Chronic Diseases Overview

Chronic diseases are considered those that last for months or years and affect millions on a yearly basis, costing billions of dollars in health care costs as well as untold pain and suffering.

 

Unfortunately, even if a large majority of chronic disease processes are preventable, that knowledge is not always available. Education is the key in reducing the number of individuals suffering such long-term conditions and disease processes.

 

Preventative care and lifestyle changes may increase and enhance quality of life for many.

 

New Approaches to Old Problems

Today, more people from around the world are falling back on tried and true methods of medical care that take a more natural approach to understanding the causes of chronic disease as well as treatment for chronic disease that affects multiple body systems.

 

Alternative Medicine, also known as Natural medicine, Holistic medicine and or CAM – Complimentary and Alternative Medicine are being used more widely in traditional medical practices throughout the U.S. and the world. Alternative medicine takes the approach of treating the whole body, and not merely symptoms of organic or physiologic origin.

 

Common Types of Alternative Medical Approaches to Illness and Disease

While the causes of chronic disease processes are still unknown in some cases, some of the most common chronic disease treatment approaches used today to address chronic diseases prevention include those that have been around thousands of years, and some modern developments.

 

Acupuncture

Naturopathic medicine

Biofeedback Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Yoga

Ayurvedic Medicine

Homeopathic medicine

Herbal Therapy

Stem Cell Therapy

Living Cell Therapy

Who Benefits from Alternative Medical Practices?

Any individual suffering from a wide range of issues, from depression to constipation to chronic health disease or problems may benefit from alternative medical approaches to health. Some of the most common disease risk factors treated by alternative medicine today include:

 

Chronic Disease Risk Factors

 

Heart Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Angina

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Cancer

Strokes (often caused by)

Atherosclerosis

CVAs (cerebrovascular events)

Smoking

Diabetes

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Emphysema

Chronic Obstructive Bronchitis

Diabetes

Obesity – (which contributes to)

Diabetes

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Gall bladder disease

Heart disease

Additional illnesses that respond positively with alternative medical approaches for the best treatment for chronic diseases include:

 

Irritable bowel syndrome

Insomnia

Stress

Gynecological disorders

Eating disorders

Back pain (including lumbar and cervical Spondylosis)

Computer Vision Syndrome

Psoriasis

Allergic Respiratory Diseases

Benefits of Alternative Chronic Disease Care Therapies

Individuals engaging in alternative or natural therapies do not have to deal with the unwanted side effects that are often caused by oft-prescribed conventional drugs and medications. While such drugs are often vital and important in the treatment of illnesses and disease processes, alternative chronic illness care therapies help address pain relief as well as methods to maintaining a healthy body.

 

Used in combination with conventional medicine, alternative therapies are not meant to cure or replace current medical protocol, but to coincide with it, creating truly integrated medicine for the 21st century.

 

Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease

Various treatments and measures may be taken to address chronic systemic disease or chronic infection and chronic illness, conditions and are determined by age, overall health, type of disease and the status of that disease. However, individuals are encouraged to eat better, exercise more and live healthier lifestyles that encourage physical activity and healthy diets.

 

While some chronic disease processes are genetic in nature, understanding and recognition of chronic disease processes allows individuals to seek early treatment and potential reversal of many of the damaging effects of some conditions.

 

Costs of alternative chronic health therapies depend on what form is being utilized and where that treatment is offered. Find better ways to spend that money. Take charge of your health and learn how to eat healthy, exercise and prolong not only your life, but enhance the quality of your life.

 

 

Where Do You Find Alternative Medicine Practitioners?

Physicians and D.O.'s (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) today often offer their patient’s alternative chronic illness and chronic infections medicine and treatment therapies in conjunction with current treatment plans. D.O.'s are fully trained and licensed physicians, just like M.D.'s, who may specialize in surgery, family medicine, pediatrics and so forth. However, D.O.'s treat the body unit as a whole, using what is commonly referred to as the "whole person" approach.