Dealing with a single health issue is one thing, but when there are several of them, it becomes a different ball game altogether. Here is how to get help for someone who has various health issues.
Dental Issues
Whether you have gum disease, a tooth cavity, or missing teeth, you will want to get professional help. Restoring your smile can significantly improve your health, so if you need to visit your family dentistry facility for dental implants to replace your missing teeth or Invisalign to correct the alignment of your teeth, go ahead and do it.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
You have probably heard that engaging in physical activity can delay or help prevent several ailments including diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. It also acts as a mood booster, thus relieving depression. However, the ability to be physically active tends to dwindle as you age. That means you are more susceptible to the aforementioned diseases and foul moods. Naturally, you would want to get help with that. The best way to do that is by checking with your local senior centers, churches, and gyms to get moral support in terms of exercise partners and encouragement. Other than that, you are likely to slack on your eating habits as you age. You can find help in local support groups where you are accountable to each other for what you eat.
Weight Gain And Obesity
Gaining too much weight or being obese exposes you to diseases like dyslipidemia, respiratory issues, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, gallbladder, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Of course, you do not want that for yourself. You can avoid such issues by working out and eating right. That kind of help comes in the form of gym memberships and meal plans. You can easily download a healthy meal plan from the internet and enroll in your local gym to ensure that you are always motivated to work out.
Tobacco Addiction
Tobacco is addictive and it is the greatest preventable cause of premature death in the U.S, such that it is now referred to as ‘Tobacco dependence disease.’ Ideally, you would want to avoid it, but you are probably already hooked. You can try to quit smoking on your own, but that takes a lot of willpower and discipline that most people do not have. You will find that with the help of a physician at an addiction recovery center and a support group, you can overcome tobacco addiction and the diseases that come with it.
Substance Abuse
For substance abuse, you are usually looking at alcohol and drug abuse. Now, these two facets are hardly associated with seniors, but just like the younger generation, seniors tend to self-medicate themselves using both legal and illegal substances, which may lead to health issues. Moreover, seniors often mix medication with alcohol knowingly or unknowingly. Regardless, you can get help in a rehab center that will help you overcome drug abuse if you are addicted.
HIV/AIDS
You probably already know that HIV/AIDS can be spread three ways, with the commonest having to do with reckless sexual behavior and the failure to use protection. The disease is also among the most stigmatized in the world, making people who suffer from it reluctant to seek help. However, over the years, there have been sensitization campaigns and debunking of myths about the disease, which has seen an improvement when it comes to how society handles patients with the disease. That said, you may still find it hard to get help if you suffer from the disease. The medical practitioners at your local health clinic or even support groups created for people who are living with the disease can offer great help in terms of emotional support.
Losing hair can take a toll on your self-esteem. It is understandable then that you would want to get a solution for your hair loss. There are several options here. You can use home remedies, supplements, or just visit a hair specialist to get a prescription for restoring your hair.
Mental Health
Most people assume that dementia and other mental problems come with aging, which is not the case. The condition can be caused by renal failure, diabetes, nutritional imbalance, infections, and reactions to medication. You need to keep in mind that dementia comes in various forms, including Alzheimer’s Disease. In some cases. Depression is another mental issue, which, when left untreated, can lead to tragic events. In that regard, you may want to get help in a mental health institution if you feel like your mental health is at stake.
Violence And Injury
It is impossible to forecast whether you will even be in an accident or not, but that is a possibility. From road accidents to falls in the bathroom, people suffer various accidents that could lead to trauma and injury. Still, more people are becoming victims of violence. It could be anything from domestic to gun violence. The constant here is that such people need help. Well, you can get help for injuries caused by accidents or violence at a hospital where you will get physical therapy and medication.
Environmental Quality
Environmental pollution can cause several health issues, including skin diseases and respiratory ailments. This is particularly true for people who live in industrial or low-income areas. Aside from getting help from the hospital, you can also help yourself by keeping your surroundings clean and calling on the government to make sure that you live in a safe environment that is free of pollution.
Arthritis
Sometimes, the protective tissues at the end of your bones will wear out and when that happens, you are likely to experience immense pain in your joints, back, and hips. Of course, you will need osteoarthritis treatment for the same. A specialist doctor will prescribe surgery, physiotherapy, or medication to help you manage the condition.
