What is chronic disease management?
Chronic diseases are conditions that linger for a year or longer and require ongoing medical interventions. Chronic diseases may also interfere with your daily activities.
Chronic diseases are a leading cause of death and disability, a major cause of lost work, and contribute to high healthcare costs.
Management of chronic disease can minimize the negative effects on your quality of life and help ease the burden on society. Management may include:
- Monitoring of health markers through blood tests or other evaluation
- Behavior change
- Dietary and exercise support
- Medication review and management
- Relevant screenings
Proper chronic disease management can help prevent future complications and the development of additional diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that four in every 10 people have more than one chronic disease.
What conditions fall under chronic disease management?
Many conditions fall under the category of chronic disease and require long-term, expert management, including:
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Chronic lung disease
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- Arthritis
- Pain conditions
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Stroke/TIA
- Thyroid disease
People who have undergone organ transplants also need chronic care management.
What is the goal of chronic disease management?
By definition, a chronic disease can’t be cured, but the symptoms can be managed to minimize the effects on your daily life and long-term health. Dr. Bhatt customizes your chronic disease management plan to your specific condition.
If you should experience an acute care issue associated with your chronic disease, Dr. Bhatt intervenes immediately to prevent complications. He also tweaks your treatment plan when needed to ensure you’re getting the best support possible.
How can I prevent chronic disease?
Not all chronic diseases can be prevented. Some occur due to circumstances beyond your control and run in your family.
But, certain behaviors are known to contribute to the development of or worsening of chronic disease, including:
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive alcohol use
- Poor dietary habits
Dr. Bhatt and the team at St. Francis Multispecialty Medical Group can help you with strategies to help curb these behaviors as part of your chronic disease management.
If you’re in need of chronic disease management, contact St. Francis Multispecialty Medical Group today. Use the online tool to request an appointment or call the office.
