Don't Let the Holidays Derail Your Health: A Guide for Patients with Chronic Conditions

The holidays are a time for celebration, but they can also bring added stress when trying to fit in activities and events into an already busy life.  Managing a chronic condition potentially throws an unpredictable element into the mix. 

It doesn’t need to be this way, and with some care and planning, your chronic condition should be a nonissue this holiday season. The team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, is here to help you manage the impact of chronic illness. 

In this blog, we’ll examine ways to minimize the impact of the holidays on your health. With awareness and planning, you can manage your chronic condition while enjoying a full spread of everything you enjoy about the season. 

The most common chronic conditions

A chronic illness is a condition of long duration, typically six months or more. Some are curable while others are not. In both cases, you may need lifestyle changes and/or medications to manage or treat the condition and its symptoms. 

Some of the most common chronic conditions across the country include: 

• Osteoarthritis
• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Mood disorders
• Obesity

There are many other conditions, but management strategies for all usually center around a combination of symptom management and disease treatment. 

Coping through the holiday with your chronic condition

If you’ve had success managing your condition with any level of success then congratulations! Your biggest challenge may be maintaining your progress in the face of seasonal distractions. 

Consider these strategies as you make your holiday plans: 

Making sleep a priority

Sleep is an important part of your body’s maintenance and repair system so building a good sleep cycle is one of the best habits you can make to assist with the natural management of a chronic condition. Don’t let the temptation of late night soirees keep you up past your bedtime. Go early, leave early, and keep your pillow time consistent. 

Medication scheduling

Taking your medication as part of a routine is easier than it is when you’re travelling or altering your usual schedule. Make a plan for your meds, and don’t forget to order refills to tide you over through the unpredictable weeks at the end of the year. 

Keep active

Many chronic conditions benefit from regular physical activity, yet exercise time might be one of the first things to go when you need time for holiday preparations. Look for time elsewhere because activity is simply too important to skip, particularly when you’ve worked hard to integrate it into your life. 

Take time for yourself

Perhaps it’s a cup of tea or a favorite holiday movie, or simply watching the snow fall, be sure to build your personal store of enjoyment amidst the bustle of the season. 

We are conveniently located near Boston and proudly extend our services to communities throughout Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, and Providence counties, including Braintree, Canton, Stoughton, Westwood, Norwood, and Walpole. 

Whether you're in Foxborough, Easton, Brockton, or Abington, we're just a short drive away. We also welcome clients from West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, and Middleborough, as well as Taunton, Norton, Mansfield, and Attleboro. 

Our reach extends to Rehoboth, Somerset, Swansea, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, and even further to Wareham, Plymouth, and Pembroke. Rhode Island residents in Providence, East Providence, and Warwick can also rely on our services.

When you need medical care, contact Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, by phone or online to schedule your visit.