A person sitting in an office chair stretches an arm across the body, with the posture hinting at possible arm or shoulder discomfort.

Long Term Condition Management

Long term conditions are health problems that last for many months or years and cannot be cured, but they can be managed with medication or therapies

Living with a long-term condition can sometimes feel tiring or unpredictable. Some days may feel manageable, while others can be more difficult. You may notice changes in your energy levels, routines, work, relationships, or your emotional wellbeing.

Common examples of long term conditions include diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, neurological conditions and kidney disease.

With the right information, support and healthy habits, many people manage their condition well. Many continue to live full, active and independent lives.

More about long term condition management

What long term condition management involves

We’ll also help you to know what to do if anything changes. This page explains what managing a long-term condition involves, what can help day to day, and when to seek advice from community health services. When needed, they can help you to understand your condition and stay well for as long as possible.

Managing a long-term condition often means learning how your condition affects you and building routines that help you stay well. This is sometimes called self-management.

This may include, understanding your condition and recognising symptoms, staying active (this will look different for different people, depending on their ability), looking after your emotional wellbeing, stopping symptoms from getting worse and avoiding flareups, taking medication safely and correctly, keeping an eye on your own health, attending regular health reviews, making healthy lifestyle choices and knowing when to ask for help – and who can help you.

Many long term conditions share similar ways of managing symptoms, even though each condition is different. You’ll find guidance on how to manage symptoms yourself in the Q&A section below.

Speak to a health professional if, your symptoms get worse, flare-ups are happening more often, you notice new or unexplained symptoms, you’re struggling to manage at home, pain or fatigue is affecting daily life, you feel worried, overwhelmed or unsure what to do, your medication doesn’t seem to work as you expect and you are often cancelling plans because of your condition.

Getting advice early can often prevent problems becoming more serious.

Our community team supports people with long term conditions such as breathing conditions (asthma, COPD), heart disease or heart failure, diabetes, arthritis and chronic pain, stroke, Parkinson’s or other neurological conditions, kidney disease, thyroid conditions, long term fatigue and long‑term muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) conditions.