Managing Chronic Diseases

Studying nursing at the University of Delaware, Sophia Eick has an extensive volunteer background in her field. In one volunteer undertaking, Sophia Eick worked with elders who had a chronic illness. She provided home services and assisted with the activities of daily living.

As a category, chronic diseases persist for months, years, or a lifetime and do not ultimately disappear or heal. Common examples include diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and ulcers. While some chronic conditions do not have a ready solution, in other cases, the fact that patients learn to live with such conditions means that an attainable cure is not actively sought.

Managing chronic disease typically begins with blood tests and diagnosis and may include using medications. It also typically involves a thorough evaluation of lifestyle and related factors that can have an outsized impact on the progress of the disease. For example, asthma may be much worse when combined with a home environment with elements to which one is allergic. An unbalanced diet and lack of nutrition may aggravate and extend the symptoms associated with heart disease or diabetes.

Food, regular checkups, exercise, and medication are usually part of the lifestyle of many patients with chronic illnesses. The difference in their lifestyles and those of patients with less severe illnesses is that they typically have to stick to these habits to increase their chances of managing the ailment effectively.