Have you been recently diagnosed with a chronic condition? You’re not alone, as six in 10 Americans have at least one chronic disease, while 4 in 10 have two or more chronic illnesses. Having a health condition such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, or cancer not only affects your quality of life, but it’s also expensive, as the cost of prescriptions, health insurance, mobility aids, and therapy can add up.
Managing a chronic disease can be a challenge, especially if you’re older, have limited resources, and live alone. However, there are ways to overcome these challenges so you can be comfortable, have the energy to do the things that you need to do, and enjoy everything that life has to offer. Here are a few tips on how to take charge of your health and live your best life with a chronic condition.
Use the Right Tech Tools and Apps
Certain gadgets, wearables, and apps allow you to understand and monitor your health, which may help to prevent emergencies and even cut down on hospital visits or checkups. For instance, if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, wearing a continuous glucose monitor can track your glucose levels in real time, and it can send you an alert, so you’ll know if your glucose levels are rising or falling. Having access to this information helps you know what to do before blood sugar spikes or crashes turn into bigger problems.
You may also want to consider wearing a red medical warning dog tag to notify others about your medical condition. Having very high or very low blood sugar can make you susceptible to diabetes coma, which is a complication that can cause you to fall or pass out. If this happens while you’re out and about, the people around you will know about your chronic condition by simply looking at your medical warning dog tag and get you the help you need.
Wearable health trackers can also be useful to manage your overall health while at home or at work. These devices can track your activity levels, sleep quality, and heart rate, among others. You can also download workout apps on your phone to enhance your overall fitness, as well as medication management apps, which allow you to receive alerts so you can take your medicine at the right time.
Save on Prescriptions for Chronic Conditions
Medication costs can take a big chunk out of your budget. According to a Bloomberg report, the average American spent around $1,400 per year on prescriptions in 2022. The amount varies depending on the medical condition, and there are some individuals who spend almost double or triple the cost since they’re coping with multiple chronic health problems. It’s important to find various ways to save on prescriptions so you can have funds for other health-related and daily expenses.
Instead of buying your medicine at a brick-and-mortar store, check out online pharmacies. It’s likely that they have better prices since they don’t have to pay overhead costs. If you have insurance, check if it has prescription coverage for your chronic condition, then look for pharmacies that are accredited by your provider to get discounts on your medication. Also, go for generic versions of your medicine since they’re guaranteed to be cheaper than their brand-name counterparts.
Establish a New Normal
Having a chronic condition can change your life. If you have arthritis, there may be some activities that you’ll need to give up to prevent pain problems from getting worse. Those with diabetes will have to change the way they eat and abstain from childhood favorites, while people with asthma will need to be constantly aware of their asthma triggers and carry an inhaler 24/7. Dealing with these changes in the way you live your life can make you feel sad, frustrated, or angry, and you may even get depressed or anxious after a few months of your new routine.
These feelings are normal, but for you to be able to cope, you’ll need to develop a new mindset while managing your chronic condition. First, read up on your illness or ask your healthcare provider questions to learn more about it. The more information you have, the more you’ll feel empowered about your condition.
You’ll feel that you have more control over your life instead of your chronic condition controlling you. Follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter, and make good lifestyle choices, such as following a healthy diet, making time for exercise, and getting enough sleep. You may also want to get support from your loved ones or seek people or groups with the same experiences, so you won’t feel alone.
Don’t let your medical condition take over your life, and you shouldn’t let it cancel out all the possibilities that are still out there for you. Keep these tips in mind to be in charge of your health, so you can feel empowered and live your best life while managing your chronic condition.
This article was written for WHN by Bri Burton, who is a talented wordsmith, an avid blogger, and a health advocate.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of WHN/A4M. Any content provided by guest authors is of their own opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything else. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
