Almost half of all Americans are living with some type of chronic disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From heart disease to asthma, chronic conditions are long lasting and often have no cure. However, there is good news. “Many chronic health conditions can be successfully managed and others can even be prevented,” says Yasmeen Ansari, MD, a family physician with Adventist GlenOaks Hospital.

Successful management
Some common chronic diseases include:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Asthma

The best way to successfully manage many of these conditions is to see your primary care doctor for annual check-ups – even if no health-related concerns have come up in the past year. On the other hand, if your disease has progressed, or you’ve just been diagnosed, you should see a specialist. For example, if you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, your primary care doctor will refer you to an endocrinologist to help get your condition under control.

Although each chronic disease is different, Dr. Ansari outlines some general guidelines to properly manage them:

1. Stick to nutrition basics. “Many chronic diseases are severely impacted by food,” Dr. Ansari says. For example, a high-sodium diet can increase blood pressure no matter which health condition you have. She suggests staying away from high-fat, fried and sugary foods and instead replacing them with more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy.
2. Keep a food journal. Writing down what you eat is important to keep calories and portion control in check. But for someone with a chronic disease, an inside look at his or her diet can help doctors manage the condition in the best possible way. “We can find out what you’re doing right to manage your condition and what areas need improvement,” Dr. Ansari says.
3. Start exercising slowly. For someone who was recently diagnosed with high cholesterol or obesity, his or her first reaction may be to start a rigorous exercise program. However, being too ambitious can do more harm than good. “Making simple changes slowly is the key to making exercise a part of your life forever,” Dr. Ansari says.
4. Find support. Living with a chronic condition can take its toll on a patient emotionally. Whether you need to take insulin or blood pressure medication daily, managing these conditions is a lifelong journey. To help stay positive, find a support system to turn to – such as family, friends or other people with your condition.

To help patients manage their chronic conditions, Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital will open the Creation Health Chronic Disease Management and Rehabilitation Center in 2010. Programs at the center will include pulmonary hypertension, infusion therapy, pulmonary rehab and cardiac rehab, as well as an asthma clinic and a diabetes center. All the programs available at the center will help patients implement self-care routines, manage their chronic diseases if they need ongoing medical care and provide case management. “It’s important to manage your chronic condition to reduce complications,” says Dr. Ansari. “At Adventist Midwest Health, we help patients face the challenges that come with managing their disease.”

For more information, or to find a physician, call us at 866-533-7968.