Chronic diseases contribute to 75% of U.S. annual health care spending.  Patients with chronic diseases often experience devastating outcomes because of limited healthcare engagement and ineffective self-management skills.  Frontline healthcare staff members can play an important role in early diagnosis and proper disease management.  This can have a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life, as well as the cost of care.

This course is part two of a four-part series that aims to provide an overview of common chronic diseases, while also exploring the role frontline healthcare staff play in disease prevention and management.

More than 102 million American Adults (20 years or older) have total cholesterol levels above what is considered healthy.  1 in every 3 adults have high blood pressure.  These diseases, often seen existing together, pose a danger to a patient’s health and puts them at risk for other conditions.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 22 million people in the United States have asthma, another serious common chronic disease.  Nearly 6 million of these people are children.  This course includes an in-depth examination of hypertension, high cholesterol, and asthma. The challenges and experiences patients encounter during health episodes are explored.  In addition, factors and behaviors that increase a person’s risk for these common chronic diseases is discussed.  Techniques that can be used to assist and support patients in medication adherence and determining appropriate treatments are also examined.