It also helps patients understand and cope with the emotional aspects of their illness. It can also help them learn to be active participants in their own healthcare. This can lead to a better doctor-patient relationship and improved health outcomes.
Unlike acute illnesses, like a broken bone or burst appendix, which may be treated with surgery and medication, most chronic health problems don't have an obvious cure. These include heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, back pain, depression, and more. Managing these health issues takes time, energy and money. They can interfere with daily activities and cause pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances. They can also impact family relationships.
The most common causes of death worldwide are caused by chronic diseases. They kill 41 million people each year, which is more than AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and cancer combined. In order to reduce the number of deaths by chronic diseases, prevention and better management is needed.
Many of the leading causes of Chronic Disease Management are due to unhealthy lifestyles, including smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity and excessive alcohol use. However, some health conditions develop due to risk factors that are beyond a person's control, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cystic fibrosis.
Chronic illnesses can be difficult to treat, and sometimes it is hard for a patient to accept their diagnosis. They may feel angry, depressed or guilty. Some even feel stigma from friends and relatives who don't understand their condition. However, it is important for those with chronic health conditions to get emotional support from others. This can be done by talking to a friend or family member, joining a support group or by seeking professional help.
Some treatments for chronic illnesses involve making changes to a person's lifestyle, such as losing weight, stopping smoking and getting more exercise. While these can be challenging to make, they are an investment in a healthier future. Those who make these healthy changes are more likely to successfully manage their disease and live longer.
The best approach to managing a chronic disease is a collaborative one between the patient and their physician. They should work together to devise strategies that will give the patient the best chance of controlling their disease and reducing its physical, psychological and social consequences. This can be achieved through the implementation of a Chronic Disease Management Self-Management Program (CDSMP). It is a lowcost program that has been developed by health professionals and is available at no cost to patients in their own communities. It has disease-specific variants for diabetes, chronic pain, cancer survivors and HIV/AIDS. The CDSMP trainer manual is available in 19 languages.
