As we journey through life, maintaining good health becomes increasingly challenging, especially as we reach our middle years. In this eighth installment of the ‘Empowering the Citizen Patient’ series, Dr. Mindy Smith uses the examples of hypertension and diabetes to explore how understanding your health conditions can empower you to take control of your well-being, manage your symptoms effectively, and live a full and vibrant life.

Even though we try to stay healthy, many of us will get a chronic health condition like high blood pressure in our 40s and 50s. By age 65, over 90% of us have at least one chronic illness. Things like a poor diet, not enough exercise, too much alcohol, smoking, stress, and genetic factors increase our risk. But the good news is that learning about our health conditions and taking action can make a big difference. We can still live full, vibrant lives!

It’s also important to keep an easily accessible list of your medications, what they do for you, and possible side effects. Read about your condition on reliable sites like Canada Public Health Services, HealthLink BC, and specific disease association sites like Heart and Stroke Canada. Interior Health also offers information and links to local and virtual education programs and supports, including how to manage medications. Remember that all internet sources are not reputable. Your local library is another valuable resource.

Have a Plan

Having a plan for managing your health condition(s) is crucial. This can include step-by-step changes to improve your diet, health habits, and activities. Your plan should also include:

• Which symptoms to watch for to know when to seek help (e.g., chest pain with exercise)
• Measures you can take if you are having trouble (e.g., blood pressure going up)
• Where to call if you need advice (e.g., HealthLink BC by dialing 8-1-1)

Action plans are available online for conditions like asthma, chronic pain, and for those with mental health concerns. Guidance for action and crisis planning can be found at sites like this one at healthy place.com.

Things That Help

Things considered helpful for most chronic health conditions include eating healthy food, getting daily exercise, and adequate sleep. You could consider meeting with a dietitian for support, available through some clinics or through
calling 8-1-1.
Image Copyright © 2008, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

If you are on medication, take it as prescribed or consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist for adjustments that you may need for too high or too low BP. Check your BP regularly and keep track of it. Seek help for very high BP (180/120 mmHg or higher) with symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness, vision changes, difficulty speaking, or severe headache.

• Eat regular, plant-based meals;  if overweight, even a 5 pound loss helps. Proper foods are not easy to get for some of us and these links may help when eating on a budget (Food Insecurity and Diabetes and Diabetic Friendly Hamper Food)
• Exercise most days
• Take your medications if prescribed
• Check your feet for sores and have your eyes checked yearly

Controlling BP to less than 130/80 mmHg and lowering cholesterol are very important for staying healthy. For those with type II diabetes, your clinician should check your blood sugar (A1C test <7-8) every 3-6 months and you should track it so you know when you need better control. You can check your own BS by finger stick if you feel unwell. Seek help for any non-healing skin sores and urgent help for high (above) or low blood sugar symptoms (e.g., dizzy, anxious, sweating, weak, confused).

This article covers two relatively common health conditions. Visit our Kootenay Boundary Patient Advisory Committee and Community (https://kbpacc.ca/) for a table of conditions including the cause of the condition, what you can do to care for yourself and what you might need if the condition worsens.

By taking proactive steps and staying informed, we can better manage our health conditions and lead healthier lives.

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Common Health Conditions

This table includes other common health conditions with tips about the condition, what you can do to monitor or improve the condition and types of care that you may need from your health care provider, health care team (e.g., nurse, social worker, physical therapist, chiropractor, specialist clinician) family or friends and when. The more that you know about your health condition and how to best manage it, the better you will feel. You are the person who knows yourself best. By keeping track of your symptoms and test numbers, you can see for yourself how you are doing and when you might need some help.

Abbreviation: BNP, beta natriuretic peptide; HPV, human papilloma virus; LDL, low-density lipid

1. Stress management can include relaxation exercises (https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/stress-relief-and-relaxation), activities that make you feel happy, talking with others and counselling. 
2. Consider using the COPD Assessment Test for monitoring symptoms (https://www.catestonline.org)
3. High blood sugar: very thirsty and frequent peeing, blurred vision, very tired; Low blood sugar: fast heartbeat, shaky, sweaty. If your measured blood sugar number is high (above 300 mg/dL or 16.7 mmol/L) or stays low (below 70 mg/dL or 3.9 mmol/L) or falls to 54 mg/dL or 3 mmol/L or lower get immediate help. 
4. Measures the electric pulses of the heart at rest or with exercise (stress test) to look for changes showing heart strain or damage to the heart muscles
5. Procedures to increase blood supply to the heart include stents and coronary artery bypass surgery 
6. Heart failure symptoms include rapid weight gain, swelling in legs or feet, irregular heartbeat, being tired and not able to exercise 
7. BP 180/120 mm Hg or higher AND any of the following: chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness, change in vision, difficult speaking, severe headache
8. For anxiety, you can use the GAD 7 (https://adaa.org/sites/default/files/GAD-7_Anxiety-updated_0.pdf) and for depression, you can use the PHQ9 (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/practitioner-pro/bc-guidelines/depression_patient_health_questionnaire.pdf)
9. Counseling options include in-person (trail FAIR Society, https://www.trailfair.ca), telephone (811) and online services like Bouceback (https://bouncebackbc.ca), MindHealth BC (http://www.mindhealthbc.ca), or Heads Up Guys (https://headsupguys.org)