Private Doctor Online » Chronic Diseases

Manage Chronic Disease

Sam — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:17:37 +0000

Chronic disease, defined as disease that persists, causes about 70 percent of deaths in the United States. The impact of chronic disease will continue to increase as the population ages. Arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, lung disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, diabetes and osteoporosis are common chronic diseases that lead to depression, disability and death. http://www. mini-medicalschool. com Chronic disease is very common – one hundred and thirty-three million Americans live with at least one chronic disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Many other chronic diseases contribute to heart disease such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Those with chronic disease need to live as healthily as possible and understand their disease. Those who understand their disease will be better able to partner with the health care system to assure chronic disease is being managed properly. Proper management of a disease is not the sole responsibility of the doctor or the patient, but a team effort. Chronic disease affects everyone differently; each individual needs to understand how the disease affects him or her personally. Having a basic understanding of the disease is a good step, but only a starting point. Acute versus Chronic disease Acute health problems typically begin suddenly with a single cause, are of short duration and respond to a specific treatment. With the resolution of the acute illness normal health typically returns. Diagnosis of acute health problems is typically easy. Diagnostic testing is helpful in determining the cause of the problem. The health care provider is instrumental in diagnosing and treating the illness. Common examples of acute illnesses are pneumonia, appendicitis or a urinary tract infection. Pneumonia is usually of sudden onset, caused by bacteria, easily diagnosed and treated with antibiotics. After treatment and cure of the disease a return to normal life is typical. Chronic health problems are slow in onset and progressive. The disease often lingers on with no ending and cure is rare. The health care professional’s role is to partner with the patient to help manage the disease. The patient’s role is much more important in the management of chronic disease when compared to acute illness. Without management of the chronic condition the disease will progress and disability and death will ensue. Chronic disease causes many problems. Individuals need to partner with the health care system to actively manage them. Individuals should not count on the health care system to take sole responsibility for managing the disease. Becoming knowledgeable about disease is an important part of having a successful health care experience. Individuals must have a basic understanding of his or her disease. The better the individual understands the diseases the better they can partner in their medical care. No one has a greater interest vested in your well being than you. Physicians manage very busy office practices and may overlook some important aspects of your care. It is imperative that you help your health care providers give you the care that is needed to prevent death and disability. For more information on chronic disease and information on how you can partner with your doctor to manage them check out: Chronic Disease Guide: How to Prevent and Treat Common Chronic Diseases at Read More

If You Have Chronic Disease Consider Using Exercise to Help You Get Well

Sam — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:16:35 +0000

It wasn’t too long ago that people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes (the big three) were told by their doctors to “take it easy” or “stay in bed” and rely on taking drugs or medication in order to stabilize the condition. Today, there is little doubt how the impact of lifestyle changes, including exercise can dramatically prevent, treat and even cure many of these ailments. Even if you have a chronic condition or illness that is no reason to avoid physical activity as many conditions can be controlled through a properly designed and performed exercise program. Exercise used to be viewed as asking for trouble, however current evidence suggests that in both wellness and disease, the overall outcome is better for the exerciser than for a sedentary person. People not in perfect health often find they benefit in many ways from an exercise program that includes strength training. Getting stronger and fitter improves the way the body works increasing strength, balance and energy levels as well as easing pain. Improved fitness also allows a quicker rebound from sickness or injury and activities of daily living can be performed easier thereby retaining independence. If you have become the victim of some chronic disease becoming more active is a clear benefit in improving health and well-being and reducing the risk of disability or premature death. A proper exercise program can also be a great tool for rebuilding wellness and strength after disease treatment. Starting a new exercise program may seem like a difficult endeavor when you are not feeling well or are in pain but it can have a huge positive impact on the way you feel and perform. Although at times you may not feel like continuing with the program, you will be rewarded with many long-term benefits that will more than make up for the short term discomfort. People with chronic medical problems should insist their health-care providers give them information on how proper exercise and lifestyle changes can affect the course of a disease or illness. If people cannot obtain this information from their doctors, they should find an appropriate health professional who can and will give this information. Don’t be fobbed off with “you don’t need it” type of answers. To open the door to better health with your exercise program see a fitness professional at your local gym or fitness center who will design an effective set of exercises specifically for your physical condition. They will also teach you correct exercise technique and monitor your progress along the way. Your program may need tweaking and changing to get it a good fit for you. It may take some work as well on adjusting your mental attitude to view your illness as a very good reason to get started on a proper exercise program so you can become stronger and fitter to take control of your health. This will enable you to enjoy your life to the fullest rather than be limited by illness. Strength training is the ultimate tonic for rejuvenating and revitalizing your whole body strengthening every single cell, organ, tissue, body part and system. As you embark on your journey of increased health through the power of proper exercise, remember that you are investing in something near and dear to your own heart ? your own precious life and your own future of healthy living. Read More

