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Chronic Illness Awareness
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Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about chronic illness:
WHAT IS CHRONIC ILLNESS?
Chronic illness refers to a group of illnesses that are permanent or long lasting. Unlike acute illnesses, which often come on suddenly, are short lived, and have a cure, chronic illnesses often develop gradually, have periods of worsening and improving, and have no cure. Patients with chronic illness are given treatment to help manage their illness and prevent flares.
Chronic illness refers to a group of illnesses that are permanent or long lasting. Unlike acute illnesses, which often come on suddenly, are short lived, and have a cure, chronic illnesses often develop gradually, have periods of worsening and improving, and have no cure. Patients with chronic illness are given treatment to help manage their illness and prevent flares.
CAN CHRONIC ILLNESS BE PREVENTED?
Yes and No! Some chronic illnesses can be prevented through proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, and early treatment for an acute problem. However, many chronic illnesses, particularly autoimmune diseases, often are run in families and can develop despite even the best preventative measures. Research is revealing that some of these chronic illnesses are being tied in part to environmental factors and changes in the American diet.
Yes and No! Some chronic illnesses can be prevented through proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, and early treatment for an acute problem. However, many chronic illnesses, particularly autoimmune diseases, often are run in families and can develop despite even the best preventative measures. Research is revealing that some of these chronic illnesses are being tied in part to environmental factors and changes in the American diet.
WHO LIVES WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS?
Despite popular misconceptions, chronic illnesses do not only affect the elderly. They can affect anyone at any age, including children. In fact, more and more younger adults are being diagnosed with chronic illnesses than ever before. Chronic illness can also effect persons with any income level and any ethnicity, though some chronic illnesses are more common in certain ethnic groups. Most people know are least one or more other people that currently live with a chronic illness.
Despite popular misconceptions, chronic illnesses do not only affect the elderly. They can affect anyone at any age, including children. In fact, more and more younger adults are being diagnosed with chronic illnesses than ever before. Chronic illness can also effect persons with any income level and any ethnicity, though some chronic illnesses are more common in certain ethnic groups. Most people know are least one or more other people that currently live with a chronic illness.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS?
There are many types of chronic illnesses, however what they all have in common is that they will last throughout a person's lifetime and have no known cure. However, some chronic illnesses are better understood as far as the cause and more manageable than others. For example, those living with Diabetes must manage their illness through diet and often medication to control blood sugar, however it is a manageable disease if patients adhere to treatment and dietary restrictions. There are many other chronic illnesses that are very manageable through medication and lifestyle changes.
However, many chronic illnesses are not as clear cut as to the cause and course of treatment and even diagnosis. For these types of chronic illnesses, there is often no definitive test to diagnose the disease and the course of the disease is often unknown as symptoms often come and go. For patients with these illnesses, they can (and often do) go many years without a diagnosis and are left untreated. These are the types of chronic illnesses our network focuses on the most since these patients are often neglected by much of the medical establishment and they also tend to be the most disabling. The best examples of these types of illnesses include Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS), and many autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, Hashimotos Thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthitis, among others. Autoimmune diseases arise when the body makes antibodies against a certain organ of the body or certain cells that it sees as foreign. It is almost like a soldier trying to defeat it's own army. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person and vary depending on the organ or organs affected. Autoimmune diseases tend to strike women more often than men and often develop during the childrearing years, wreaking havoc on a person's live.
There are many types of chronic illnesses, however what they all have in common is that they will last throughout a person's lifetime and have no known cure. However, some chronic illnesses are better understood as far as the cause and more manageable than others. For example, those living with Diabetes must manage their illness through diet and often medication to control blood sugar, however it is a manageable disease if patients adhere to treatment and dietary restrictions. There are many other chronic illnesses that are very manageable through medication and lifestyle changes.
However, many chronic illnesses are not as clear cut as to the cause and course of treatment and even diagnosis. For these types of chronic illnesses, there is often no definitive test to diagnose the disease and the course of the disease is often unknown as symptoms often come and go. For patients with these illnesses, they can (and often do) go many years without a diagnosis and are left untreated. These are the types of chronic illnesses our network focuses on the most since these patients are often neglected by much of the medical establishment and they also tend to be the most disabling. The best examples of these types of illnesses include Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS), and many autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, Hashimotos Thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthitis, among others. Autoimmune diseases arise when the body makes antibodies against a certain organ of the body or certain cells that it sees as foreign. It is almost like a soldier trying to defeat it's own army. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person and vary depending on the organ or organs affected. Autoimmune diseases tend to strike women more often than men and often develop during the childrearing years, wreaking havoc on a person's live.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP A PERSON WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS?
Since many people with chronic illness have experienced first hand the negative way they are often viewed by others, the most important thing you can do is to reassure them that you still care about them even though they are chronically ill and be as non judgemental as possible. Also, helping a chronically ill person to find resources such as doctors, support groups, etc and also helping them with practical every day tasks, such as running errands, cooking, and anything that will make life easier for me is often the best kind of help you can give them beyond words of support and encouragement.
Since many people with chronic illness have experienced first hand the negative way they are often viewed by others, the most important thing you can do is to reassure them that you still care about them even though they are chronically ill and be as non judgemental as possible. Also, helping a chronically ill person to find resources such as doctors, support groups, etc and also helping them with practical every day tasks, such as running errands, cooking, and anything that will make life easier for me is often the best kind of help you can give them beyond words of support and encouragement.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST STRUGGLES FOR A PERSON WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS?
Although all people with chronic illness are unique individuals with their own personal concerns, many with chronic illness commonly struggle with lack of acceptance by others because they are ill, inability to work, a loss of self esteem, anger about their illness, loss of relationships of strained relationships and marriages, financial issues (especially if one is no longer able to work) loss of freedom to do things they used to do, and a struggle to accept limitations forced upon them are a result of their illness. Many chronic illness sufferers have been forced to re-define their lives, change careers, give up childrearing, give up and cultivate new hobbies, and find an overall new place for themselves in the world. However, on the positive side, for many people with chronic illness, this transformation can lead them into exciting paths they would not have chosen had it not been for their illness, new found friendships and hobbies, and most of all, a realization of an inner strength they never realized they had.
Although all people with chronic illness are unique individuals with their own personal concerns, many with chronic illness commonly struggle with lack of acceptance by others because they are ill, inability to work, a loss of self esteem, anger about their illness, loss of relationships of strained relationships and marriages, financial issues (especially if one is no longer able to work) loss of freedom to do things they used to do, and a struggle to accept limitations forced upon them are a result of their illness. Many chronic illness sufferers have been forced to re-define their lives, change careers, give up childrearing, give up and cultivate new hobbies, and find an overall new place for themselves in the world. However, on the positive side, for many people with chronic illness, this transformation can lead them into exciting paths they would not have chosen had it not been for their illness, new found friendships and hobbies, and most of all, a realization of an inner strength they never realized they had.
