CODE 1 Asthma A chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. In susceptible individuals, this inflammation causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. These episodes are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. The inflammation also causes an associated increase in the existing bronchial hyperresponsiveness to a variety of stimuli. CODE 2 Cancer Cancer, also called malignancy, is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. Cancer includes carcinoma, sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma and central nervous system cancers. Excludes non-melanoma skin cancer. CODE 3 Cardiovascular disease A disease affecting the heart or blood vessels. Cardiovascular diseases include arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, shock, endocarditis, diseases of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system, and congenital heart disease. CODE 4 Arthritis An umbrella term for more than 100 medical conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system, specifically joints. The three most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. CODE 5 Diabetes A disease marked by high blood glucose levels resulting from defective insulin production, insulin action or both. The three main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. CODE 6 Back problems Back pain can be grouped into different categories. Lower back pain refers to pain felt in the lower part of the spine (the lumbar spine). Back problems can also affect the upper back (the thoracic spine), the neck (cervical spine) as well as the tailbone (coccyx). CODE 7 Pulmonary disease An umbrella term that includes a number of long-term lung conditions which obstruct airflow to the lungs.
CODE 8 Chronic kidney disease A general term for when the kidneys are damaged and do not function as they should. CODE 9 Osteoporosis A long-term (chronic) disease which makes your bones less dense and more fragile. If you have osteoporosis, you are more likely to fracture or break a bone if you have a mild injury or minor fall. |