THE CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Running head: CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT 1
Chronic Disease Management
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT 2
Chronic Disease Management
Introduction
A medical practitioner is a valued individual in the society on whom various people rely
for both support and advice when they feel unwell, whether mentally, cognitively, spiritually or
physically. Currently, the fundamental issue circumnavigates the smoking population in society.
Several people present their arguments that medical practitioners should not provide treatment to
smokers. Some individuals base their opinions on the ground that smokers are morally
responsible for their ill-health condition. However, fair practice in the healthcare setting
encompasses not treating those who suffer from addiction differently. Furthermore, there exist
several legal considerations, both internationally and within the country (Australia) in guiding
the action by physicians. This paper is set to explore the reasons to why I feel the opinion to deny
smokers an equal access to medical services is null and void.
Knowledge and Concepts
The use of tobacco is the leading cause of chronic disease and deaths in Australia.
According to the World Health Organization, the use of tobacco leads to more than 20 thousand
related deaths and 150 hospitalizations each year. The ultimate annual social and economic cost
of using tobacco amounts to approximately $AU 12, 736.2 (World Health Organization, 2018).
Smoking is linked to the prevalence of chronic conditions such as lung cancer, heart disease,
diabetes, liver cancer, erectile dysfunction, Ectopic pregnancy, tuberculosis, vision loss,
colorectal cancer, Rheumatoid arthritis among others. Even though the reduction of smoking can
add value to the process of gaining relief from such chronic complications, treating smokers
differently from nonsmokers can do more harm than good in the management of these
conditions.

CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT 3
It is imperative to acknowledge the fact that smoking is not the only predisposing factor
to these conditions. Plenty of socio-demographic factors play a significant role in defining
wellbeing status. These socio-demographic factors range from race, sex, age, geographical
location, among others (Baldisserotto et al., 2016). Let us take diabetes as a typical example in
illustrating the factuality behind this narrative. Even though smoking is a predisposing factor in
the occurrence of diabetes, other factors also exist. For instance, excessive intake of sugary
drinks such as soda may increase the chances of diabetes type two. Consumption of fats could
also increase the prevalence of the disease. Lack of engaging in physical exercise is also a
paramount cause of diabetes. At this point, it is vital to acknowledge the fact that lack of physical
exercise brings in the concept of age as a fundamental demographic factor while anticipating the
management of diabetes. The level of physical activity of an individual declines as an individual
ages (McPhee et al., 2016). These defines why diabetes more prominent in the elderly rather than
children and youth. Therefore, while managing chronic diseases, it is important to address all the
predisposing risk factors. It would be naïve and irrational to base on smoking alone as a
predisposing factor for chronic conditions. As a result, implementation of discrimination of
smokers as opposed to nonsmokers draws fundamental rhetoric queries regarding the approach
likely to be employed on other socio-demographic characteristics of the individuals. It also
means that the elderly must be treated differently from the youth and children. On the same note,
it means that people who do not engage in the physical activity must be treated in a different way
from those who periodically exercise. If the narrative of treating smokers different from
nonsmokers has to prevail, then a greater effect is also subjected to some of the sporting
activities. For instance, if treatment has to be based on the likelihood behavioural cause, then the
players who engage in rugby operations must be managed differently from those who do not.