If you have a chronic condition, approximately 90 percent of the care needed to manage your illness can be considered self-care.

Most people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure see their doctors for checkups and take prescription medications to keep their illnesses under control. But they are less likely to follow through with self-care steps that could make a significant difference in their short- and long-term prognoses.

“Americans tend to think of health care as keeping doctor appointments, and they try hard not to miss them,” says David Herman, M.D., director of employee and community health at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Minn. “However, they need to be just as attentive to their self-care.”

Herman recommends people with chronic conditions follow these recommendations.

Understand Your Diagnosis
Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with a chronic condition or have lived with one for years, Herman says learning all you can about it is crucial to managing it successfully.

“Continually building on your understanding of what you are dealing with helps you stay current with updated treatment options and can Barbara Floria spoke with David Herman, M.D., director of employee and community health, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. motivate you to stick with your treatment plan when you recognize its importance,” Herman explains.

To do so, sign up for e-mail health news downloads from reputable sources. Search for updated information and the results of evidence-based studies when you go online.

Know Your Numbers
Every chronic condition has a set of numbers or benchmarks that indicate if you are managing your condition or letting it get out of control.

“It’s crucial to ask your doctor what benchmarks you should be shooting for and what numbers show you are in a danger zone to manage your disease,” Herman says.

Numbers to know include a target weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood sugar if you have diabetes, and peak flow if you have asthma.

Ask About Lifestyle Changes
In addition to quitting smoking—which everyone should do—your doctor also may recommend you start an exercise regimen, improve your diet, lose 10 pounds, or drink less alcohol.

“Whatever he or she recommends, you need to take it seriously—it’s as important as taking any prescribed medication,” Herman says.

Develop a Plan
People with chronic conditions enjoy better health and increase their longevity when they follow a specific management plan for their disease.

Your management plan should include:

• When and how to take your medication
• When to schedule follow-up tests
• When to call your doctor and when to go to an emergency room

For instance, if you have asthma, your plan should specify signs and symptoms that indicate you are heading for an asthma attack.

“It likely took you a long time to develop your chronic condition, and most likely it will take you a while to get it under control,” Herman explains. “However, the good news is, if you are doing the right things, you’ll achieve the right results.”

Barbara Floria spoke with David Herman, M.D., director of employee and community health, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.

© StayWell Custom Communications. Information is the opinion of the sourced authors and organizations. Personal decisions regarding health, diet, and exercise should be made only after consultation with the reader's own medical advisers. This material may not be reproduced for redistribution without written permission from StayWell Custom Communications.