CHRONIC ILLNESSES
The thought of living with an illness every day for many years or even the rest of your life might cause you to feel overwhelmed. With chronic illness management by Suman Manchireddy, MD, FACP, FHM, and his team at Reliant MD Group in Leesburg, Virginia, you can improve your quality of life in spite of chronic illnesses.
Chronic illnesses have a broad definition. Any illness or health complication that lasts for one year or longer and requires ongoing medical care is considered a chronic illness. Your chronic illness might interfere with your daily life and make it difficult to work, socialize, or exercise. Living with a chronic illness can affect your mental health just as much as your physical health.
Unfortunately, chronic illnesses don’t usually have cures. Instead of taking medication to make them go away, your treatment focuses on reducing the symptoms so you can live a comfortable life. You can get a chronic illness at any point in your life, but they’re more common in older populations.
The team at Reliant MD Group can help diagnose and manage many of the most common chronic illnesses. They frequently treat:
Thyroid conditions
Your thyroid is a gland responsible for regulating your metabolism. Problems with your thyroid can lead to weight loss, weight gain, anxiety, fatigue, and other symptoms.
Obesity
Obesity is a disease characterized by excess body fat. It often leads to other chronic conditions like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.
Heart failure
You have heart failure if your heart can’t pump enough blood through your body to sustain it. While heart failure doesn’t mean your heart stops working entirely, the condition requires close care and management.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic illness that affects the way you breathe. If you have it, your airways swell and produce too much mucus, making it difficult to breathe freely.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is a chronic illness that causes inflammation in your lungs. It causes labored breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and fatigue, especially with exercise.
The team at Reliant MD Group provides close chronic care management. If you have a chronic illness, your provider may encourage you to attend frequent appointments so they can monitor your condition and its treatment. Your chronic illness management plan might include:
- Medications
- Dietary changes
- Stopping smoking, drinking, and other habits
- Physical activity
- Surgery
Your care is personalized to meet your specifications and preferences. Diagnosing chronic conditions early gives you a better chance at successful care, so it’s important for you to attend your annual physical exams.