave the room!

To get a better idea of your BP outside the surgery, some people buy a simple reliable elbow cuff sphygmomanometer from Lloyds, and take multiple readings, and put the on a BP graph to bring to show the GP (along with their machine, to have it checked against the doctor's machine). The reading that you enter on the chart should be the lowest of 2 readings.

Omron are the most accurate type of machine, but LLoyds do their own brand, which is often discounted from £25 to £15. (ring and check price with Lloyds pharmacy 79 Banstead Rd, Carshalton SM5 3NP, 020 8642 0928). Varying readings is normal. It's finding the best or lowest of 2 or 3, and making multiple readings over a week.

Monitoring Hypertensive Disease

If you find it difficult to get to surgery to have your twice yearly BP taken, then several chemists will do it for you. Let us know the result on your repeat prescription request.

Salmina next door are open til 7pm weekdays,
and open all day Saturday. (2pounds)
Lotus (Gasometer) also open 830-130pm Saturdays. (2pounds)
HE Matthews (140 StanleyPkRd, next to Total petrol station 86472079) also open Sat 9-5pm, will take BP for 1 pound.
Barai (Butterchurn Pub) BP free for customers for the
moment. 9-5pm, except Wed 1pm close. Sat 9-1pm
Crumps (opposite Sutton PostOffice) incl Saturday. 1 pound.
SuperDrug (Sutton HighSt) 8.30-6pm, excpt Sunday. Free.
MountElgon (WrytheGreen, next MelvynClarkes).Free.
9-6pm M-Fr, but 9-5pm Sat.
Salmina Chemist (next door) and Lloyds Chemist, 79 Banstead Rd, Carsh Beeches 8642 0928, are selling elbow BP machines for Ten Pounds. Make sure you choose the right size cuff! Bring in your graph to show the doctor.