Chronic Disease Management

What is chronic disease management?

To understand chronic disease management, you first need an understanding of chronic diseases. Chronic diseases are long-term health conditions lasting a year or longer that are often incurable. That being said, you can improve your symptoms and your quality of life with ongoing chronic disease management. 

At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, the team can help you learn to live with your chronic disease with multimodal management strategies. They can also teach you about your disease, its symptoms, and its outlook so you’re well-informed about your health and your future. 

Who needs chronic disease management?

You need chronic disease management if you have a chronic illness that affects your day-to-day life. Management might be as simple as visiting Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC regularly for monitoring, or you might need to take steps daily to keep your health in check. Here are a few of the most common chronic diseases:

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition with several types, all of which result in too much sugar in your bloodstream. 

Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease is a term that refers to heart attack, stroke, and other conditions affecting your cardiovascular system. Without treatment, some forms of cardiovascular disease are deadly.

Arthritis

There are many types of arthritis, but they all affect the way your joints function. It makes your joints painful and stiff, limiting your mobility.

Obesity

Obesity is a condition characterized by excessive body fat. It elevates your risk of experiencing other chronic conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. 

High blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high, potentially leading to serious health issues like heart disease or stroke. Managing high blood pressure often involves lifestyle changes, such as a healthier diet and regular exercise, and may require medication.

High cholesterol

High cholesterol occurs when there is an excess of fatty substances in your blood, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can often be managed with a combination of a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, and, if necessary, cholesterol-lowering medications.

What does chronic disease management entail?

Managing your chronic disease is an ongoing process that typically involves many steps. Your chronic disease management plan depends largely on the disease you have, any present symptoms, and your current lifestyle. 

In order to help you manage your chronic disease, the team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC might suggest a combination of several of these strategies:

• Medications
• Regular checkups
• Exercise or physical therapy
• Changes to your diet
• Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or alcohol
• Minimally invasive procedures
• Surgery

The team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC helps you make managing your chronic disease a part of your regular routine. Soon, following your chronic disease management plan will feel like second nature to you. You may notice that you have more energy, better mobility, and a better outlook in the process.

To learn more about your chronic disease and chronic disease management, call Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, or book an appointment online today.