Chronic Disease Management Specialist
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Lake Immediate Care and Clinic
Primary Care Practice & Urgent Care located in Island Lake, IL
A chronic disease is any health condition that plagues you for a year or more and requires medical oversight, which is where the team at Lake Immediate Care and Clinic comes in. Led by Dr. Reginald Ebirim, the medical staff at this clinic in Island Lake, Illinois, helps patients lead healthy, active lives by expertly managing, controlling, and even reversing chronic diseases. For comprehensive medical oversight, call the office or use the online scheduling tool to set up an appointment.
Chronic Disease Management
What are the most common chronic diseases?
The loose definition of a chronic disease is a medical condition that lasts for more than a few months (the length of time varies depending upon the condition) and requires vigilant monitoring by a health care professional. The most common chronic diseases are:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Stroke
- COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Cancer
There are many other diseases that fit the bill in terms of being chronic, but this list gives you an idea of the breadth and scope of the types of medical conditions that can cause ongoing problems in your health.
How are chronic diseases managed?
The answer to this question depends entirely upon your diagnosis. In every case, Lake Immediate Care and Clinic’s goal is to help reduce the effects your chronic disease have on your quality of life and to prevent the disease from progressing and creating more health problems.
For example, if osteoarthritis has started to affect your joints, the staff works with you to offset the pain and limitations that come with the disease through medications and physical therapy.
As another example, if you have diabetes, your doctor works with you to manage the disease by monitoring your blood sugar levels to avoid complications like neuropathy, vision loss, and heart disease.
The main reason you need medical help in managing your chronic disease is that the team at Lake Immediate Care and Clinic understands what to be on the lookout for, and they’re able to intervene where necessary to prevent complications from wreaking further havoc on your health.
Can chronic diseases be prevented or reversed?
The fact is that many of the nation’s most common chronic diseases can be prevented and even reversed if you take the necessary steps. Some of the factors that greatly influence most chronic diseases are well within your control to change, including:
- Smoking
- Weight control
- Exercise
- Alcohol and drug use
- Nutrition
To drive this point home, the top three chronic diseases — heart disease, diabetes, and cancer — are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. There’s much you can do to prevent them in the first place, especially if you tackle the five items listed above.
If you’d like more information about managing your chronic disease, call Lake Immediate Care and Clinic or set up an appointment with the online scheduling tool.