As Canada’s leader in health navigation technology and phone assistance, we help organizations like yours manage employee health risk, which includes helping those who live with chronic disease. We’re experts in helping individuals locate the resources and support they need in order to take care of their health, make necessary lifestyle changes, improve their coping strategies, and enlist help both at work and at home.
It can be stressful to live with a chronic health condition. Between organizing medical appointments, keeping track of prescriptions, and trying to follow treatment regimens, there may be a lot for you to manage. In addition, you may feel anxious about your health getting worse, and you may worry about changes to your day-to-day life. For those who live with a chronic disease, tapping into resources on how to cope and taking specific actions can make life a little easier.
Make lifestyle modifications
Whether you are living with a chronic condition or not, it is always a good idea to eat healthy foods and to keep active. In some cases, making lifestyle modifications may lessen your symptoms or help you to control your condition. Quitting smoking and reducing your alcohol intake may not seem directly related to your current condition, but it will improve your overall health and help you to feel better as you work on managing your disease.
If you’re making an effort to improve your diet, it’s important to get the help of a professional, especially if it’s the first time you’re making these changes while coping with a chronic disease. A registered dietitian can show you how to eat healthy to manage specific diseases. If you’re incorporating more physical activity into your lifestyle, you can visit a certified exercise physiologist or a personal trainer to assess which activities are safe for you (for more information, read the diet and exercise article on this website). Always consult your doctor for advice before starting an exercise program, going on a diet, or using a smoking cessation aid.
Enlist support from organizations
In most cases, there are national or provincial support organizations dedicated to a particular health condition. These groups often offer a great deal of help on everything from following treatment plans to finding assistive devices. They may also host educational sessions geared to helping individuals manage their condition. It is also possible to take advantage of a provincial chronic disease program if your province’s ministry or department of health offers one. These programs are designed to help you cope with a chronic disease and may focus on diet, exercise, and medications, as well as other aspects of living with specific conditions. For an example of a chronic disease program, see Alberta’s Living Well Program.
The information and insight you gain from organizations and programs like these can have long-term effects on your health. Even the simplest tips you learn from a website, a training session, or a support group can dramatically change the way you cope. For example, learning how to use an asthma inhaler properly can make the difference between accidentally missing out on your medication, and staying well.
Reach out to your personal network
Even the people around you can affect your health when you’re living with a chronic condition. Your family at home, your colleagues at the office, or your friends and neighbours can all act as support persons. They can encourage you to make positive changes in your lifestyle, cheer you on when you reach goals, and help you to realize that you’re not alone. When you speak with people who suffer from the same chronic disease that you have, for example at a support-group meeting, you’ll likely acquire coping ideas that will also have an impact on the way you feel. Don’t hesitate to let your personal network and your healthcare professionals know what you need– they are there to support you. Work with your health care team to manage your chronic condition to the best of your ability. Every small change you make will matter, and if you make the effort now, your health will benefit in the long term. Take your health into your own hands!
For more insight, check out these health articles.
