Chronic disease prevention and management often requires patients to make lifestyle and daily routine adjustments.
Some people may experience overwhelming feelings when considering adjusting their already busy schedule. However, these changes do not require major or challenging tasks.
So, take a seat, inhale deeply, and read some powerful ways to manage chronic conditions better.
What is a chronic illness?
Chronic illnesses often last for a year or longer. You may need ongoing medical care and experience daily challenges in performing your daily tasks.
These tasks include various behaviours, such as using the toilet and dressing. These challenges may also have an impact on you, your family and friends.
For example, chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and chronic lung disease, like COPD, are conditions that persist over time and require treatment.
Eat better
A balanced diet is one of the best methods to prevent and manage chronic illness. For example, people can manage or control high blood pressure by reducing the consumption of packaged and processed foods.
Lose weight
Weight loss may help a patient’s general health if their body mass index exceeds the normal range. There are health advantages to even a 5- to 10% weight reduction.
So, patients can achieve weight loss goals by increasing their physical activity and altering their eating habits.
To promote weight loss, doctors can help their patients by making modest, small lifestyle adjustments.
Stop smoking
Smoking increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in patients. Quitting this habit is important for a patient’s health improvement. Collaborate with patients to explore quit options that include FDA-approved therapies.
Looking after your mental health
Chronic diseases often have invisible symptoms like tiredness, aches, and pains, making it difficult for others to understand their impact. Physical symptoms, lifestyle limitations, and constant pain can significantly impact a person’s mental health.
Negative thinking about potential issues can lead to increased anxiety and stress, ultimately impacting your overall health. There are various methods to decrease worry, such as:
- Record concerns and potential adverse outcomes.
- Gather prognosis and outcomes information for control.
- Take support from a friend, a support group, or a psychologist through therapy session for realistic worry assessment.
- Daily tasks and activities like reading, walking, or watching can help manage worries.
- Engage in mind-challenging activities like crosswords or puzzles.
Working With a Healthcare Team
A team approach involving family members, caregivers, and a healthcare provider is necessary for managing a chronic condition. Your healthcare team can assist in creating a customized treatment plan that takes into account your unique requirements and objectives.
To better understand the problem and potential treatment options, it is imperative to ask questions of the healthcare staff.
Similarly, a Medication Management Program is valuable in managing your chronic condition. These programs ensure that you are taking your medications as prescribed and addressing any potential side effects.
Stay Consistent with Your Treatment Plan
Do you remember the time you decided to exercise every morning in order to win the local marathon? (Relax—most of us didn’t survive more than a week either!). But the truth is that consistency is key to achieving any goal, whether it’s managing a chronic condition or running a marathon.
Sticking to your treatment plan is similar to taking a morning jog. The outcomes might not be visible right away. But like many unsung heroes, they’re undoubtedly working on it behind the scenes!