Kdi Health Solutions Rolls Out Nationally Recognized Preventive Health and Chronic Disease Management Programs Across the Carolinas

Sam — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:17:28 +0000

PRESS RELEASEContact: Alison Beckwith, 919-459-8157, abeckwith@919marketing. com
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KDI Health Solutions Rolls Out Nationally Recognized Preventive Health and Chronic Disease Management Programs Across the Carolinas
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Raleigh, N. C. â€“ KDI Health Solutions, an emerging regional provider of community-based preventive health care and chronic disease management programs, announced today the launch of its services throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Â KDIâ€™s award winning network of PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy), residency-trained pharmacists provides a new health care services option to the thousands of employer groups and physician practices across the Carolinas. Â
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The KDI business model of deploying a team of highly skilled PharmD clinicians began with the â€œThe Asheville Projectâ€, a nationally recognized diabetes patient care program created for the city of Asheville, North Carolina. This revolutionary community-based program is generating measurable success; health care costs have dropped, fewer work days are being missed and city employees and retirees are living healthier lives.
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Asheville City leaders confirm the dramatic results. â€œThe adoption of the pharmaceutical care program is the best thing we have ever done for our group health plan,â€ says John Miall, former risk manager for the City of Asheville. Â â€œEmployees with life threatening diseases are healthier than theyâ€™ve ever been, and the cityâ€™s health plan has saved more than $2,000 in medical costs per patient each year. â€
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Â â€œEmployers are seeing a significant return on investment from our mobile, worksite-based health care services,â€ says Rebecca Chater, president of KDI Health Solutions. â€œEmployer groups are proactively identifying and reducing immediate and longer term employee health care costs before they happen, while physician practices are providing more patient care in less time with better outcomes â€“ itâ€™s a true win-win for everyone in the health care ecosystem. â€
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The KDI employer program improves workplace productivity and reduces health care costs by providing a menu of worksite-based preventive and chronic disease management services: flu and pneumonia immunizations, health screenings and fairs, and private one-on-one counseling on medicine use and behavior modification. Â
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KDI provides employers with a powerful health risk assessment solution called Know Your NumberÂ® that predicts the risk of their employee population developing chronic, obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Using the Know Your NumberÂ® technology, KDI provides each employee with a confidential, easy-to-read report that not only predicts the onset of chronic diseases, but also educates them on the steps they can take to lower their risk. Â Employers receive an aggregate report that enables them to focus health and wellness programs on the disease states prevalent in their workforce population and therefore proactively reduce health care costs.
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In addition to employer groups, KDI also has a strong track record of helping physician practices provide more patient care in less time with better outcomes. Â The KDI network of community-based PharmD professionals has provided American Diabetes Association recognized diabetes treatment programs to hundreds of physician referred patients, handles overflows for patient immunizations (e. g. flu shots, pneumonia and shingles) and is a reliable source for drug therapy support.
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Physician practices partnering with KDI are seeing measurable results. Patrick Guiteras, MD with Chapel Hill Family Practice credits the program with making his practice more cost effective and helping his patients stay on track. â€œKDI provides diabetes education for our Medicare population. Â A more educated patient allows us to spend more time focused on care and treating the disease. â€
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KDIâ€™s innovative approach to diabetes treatment and drug therapy management is receiving accolades from industry experts. The company has been named the 2008 North Carolina Diabetes Association Provider of the Year, and last year was selected as the Outcomes Pharmaceutical Healthcare National Medication Therapy Management Provider of the Year.
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About KDI Health Soltutions
Raleigh-based KDI Health Solutions is an emerging provider of preventive health and chronic disease management services to employer groups and physician practices.
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KDIâ€™s award winning workforce of PharmD, residency-trained pharmacists provides real community-based health care solutions to improve the health outcomes of employer and physician populations. KDI services include flu, shingles and pneumonia immunizations, health screenings and fairs, disease education programs and personalized counseling on medicine use and behavior modification. Â Read More

