Chronic disease management involves managing your long-term condition symptoms, allowing you to enjoy life. It also helps prevent other health complications. Chronic illnesses last more than six months and need ongoing medical attention. You can be born with a chronic disease, but most result from unhealthy lifestyle habits like poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use. Common chronic diseases include diabetes, cancer, thyroid diseases, and hypertension. Your doctor customizes your Spring chronic disease management program based on your unique needs. Chronic disease management involves various procedures, which include:
Lifestyle habits modification
Modification of lifestyle habits is an essential step in chronic disease management. You can manage most chronic diseases through a healthy diet, regular exercise, avoiding the use of tobacco products, and limiting alcohol consumption. Your doctor can refer you to a nutritionist to help create a healthy diet program. Your physical therapist can also help you develop a suitable exercise program to manage weight.
Follow your treatment plan
Medications are crucial in chronic disease management. Ensure you take all your medicines as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Always ask about the purpose of each drug you take and any side effects you may experience during appointments. Learning about your medications helps you understand your health issue better, enabling easier management. If your treatment plan involves physical therapy, ensure you perform the exercises as prescribed by your doctor. Consult your doctor if you have any issues concerning your treatment plan.
Get regular medical visits
Chronic diseases require regular tests and screening. Ensure you do not have any medical appointments. During these visits, your provider performs various tests to determine the progress of your illness. It is also a good chance to ask your doctor any questions concerning your illness. Your doctor also tells you about the progress of your condition and any changes you need to make. Regular tests also help your doctor identify new symptoms or potential risk factors.
Self-care
To properly manage your chronic disease, ensure you take care of yourself. Do not leave everything to your specialist. Ensure you listen and understand your body to track changes. If you have heart rhythm disorders, you can monitor your pulse. For conditions like diabetes, your doctor may recommend you take measurements at home and carry the reading with you during appointments. Self-care practices help you spot potentially harmful symptoms before they cause severe complications.
Stress management
About one-third of all patients with chronic conditions are affected by dreary moods and emotions. Prolonged stress can cause depression worsening your illness. Stress can keep you from taking your medicines, missing medical appointments, and practicing poor lifestyle habits. Talk to your healthcare provider if you cannot manage your stress or have uncontrolled emotions and behaviors. Depending on the extremity of your stress, your doctor can recommend psychotherapy or counseling.
Chronic disease management involves various medical and self-care practices that help you manage your condition, enabling you to enjoy life. It commonly includes lifestyle habits modifications, getting regular medical visits, following your treatment plan, self-care, and= stress management. Schedule an appointment at Comprehensive Care Clinic for chronic disease management to improve your quality of life.
