Chronic conditions are illnesses or diseases which don’t resolve. They are conditions you learn to live with and manage. Your provider is an expert on chronic illness and disease management and can help.
What You Need To Know About Managing Chronic Conditions
Chronic conditions affect people of any age, from a young child to a senior adult. When you or someone you know is dealing with a chronic condition, it can lead to:
- A depleted immune system
- Mood swings and depression
- Diminished quality of life
There are some chronic conditions which you have no control over. These include:
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Genetic heart conditions
- Genetic autoimmune conditions
There are also chronic conditions which you can do a lot to prevent. These include:
- COPD
- Emphysema
- Diet and lifestyle related heart conditions
- Chronic kidney and liver disease
- Obesity
To prevent the chronic conditions you have some control over, it’s important to:
- Not smoke or use tobacco products
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
- Eat a healthy diet low in fat, sugar, and salt
- Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
Your doctor can help you manage chronic conditions, so you can live a full life. Your doctor may recommend:
- Medication management
- Lifestyle modifications
- Nutritional counseling
- Regular exercise and activity
- Stress reduction techniques
- Routine testing and wellness visits
This is a small sample of chronic conditions which may develop at some point in your life, and how your doctor can help you manage them:
If you suffer from arthritis, your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, stretching, and developing an exercise program to help you stay active to prevent joint stiffness and pain.
If you suffer from diabetes, your doctor may order fasting blood tests to monitor blood sugar levels. You may need to continue routine testing at home to check your blood sugar. Medications including metformin and insulin, along with dietary modifications can help control diabetes.
If you suffer from heart disease, you may need medications to regulate heart rhythm and other heart functions, dietary and exercise counseling, and other treatments to help strengthen your heart.
If you have asthma, your doctor may prescribe short term rescue inhalers, long term asthma medications, allergy testing, and environment modification to help you avoid asthma triggers.
Want To Know More?
To find out more about the prevention, treatment, and management of chronic illnesses and diseases, call your primary care doctor today.