Many Australians are living with not just one but several long-term conditions. In fact, 60% of Australians aged 65 years plus have multiple chronic conditions. These include arthritis, asthma and diabetes, to name but a few, and can lead to disability and episodes of illness.

If multiple chronic conditions affect you and your quality of life, know that small steps can make a big difference. In this article, we’re going to offer some useful tips on getting the most out of life if you’re living with chronic conditions in Australia.

Get a care partner

If you’re living with multiple conditions, see a healthcare professional who can help make decisions about managing them in your day-to-day life. But it’s not possible for them to be there every step of the way with you.

That’s why you need to nominate a care partner who can give you support and motivation to keep healthy. This could be a family member or a trusted friend. It could even be someone who is living with similar conditions and understands what you are going through.

Your care partner can help you with things like:

  • Taking your medication
  • Keeping track of appointments
  • Discussing your feelings
  • Joining you when you exercise

Take care of your emotional well-being

Living with multiple chronic conditions can impact your emotional health. It’s understandable if you feel any of these emotions:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Grief
  • Anger

But just because you feel an emotion triggered by your health status doesn’t mean you can’t turn it around. There are lots of practices and techniques you can employ to help make you feel more relaxed and positive.

Try one or more of the following to help you manage your emotional wellbeing:

  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Mindfulness
  • Breathing exercises
  • Journaling
  • Listening to relaxing music

Track your symptoms

Tracking your symptoms is beneficial for more than one reason. For a start, it helps build up a picture of your overall health and whether it’s improving or getting worse. It can also help you feel more in control of your overall wellbeing, which has a positive effect on both your physical and mental health.

You can track your symptoms using an app on your phone or simply by recording them in a notebook or diary. When you have your next healthcare appointment, you can then discuss your symptoms with your doctor or nurse. This will give them a clearer idea of how you are doing and help them optimise your treatment plan.

Get the most out of your healthcare appointments

As well as sharing your symptoms with your healthcare professional as described above, there are other steps you can take to get the most out of your appointments.

Get into the habit of writing down questions to ask your doctor or nurse as they arise in a special notebook. They could be about new or existing symptoms, your medication or any concerns you have.

When you are at your appointment, write down any new information you are given about your conditions.

You should also make sure you understand the next steps in your treatment plan, such as details about any new medication and when your next appointment is.

Try gentle exercise

While it can be difficult to exercise regularly when you have multiple conditions, it can help to try some gentle activity when you are able. This could be:

  • Walking short distances
  • Chair-based exercise
  • Gentle stretching
  • Tai chi

Not only will physical activity help to improve your strength, flexibility and overall health, it will also give you a sense of achievement and lift your mood.

Wear a medical wristband

Medical alert wristbands are designed to give information about a condition or conditions to help during a medical emergency. In this event, your caregiver can make informed decisions about your treatment in a timely manner.

As well as being practical, medical ID wristbands are invaluable for people living with multiple conditions, as they provide peace of mind, knowing that your conditions can be easily identified in an emergency. This can give you the confidence to get on with living life to the full.

For an extra comfy fit, choose silicone medical wristbands. They’re hardwearing and non-toxic, and you can select them by condition.

 

You can also choose customisable medical ID wristbands that allow you to write your own specific details.

Shop medical wristbands Australia

Living with multiple conditions can be challenging. But you can lessen the load by following our tips. It’s all about being proactive and enlisting the support of others when needed.

Wearing a medical wristband with details of your conditions is just one of the actions you can take. It’s a 'quick win' and will help give you the confidence to enjoy life again.

Check out our complete online collection of medical wristbands. Choose one or more by condition or customise your own with your unique details. Slip it on and feel a renewed sense of confidence in living your best life!