Ep. 33 - Chronic Medical Conditions

Do you or someone you love deal with a chronic medical condition?  Today, Rob discusses his own challenges with a chronic condition and the way that he has structured and lives his life - in large part in dealing with a chronic medical condition?

Search "chronic medical condition"

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/Chronic-Conditions/CC_Main

Alcohol Abuse
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia
Arthritis (Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid)
Asthma
Atrial Fibrillation
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cancer (Breast, Colorectal, Lung, and Prostate)
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Depression
Diabetes
Drug Abuse/ Substance Abuse
Heart Failure
Hepatitis (Chronic Viral B & C)
HIV/AIDS
Hyperlipidemia (High cholesterol)
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Ischemic Heart Disease
Osteoporosis
Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Stroke

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htm

Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $3.5 trillion in annual health care costs.

Many chronic diseases are caused by a short list of risk behaviors:

• Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Poor nutrition, including diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in sodium and saturated fats.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Excessive alcohol use.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health/index.shtml

• People with other chronic medical conditions have a higher risk of depression. The same factors that increase risk of depression in otherwise healthy people also raise the risk in people with other medical illnesses.

How / why am I qualified to discuss Chronic Medical Conditions?

Epilepsy since age 13.
Experience with tobacco use, alcohol, drug abuse / substance abuse.  
Experience with poor nutrition and a transition to diet supplying good nutrition.
Experience transitioning from a lifestyle of little physical activity to an active lifestyle.
Experience with a lifestyle of All Around Growth while dealing with chronic condition.

Impacts on:

• Driving
• Recreational Activities
• Career Choices
• Lifestyle 
• Homesteading
• Health & Wellbeing