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Dr. Ron Henderson found that one
of the first things you should do, after diagnosis, is to take
charge of the management of your
disease. You must take ownership. He formulated 12 steps to help
him take responsibility for his disease.
1. Educate yourself about your disease. Knowledge is power. Know
more than your doctor. Learn about treatments, medicines and research
that is being conducted. Visit websites and join a support group.
2. Practice the four basic tenets of a “healthy living” lifestyle. These rules will improve your chances of living a productive life
despite your chronic health problems.
a. Don’t smoke. If you do, give it up.
b. Maintain a healthy body weight.
c. Eat a balanced diet. Eat several servings of fresh fruits and vegetables and
drink lots of water.
d. Practice a daily disciplined regimen of physical exercise. This means at least
two hours of exercise a week.
3. Practice mental exercise. Continue to study and learn. Stay sharp and on top
of things. Conduct research on your disease. Find a new hobby or a new interest.
It can be energizing, fun and productive.
4. Balance rest with activity. Adjust your schedule to accommodate naps and more
hours of sleep. But remain active. Be involved with life and with people as much
as possible.
5. Interact productively with your doctor as an active partner in the
management
of your chronic disease. Ask the doctor questions that are important to you.
You are ultimately in charge. Express yourself if you have doubts about any medicine
or treatment. And most importantly, be honest with your doctor.
6. Maintain a positive attitude. We all have challenges in our lives. It’s
not so much what happens in your life; it’s what you do with what happens
in your life that is important. Strive to live a productive life. Focus on staying
grounded and looking forward.
7. Minimize and manage the stress in your life. Avoid getting yourself into extremely
stressful situations. Find effective ways to manage your stress. Take control
of stress rather than letting it control you. This helps protect your immune
system and helps to combat your chronic disease.
8. Don’t focus on your chronological age. Try to enhance your age biologically
by taking care of your health and staying active. Enjoy your family and friends,
get involved in activities and energize your life by launching new projects.
View your age as a positive and keep going forward.
9. Don’t isolate yourself. Resist becoming isolated and arrange interaction
with other people. Be stimulated by conversation and laughter. Stay informed
on what’s going on around you. You can also help others.
10. Don’t stop looking for solutions to the problems you face with your
chronic disease. Of all the “steps” this is the most important – do
not stop investigating what’s out there for you in the form of treatments
and approaches to managing your disease. Keep your eyes and ears open. Be aggressive
in asking questions of your doctors. It’s part of taking charge and taking
ownership of your chronic disease.
11. Accept your chronic disease as a part of your life rather than focusing
on
it as a barrier to your getting the most out of your life. Acceptance is a major
factor in improving your health status. Your disease is only one facet of your
life. It should not be your primary focus. The effectiveness of mind over matter
has been demonstrated time and again.
12. Attempt to find mental, emotional and spiritual comfort through prayer,
meditation, reading and discussing your needs openly with family, friends and/or
clergy. Find the combination of modalities that works best for you in meeting your needs.
Reach out and make use of reading, meditating and interacting with others. Stay
in tune with yourself. Remain mentally active and socially involved. |
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"A Key
in the Battle Against Autoimmune Diseases"
Dr. Ronald E. Henderson, M.D .
Buy This Book Online! Click Here! |
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