Living with a chronic disease throws up a raft of unique challenges and daunting scenarios that require constant supervision to ensure a decent quality of life. Management of chronic conditions involves helping patients cope with their symptoms better. By controlling the symptoms more effectively and helping slow down progression of the disease, doctors can help the patients pick up the reins of their lives again.

Management of a chronic condition is about comprehending the patient’s overall health profile and improving symptoms and conditions to the extent possible. To give the patient a better quality of life and help him/her to stay happy, a comprehensive and holistic approach is imperative.

What are chronic diseases?

Chronic diseases are long-term health issues that refuse to go away and are often irreversible. The perpetuity of symptoms makes it even harder for the patients as they have to eventually learn to live with them in the absence of a permanent cure.

Some such chronic conditions are:

Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Asthma
Multiple sclerosis
Lupus
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative colitis
Hypo or hyperthyroidism
Sleep apnoea

For doctors, managing a chronic disease stretches far beyond the envelope of blood tests and addressing the symptoms. It is also about controlling and slowing down the progression of the condition. They also need to be mindful of the corelation between one such condition and another, in case a patient is afflicted with more than one chronic disease.

They usually take a focused look at the patient’s lifestyle to figure out the factors which are worsening the symptoms of the chronic condition. A case in point – a diabetic patient’s glycaemic control could go absolutely out of kilter from an unhealthy diet, or an asthma patient’s symptoms could get worse from pollutants in the air. Hence lifestyle management is a key area in the management of chronic diseases.

Unique challenges of chronic diseases

24x7 symptoms: Patients suffering from chronic diseases often experience constant symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. It could be agonizing pain, round-the-clock fatigue, problems with mobility or just an overall sickly feeling.
In progression: A clutch of chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis or lupus can get progressively worse, increasing the patient’s misery and necessitating constant and more intensive care.
Managing medicines: Patients could be overwhelmed by the daily duress of taking a multitude of medicines and coping with their side-effects. This can be a harrowing experience, sometimes leading to depression.
Emotional strain: The unpredictability of symptoms and the constant need to manage those could take a toll on the mental health of the patient, causing anxiety, stress and even depression.
Social outcast: Being restricted by crippling symptoms all the time, patients often have to limit their social interactions, leading to a feeling of loneliness and being outcast.
Crippling expenses: The financial burden of managing chronic diseases can often be crippling, with constant expenditure on medicines, diagnostics, doctors’ fees and most of all, reduced ability to work and earn. Medical insurance complications also can be a huge stress.

How to manage chronic diseases

Regular monitoring: Regular check-ups and keeping a tab on symptoms can help in effective management of the condition. Periodic diagnostic monitoring as prescribed can often help prevent related complications.
Taking medicines regularly: Adherence to prescribed medication is absolutely crucial to effective management of chronic diseases. To make things easier, patients can use pill organizers or set reminders, and most important, learn about the criticality of the medicines prescribed.
Sticking to a healthy diet: Patients with chronic conditions should stick to a balanced diet that addresses the specific needs of their conditions. A nutritionist’s advice is always helpful in curating a customized diet chart.
Staying active: It is important to do some physical activity as per tolerance levels to improve strength and flexibility. Exercising can also help combat depression. However, the exercise plan should be prepared in consultation with healthcare providers.
Sleeping well: Adequate sleep is absolutely critical to managing chronic diseases and ensuring overall wellbeing. Creating a comfortable ambience and maintaining a regular sleep routine can help. You can seek the help of a sleep expert if you have sleep disorders.
Counselling: Patients might sometimes need the support of mental health experts to help cope with the emotional distress of living with a chronic condition.
Support groups: Connecting with other individuals going through a similar ordeal can often soften the blow of constant agony. Patients with chronic diseases are sometimes encouraged to join support groups either in person or even online. It gives them a sense of community and assurance.