Do you have multiple illnesses? Let's talk about these comorbidities!

Sometimes we go to a doctor for a single illness. But the doctor will ask you, "Do you have other illnesses like blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol?" Why do you ask that? Because having one or more other illnesses along with one illness directly affects the treatment you receive. In medicine, the presence of other illnesses along with one main illness is what we call comorbidities . Don't be afraid when you hear this word, understanding it will be a great help for you in making decisions about your health.

What exactly are comorbidities?

Simply put, 'Comorbidity' is the presence of one or more other medical conditions at the same time in addition to your primary diagnosis .

To understand this, let's take an example. Imagine that you are a little overweight, that is, you have obesity. Now when you go to the doctor, he tells you to walk a little every day and exercise. But what if you have knee pain, that is, osteoarthritis? Then it is very difficult for you to walk, right? The pain may even increase.

Now, when the doctor finds out about this knee problem, instead of telling you to walk, he will probably tell you to do something that is not burdensome on the knees, like water aerobics. Here, even though your main problem is 'obesity', the knee problem that has influenced the way you treat it is the 'Comorbidity'.

Another example is high blood pressure, or hypertension. Many people with other diseases, such as heart disease and lung disease, may also have high blood pressure. So when your doctor prescribes you medication for your blood pressure, he or she will choose a medication that does not conflict with the medications you are taking for your other diseases and has fewer side effects.

What is the difference between 'main disease' and 'secondary disease'?

This may seem a bit complicated, but it's actually quite simple. The 'primary diagnosis' can vary depending on what we're treating at the time.

Imagine that you have chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

• When you see a nephrologist, your main condition is kidney disease. He considers high blood pressure and diabetes as additional conditions, or `comorbidities.` While he treats your kidneys, he also takes great care of the other two conditions.
• But when you go to a doctor (Endocrinologist) for treatment of diabetes, he will see that your main disease is diabetes. Then kidney disease and blood pressure become `comorbidities`.

Do you understand? The 'main illness' may vary depending on the specialist and the situation we are treating at the time.

How does having multiple illnesses affect health?

Having multiple chronic diseases can affect you in different ways.

• Physical and mental stress: Having multiple illnesses together can cause more stress, discomfort, and impact on the body and mind than having one illness alone.
• Treatment is complicated: This is the most important thing. Imagine if a medicine given for one disease is not good for another disease? Or if two medicines given for two diseases together cause problems? Therefore, it is extremely important to inform your doctor about every medicine you take.
• Need for multiple specialists: You may need to see multiple specialists. For example, a cardiologist, a nephrologist, and a diabetologist. It's important that they all work as a team to give you the best treatment plan.
• Hospitalizations: Studies show that a person with multiple comorbidities may have a longer hospital stay and an increased risk of complications.

What are the most common comorbidities?

Some medical conditions are more likely to cause other conditions. This does not mean that everyone with that condition will also develop these other conditions, but it is important to be aware of it.

Sometimes these diseases occur together because they share common risk factors. For example, high blood pressure and diabetes both increase the risk of heart disease and kidney disease. But sometimes the diseases can coexist without such an obvious connection.

So what should I do about this?

If these words (`Comorbidity`, `Multimorbidity`) seem difficult to you, don't think too much about it. The important thing is not to study these words.

Tell every doctor you see about any other illnesses you have and the medications you are taking. You may be taking Ayurvedic medicines, vitamins, or other supplements. Tell your doctor about all of these. Don't hide anything. Only then can your doctor give you the safest and best treatment plan .

Be an active participant in your health care decisions. Ask questions, clarify any doubts you have. It is your right and your responsibility.