A chronic disease doesn’t go away on its own, so you need to learn to manage it. Your doctor can help.
What You Need To Know About Chronic Diseases
Many chronic diseases develop over the long term. They often develop due to lifestyle factors including poor diet, lack of exercise, unmanaged stress, smoking, and other factors. You can minimize the risk of developing a chronic disease if you:
- Eat a diet low in fat, salt, and sugar
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
- Practice stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing
- Get enough quality sleep
- Don’t smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol
Even with the best prevention, you can still develop a chronic disease, especially if you have a family history of a disease. Let’s look at some of the most common chronic diseases, and how your doctor can help you manage them:
Arthritis, or joint inflammation and degeneration of joints, caused by aging, trauma, overuse, and other factors. Your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory medication by injection, orally, or topically, physical therapy, stretching, and assistive devices to help you move.
Diabetes is caused by elevated levels of glucose in your blood. There are two types–type 1 which is due to genetics, and type 2 which is due to lifestyle factors. Your doctor can help you manage diabetes with careful monitoring and frequent testing of blood sugar levels. Your doctor may prescribe medication, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications.
Heart disease covers a wide range of conditions including high blood pressure, angina, arrhythmia, and others. Your doctor may recommend medication, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.
Obesity, which is excessive weight gain. Obesity contributes to a wide range of medical conditions including heart disease and diabetes. Your doctor can help manage obesity with weight loss medication, dietary changes, exercise programs, and weight loss surgery.
Want To Know More About Chronic Disease Management and How Your Doctor Can Help?
To find out more about the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic diseases, talk with your doctor today.