Last Updated on September 29, 2020 by Ellen Christian
This post is made possible by the American Lung Association, in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
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Staying healthy with a chronic illness can be overwhelming. I’ve had asthma since I was a teenager and my husband has had diabetes for almost fifteen years. Both of these chronic illnesses bring along their own set of problems. But, one thing that they both share is that people with these chronic illnesses can be more likely to get sick than others.
Simple Tips for Staying Healthy
Staying healthy isn’t easy for anyone. Sometimes, it seems like we go from one sniffle to another during the fall and winter months. In Vermont, cold and flu season tends to last longer than we’d like it to. When you combine the cold, damp weather with being stuck inside, you can see why it can be a challenge to stay healthy.
Living with a chronic disease whether that’s asthma, diabetes or COPD, you need to take extra care to help keep your immune system strong. You don’t want to have to deal with the symptoms of your chronic illness along with the symptoms of the flu. I try to focus on living a healthy, stress-free life as often as possible by making a few simple changes to my routines.
How do you manage chronic health conditions?
Managing your chronic health condition is something best discussed with your doctor. How often they see you and the type of care you receive will depend on the individual and the recommendation of their health care provider.
Adults 50 years of age and older are more likely to have one or more chronic health conditions, such as lung or heart disease, diabetes and cancer. When combined with the flu, these chronic health conditions can become worse and cause serious illness.
There are simple things you can do to stay healthy including eating right, getting enough sleep, and remembering to take medications and supplements as directed. If recommended by your doctor, try to spend some time outside each day doing activities you enjoy. My husband loves feeding the birds and he spends time each day outside doing this.
What does wellness in chronic illness mean?
Living with a chronic illness isn’t easy. What you should aim for is to live the best life you can live both physically and mentally. Work with your doctor to determine the best way to manage your chronic illness. Your doctor may recommend other health and mental health support specialists depending on your needs. Learn what steps you can take to stay healthy including things like getting the flu shot.
The flu can worsen symptoms of chronic health conditions, like lung or heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Studies have shown an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in the few days following a flu infection. That means the flu can be deadly for anyone, including adults 50 years of age and older who more often have one or more chronic health conditions.
If you or someone you know is 50 years of age and older, go to GetMyShot.org to learn more and talk to your healthcare provider about flu vaccine options that may be right for you.
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Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
