Personal Reflection on Chronic Illness:
Chronic illness according to Levey, (2011) is a persistent disease for a longer period, mostly not less than three months. This disease has no definable beginning or middle and even an end. Although some of the sufferings arising due to chronic illness are always alleviated to some extent, there is no cure for the chronic disease. According to (Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, 2015), examples of chronic illnesses includes; heart disease, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes as well as kidney disease. As at 2015, about 118 million people in the US had, at least, one or more chronic condition and one out of five adults had two or else more chronic diseases (Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, 2015). Therefore, the aim of this discussion is to explain what I understand by wellness in chronic illness.
In my opinion, living with a chronic disease leads to numerous challenges. One of the keys experienced by persons with chronic illness is the trauma of accepting that their lives have permanently changed. Hence, an individual should accept such changes and learn how to cope with the condition. The person must start the adaptability process and change of lifestyle as soon as possible. For older people, the best immediate response to this situation is by seeking a relief via a programmed medical intercession. Another contribution to the wellness of individual with chronic illness, full family support. This will help in reducing depression which is mostly associate with chronic conditions. For instance, persons with HIV/AIDS will be happier if their family members support them by showing them love, providing required diets as well as prescribed medication (Levey, 2011).
Additionally, public awareness is another way of chronic disease wellness. As nurses, we have a mandate to teach the public thoroughly about effects that are associated with chronic illness as well as the available mechanism or else program that can help in minimizing the condition. According to me, this will enable the affected family members to care for the individuals with chronic diseases more efficiently. In conclusion, persons with chronic illness must learn to accept their conditions and seek help from the family members first. Through this, they will be happy as well as live normally as they were before the chronic illness. By making sure that public is aware of the chronic condition will improve the wellness (Ward, 2014).
Response to Discussion1
I do agree with the fact that chronic disease has no cure, but it is manageable as long as the individual with such condition is ready to cope and cooperate with the family members, medical professionals as well as friends. They must not feel depressed or else disable due to their conditions. It is true according to the discussion above that people with chronic illness can live happily and for more years, but they should also seek spiritual help. This will help to improve their conditions because human is naturally spiritual being (Levey, 2011).
Response to Discussion 2
In my opinion, these individuals must be shown care and love, more so the elderly persons having chronic conditions. They just need to feel loved and encouraged each and every moment. This will help to minimize the stress that they might undergo because of chronic illness. In conclusion, the society should stop putting more emphasis on acute disease, but they have to turn more of their effort on chronic illness too (Ward, 2014). This will help in managing as well as controlling the cases of chronic illness in America at large.
References
Levey, A. S., de Jong, P. E., Coresh, J., El Nahas, M., Astor, B. C., Matsushita, K., & Eckardt, K. U. (2011). The definition, classification, and prognosis of chronic kidney disease: a KDIGO Controversies Conference report. Kidney international, 80(1), 17-28.
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control, & Prevention (Eds.). (2015). Health, United States, 2013, with special feature on prescription drugs. Government Printing Office.
Ward, B. W. (2014). Multiple chronic conditions among US adults: a 2012 update. Preventing chronic disease, 11.
