Chronic Diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO), defines a 'chronic disease' as a 'disease of long duration that evolves with time'.

         Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, or fibromyalgia … Living everyday with a chronic disease has a major impact on one's work and personal life: the relationship with oneself, and that with others and with the world, is altered.

         Chronic diseases are increasing all around the world.Between 1980 and 2014, the number of people suffering from diabetes rose from 108 to 422 millions, according to The World Health Organization (WHO). While steadily increasing in all developed countries, asthma affects 3.5 million people in France, of whom a third are under 15.

         Each year, in France, the number of people suffering from Long Term Illnesses is increasing – 10 million people insured under the general pension scheme, that is 17%, fall under the category of Long Term Illness, twice as many as 20 years ago.

         Daily living with a chronic disease can be a real challenge for patients, for his/her friends and family, and also for health professionals, who must design and propose care solutions, as well as individualized prevention programs.

         The objective of this section is to bring together the experiences, reflections and suggestions of patients, doctors and other various health professionals, in order to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic pain, and to improve prevention.

Isabelle Célestin-Lhopiteau

- Director of IFPPC, the French institute for Mind-Body Practices (www.ifppc.eu).

- Head of the University Diploma in Mind-Body Practices and Integrative Health Studies, Paris Sud University and Réunion University.

- Head of the University Diploma in Hypnosis and Anaesthesia, Paris Sud University.

- Psychologist and Psychotherapist, at the Pain Assessment and Management Center, Bicetre University Hospital, Paris.

- President of the association 'Thérapies d’Ici et d’Ailleurs' (Translatable by: 'Therapies from here and elsewhere').