Chronic Illness Overview and Guide
Chronic illness is a name for a group of illnesses that last a long time. These health conditions include various types of illness such as asthma, sickle cell anemia, and diabetes. Chronic illness is a condition or problem that can create limitations on what a person can do and the condition does not always (but can in some cases) go away.
Most chronic illnesses are not contagious so there should be no worry about catching the illness from someone else. In many cases, chronic illness are genetic and can be passed down from parents to their children. Chronic illnesses may require treatment or care for months or even years but this does not necessarily mean that the individual suffering from the chronic illness will be sick all the time.
There are hundreds of different types of chronic illness such as lupus, lung disease and even scoliosis. Many times, kids will develop a chronic illness but as they grow they may eventually grow out of the illness and no longer feel the effects of the condition. Some people with chronic illness will have to follow special circumstances in order to prevent further progression of the illness or to reverse the effects of the chronic illness and in time many people with chronic illness will go into remission and no longer be sick.
Effects of Chronic Illness
The effects of chronic illness vary with each illness. Some people who have chronic illness may not be able to function fully the way they would like to while others may not notice any significant limitations on daily or routine functioning. Some chronic illness will require the individual to use a wheel chair to get around or to require special medications or foods in order to prevent further complication as a result of the illness.
Chronic illnesses are managed in various ways depending on the type of the illness. Doctors can prescribe the most effective treatment plan for the chronic illness based on the type of the illness and the severity of the condition. People with chronic illness may be sick regularly or they may have very few problems with the illness. For instance, many people with asthma do not have trouble with the illness unless the over exert themselves or they are subjected to certain environmental triggers such as fresh cut grass or rainy weather.
Treatment for Chronic Illness
Depending on the type of the illness the treatment options will vary significantly. Many people who suffer from chronic illness are able to make small lifestyle adjustments that result in a lowered rate of the symptoms of the illness but for others medication may be necessary in order to effectively treat chronic illness. While there are not cures for chronic illnesses, many of the treatment options that are available can help the individual who suffers from chronic illness to live a more normal and stable life.
People with asthma may need to use an inhaler while those with diabetes may need insulin injections or they may just need to make small changes in their diet and exercise routines. Chronic illness treatment will vary greatly from person to person and from condition to condition. Medications may be required daily, weekly, monthly or as needed to treat the symptoms of certain chronic illnesses.
Some people can learn how environmental factors can trigger an increase in the symptoms of chronic illness. In some cases, once the environmental triggers are better understood the individual can then avoid certain situations or try to prevent further symptoms of the chronic illness from appearing. This all depends greatly on the type of chronic illness and on the severity of the illness itself.
