Simple Chronic Disease Management Strategies You Can Embrace Today

A chronic disease diagnosis is disheartening, but it's not uncommon; 6 in 10 Americans are diagnosed with one. 

So, what happens next after your diagnosis? Lifelong conditions require constant monitoring, medication dosage adjustments, and regular testing. In addition, most chronic conditions greatly benefit from lifestyle changes.

If you just received your diagnosis and are unsure what to do next, read on as our expert at North Tex MedCare Clinic & Urgent Care, Dr. Frank Lee, shares a few simple strategies you can implement starting today to greatly increase your quality of life.

Learn to relax

Stress management is severely underrated. Stress significantly impacts your body by producing cortisol and noradrenaline. In short bursts, these hormones are beneficial, but when the stress becomes chronic, these two hormones disrupt mitochondrial function (the part of the cell that generates energy) and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

A disrupted mitochondria and ROS are involved in most chronic diseases.

When it comes to stress management, removing items from the to-do list, instead of adding routines, meditations, and breathing exercises, works best. As you remove stressors, the body learns how to relax again, with no effort on your side.

Include nutritious food in your diet

Plenty of evidence points out the link between chronic disease and diet. A recent study shows that the Mediterranean diet decreases all-cause mortality by 23%.

Knowing your intolerances and allergies is also helpful because if you do have some intolerances and continue to eat those foods, your body stays in a perpetual state of inflammation, worsening your health.

Stay active 

You’ve probably heard this piece of advice over and over again, but it truly works, and you don’t need to sweat or spend money on a gym membership to reap the benefits of exercise.

Specialists studied populations that walked regularly for over a decade and found significant benefits for blood glucose control and diabetes prevention. Walking is also known to strengthen the heart and the lungs.

Regular checkups

During your checkup, Dr. Lee may order some tests, ask about your symptoms, and assess your overall well-being. It's not uncommon to require medication dosage changes as time goes by to ensure you are functioning at your best.

Learn how to manage your chronic condition with us

For many, chronic condition management may involve lifestyle changes, stress management techniques, and sometimes weight loss. Dr. Lee supports all these changes and offers various tools to help you sustain them. 

For example, if you are struggling with weight loss, he may recommend weight loss injections when weight loss can improve your overall health.

If you recently got your diagnosis or simply want to ensure you are doing well, contact us to schedule an appointment in one of our offices in Allen, Addison, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, Texas, for expert advice on managing your chronic condition.