If we have an accident and break a bone or have an appendicitis attack, usually there is an end to the pain. Your bone heals or your body heals after surgery. That’s not true for high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, or other chronic conditions. Sometimes you have a medical problem that will not go away. Nobody expects or plans to be diagnosed with a long-term condition, but it’s a fact of life for many us. It’s an emotional and complicated time, and you’ll eventually need to start being proactive about it. You’ll need to learn about the condition and how to manage it and the resulting symptoms. While much of this is specific to the illness, it doesn’t mean there aren’t a few strategies that anyone can use. They’ll take a bit of work and some adjustment, but they can be useful for almost anybody to use.
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