What to expect from chronic disease
Every change of season you can expect an influx of viruses and germs that cause ailments like sinusitis, the flu and bronchitis.
And we all know how these sickness can cause us to feel debilitated. But they go away eventually.
We can ward them off and often, if you take an immune booster supplement, you won’t even get that sick. However, there are some people who live with sickness everyday.
These diseases that never go away, that the person afflicted must manage their pain and discomfort daily, are called chronic diseases.
Chronic diseases can hit you at any time during your life
Chronic diseases can begin at birth and never go away. Sometimes those who suffer as a child grow out of their illness and their body is strong enough to ward it off as an adult. And some adults who were healthy children suddenly suffer with the onset of a chronic illness that they need to learn how to manage. Chronic illness doesn’t discriminate, anyone at any time can suddenly fall ill. And, no matter when it happens, it is debilitating. With chronic illnesses, you can’t just take some medication or go into hospital for treatment and then be better. By definition the word chronic means “persisting for a long time or constantly recurring” and this is what happens. The illness appears and stays, sometimes forever. A sufferer must manage the pain, discomfort and symptoms without any hope of a cure. This can often be a big game-changer in anyone’s world.
Many people suffer with chronic disease nowadays
The most common chronic diseases that seem to persist are asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and arthritis. At least these are the ones that we hear about all the time. And often, if we experience an onset of one of these diseases as an adult, we can look at our lifestyles and probably see that we are to blame somewhat. For instance, if you are suddenly diagnosed with asthma and you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, then you’re at least partially to blame for your condition. But many of these illnesses can’t be attributed to one bad habit. Some of the healthiest people around have fallen prey to chronic disease. And there’s a strong argument that the world we live in, the pollution we breathe and the genetically modified and processed food we eat should take most of the blame.
You need to manage your illness with the help of medical cover providers
If this happens to you there are ways to mitigate against the worst possible outcome. Of course, a visit with your doctor will be your first point of call. But in all likelihood you will have to see a specialist and make a trip to the hospital. And, this is yet another reason why you simply must have medical cover. Medical aid plans and programmes are well aware of and equipped to handle their clients when chronic disease is diagnosed.
In fact, in South Africa we have a list of prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) which must be treated no matter what plan you’re on or how little cover you have, if any at all. This PMB list is in place to ensure that every single person in South Africa is offered quality healthcare when they need it the most. The great thing about PMBs is that they are based on diagnosis and not the cause of the disease or ailment. This means that no matter who you are, where you come from or how much money you have you will be taken care of with a good standard of quality care.
However, the downfall in South Africa is that our public healthcare infrastructure is not up to scratch. You will wait in long queues to collect medication and you could wait months before receiving the necessary treatment you need. If you or one of your family members end up suffering with a chronic disease, then visiting a private hospital or clinic and having your medication and treatment available to you as soon as necessary is the optimal way to manage your disease. To have access to this private care you must have a robust medical scheme that will cover you.
Managing chronic illness
Living your life with a chronic illness is difficult. But each condition is different and will require a different management style. Possibly the most important point is to understand that this will affect your entire family. You need to educate yourself on the illness and then educate them too. Both parties will need to practice patience in order to eventually find an optimal routine that ensures comfort in your home environment.
There will be a financial impact too. Which means transparency is key and, while it is stressful, with the right support in place it is manageable for everyone. If you find yourself in this position, you must find medical professionals who can assist you with coping with the disease and even reach out to a support group. This will help lighten the burden on your family too. Also, look into alternative therapies that may bring you some relief, such as physiotherapy or even a change in diet. Remaining active to the best of your ability is recommended as this helps keep the body and mind stimulated. And then of course, there’s the factor of rest.