These strategies can improve health and well-being while living with a chronic condition.
The CDC reports that six in 10 adults in the US have a chronic disease. Chronic disease is also the leading cause of death and disability in the US. While our Brandon, FL, family medicine doctors, Drs. Joel and Elizabeth Biggers can help reduce your risk of developing chronic disease; we can also help you manage your condition.
What Are the Most Common Chronic Diseases?
In the US, the top chronic diseases include,
- Heart disease (the leading cause of death in both men and women worldwide)
- Cancer
- Chronic lung disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Hypertension
- Chronic kidney disease
How Can I Better Manage My Chronic Disease?
Those with chronic diseases are more at risk for developing other chronic diseases, so it’s important that you work with our Brandon, FL, family medicine team to determine the best treatment plan and lifestyle to get your condition under control. Some ways to manage chronic disease include,
- Ditching the junk food and eating a nutrient-dense diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, lean protein (organic pasture-raised chicken and wild-caught fish), nuts and seeds, legumes, olive oil and healthy fats such as avocado and coconut
- Get regular aerobic exercises every day with resistance training two to three times a week
- Quitting smoking or other tobacco products
- Limiting your alcohol consumption or quitting altogether
- Find effective outlets to alleviate stress, whether through yoga, journaling, exercise or therapy
- Make sure you are getting enough quality sleep every night
- Come in regularly for checkups with our team so we can monitor your health and current medications and treatment plan to ensure we have your condition under control (we’re a partner in your health care!)
- Create a support network of friends, family and the community that can provide you with help and care when you need it most
- Working with any specialists to make sure you are getting the best and most well-rounded care possible
How Can I Prevent Chronic Disease?
While you can’t change your genetics, lifestyle factors could increase your risk of developing a chronic disease over your lifetime. As your Brandon, FL, family medicine team, it’s our responsibility to identify these drivers of disease during your routine checkups to provide tips for reducing your risk. These tips include,
- Quitting tobacco products
- Avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption
- Getting regular activity and exercise every day
- Eat a whole, balanced diet
If you are living with a chronic disease or want to improve your health and prevent illness, our Brandon, FL, doctors can help. Call Biggers Family Medicine at (813) 655-4646 to schedule a consultation.