What To Do When A Chronic Condition Flares Up

What To Do When A Chronic Condition Flares Up

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According to the CDC, about 51.8% of adults currently deal with at least one chronic condition. And no matter the demographic you belong to, you should know the medical conditions you manage. In fact, in an ideal world, everybody would have loved to live illness-free, but reality doesn’t make it so. Therefore, if you have any chronic conditions, it would help to know what to do when there is a flare-up.

1. Reduce stress

Indeed, in a world where almost everyone is busy with life’s demands, stress becomes an ever-present element. However, when you have a flare-up of a chronic health condition, the best thing to do is slow down. Stress exacerbates your body’s reaction to health conditions, and that is the last thing you want to experience during a flare-up. While it may be difficult to immediately reduce stress, you can take measures to ensure you are on the path to its minimization.

Remember that the human mind is a powerful tool. Therefore, whatever negative thing you think about can manifest and even compound your stress levels. You may want to begin with hobbies and fun activities that help you unwind mentally, emotionally, and physically. If you are a social media enthusiast, perhaps going through different posts can de-stress your mind. The overall objective is to maintain a positive and balanced mindset to ease the discomfort during the flare-up.

2. Be abreast with current medications for your chronic ailment

There are several chronic health conditions, and as expected, each one has specific therapies. For example, while medication like Adbry may be recommended for atopic dermatitis treatment, conditions such as psoriasis may require a different medication. Knowing what the latest treatments are and more importantly, what works for you, can be your best bet. Always remember to consult a medical professional for additional information and assistance.

3. Postpone essential and non-essential activities

During a flare-up of a health condition, your concentration levels can take a significant dip. This is the body’s natural reaction to pain and discomfort. According to Sciencedaily.com, pain suppresses the normal functioning of a person’s memory. The disruption to cognitive processes occurs due to the release of the pain hormone endorphins. This hormone clouds memory and concentration, making it challenging to focus on anything else beyond the discomfort. This, therefore, makes it imperative to postpone all activities, at least for the duration of the flare-up. It would be an excellent idea to force yourself to perform tasks you cannot concentrate on if you have alternatives.

4. Avoid self-blame

According to medical research, self-blame may not entirely be your fault when it happens. It explains that the limbic system has a role to play. The limbic system is an intricate part of the human brain and is responsible for your emotional and behavioral reactions. Therefore, the limbic system goes into overdrive during trauma, illness, or, more importantly, a flare-up of a chronic condition.

It is not strange to suspect that your actions or inactions may have led to the sudden flare-up of a chronic ailment. Indeed, it is a natural human reaction. However, considering that you now know how brain processes contribute to self-blame, you can be more mindful when it happens.