The right chronic disease management can help reduce health costs and increase the length and quality of life for individuals with long-term health conditions.
What is a chronic disease?
In general, a chronic disease is a health condition that lasts for a year or more. If you have a chronic disease, you may require regular, ongoing medical attention or may experience limitations in your daily activities. This is different from an acute condition, which occurs suddenly and often requires shorter or one-time treatment.
Chronic diseases are a major cause of health care spending, and contribute significantly to death and disability in the United States. Some examples of chronic disease include cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Although there are a wide variety of chronic diseases, many of them have been linked to several risk factors. These include:
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Smoking or tobacco use
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Exposure to secondhand smoke
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Poor nutrition
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Lack of physical activity
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Excessive alcohol consumption
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Family history
What is Chronic Disease Management?
The primary goal of chronic disease management is to prevent or reduce the effects of a disease. Managing a chronic disease usually requires several different strategies. Some of these may include:
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Periodic health screenings and checkups
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Coordinating treatment between primary physicians and specialists
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Monitoring current treatments, such as medications and other therapies
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Educating patients on their conditions and what options may be best for them
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Discussing the patient’s current health needs and goals
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Lifestyle changes to reduce exposure to risk factors
The most important part of a chronic disease management plan is for the patient and their physician to work together.
At Secure Health Medical Group, we partner with you to create a plan for navigating life with chronic disease. Our state-of-the-art facilities and access to advanced technology and data mean that we can provide the most up-to-date information to address your specific health concerns.