Lack of Immunization Related Illnesses
There is a reason why both children and adults are vaccinated. However, for one reason or the other, you may have missed a vaccine, hence suffering the consequences currently. The only way to avoid illnesses caused by the failure to be vaccinated is just to get the vaccine. It is as simple as that.
Correction of Deformities
The effects of diseases like skin cancer can be devastating and leave a patient looking like a shell of their former self. You can imagine what that does to their self-esteem. This is where plastic surgery comes in because it can help restore a person’s look. If you have any deformities, whether from injuries or disease, visiting a plastic surgeon’s office could be the turning point for you.
How to Minimize Health Issues
While you are looking for help for different issues, it is important to keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. In that regard, you may want to put some measures in place to ensure that you remain in the best possible health.
Get a Dependable Health Team
When you are struggling with a medical condition, the last thing you want is a physician or medical staff who makes you feel uncomfortable. Get someone you trust to find you a team of medics that you can trust and be comfortable with. You do not need the additional stress of dealing with medical staff who make you feel uncomfortable.
Seek Help from Friends and Family
Aside from your healthcare team, you want to reach out to family and friends who you think can be a support system both financially and emotionally. Health issues can be draining and when you hit rock bottom or face hurdles along the way, you want to know that you have loved ones that you can lean on.
Don’t Skimp on Self-Care
Simple things like eating right, working out, brushing your teeth, and showering can help you keep your mental health in check. Sometimes self-care will extend to consulting cosmetic dentists to transform your smile if you do not like it and that’s fine too, because it will come in handy especially when you need to fight stress and boost your self-confidence.
Use Symptom Minimization Products
If the health condition you are dealing with comes with symptoms that can be alleviated with over-the-counter products, go ahead and get them. For instance, you can get something to relieve the pain that comes with gingivitis as well as the cavities and foul odor. Something like arthritic pain can be diminished using pain meds and when used alongside prescription medication, they can powerfully combat pain and inflammation.
Get an Outlet
The fact that you have health issues does not mean that you need to focus on them all the time. Studies reveal that engaging in leisure activities can help reduce stress and boost your mood. It is therefore important to find an outlet. It could be reading books, gardening, exercising, or painting. Whatever it is, use it as a way to distract yourself from your health issues.
Eat Healthily
It is often said that you are what you eat and that is actually true. You cannot expect to enjoy good health when you are filling your body with junk. The truth is that healthy food doesn’t taste as good as junk food, but you can work your way around that by finding ways to make your healthy meals delicious. Of course, you can indulge in your favorite not-so-healthy snacks, but do not make it a habit. When you do not eat well, you open up your body to a myriad of health issues and obesity as well. You don’t want that, do you?
Get Quality Sleep
Most people overlook the value of sleep. Insufficient sleep is directly linked to the poor management and development of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity. As an adult, you need at least eight hours of sleep daily, so when it is time to sleep, make sure that you do.
Know and Share your Family’s Medical History
It is important to learn your family’s medical history because if there is a lineage of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, you are at more risk of developing the diseases yourself. In that regard, you may want to share your family’s medical history with your doctor who is in the best position to help you catch such conditions early or take measures to prevent them.
Avoid Alcohol
A little alcohol doesn’t hurt, but you don’t want to overindulge. Over time, alcohol builds up in your system when taken in excess and causes toxicity. Eventually, it can lead to health conditions like liver disease, hypertension, and stroke. If you cannot limit your alcohol intake, avoid drinking at all to reduce health risks. This also saves you the trouble of having to deal with bail bondsmen when you get into trouble with the law for things you did while intoxicated.
Get Screened
Most of the diseases you are likely to suffer in your life can be caught early and treated. However, a significant number of people miss out on that because they do not go for screening. You can make your case different by seeing your doctor regularly for checkups and screenings.
Exercise Regularly
Frequent exercise and physical activity go a long way in helping manage, delay, or prevent illnesses. To make it doable, aim for moderate workouts like gardening or brisk walking for about fifteen minutes. As a multi-morbid patient, you need to be in the best shape to face your health issues head-on.
Having to deal with different health issues at once can be draining mentally, emotionally, and financially, but the good news is that you can get help with the same. All the tips here can help you manage your health issues or do away with them for good, so go ahead and make the most out of them.