When your patient gets diagnosed with a chronic health condition, it can be a daunting and emotional time for them.
Whilst every individual and condition is unique, the reality that they will require long-term medicine or treatment means they are likely to have many questions and want further resources or support.
Patients who make small changes to their lifestyle can see significant positive benefits to their overall health as well as helping them to manage their chronic health condition.
How can healthy lifestyle services support patients with chronic health conditions?
Impact of self-management
Research shows people with long-term conditions who take more control of their health:
- are more able to cope with their health problem
- improve pain management
- experience less flare ups
- have more energy.
Our service can help your patient find lifestyle changes that work for them. Health is not a “one size fits all” approach and our team take the time to listen to your patient to figure out the best way to support them.
Lifestyle interventions can also help prevent chronic health conditions for certain patients.
Research from Diabetes.org.uk demonstrated that combined lifestyle interventions – including diet, physical activity and sustained weight loss – can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by approximately 50%.
Achieve a healthy weight
We’re sure you’re already familiar with the health benefits of maintaining a healthy weight. It can lower the risk of certain cancers (including liver and kidney), heart disease and hypertension. Plus, it can help relieve chronic joint pain.
However, encouraging someone to lose weight can be a challenging conversation. We’ve previously written about the best way to approach this with your patients. However, once someone makes the decision that they want to lose weight, joining a programme can help them achieve their health goals. Research has shown that weight management support which provides a social element are easier to stick to, compared to those which do not.
Get more active
Physical activity can help with the management of long-term health conditions, as well as help prevent them. However, if someone has recently been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, they might be feeling vulnerable and not sure of the safest or most appropriate way to get moving. They may feel like they shouldn’t exercise at all, for fear of causing damage or too much strain.
However, there are lots of ways people living with chronic health conditions can enjoy and benefit from physical activity. It’s all about finding an activity that’s right for them. Again, our team can offer guidance and point them in the right direction. There are lots of ways to move with a long-term health condition, and we can help your patient find them.
Stop smoking
Smoking increases the risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions. These include several types of cancer, most predominantly lung. It also can cause coronary heart disease, strokes, and damage to blood vessels and arteries.
According to research from Gov UK, in England around 60% of smokers want to quit. Currently, around half of smokers in England attempt to quit using willpower alone, despite this being the least effective method.
With the help of our smoking cessation service, we can help try to prevent some of these chronic health conditions. Getting support can drastically increase a person’s chances of quitting for good. According to the same Gov UK research, combining stop smoking aids with expert support from local stop smoking services makes someone three times as likely to stop smoking successfully.
Reduce alcohol consumption
Could your patient benefit from drinking less? There are so many health benefits from cutting back on alcohol. Similar to other actions on this list, drinking less alcohol can help prevent chronic health conditions, such as certain types of cancer, hypertension and strokes. It can help your patient feel more energetic and help them if they’re trying to lose weight.
Your patient may not have to give up alcohol entirely. Having alcohol-free days and drinking low-alcohol beverages can help them feel the health benefits. Again, our team are happy to help guide your patient to make lifestyle changes that will work best for them.
If your patient has recently been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, or is concerned about developing one, our healthy lifestyle services can offer the support they need. Our friendly team are here to talk through their concerns and find out how we can help them.
