Month: August 2024

Understanding Chronic Conditions

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Understanding Chronic Conditions

Cancer patient at hospital side view
Chronic diseases are long-term illnesses with manageable or controlled symptoms that may not be easily cured. For a typical person, these are some of the most prevalent health issues. They are also among the illnesses that are easiest to avoid. Managing chronic illnesses can be difficult on both a physical and emotional level. Long-term problems like diabetes and heart disease always call for ongoing medical care.

What are Chronic Conditions?

Chronic illnesses frequently last for a year or longer. In addition, you might require continuous medical attention and experience challenges carrying out your daily tasks. These actions, which are referred to as activities of daily life, such as getting dressed and using the toilet. These challenges may also have an impact on your family. Diabetes and COPD are examples of common chronic health problems.

Common Types of Chronic Diseases

According to studies, those in older demographics have a higher chance of having a chronic illness that requires care. Furthermore, the data indicates that chronic conditions account for the majority of healthcare costs in the country. The most common chronic health problems and ailments are listed below:
Cancer
When aberrant cells affect normal cells in other areas of the body and divide & reproduce uncontrollably, cancer results. Since cancer can form in bones, blood, organs, and tissue, it makes sense that it is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses affecting people. Roughly two in five Canadians will experience some form of cancer at some point in their lives.
Chronic lung disease
The term chronic lung disease, commonly referred to as chronic respiratory disease (CRD), is a general term used to represent a variety of long-term lung illnesses. For instance, there is no known cure for asthma. However, several chronic disease management techniques can assist in clearing the patient’s airways and reduce frequent CRD symptoms like shortness of breath. It enables living well with chronic conditions related to the lungs.
Heart illness
Heart disease refers to a variety of cardiac disorders, including conditions that impair the blood supply to the organ, such as coronary artery disease. Arrhythmia, heart attack, and heart failure are the main signs and symptoms of heart disease.

Also Read: Top 5 Health Screenings Everyone Should Get

Managing Chronic Illnesses

The goal of managing a chronic illness is to control the sickness, minimize symptoms and continuous monitoring of the disease. This goes well beyond simple blood tests or symptom treatment. Furthermore, one medical condition can be the cause of, or have a major impact on, another medical condition. By being aware of this relationship through resources for chronic illness patients, you and your doctor can successfully manage the disease.

 

Understanding not just your illness but also your surroundings and way of life and how they affect it is essential to managing your condition. Chronic illness progression can be slowed down by managing all of the different causes.

 

To stay healthy, one must eat a balanced diet full of nutritious grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy fats. Conditions like Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease can be avoided by limiting the use of processed foods, sugar-filled beverages, and excessive amounts of salt and saturated fats.

 

In addition to heart disease and lung cancer, smoking increases the risk of developing several types of chronic diseases, such as respiratory disorders and heart disease. These dangers can be considerably decreased by giving up smoking and staying away from secondhand smoke.

 

For the early detection and treatment of different types of chronic diseases, routine health screenings and examinations are essential. Tests for cancer, blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar can help detect any health problems before they worsen. Better health outcomes and more effective therapy can result from early intervention.

Closing Thoughts

Many people throughout the world suffer from chronic illnesses. Everybody has different symptoms. You could experience higher amounts of stress if you have a chronic illness. There are different ways to handle the challenges of daily life. Make sure to ask your healthcare physician for advice on stress relief techniques. Get the answers to the queries you have in writing.

Healthy Habits for Busy Lives

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Healthy Habits for Busy Lives

Old woman doing fitness exercises

Do you need assistance finding time in your hectic schedule for health and wellness tips? Life may get quite busy with work, family, and social obligations, so it makes sense. Don’t worry! Putting your health and fitness first doesn’t need a total lifestyle change. In fact, you can improve your general well-being and feel better than ever with a few easy adjustments to your everyday routine.

