All those who go through chronic illnesses are in a very risky life expedition. That said, it is always a plus point to involve an internist in the picture to shackle the signs, prevent the disease, and give proper treatment.
However, it is not always understood what chronic disease management means or how internists use it. Another question that baffles most of us is about the role of an internist, why internist appointments are essential, and where one should rely—it is always an internist near me whether it is a good decision or not.
To answer all these questions, we did our wholesome research to discuss the following points.
Table of Contents
Introduction to “Chronic Diseases): Meaning, Symptoms, & Preventive Measures
Symptoms of Chronic Illnesses
Preventive Measures of Life-Threatening Health Concerns
Best Practices of Internists in Preventing Life-Threatening Diseases
Common Practices to Prevent Chronic Diseases
Best Practices and Innovations by Internists for CMD
Indus Medical Associates and the Role of Internists
Introduction to “Chronic Diseases): Meaning, Symptoms, & Preventive Measures
If you ask what a chronic disease is by definition, We would say, that any illness with the following features is categorized as “chronic illness”.
Symptoms and signs are very complicated and hard to diagnose.
Chronic illnesses are also called “life-threatening diseases” and have several risk factors.
The latency phase is much longer than other common health concerns.
A far-fetched and longest duration of illness.
Chronic health concerns also involve disability and/or impairment of an organ.
Fun Fact: For those unaware of the word “latency,” it is the gap between onset medications and the side effects of any chronic illness. At this point, please know that chronic illnesses are cured with a lot of patience. These are, sadly, mostly untreated and can have the risk of losing life. However, some illnesses are long while bringing back normal health but are not a risk to life. It may include diabetes and arthritis.
Symptoms of Chronic Illnesses
Some of the most compelling ways to determine if a person is suffering from a life-threatening, long-term illness are to check the following symptoms.
Symptom #1: Mood Imbalances and Disorders
Just imagine the condition of a person who is diagnosed with long-term health issues. How would he feel? Definitely, he wouldn’t be feeling good and that might even affect his mood – resulting in mood disorders like anxiety, depression, or any other mood disorder, right?
Symptom #2: Significant Weight Loss or Gain
Chronic illnesses also result in body changes. Sometimes, there is a significant change in appetite,, increasing or decreasing weight. It is not because of the medicines alone; there are several reasons why the shift in weight is observed.
Symptom #3: Pain of Different Levels (Minor to Excruciating)
Mental health illnesses and physical chronic diseases have one main difference. One of them is invisible, whereas the other is visible. Both, however, have pain associated with the disease, and that’s one of the real challenges to manage.
Symptom #4: Attention, Concentration, and Retention Concerns
Concentration is something that comes with a healthy body and mind. However, when health is compromised, an individual faces many side-effects, including lack of concentration, attention quality, focus, and retention concerns.
Symptom #5: Issues in Mobility
Movement becomes difficult; a person doesn’t feel energetic enough to move around easily and slowly becomes more like a veggie.
Symptom #6: Disturbed Sleep Patterns
Chronic diseases are also bad for any of us because we, as humans, tend to have flawed and irregular sleep patterns. Most of us become nocturnal, others become insomniacs, etc.
Preventive Measures of Life-Threatening Health Concerns
So, after knowing all the ins and outs of chronic disease symptoms, it is a must to get familiar with how to deal with such concerns. In other words, what are the best practices and innovations in treating terminal illnesses? Let’s dig deeper and find the answers below.
Practice #1: Group Therapy
In the US and other places, group therapy, also known as group counseling, helps patients with chronic diseases get support. These groups are made up of patients who are fighting their life-threatening diseases. Members listen, share, and give solutions to each other, which is one of the finest practices for managing chronic diseases.
Practice #2: Goal Setting for Better Lifestyle
Another way to take care of a patient’s sanity and health is to chalk out a strategy, the one through which he/she regains and restores authority in life. It is an internist’s responsibility to make sure of planning short—and long-term goals with the patients, assess their achieving power, and provide counselling so that they do not lose hope.
