Claxton-Hepburn

The Will to Rise Above Chronic Illness Having a chronic illness can be frustrating, but it doesn't have to defi ne who you are and you don't need to manage it alone. A CHRONIC ILLNESS is defined as persistent, marked by long duration or frequent recurrence. Individuals with a chronic illness, disease, or medical condition experience symptoms that are constant, occur repeatedly, and are long-lasting. Examples of chronic illnesses include: • diabetes • cancer • heart disease • osteoarthritis • stroke Often, these conditions cause pain and fatigue, which can greatly disrupt a person's daily life. "One of the most common complaints I hear from patients with chronic illnesses is simply that they are frustrated," says Parthajeet R. Chowdhuri, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician at Claxton- Hepburn Medical Center. "Frustration can impair how well you manage your illness and lead to a sense of hopelessness. I try to help my patients overcome these obstacles through education." Knowledge Is Power Learning all that you can about your condition, the best ways to manage it, and following through with recommended guidelines and physician instructions are key. However, there's another necessary step to help prevail over the frustrations of coping with a chronic illness—support. "Finding a support system and establishing open communication are crucial," Dr. Chowdhuri says. "Most people receive encouragement from family, but patients also benefit from having someone who has been in their position and can share similar experiences. That's where support groups play a big role." GET A HANDLE ON CHRONIC ILLNESS Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center offers support and education for individuals dealing with a chronic illness through its I Can Feel Better Program. "People dealing with a chronic disease may face pain, stress, tension, depression, or other condition-specific symptoms each day," says Karen Cole, RN, MSN, certified diabetes educator at Claxton-Hepburn. "The six-week, chronic disease self-management program focuses on helping patients understand how to break that cycle." Equipping participants with a toolbox of Celebrating 125 years of building trust. Support groups create an environment that allows individuals with chronic conditions to encourage and relate to one another. Participants can obtain tips and advice from peers who genuinely empathize with their issues. Chronic illnesses can last a lifetime, but you don't have to cope alone. Seek and maintain support and continue to stay abreast of your condition. knowledge helps them overcome symptoms. The program also helps individuals develop short-term action plans so they can break down their goals into smaller, more doable steps. "You can learn to self-manage your condition to live as full a life as possible," Cole says. "The I Can Feel Better Program can help." For more information or to register for the six-week program, call Cole at (888)908-2462. L I V ING WE L L 4

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