 

Because of hectic schedules, our well-being frequently suffers. However, things don’t have to be that way! We occasionally discover that everything else takes precedence over our general well-being. To function at our best, leading a healthy lifestyle can facilitate this process. Even if it might not seem possible, it is doable with some time management for healthy habits.

Top 5 Habits for a Healthy Lifestyle

Choosing one over the other does not apply to life, work, health, or self-care. It is important to value having a good body, mind, and work-life balance. It is not advisable to put off giving yourself the care you may have required in the past unless something goes wrong.

 

This raises the question of how we can balance all of life’s obligations while making time for our health and kicking out bad habits. Here are the top 5 habits that you can follow to stay healthy on the go.

1. Get enough sleep
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle involves more than just eating a well-balanced diet and exercising frequently. Examine your calendar more closely. Are you able to fall asleep and stay asleep all through the night? Try going to bed a little earlier if you start your day early so that you can wake up earlier, ensuring you get the recommended amount of sleep. It can be difficult to get enough sleep when you’re busy, but it’s essential for your general health and well-being. A lack of sleep can cause mood fluctuations, weight gain, and a weakened immune system, among other health problems. The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults recommend 7 to 9 hours of good-quality sleep for adults younger than 65, and 7 to 8 hours for seniors. Need more health and wellness tips? Contact us at the Aboud Health Group Walk-in Clinic today.
2. Drink more water
Eating, snacking, and above all drinking water can be easily forgotten between all of your obligations and tasks. Moderate dehydration causes you to lose strength and stamina, and is the main cause of heat exhaustion. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, if dehydration is ongoing, it can affect your kidney function and cause kidney stones, liver, joint and muscle damage, cholesterol problems, and constipation. As a guideline, the Dietitians of Canada suggest 2.2 litres (nine cups) per day for women and three litres (12 cups) for men. However, the amount of water that a person needs to drink every day is different for everyone. What is most important is that you drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration. Your fluid intake can include water as well as a variety of other fluids. You may monitor how much water you drink in several ways, such as using applications on your phone to receive reminders or labeled water bottles that show you how much you’re drinking. When you stay properly hydrated, your urine color will be a light yellow or close to transparent. If you’re getting dehydrated, the urine color becomes a deep amber or even light brown.
3. Exercise regularly
Exercise is important, and being motivated to work out can be a wise first step towards achieving and maintaining good health. Exercise requirements vary depending on your age, body type, fitness level, and overall wellness objectives; but, it’s crucial to begin moving a few times a week. More power to you if you wish to undertake a quick workout for a busy schedule. Daily exercise will still improve your health. The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults aged 18 years and older should participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, every week. This may be going for a half-hour walk every weekday after dinner, working in the garden for 20 minutes every evening, or spending a few afternoons chasing your children.
4. Take care of nutrition

Naturally, this is a no-brainer; for a very long time, medical professionals, dietitians, and academics have advocated for a nutritious diet. However, easy healthy meals for busy people can be a challenge. In a hurry, you’re more likely to choose the simplest alternative, which is typically not your greatest choice. Or worse, begin missing meals.

 

Incorporating a nutritious weekly meal plan or preparing food on the weekend could help curb unhealthy eating habits. Easy healthy meals for busy people free up time for you to spend on other activities during your hectic workday.

5. Remember to relax

Stress can appear in our lives, particularly when things get busy. Furthermore, prolonged periods of high stress might contribute to many health issues. Micro breaks are proven to improve performance, motivation, and concentration. They can also decrease stress, and even improve how you see your job, which may help you avoid common work-related injuries.

 

Put your phone down, close your eyes, disable your notifications, and give yourself a grown-up break. When you have a hectic schedule, whether at work or on the road, here are some quick methods to de-stress: practicing deep breathing, engaging in mindfulness or meditation, and jotting down some ideas in a gratitude notebook.

