Information on Health Conditions

Adults With a Learning Disability

Mencap is the UK’s leading learning disability charity.

Mental Health Foundation – Charity improving the lives of those with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Dementia

See our Dementia feature

Diabetes

Diabetes UK working for everyone affected by diabetes.

Heart Conditions

The following sections are taken from the NHS Choices web-site see the the full explanation and the impact.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death both in the UK and worldwide.

It’s responsible for around 73,000 deaths in the UK each year. About 1 in 6 men and 1 in 10 women die from CHD. CHD generally affects more men than women, but from the age of 50 the chances of developing the condition are similar for both men and women.

Angina, Heart Attacks and Heart Failure

In the UK, there are an estimated 2.3 million people living with the condition and around 2 million people affected by angina (the most common symptom of coronary heart disease).

As well as angina (chest pain), the main symptoms of CHD are heart attacks and heart failure . However, not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not have any before CHD is diagnosed.

CHD is sometimes called ischaemic heart disease.

Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease

Read more about the symptoms of coronary heart disease.

Mind and Mental Health

Worried about mental health?

If you’re having mental health problems, you’re not alone. One in four of us will have problems with our mental health at some time in our lives. See all the help and facilities available at NHS Choices.

Mind – Mental Health Can Affect Anyone- Guides to Support and Services

Neurological Conditions

Neurosupport is a registered charity providing support and advice for people with neurological conditions, their families and carers.

Parkinsons

Parkinsons   is a progressive neurological condition.  How does it progress.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. – See more here

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis  MS-UK are dedicated to giving support and information to anyone affected by MS.

The MS Trust is dedicated to making life better for people living with multiple sclerosis by providing free information to everyone affected by MS and by supporting the health professionals who work with multiple sclerosis.

Motor Neurone Disease

Motor Neurone Disease Association have website to help people living with the condition.

Obesity

Obesity is a term used to describe somebody who is very overweight, with a lot of body fat.

It’s a common problem, estimated to affect around one in every four adults and around one in every five children aged 10 to 11 in the UK.

The following sections are taken from the NHS Choices web-site see the causes and how to reduce the impact.

Risks of obesity

Taking steps to tackle obesity is important because, in addition to causing obvious physical changes, it can lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as:

Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to psychological problems, such as low self-esteem or depression.

Read more about the complications of obesity.

Treating obesity

The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and to exercise regularly. To do this you should:

  • eat a balanced, calorie-controlled diet as recommended by your GP or weight loss management health professional (such as a dietitian)
  • join a local weight loss group
  • take up activities such as fast walking, jogging, swimming or tennis for 150-300 minutes a week
  • eat slowly and avoid situations where you know you could be tempted to overeat

You may also benefit from psychological support from a trained healthcare professional, to help change the way you think about food and eating.

If lifestyle changes alone don’t help you lose weight, a medication called orlistat may be recommended. If taken correctly, this medication works by reducing the amount of the fat you absorb during digestion. Your GP will know whether orlistat is suitable for you.

In rare cases,  weight loss surgery may be recommended.

Read more about how obesity is treated.

Stroke

Stoke Association provide high quality, up-to-date stroke information for stroke patients, their families and carers.