SOC 280 Characteristics of a Chronic Illness
SOC 280 Characteristics of a Chronic Illness
Research Paper Topic Approval Blog
Possible Research Paper Topics
Alternative treatments
Narratives of health and recovery
Disability (mental and physical)
U.S. healthcare policy
Nationalized healthcare systems
Healthcare access and barriers
Additional at-risk populations
Additional illness experiences
Public health interventions
Metaphors and illness
Gender and the body
Race and the body
Social structure of medical education
Medicine and activism
Historical models of illness
Health education
Sexual and reproductive health
Health and social justice
Chronic illness
Bioethics and medical decision-making
Death and dying
End-of-life care
Genetic testing and diagnosis
Assisted reproductive technologies
Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our Verified MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS:SOC 280 Characteristics of a Chronic Illness
SOC 280 Characteristics of a Chronic Illness
Illness branding
Illness in literature and film
Medical experimentation
Developmental illnesses
Caregiving
A chronic or long-term illness means having to adjust to the demands of the illness and the therapy used to treat the condition. There may be additional stresses, since chronic illness might change the way you live, see yourself and relate to others.
Characteristics of a chronic illness
Chronic illnesses are mostly characterised by:
complex causes
many risk factors
long latency periods (time between onset of the illness and feeling its effects)
a long illness
functional impairment or disability.
Most chronic illnesses do not fix themselves and are generally not cured completely. Some can be immediately life-threatening, such as heart disease and stroke. Others linger over time and need intensive management, such as diabetes. Most chronic illnesses persist throughout a person’s life, but are not always the cause of death, such as arthritis.
Common chronic illnesses
While many illnesses can be considered chronic, there are 12 major chronic conditions that are a significant burden in terms of morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs in Australia, including:
heart disease
stroke
lung cancer
colorectal cancer
depression
type 2 diabetes
arthritis
osteoporosis
asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
chronic kidney disease
oral disease.
Common stresses of chronic illness
Chronic or long-term illness and its treatment pose special problems. You need to learn how to:
live with the physical effects of the illness
deal with the treatments
make sure there is clear communication with doctors
maintain emotional balance to cope with negative feelings
maintain confidence and a positive self-image.
Additional demands of chronic illness
As well as needing to find ways to deal with the stress involved with chronic illness, you also need to:
understand the condition
know about the treatment and therapy
maintain trust and confidence in the doctors, especially when recovery isn’t possible
know how to control the symptoms
maintain social relationships and a strong support network when faced with an uncertain medical future or when symptoms arise
avoid social isolation.
Type of help available for chronic illness
Dealing with the stresses of chronic illness can be demanding and it puts extra pressure on you. It is important you speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about your feelings and how effectively you think you are coping with the illness and its treatment.
Ways to cope with chronic illness
There is a range of ways to deal with the stress of chronic illness. These include:
finding information – this can help if you feel helpless or out of control
emotional support from others – particularly family and friends, this can be a source of great help
joining a well facilitated support group
setting concrete, short-term goals – to restore certainty, power and control
thinking about possible outcomes – discussing them with the doctor can help you to face them before they become a reality.
The overall aim of these strategies is to help put your illness into context and give some meaning to what is happening.
