Simple steps to living well with a chronic disease.
We tend to think of illnesses as temporary and curable, like a sore throat. But some conditions don’t go away with time or even after taking the right medications. About half of all adults suffer from at least one chronic medical condition—a long-term health problem that requires ongoing medical care, such as diabetes, arthritis, depression, heart disease, or cancer.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness, you may feel scared and confused. Keep in mind that although your daily routine may change, these changes will soon become routine. Patients call this “the new normal.”