Chronic disease is an umbrella term that covers a variety of diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, obesity, etc. Generally speaking, any medical condition that lasts a year or more is referred to as a chronic disease or illness. Such an illness requires continuous medical attention and treatment and limits the human body’s daily activities.
Chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes are the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six out of ten American adults have at least one chronic illness. Chronic illnesses also cost the U.S. over $4 trillion in health care costs annually. Therefore, knowing how to prevent these diseases is of utmost importance.
Besides, living with a chronic illness is an experience that no one wants. That is why it is vital to know how you can manage your health and prevent chronic diseases from taking over.
Having established all that, let us take a look at five surprising but effective ways of preventing chronic diseases.
Water Fasting
Fasting is a term that usually refers to the act of abstaining from eating and drinking entirely. On the other hand, water fasting is a term that refers to the act of fasting, but you can only drink water. That means you can consume nothing but water during the fasting period.
Water fasting is generally done for one to three days, and you can drink around two to three liters of water each day.
Water fasting has several health benefits. This type of fasting can help you lose weight, protect your body from aging and reduce the risk of diseases due to inflammation. Most importantly, water fasting can prevent chronic diseases to a great extent.
Through water fasting, you experience weight loss. That means your body is burning more fat, which is good for preventing heart disease and diabetes.
Water fasting also helps protect against cancer. Fasting itself leads to lower glucose levels in the blood, while water consumption helps detoxify your body. Together, these outcomes can prevent cancer.
Of course, there are risks of water fasting that you should be aware of. Dehydration is a common health risk posed by water fasting. Other than that, you might also experience weakness, dizziness and frequent headaches.
However, as long as you are cautious, you do not have to worry about these risks. Medically-supervised water fasts will help you avoid these problems and successfully complete your water fasts as planned.
Stress Management
As per reports by the American Psychological Association, stress levels among U.S. adults are at an all-time high. On top of that, American adults also have to deal with their usual mental health problems. All this forces people to live in a bubble under constant stress and pressure, which in turn affects their health.
Proper stress management techniques make it possible to stay healthy and prevent chronic diseases. Stress management helps keep your blood pressure at an optimal level which prevents heart disease. It also allows you to get adequate sleep without any major interruptions, which is also good for your overall health.
You must learn to manage your stress without the influence of any medication. Doing so will be counterintuitive. Getting dependent on drugs to manage stress is never a good approach. Therefore, if you can naturally ensure stress management, it will surely benefit you.
Social Connectedness
Research published by the Annual Review of Public Health suggests that many find it difficult to engage with others socially due to chronic health conditions. Because of that, these individuals remain isolated in different social settings. If that is the case, it should be possible to help people deal with their chronic health problems by ensuring congenial social connectedness.
Such a form of social connectedness will allow people with chronic health conditions to first blend in with others and then share their concerns with their peers. The peers, in turn, can help these individuals become aware of the best possible practices to deal with chronic diseases. They can also help sufferers change their lifestyles by influencing with their own.
The opposite is also applicable here, meaning that if the environment in these groups is not a healthy one or does not promote good lifestyle practices, social connectedness can have a negative impact.
Therefore, as long as the social setting ensures a friendly environment with healthy lifestyle practices, social connectedness is bound to be successful in helping them deal with their health problems.
CBD Oil
CBD oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that act as a natural pain reliever. Studies show that it provides relief from various chronic health conditions, including chronic pain, arthritis, asthma, migraine, lung conditions, etc.
Further research showed that CBD could also prevent the spread of certain types of cancer. It was found that the compound can suppress cancer cell growth as well as help destroy them.
However, CBD oil has a few side effects, including fatigue, diarrhea, and abrupt changes in appetite and weight. Besides, CBD can also interact with different prescription medications. Therefore, before using it to treat chronic diseases, it is best to take necessary precautions by consulting a doctor who is an expert in CBD-based treatments.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care ensures a healthy nervous system while boosting immunity. Because of that, it is proven to help with various chronic conditions, including diabetes and cancer.
Like most treatments for chronic health problems, chiropractic care also has some side effects. These include headaches, fatigue, and pain in the treated areas. As a precaution, receiving this treatment only in the hands of a licensed professional while being fully aware of the side effects is vital.
Prevention is always better than cure, and it is no different here. When trying to prevent chronic diseases from dictating your life, you must now prevent them, and these five techniques can easily help you do that.
Water fasting and CBD oils will handle your body’s functionalities and allow you to fend off any chronic illness. Through stress management and social connectedness, you can deal with the mental aspect of things. Finally, chiropractic care will give your body the physical relief it needs to fight against any sort of health problem. Ensuring all these will guarantee you the protection you need against chronic diseases.