Chronic Disease Management

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be difficult. Sometimes, you’re not sure you’re doing enough to keep yourself and your family well. But with proper preventive care and chronic disease management, you can live your life with a little more confidence. Carmen Chatten, FNP-BC, and the Of Skin and Wellness team provide chronic disease management for you and the entire family. The practice has locations in Charlotte and Durham, North Carolina, and Arlington, Virginia. To learn more about chronic disease management, call the nearest office or book an appointment online today. 

What is a chronic disease?

A chronic disease is an illness or condition that’s ongoing or repeatedly occurs for an extended period. Although you can sometimes manage them with medication, chronic diseases typically cannot be cured.

Common chronic diseases include:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• High cholesterol
• Certain cancers
• Respiratory diseases
• Dementia
• Depression

Most chronic diseases are not infectious, and they’re not usually preventable with vaccination. 

What leads to chronic disease?

You might have a greater predisposition for certain diseases if they run in your family. Age can also be a factor: the older you get, the more likely you are to develop a chronic condition.

Many chronic diseases develop as a result of poor health choices. Four main habits tend to contribute the most to chronic disease:

• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Tobacco use
• Excessive alcohol consumption

High cholesterol and obesity are also linked to heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Both are considered major risk factors and are considered by some experts to be chronic diseases themselves.

How can you prevent chronic diseases?

The good news is that you can prevent many chronic diseases by following healthy lifestyle habits, such as:

• Eating nutrient-rich foods
• Getting regular exercise
• Maintaining an appropriate body weight
• Getting enough sleep
• Reducing stress
• Avoiding tobacco use
• Limiting alcohol consumption

Regular medical checkups play a vital role in prevention as well. Of Skin and Wellness provides screenings and tests for early disease detection, and they monitor critical metrics such as your blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. 

What can you expect from chronic disease management?

Regardless of your age, Of Skin and Wellness can help you practice healthy habits to prevent disease or manage any diseases you may already have.

At your initial visit, your provider evaluates your family history, lifestyle, weight, and vital signs. Based on this information and any screenings or blood tests, he helps you understand the issues you may face and discusses the habits and factors that you can change.

Your Of Skin and Wellness provider may suggest specific dietary changes or nutritional supplements. They may also discuss other lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, increased exercise, or stress reduction.

If you want to learn more about chronic disease management, call Of Skin and Wellness or book an appointment online today.