Health conditions

Find out more about a health condition

  • NHS Choices website link
    This link will take you to a national website that has information on 750 health conditions.

    Simply click on the link and find your health condition by looking under the conditions listed in the A-Z.
  • You can also find lots of information about health conditions by visiting our local NHS library website. The site also has leaflets on conditions which you may be about to be treated for in a local hospitals.
  • Patient UK
    A reliable and comprehensive source of health and disease information.
  • Living Well
    Expert Patients Programme is a free six week course for anyone living with any long-term health condition(s). The programme aims to provide support and develop self confidence to help you feel more in control.

If you can't find the information you are looking for, please let us know by giving us your feedback. We will make sure that we find the information you need and include it on this website.

Common health conditions

We've listed information about some of the most common health conditions on this page:

Arthritis

  • Understanding arthritis
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of keeping healthy, treatments and managing your condition
  • Understanding osteoarthritis
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of keeping healthy, treatments and managing your condition
  • Understanding rheumatoid arthritis
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of keeping healthy, treatments and managing conditions.
  • Arthritis Care
    A charity that supports people with arthritis. They are the UK’s largest organisation working for people who have arthritis.
  • Persistant Pain
    This is a free self-management course for people who live with day-to-day persistent pain. It aims to give people knowledge and skills to help them manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

Asthma

  • Understanding Asthma
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of keeping healthy, treatments and managing your condition.
  • Asthma UK
    The country's leading website for asthma sufferers.
  • NHS Local Stop Smoking Service
    Free support and advice on giving up smoking. Runs group and one-to-one counselling or a specialist can visit you in your home.

    Contact details
    Address:     South Downs Health NHS Trust
    Robert Lodge
    Manor Place
    Brighton
    BN2 5GG
    Telephone: 01273 267397
    Email: stopsmoking@southdowns.nhs.uk

Back pain

  • Understanding back pain
    A link to the NHS choices website which gives details of symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of back pain.
  • Back pain information leaflet
    Understand more about back pain by reading this leaflet written by Arthritis Research.
  • Back Care
    A national charity for healthier backs.
  • NHS information leaflet on back pain
    Understand more about back pain by reading this leaflet written by the NHS Brighton and Hove.
  • Persistant Pain
    This is a free self-management course for people who live with day-to-day persistent pain. It aims to give people knowledge and skills to help them manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

Cancer

Contact details
Telephone: 0114 271 1060
Email: info@cancerscreening.nhs.uk

Chronic heart disease

  • Understanding coronary heart disease
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of avoiding heart disease, knowing the symptoms, being diagnosed, treatment and living with heart disease.
  • British Heart Foundation
    Pioneering research, vital prevention activity and ensuring quality care and support for everyone living with heart disease.
  • Women & heart disease (PDF 1.48mb file)
    A guidebook for women about heart disease including signs, symptoms and lifestyle advice.


Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)

  • Understanding COPD
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and risks of COPD.
  • The British Lung Foundation
    Provide support for people affected by lung disease and work to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by lung disease.

Depression

Contact details
Telephone: 0845 123 2320
Email: information@depressionalliance.org

  • Dealing with depression booklet
    This booklet produced by the Mental Health Foundation aims to help people to recognise the symptoms of depression. It gives information and advice about things that people can do to try to manage feelings of depression. It also considers different treatment options for dealing with depression.
  • First-Steps to Mental Wellbeing in Brighton and Hove
    A resource pack providing links to self-help booklets and information on a range of mental health and emotional issues to the public and health & social care workers in Brighton & Hove.
  • MIND
    National Mind helps people take control of their mental health. They do this by providing high-quality information and advice, and campaigning to promote and protect good mental health for everyone. They also provide training programmes, Mind in your area, grants and more. This is to make it possible for people who experience mental distress to live full lives, and play their full part in society.
  • Mind Advocacy Service (161kb PDF file)
    A leaflet explaining what an adovate does and how they can help you if you are experiencing mental distress.
  • New Beginnings
    This is a free course for those whose life has been affected by living with or being in recovery from a mental health condition.
  • NHS Choices Stressline
    If your feeling stressed, anxious or depressed about job insecurity, redundancy, debt or financial problems, don't leave it until things to get really bad before you seek help. Health advisors will listen, offer practical advice, guide you to useful online resources and put you in touch with other people who can help.

    Contact details
    Telephone:     0300 123 2000
    Textphone:     0300 123 2810
    Daily, 8am-10pm
  • Samaritans
    Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.


Diabetes

  • Understanding diabetes
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and risks of diabetes.
  • Diabetes UK
    Diabetes UK is the largest organisation in the UK working for people with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and helping people live with the condition.
  • Diabetes information leaflets
    Read more about diabetes by viewing information leaflets on the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation website.

Epilepsy

  • Understading epilepsy
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of knowing the symptoms, being diagnosed, treatment and living with epilepsy.
  • Epilepsy Action
    A charity that helps to meet the needs of people with epilepsy.
  • National Society for Epilepsy
    Epilepsy forum - Chat and connect with others affected by the condition.

Kidney disease

  • Understanding kidney disease
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of avoiding kidney disease, knowing the symptoms, being diagnosed, treating kidney disease and living with kidney disease.
  • UK National Kidney Federation
    Campaigns for improvements to kidney treatment and gives details of national patient support services.

Palliative care

  • End of life care
    A link to the NHS Choices website, with information on planning your future care, getting ready for your death, hospices and more.
  • Pain Relief Foundation
    Information about dealing with chronic pain.

Stroke

  • Understanding stroke
    A link to the NHS Choices website, which gives details of keeping healthy, treatments and managing conditions.
  • The Stroke Association
    Funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation, and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its rehabilitation and support services.
  • Headway
    Headway is a charity set up to give help and support to people affected by brain injury.
  • Different Strokes
    Different Strokes is a registered charity providing a unique, free service to younger stroke survivors throughout the United Kingdom.

Managing your condition

  • Expert Patients Programme
    This is a free self management course for people with long term conditions. It aims to give people knowledge and skills to help them manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

  • The Patients Association
    A national charity providing patients with an opportunity to raise concerns and share experiences of healthcare.

Medicines

  • Medication
    How medicines work, who should take them and possible side effects.

Vaccinations

Flu

Pneumonia

Providing you with information to help you and your family live longer, healthier, more comfortable lives