#Chronicillness

A growing body of evidence underscores the immense emotional, physical, and spiritual strain shouldered by caregivers—often family members—tasked with looking after loved ones with chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, stroke, or Parkinson’s disease. Recent personal stories and new data shared in a July 2025 report by faith columnist Terry Pluto bring renewed attention to both the widespread challenges and silent heroics within caregiving communities, with lessons and warnings that resonate deeply in Thailand.

Caregivers, often family members, bear heavy emotional, physical, and spiritual burdens when assisting loved ones with chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, stroke, or Parkinson’s. A recent 2025 analysis highlights how these pressures resonate in Thailand amid rapid aging and changing family dynamics.

Caregiving often begins with uncertainty. A husband caring for his wife with early-onset Alzheimer’s embodies the ongoing questions: how long will this last, and how will it end? In Thailand, many families start with unclear timelines and outcomes, facing long-term demands beyond dementia. Nationwide data indicates a growing elderly population, and shifts in family structures mean more elders live apart from younger relatives or in rural areas. This makes unpaid caregiving more common and complex, with stress intensifying as formal supports remain limited.

New scientific findings are casting light on how sunlight and controlled UV exposure could help manage autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Emerging studies indicate that UV light might do more than boost mood or vitamin D; it could directly modulate overactive immune responses. This development matters for Thai patients and clinicians seeking affordable, accessible options.

In Thailand, autoimmune conditions are on the rise alongside urbanisation and changing lifestyles. Although less common than in some Western countries, the trend is clear: more patients seek long-term management strategies that reduce symptoms and healthcare costs. The potential for safe, low-cost sunlight exposure or UV light therapy could improve quality of life and ease the financial burden on families and the health system. Data from Thailand’s public health sources and international research shows a growing need for practical, scalable approaches.

Emerging scientific evidence is shedding new light—literally—on the fight against autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent reports and peer-reviewed studies suggest that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light may offer more than mood-boosting benefits or boosted vitamin D levels. Instead, UV light could play a direct therapeutic role in taming the overactive immune responses at the heart of these debilitating illnesses, a development with significant implications for Thai patients and healthcare providers alike.

Exercise can be healthier for people with eczema than it seems. New research and expert guidance show that activity is still possible with proper preparation. Global estimates put atopic dermatitis affecting about 245 million people, with up to 10% of Thai children affected. This makes safe, enjoyable exercise a matter of everyday well-being across Thailand.

Thailand’s tropical, humid climate makes eczema management during activity particularly relevant. Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a long-term skin condition marked by itching, redness, dryness, and sometimes blisters or thickened skin. It often begins in childhood and is influenced by genetics and the immune system. Sweat, heat, and friction can trigger flare-ups, but exercise offers significant mental and physical health benefits. The message from researchers and clinicians is clear: don’t abandon activity; sweat smart.

Staying fit with sensitive, easily irritated skin might sound like an Olympic challenge, but new research and expert advice show that people with eczema can still reap the rewards of exercise—if they sweat-smart. With atopic dermatitis now affecting an estimated 245 million people globally and up to 10% of Thai children according to global epidemiological data (Wikipedia: eczema), the question of how to safely integrate exercise into daily life has real consequences for personal health and quality of life across the country.

A new international research protocol highlights a long-overlooked area in chronic illness care: sexual health, well-being, and pleasure for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). By proposing a comprehensive review of global literature and patient experiences, the initiative seeks to move beyond traditional clinical focus to address intimacy as part of holistic disease management. This conversation is increasingly relevant to Thai patients and families seeking comprehensive, patient-centered care.

RMDs such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis cause painful joints, fatigue, and limited mobility. The impact extends to emotions, self-esteem, and relationships. The new scoping review aims to integrate sexual health and rights into routine care, recognizing them as essential components of quality of life for people living with chronic conditions.

A new international research protocol is shining a spotlight on a long-neglected aspect of patient care: the sexual health, well-being, and pleasure of individuals living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). By proposing a sweeping review of global literature and lived experiences, this initiative aims to address both the clinical and societal fatigue around topics of intimacy for millions affected worldwide—a conversation now increasingly relevant to Thai patients and families seeking holistic chronic disease management [source: Wiley Online Library].

For 16-year-old Molly from Weymouth, every day presents a battle—one that began four years ago when she first developed long Covid. From severe fatigue and heart palpitations to fainting spells, seizures, and even allergic reactions, Molly describes her experience as “horrible”, with basic activities now requiring a wheelchair and “two good days a week, maybe three”. With dedicated NHS long Covid support for young people in Dorset shuttered, Molly is preparing to journey 300 miles to Liverpool for private treatment, illuminating a broader crisis faced by young long Covid patients and raising urgent questions about national and global responses to this lingering pandemic (BBC).

Molly, a 16-year-old from Weymouth, wakes each day to fatigue, heart palpitations, and episodes that include fainting and seizures. Once she could walk through a school day, now basic activities require a wheelchair on many days, with “two good days a week, maybe three.” With local NHS long Covid support for young people shuttered, Molly’s family plans a 300-mile journey to Liverpool for private treatment. Her story reflects a broader crisis: young patients navigating a blurred landscape of limited services and uncertain futures.

Recent research sheds light on brain fog, a cluster of cognitive symptoms often linked to chronic illnesses and conditions. While the term surged during the COVID-19 era, many people with long COVID report persistent brain fog. Data suggests a wide range of prevalence among long COVID patients, highlighting the substantial impact on daily life. Beyond COVID, brain fog also appears in conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and lupus, drawing attention from clinicians and patients worldwide.

Emerging research reveals intriguing insights into the often-debilitating phenomenon known as brain fog, a symptom linked with various chronic illnesses and conditions. As COVID-19 swept the globe, the term “brain fog” gained prominence, particularly among those suffering from long COVID, with estimates suggesting that 20 to 65 percent of these individuals experience it ¹. Beyond its association with COVID, brain fog is also recognized in communities dealing with chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and lupus, attracting interest and concern among healthcare professionals and patients alike.