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Sam — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:18:28 +0000

Chronic Diseases Are Feared By Many People

Sam — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:17:30 +0000

During the 2008-2009 election season, health care is one of the primary focuses for debate. The system appears to be broken and greater emphasis is placed on preventative medicine. In America, one of the costliest concerns is that of chronic diseases, which accounts for more than 75% of the nation’s $2 trillion in medical care costs.
Consider that the direct and indirect costs of Chronic Respiratory Disease from smoking is $193 billion, Diabetes costs are $174 billion per year, Cancer costs $89 billion annually, and the costs associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis has reached $81 billion. Yet, the biggest killer is Chronic Heart Disease and it accounted for $448 billion in 2008. Given the rising costs and the percentage of deaths caused by chronic diseases, many of them preventable, it’s time that we focus our attention on what we can do to fix this troublesome situation.
One of the most painful and debilitating chronic diseases is Arthritis, which includes over 100 inflammatory diseases affecting the joints and connective tissues. Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Juvenile Arthritis, Gout and Carpal Tunnel Disease are some of the diseases that afflict 46 million adults. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States and represents over $80 billion in medical costs, so it’s important to take steps to reduce the risk.
Those who are most at risk include women (60% of all cases), the elderly (half of all cases), the obese and those who work in sports or repetitive motion occupations. According to a recent study, the Arthritis Foundation Self Help Program reduces Rheumatoid Arthritic pain by 20% and reduces physician visits by 40%.
This small group education course offers physical exercises, which can reduce function decline by up to 41% or disability by 47%, weight loss programs that reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis by 50%, as well as nutritional advice. Participants in the program can also learn about physical therapy, medications and joint replacement therapy options that can help them live a long and robust life.
Heart Disease is one of the deadliest chronic diseases, which is the leading cause of the death in the US, despite improvements in prevention, detection and treatment. It is a killer of individuals who are in the prime of life, often taking people as young as 40 or 50.
Cardiovascular diseases leading to strokes account for over a million disabilities in working Americans, and in 2001, the health care costs reached $298 billion! There are many things you can do to limit your risk of Chronic Heart Disease: avoid or quit smoking; exercise 30-60 minutes, 3-5 days per week; eat your Omega-3s (fish, flaxseed oil, walnuts) and 5-10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables; maintain a healthy weight; and get regular blood pressure/cholesterol level screenings.
Chronic diseases are something that every American fears. The idea of being bed ridden or visiting the physician time and time again can be intimidating, especially when one considers the health care costs associated with a long-term disease. The worst part is in knowing that many cases are preventable through simple lifestyle modifications.
It seems the natural human urge is to “live my life how I want,” but now we’re seeing the drawbacks to such a stubborn philosophy. Even if you are already suffering, habitual changes can tack on many more years and allow you greater satisfaction in life. Read More

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Sam — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:17:49 +0000

Chronic diseases and pregnancy

Sam — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:16:03 +0000

Speaking about health before pregnancy, we mean way of life, nutrition, physical activity, habits, and also possible chronic diseases, such as heightened blood pressure or diabetes. If you have such diseases, then you just have to visit a doctor beforehand. You know, this may complicate pregnancy, bring harm to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor which medicinal preparations and in which doses you take. Doctor will recommend you tests and observations you should pass, for example, X-ray photography. Try to discuss all questions you have for the moment. Read More

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Sam — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:15:39 +0000

Lycopodium Clavatum 6X – 100 – Tablet

Sam — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:16:02 +0000

Daily Complete Nutritional Support System with Iron – 180 Tablets

Sam — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:15:21 +0000