We want to make it easier to live your life while living with a chronic disease.

You can’t just clock out when it comes to managing and caring for your health when you have a chronic disease. Of course, implementing certain strategies and lifestyle adjustments can make all the difference. Here in Woodbridge, VA, our physician Dr. Deana Al-Khateeb wants to make it easier for patients with chronic diseases to live life to the fullest without having to worry about exhaustion, poor sleep, chronic pain, and even depression. Here are some simple tips for living well with a chronic disease.

Make sure you’re drinking enough water

Most Americans do not get enough water. While it can certainly help quell your thirst, drinking water also offers a variety of other benefits including reducing brain fog, boosting your energy, and flushing out toxins.

If you aren’t drinking at least 64 ounces of water (eight, 8-ounce glasses) every day (more so, if you are an active individual) you must start. You can do so by simply setting reminders on your phone to drink water throughout the day, carrying a large water bottle around with you, or making sure that you are drinking water with each meal.

Alter your diet

If you are living with a chronic disease, then perhaps our Woodbridge, VA, doctor has already tested you for certain vitamin and nutritional deficiencies. This problem is common in those with chronic conditions. Of course, you may be interested in the role nutrition plays in your health and how certain foods can improve your wellbeing while other foods may exacerbate symptoms.

Everyone is different, so you may want to experiment with dietary and lifestyle changes including being vegetarian or vegan, avoiding gluten and dairy, or trying intermittent fasting. Talk with your doctor first before making drastic changes to your diet.

Take Time for Yourself

We’ve been hearing the word “self-care” thrown around a lot these days, but that’s because this is an important topic. We often get so busy with life that we forget to do things for ourselves. You must be carving out time to do something that feels good every day, whether it’s taking a mental break from social media for the month, taking a bubble bath in the evening, or participating in an online yoga class.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

Sleep is incredibly important for the health and function of our brain and bodies. In fact, most of our body’s healing takes place while we sleep. So, if you aren’t getting sufficient sleep, you may find yourself dealing with a flare-up of symptoms. Practicing good sleep hygiene can improve sleep quality. Some good sleep hygiene habits include,

• Going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time each morning
• Turning off electronics about two hours before bedtime
• Creating a cold, dark environment to sleep in
• Taking time to wind down from the day and to prepare your body for sleep
• Avoiding any bright lights at night

If you are living with a chronic disease in Woodbridge, VA, know that the team at Ridgeview Internal Medicine can provide you with everything from advice and medications to a variety of therapies and alternative treatment options tailored to you and your needs. To schedule an appointment, call us at (703) 494-4116.