Practice #3: Discussing Possible Solutions and Outcomes with Best Doctors
Once a patient contemplates the kind of result, they may observe certain preventive measures for chronic diseases. It becomes a lot easier to discuss with the internist in an appointment. If you think about its use, please know it is so that the best internists near me prevent outcomes way before they become a reality.
Practice #4: Support from Others
Chronic diseases are handled with care and a lot of support by doctors or primary care physicians. But the question is: can doctors alone support a patient with chronic disease? The answer to it is simple: no. The patient can get support from friends, dear and near ones, and even those who have experienced such a disease.
Best Practices of Internists in Preventing Life-Threatening Diseases
Unfortunately, not all chronic diseases are curable. The patient who carries genetically transferred or transmitted illnesses suffers from the illness forever. However, there is a little edge to it – with the help of CDM (chronic disease management), best practices and innovations can prevent the intensity of the illness.
For example, some of the most long-lasting but manageable (and not fully treatable) diseases and health conditions include;
- Diabetes (Type 1)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Cystic Fibrosis
On the other hand, some chronic illnesses are treatable but have risk factors that damage internal organs. For example;
- Diabetes (Type 2)
- Strokes
- Kidney malfunctioning
- Lung-related diseases
Common Practices to Prevent Chronic Diseases
What can you do to prevent a chronic disease? Naturally, you have to take some measures recommended by the internet. These suggestions are categorized as management of life-threatening illnesses. So, it is important for anyone, whether a layman without the trace of chronic illness or someone who is already diagnosed with something aggressive in the body.
Fun Fact: To get checked for the diagnosis of any chronic illness, you must get an internist appointment. That way, the recommendations on lifestyle healthy habits are charted out in advance.
What is included in health management? Let’s check it out.
Take alcoholic drinks as low as possible.
Include regular blood work in monthly agendas.
Eat your greens, protein-rich proportionate meals.
Quit using cigarettes, smoking with vapes, and drugs.
Maintain and manage blood pressure with organic supplements.
Weigh yourself periodically and maintain weight.
Move your body, limbs, and head – exercise.
Achieve good levels of cholesterol.
Best Practices and Innovations by Internists for CMD
It is sad for patients who carry and live with long-lasting, chronic diseases for almost forever. But luckily, there is hope for them to survive better through management. A patient can always look for an internist appointment and get checked to improve the quality of life. What you can do if you are suffering from any acute health concern? Manage the situation and condition with the help of the following suggestions.
Management Tip #1: Prescribed medicines are so important that treatment is never complete without them. Therefore, internists suggest and request that patients take their medications on time, regularly, and without any ifs and buts. However, there are times when patients feel vulnerable emotionally and physically and feel unable to take their medications without assistance. For that, primary care providers come in and help in numerous ways.
Management Tip #2: Chronic disease management covers health insurance, the strategic plan to taper off medicines and regular tests, etc. It requires extreme vigilance for internist appointments to be taken. Also, implementing it for some time checks different routines and lifestyles. If one goes well, it stays for long, leaving the patient with a well-thought plan behind.
Management Tip #3: It goes without saying that the prevention of chronic disease and the management of long-term risks to health diseases must go through proper care and support. What does it mean? It clearly means that the internist near me and you must be checked, taken appointments, and taken seriously for regular visits.
Management Tip #4: Diseases like diabetes, cancer, and even cholesterol issues fall under the spectrum of chronic illnesses. To maintain health, the patient must follow four cardinal elements: exercise and mobility, proper sleep, eating and drinking healthy items, and avoiding alcohol and smoking as much as possible.
Indus Medical Associates and the Role of Internists
Internists and best doctors like Dr. Parimi and Dr. Azam have set an example in chronic disease management programs. They believe in evidence-centric, compassionate support and care. With their facilitation at Indus Medical Associates, patients are given due time and importance. So, if you are looking for an internist near me in Coachella or Rancho Mirage, please make an appointment for the checkup!