Chronic diseases: health guide

In the framework of our eczema advice, here is our guide to chronic diseases, as defined by the World Health Organization: a chronic disease is a long-term illness that evolves over time.
They can be more or less serious, curable or not, leading to complications or stagnant, visible or invisible. Among these diseases, we find psoriasis and eczema.

Psoriasis and eczema, chronic diseases

The list of diseases is long and not exhaustive. Certain criteria were used to define them:

Organic, psychological or cognitive cause
Duration of several months (past or foreseeable)
Dependence on a health entity (medication, assistance, medical technology, diet, etc.)
Need for regular health care (medical, psychological, therapeutic or paramedical)

In France, according to the Directorate General of Health (DGS), in 2007, 1 million people lived with a chronic illness, or nearly 20% of the population. A figure which is dated but which is retained as a reference taking into account the aging of the population which suggests that this data is on the rise.

Isolation

Like other chronic illnesses, psoriasis and eczema can lead to feelings of isolation and even depression. The patient withdraws into himself and rejects any presence or help from others. However, he will encounter many questions, doubts and obstacles that would be difficult to face alone.

Chronic illness health pathway guide

“Every human group draws its wealth from communication, mutual aid and solidarity aimed at a common goal: the development of each person while respecting differences.” Françoise Dolto.

Announcement of chronic illnesses

The news of the illness can be a brutal shock and the reactions are numerous and personal. Denial, revolt, refusal, wandering, incomprehension or acceptance of the illness, the patient will then perhaps need to talk, psychological support in order to try to understand in order to better accept the illness.

The association “[im]patients, Chroniques et Associés”, in partnership with many other patient associations as well as the Adrea foundation, has produced a health pathway guide dedicated to people suffering from a chronic illness and isolated patients. .

Questioning the patient

A patient with eczema will be confronted with many questions specific to the disease over the course of their life. Questions that relate to daily life: What changes to expect in the house? What activity to practice? How to manage the views of others? What is the best way to announce it to your family? Of the tips for wearing perfume ? Constraints during vacations and trips?

Questions relating to professional life, the field of health or the progression of the disease. In connection with daily life, the change of season is a considerable element to take into account. The latter in fact cause excessive fatigue which can be the cause of eczema flare-ups.

Find our articles on how to take care of your skin at spring, To thefall, and in summer.

Complete help

The Health Journey guide for chronically ill people has been developed in 6 chapters in order to provide complete and effective help and to offer tools adapted to different needs. He answers the first questions, those that arise immediately and those that arise afterwards and above all he is there to inspire that life goes on. This guide will also allow the patient to know which health personnel to turn to depending on the problem they are facing, and what to do or not to do in certain situations.

Questions that evolve

Choosing your doctor, finding your way around the healthcare offering, finding an effective treatment, understanding healthcare costs and universal health protection, knowing everything you need to know about sick leave, more than 35 items are dissected, explained and advised to patients in this guide. These questions evolve in the same way as the disease and tend to disorient the patient.

“The challenge of such a guide is not only to inform but also to bring people's words to life. Far from words, from the concept, the health journey is first and foremost a reality, that of the life journey of chronically ill people” Thomas Sannié, President of [im]Patients, Chroniques & Associés.

Tips for supporting a loved one who suffers from eczema

Eczema, finding compassion

Eczema is a still little-known chronic disease that raises a lot of questions from others. There are many prejudices about people with eczema: lack of hygiene, contagious disease, etc. Be aware that the way you act can have repercussions on the way the person with eczema feels.

Be a caring partner and keep these chronic illness tips in mind:

Our tips 1 to 4

1. Help your loved one stay active (during times of crisis) by being active yourself. Suggest that they go out, go to a restaurant, go to the cinema, have a coffee on the terrace, go shopping, or go to the beach (but don't forget to protect your skin) . Of course, this will not stop the crisis but the person will think about it less.

2. Don't think that you can guess your loved one's thoughts, instead talk with them, suggest that they write down what he or she feels. Eczema is a very specific disease that can only be understood if it is experienced.

3. Join a support group to share stories of others who are close to someone who has eczema.

4. Listen to the person you care about, but don't force them to talk about their affection. Talk about other things!

The 5th tip, the most important for chronic illnesses

5. Don't make judgments about which lifestyle and medication choices would be best for your loved one. Once again only this person is able to know what is good for them. She will test medications, see if there is any effect on her eczema and will evaluate whether she continues the treatment or not. On the other hand, what you can do is tell her about a product that you know about and you think she doesn't know about it. In this regard, to relieve eczema, natural riches such as Carapa procera oil are ideal.

6. Let the person you care about manage their own feelings and decide how they live with eczema. Therefore, no judgment, we can never repeat this enough, but rather support, listening, friendship, love.

7. Help him get used to good reflexes to reduce the risk of eczema flare-ups.

Bibliographie:

Health passport, Chronic disease