Chronic Disease Management Specialist

What is chronic disease management?

Chronic disease management helps people who are chronically ill live healthy, active, and rewarding lives. Specifically, it combines education, healthy lifestyle changes, and prescription medication to ease unpleasant side effects and prevent the condition from getting worse. 

Though there’s no cure for chronic disease, regular check-ups and activity modification can enhance your health, energy levels, and general well-being.

What conditions does chronic disease management treat?

Healthy Horizons Clinic uses chronic disease management to treat various conditions, including:

Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic condition that affects your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. If your blood sugar levels remain high for an extended period, it increases the risk of potentially serious health problems, including nerve damage, heart disease, and vision loss.

High cholesterol

High cholesterol occurs when there are too many lipids (fats) in your blood. Over time, these lipids collect and form plaque inside the walls of your arteries. If there’s too much plaque, it can affect your circulation, resulting in a heart attack or a stroke.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is a chronic condition that presents few obvious symptoms. As a result, many people are at risk but don’t realize it. If you’re over the age of 18, it’s important to get your blood pressure checked at least once a year. A reading of anything above 120/80 mm/Hg indicates high blood pressure.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a group of diseases that cause your joints to become swollen and inflamed. Without treatment, arthritis can affect your mobility and make even simple tasks, like opening a jar, nearly impossible.

Thyroid disease

Thyroid disease occurs when the thyroid gland produces too many or too few hormones. If your hormones are out of balance, it can result in a variety of symptoms, including weight gain, hot flashes, and mood swings.

What does chronic disease management involve?

At Healthy Horizons Clinic, chronic disease management begins with a review of your medical history, a discussion of your symptoms, and a physical exam. Your provider might also order blood work or diagnostic imaging to rule out other potential issues.

After determining the source of your symptoms, your provider develops a custom treatment plan. Usually, that includes a combination of healthy lifestyle changes, routine check-ups, prescription medication, and activity modification.

To learn more about the benefits of chronic disease management, make an appointment at Healthy Horizons Clinic by calling the office today or clicking the online booking feature.