Thanksgiving is meant for gathering around the table to enjoy time with and connect to friends and family. Chronic illness symptoms like fatigue, achy joints and muscles, and pain are not invited to the table. While a warm, heavy, and possibly sugary dish can bring people together in a special way, it can also cause… Continue reading Chronic Illness-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
Category: Patient Experiences
Navigating the Holidays with a Chronic Illness
The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, and it can be hard to get into the spirit when you’re living with a chronic illness. While there are a lot of joyful parts about the holidays, there are also some stressful parts. That’s why it’s important to recognize what aspects of the holiday seasons trigger your symptoms and to have a plan in place to reduce them. Do the holidays make chronic illness worse? Navigating the holidays with a chronic illness can be difficult,… Continue reading Navigating the Holidays with a Chronic Illness
Job Hunting While Living with a Disability or Chronic Illness
Navigating the Job Market with a Health Condition According to the CDC, 61 million adults (or 1 in 4 adults) in the United States live with a disability. In addition, chronic diseases affect approximately 133 million Americans, representing more than 40% of the total population of the United States. In fact, the National Health Council states… Continue reading Job Hunting While Living with a Disability or Chronic Illness
Unexpected Warning Signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose because of the variety of symptoms it causes and the ways they present. Most people with MS experience their first symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. Sometimes, symptoms can come on suddenly and go away just as quickly. Other times, symptoms will start minimally and progressively get worse. Because MS effects everyone… Continue reading Unexpected Warning Signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
10 Early Warning Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease
How often do you think about your kidneys? Probably not very often. When your kidneys are functioning properly, it’s easy to forget what a key role they play in your health. But when your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should, your body will send you warning signals to let you know something is wrong. These warnings can be early indicators of chronic kidney disease. What is… Continue reading 10 Early Warning Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease
How to Use Mindfulness to Manage Chronic Pain
While it’s normal to feel pain from time to time, especially after an injury, chronic pain is different. When you have chronic pain, your body will continue to hurt months or even years after the initial injury or illness. Feelings of pain stem from a series of messages that are sent through the nervous system.… Continue reading How to Use Mindfulness to Manage Chronic Pain
Risk Factors for ALS
Once considered a rare disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has become a common condition. About 6,000 new cases of ALS are diagnosed each year, and approximately four to six people per every 100,000 are living with the disease. Also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, it’s a progressive illness that affects nerve cells in the brain and… Continue reading Risk Factors for ALS
5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease and How to Treat Them
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disease, meaning the symptoms develop slowly over the course of several years. Although there are four main motor symptoms that occur with Parkinson’s, not every patient will experience symptoms in the same order and in the same way. However, there are patterns of symptom progression that most patients will experience. The… Continue reading 5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease and How to Treat Them
Integrative Treatment for MS
Managing multiple sclerosis can be difficult, especially when it comes to choosing between different treatment options. You want a treatment plan that is going to help minimize your symptoms while being mindful of any side effects. All the while making sure that your mental health is being protected. Many patients with MS use an integrative or complementary approach to… Continue reading Integrative Treatment for MS
13 Easy Ways to Minimize Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you know that the symptoms often flare up at inconvenient times. It can be difficult to do everyday activities when you’re dealing with the pain, stiffness, and other symptoms that come with the disease. Fortunately, there are lifestyle changes you can make and some home remedies you can… Continue reading 13 Easy Ways to Minimize Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms