Chronic Disease Management

Chronic disease management encompasses the treatments you need to stop the condition from progressing and maintain optimal health. At Trinity Salem Family Health Clinic in Waxahachie, Texas, Yaminah Matthews, APRN, FNP-C, works with each person, developing a personalized treatment plan based on their condition and overall health. If you’re diagnosed with a chronic disease, don’t wait to start managing your health. Call Salem Family Health Clinic or use online booking to request an appointment today.

Why do I need chronic disease management?

Chronic diseases can’t be cured with the treatments currently available. While you can prevent most chronic diseases, you have the condition for the rest of your life after they develop. 

These diseases also worsen over time, making them the top causes of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney or liver failure.

Chronic disease management includes the comprehensive treatment you need to control your symptoms, prevent disease progression, and enjoy a healthy, active life.

What health conditions need chronic disease management?

The chronic diseases frequently managed at Trinity Salem Family Health Clinic include:

• Diabetes
• Gout
• Osteoarthritis
• Chronic migraines
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)

Trinity Salem Family Health Clinic also offers ongoing care for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. While these conditions are treatable, they can become long-lasting challenges, and they often develop in people with chronic diseases.

Though Yaminah helps advocate for other chronic diseases and creates lifestyle plans to support your health, many require treatment from specialists. For example, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and kidney and liver disease are chronic health conditions that should be followed by medical specialists.

What symptoms indicate I need chronic disease management?

Chronic health conditions cause a wide range of symptoms. A few examples include the following:

• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Dry, itchy skin
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in your legs and feet
• Anxiety
• Depression

Most chronic conditions don’t cause symptoms until they reach an advanced stage.

What happens during chronic disease management?

Yaminah creates a long-term treatment plan to relieve symptoms and prevent or slow down disease progression. The primary treatments include:

Lifestyle modifications

Lifestyle changes focused on diet, exercise, weight, and habits like smoking are essential for managing chronic diseases. The changes you need to make depend on your current habits and diagnosis. 

For example, if you have diabetes, you need to avoid foods that raise your blood sugar, while people with high blood pressure should limit their salt consumption. Losing weight, limiting stress, and stopping smoking (if needed) also dramatically impact on chronic diseases.

Medications

You may be able to keep your chronic disease under control with lifestyle changes. But if not, Yaminah prescribes medication. 

To learn more about chronic disease management, call Trinity Salem Family Health Clinic or request an appointment online today.