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February/March2007 |
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Deal With
Chronic Illness Head-On!
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| Do you or a family member have a chronic health
condition? A chronic illness is defined as any disease that develops
slowly and lasts a long time. Some examples are diabetes, arthritis,
Alzheimer's, emphysema and congestive heart failure. If you take an
active role in managing your illness, you can maintain a good quality of
life despite your illness. Here are some things to consider: / Practice secondary prevention. Secondary prevention means that you practice behaviors that can slow the progress of the disease after it has occurred. These include: increasing physical activity, eating more healthfully and smoking cessation (if you have been smoking). Secondary prevention also strengthens your entire body so you're better able to fight off other illnesses./ Learn to pace yourself. Some chronic illnesses result in low energy and lack of stamina. Learn to work at a slow to moderate pace and rest when you need to. Find easier ways to do things. A flexible attitude also is important. You might have to reach a compromise that takes into consideration your energy level and your normal tasks./ Stay involved with family and friends. When you don’t feel well or your energy level is low, it may be more comfortable just to stay home. But, people who cut themselves off from others are more likely to become depressed and are less able to manage an illness. If you're a friend of someone with a chronic illness, remember that it takes two to maintain a relationship. You might need to make the first move./ Become a wise health care consumer. Understand your illness, its imitations and what can you do to lessen its impact on your life. Find a health care provider who is good at treating your illness and then stick with him or her. Work together to find a treatment plan that you can manage. Keep your provider informed about any problems you are having with the treatment and any changes in symptoms
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Kris Jenkins jenkinsk@missouri.edu Regional Specialist Human Environmental Sciencs Last revised: 01/29/09 |