Routine Care and Chronic Disease Management

Introduction

A structural and formalized routine like brushing, dressing, eating, bathing, and routine check with the doctors is the key to keeping us away from an unhealthy and diseased life. While unexpected problems can take place anytime, like a sudden increase in symptoms, missed doctor’s appointments, etc. but a manageable routine can keep us less stressed and on track.

What Is Routine Care?

Routine care is a kind of medical care that is not urgent in nature and can be taken based on the doctor or physician's appointment without any risk to the patient’s life. It can be delayed or shifted to some other date as it is just to make patients aware of whether their vitals are properly working or not and to avoid health risks.

What Is Chronic Disease?

Chronic disease is a health condition that is persistent, and its effect is long-lasting or, can say, a disease that comes with age. The term chronic refers to a disease that persists for more than three months and is long-lasting. Common chronic conditions include diabetes, hypertension, eczema, gastroesophageal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, thyroid, arthritis, asthma, cancer, autoimmune disease, genetic disorders, and some viral diseases like human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, and C.

In medicine, in acute conditions, only one part of the body is affected, while chronic conditions involve multiple areas of the body. In chronic conditions, there is a high tendency for relapse and recurrence of disease, unlike in acute conditions.

How to Manage Chronic Illness?

Chronic illness includes any disease which affects health in the long term, as mentioned above. It is good to follow the instructions of the health care provider in order to manage the condition. There is also a second option to make things under control by making changes in the lifestyle.

There are three basic ways to manage the condition:

1) Working With the Healthcare Provider: In order to achieve a healthy lifestyle, it is important to follow the instructions given by the doctor.

• Ask the doctor as many questions as they can be related to the condition and appointment dates. Also, ask where to gain more information related to the condition, like online searches, pamphlets, etc.

• Always follow what the doctor recommends, like proper medication, diet, exercise, physical therapy, quitting smoke, and reporting any changes noticed to the doctor.

• Follow realistic health goals which make positive changes in the body.

• Take the medications timely as per instructed by the doctor, and keep each medication under knowledge; in case of any doubt, just ask the pharmacist, and do not take any medication without a prescription.

• Always keep a face-to-face conversation with the physician, therapist, or dietician.

• Always hire the best professional whose diagnosis has proven the perfect one and does not need any second opinion.

2) Managing Emotional Difficulties:

• Spend quality time with friends and family - Always let the loved ones be aware of the condition and make them help in case needed. For example- If suffering from chronic asthma, we have to make sure that the family members are aware of keeping the nebulizer head with them if needed or if a person suffers from chronic depression, which forces them to saturate from everyone, ask their loved ones to check on the person once in a few days.

• Seek help from a group having similar conditions, with a person facing and discussing with them the signs and symptoms which should be resolved by them. It can make the patient feel less lonely and can help manage the illness and gain some helpful ideas. For example- If someone has cancer, find a support group similar to others facing the condition. This will facilitate the patient and the similar group to help and understand each other.

• Talk to the therapist if someone is having trouble coping. If feeling low and depressed, talk to the doctor, as depression has a correlation with other chronic diseases.

• Get prepared for the worst-case scenario, as it will help to build courage.

3) Improving the Way of Living:

• Exercise regularly to manage energy and boost physiological function. For example- If someone has a condition like arthritis, person cannot go with high-level exercise, but some gentle one like swimming or riding a bicycle may be a good option. For example- If a person has COPD and cannot do a rigorous exercise that makes breathing difficult, he can take rest for a few minutes in between and do a gentle walk.

• Follow a healthy diet to improve physical health. Eating healthy food like green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, and cholesterol-free food makes a person healthy. Always ask a dietician if any changes in the diet are needed. For example- A diabetic person needs to take on a sugar-free diet. A person with hypertension needs to take a cholesterol-free diet, like not eating red meat regularly, etc.

• The aim should be to get eight hours of sleep every night. Providing eight hours of rest to the body and mind can help to deal with chronic illness and to live a stress-free life.

• Make time to relax every day by taking a long bath, going for a massage, grooming, doing yoga, and doing deep breathing exercises.

• Drink at least three to four liters of water every day to detoxify the body.

• Take three square meals daily, and try not to skip breakfast and lunch.

Conclusion:

If someone is suffering from any chronic condition mentioned above, do not panic; try to follow the above instructions and make them adjust to the daily routine. This will help to identify and manage a life-threatening condition. If the article is helpful, contact the online specialist to rule out the conditions now.