Chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and fibromyalgia affect millions of people across the United States. The Center for Integrative and Functional Health and Wellness in Bloomingdale, Illinois, offers expert support to patients who are living with long-term conditions like these. Call their office today to arrange a review of your chronic illness or schedule a consultation by filling in the online form.
request an appointmentWhat is a chronic illness?
A chronic illness is one that you have for several months and often much longer. It can be a long-lasting condition like cancer for which you receive specialized treatment. Or it could be a disease that can’t be cured.
Examples of chronic illnesses treated at The Center for Integrative and Functional Health and Wellness include:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Arthritis
- Neuropathy
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Sleep apnea
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression and anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
Some of these chronic illnesses cause few, if any, symptoms. For instance, you can have high cholesterol and high blood pressure without knowing it unless you get tested. Even though they don’t cause any symptoms, these conditions require expert care to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
What are the challenges of living with a chronic illness?
The problems chronic illnesses cause will differ depending on which condition you have. A disease like fibromyalgia or arthritis might cause constant musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, and fatigue. People with IBD often go through periods of remission where symptoms like abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and fecal incontinence almost disappear.
Diabetes can cause wide-ranging problems, from poor circulation and leg ulcers to gum disease and bad breath. Neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis affect your ability to function normally. MS can eventually result in a disabling loss of mobility.
Living with problems like these when there’s no end in sight can be challenging. People with chronic illnesses often suffer from mental health problems.
How are chronic illnesses treated?
Treating your chronic illness is likely to involve specific therapies related to the kind of condition you have. Diabetics either need to inject insulin or take drugs like metformin to regulate their blood sugar. People with heart disease often use medicines like blood pressure pills, beta-blockers, and blood thinners.
In addition to treatments like these, The Center for Integrative and Functional Health and Wellness offers patients an extensive range of complementary therapies that can help ease pain and promote better health. Depending on your condition, these can include:
- Chiropractic manipulation
- Clinical hypnotherapy
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- IV infusions
- Spravato®
- Acupuncture
- Reiki
- Therapeutic massage
- Regenerative medicine
Good nutrition is essential to living a healthy life, especially when you have a chronic illness. The Center for Integrative and Functional Health and Wellness offers comprehensive testing for food intolerances. They also offer individual nutrition therapy to ensure that your diet provides all the nutrients you need.
They can also help you with weight loss, stress reduction, stopping smoking, reducing your alcohol consumption, and exercising for better health.
Call The Center for Integrative and Functional Health and Wellness today to benefit from their holistic approach to chronic illness management. You can also book an appointment online.