Final Thoughts

Even though we have busy lifestyles, maintaining our physical health and fitness is essential to our overall well-being. By making minor adjustments to your everyday routine and following health and wellness tips, you can increase your level of health and fitness. One also needs to incorporate quick workouts for a busy schedule. Making these little changes to your everyday routine can have a significant impact on your fitness and overall health.

 

Life can quickly become hectic. Time management for healthy habits can be challenging. However, that doesn’t mean you should disregard your health. Over time, you’ll feel better if you take care of yourself. And that’s the most crucial thing.

Top 5 Health Screenings Everyone Should Get (and When)

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Top 5 Health Screenings Everyone Should Get (and When)

Young male psysician with patient measuring blood pressure

All age groups should have regular, comprehensive physical tests and preventative health screenings. The data from your checkups can assist in identifying a condition before it poses a threat to your health. Annual health screenings help detect lifestyle diseases. Timely intervention and treatment can be done if diseases are detected early before they become serious. Furthermore, it aids in lowering treatment-related problems and expenses.

 

Here are some of the recommended health screenings that an individual should perform in order to ensure overall well-being:

Preventative Health Screenings

Blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol check-up

Depending on the age and health risk factors assessed by a physician, you may be advised to undergo regular blood tests. Individuals may also be advised with regular blood pressure checks to ensure it is within prescribed limits.Your physician may recommend blood tests to diagnose and monitor health conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol. According to the 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines, cholesterol screening should be repeated every 5 years for men and women aged 40-75 years. Blood sugar testing is advised beginning at the age of 40 for everyone. Need to schedule preventative health screenings? Contact us at the Aboud Health Group Walk-in Clinic today.
Colorectal cancer screening
These are the tests that look for blood or polyps (growth of tissue) in the colon or rectum to detect cancer. The Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care recommends that if you are over 50 years of age, you should have an FOBT every one or two years. This test determines the symptoms of colorectal cancer (CRC). Your physician may recommend, based on your family history and any medical history, a FOBT test every year or two, with follow-ups on positive tests by colonoscopy. All physicians understand the importance of early detection, which is why regular cancer screening is crucial.
Cervical cancer testing
According to the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care, women should begin screening for cervical cancer after the age of 20 and should retest every three years. These recommendations are for testing asymptomatic women who are or have been sexually active. They do not apply to women with symptoms of cervical cancer, previous abnormal screening results, those who do not have a cervix (due to hysterectomy), or who are immunosuppressed.
Prostate-specific antigen
Blood tests help determine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the body. Anything that causes an individual’s immune system to react is known as an antigen. Prostate cancer can cause an increase in the levels of the antigen unique to the prostate. It’s crucial to realize, though, that certain benign prostate disorders, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate, can also cause an increase in PSA. It is not advised that all men take the PSA test, and there is a great deal of disagreement on its purpose.

Know the importance of early detection from experts at Aboud Health Group. Contact us here.

Bone density testing
Your bones deteriorate and thin with age. This can eventually result in osteoporosis, a disorder that can weaken and break your bones easily. You should get a bone density test if you’re above 65 years of age. For more information on specific recommendations for bone density tests, you can follow this link.
There are options for treatment if your physician determines that your bones are deteriorating. It is important to identify the causes at an early age so that you can take appropriate measures to maintain bone density and strength.

Closing Thoughts

Regular health checkups are like routine car maintenance – they help prevent minor issues from becoming major problems, keep your body running smoothly, and ensure you’re always in top gear!

 

For a longer, happier, and healthier life, routine full-body screenings are necessary. Along with healthier habits for disease prevention, screenings play a major role in keeping you healthy. They provide vital information about your body, empowering you to take charge of your health. Together with your doctor, you can design a treatment plan and make lifestyle modifications with the support of the information provided in your yearly health report.

 

Based on your medical situation, speak with your healthcare provider about different screening tests. At different ages, an individual might need different health tests. Learn smore about recommended health screenings by age at the Aboud Health Group Walk-in Clinic.