Health & Chronic Illness

Health & Chronic Illness

Health & Chronic Illness

Introduction

Chronic diseases are by definition those for which no cure is available, and conventional intervention is limited to symptom control, preventing progression, and promoting self-care management. Over the past two decades, research into chronic illness experience has shifted from the classic grounded theorizing of depicting basic social processes in such metaphoric conceptualizations as illness trajectory , erosion of self or unending work toward nuanced representations aimed at balancing aspects common to many chronic conditions with distinct experiential differences among and between specific chronic conditions and health care contexts.

Among these variations is the recognition that encounters between health care professionals and chronically ill patients may be variously sporadic or ongoing, occasional or intensive, and may involve one primary care provider or an array of specialist practitioners. Because the vast majority of chronic disease management is typically conducted by the patient in the context of his or her own life, encounters between patients and the health care professionals with whom they engage become a critical intersection for information exchange, decision-making and motivation(Eddins 2004). The ability of the health care professional to engage in effective communication may therefore make a profound difference in whether the encounter supports or discourages decisions and subsequent actions that will optimize the patient's ability to live as well as possible with that particular disease .

Discussion

There are many types of chronic illness, from diabetes and AIDS to arthritis and persistent fatigue. While medical science has made great strides in developing effective treatments for the physical effects of these diseases, many victims still face a staggering challenge to their mental and emotional health. One of the biggest fears is the uncertainty associated with a chronic illness. The condition may be sporadic, lasting only a short while. Or, it could be permanent, gradually worsening over time(Crawford 2004).

Chronic illness can force many potentially stressful lifestyle changes, such as giving up cherished activities, adapting to new physical limitations and special needs, and paying for what can be expensive medications and treatment services. Even day-to-day living may be difficult. A study of patients suffering from chronic tension headaches experienced diminished performance in their jobs and social functioning, and were three to fifteen times more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety or mood disorder.

Some people with chronic illnesses aren't able to function as well as they'd like. Some illnesses might cause a person to tire easily or miss a lot of school. Other chronic illnesses may make it necessary to have to use a wheelchair or to carry around some special foods or medication. But whatever a person uses to get through the day, chances are he's going to feel different because of it. If you know someone with a chronic illness, it's important for you to deal with the person and the situation as best as you can. This means that although it may be uncomfortable to mention someone's special needs, it would be downright silly to ignore ...