Medications offer relief from your health symptoms, and, in some cases, stop new ones from developing. Some people get the benefits without any side effects, while others experience rare complications or effects.
Having side effects from medication can deter you from wanting to take another prescription. But it doesn’t stop your healthcare provider from writing another one. Your healthcare provider may write a prescription to address the complications and a new medication to manage your condition.
Chronic Conditions = More Medications?
If you or a loved one has a chronic health condition, you more than likely have a large care team. Imagine for a second that each provider wrote a separate prescription to address each of your symptoms.
The scenario may sound like a reach. However, people with chronic conditions experience this reality. They may have so many prescriptions that they can open a small pharmacy. (We hope that you are using those medications to improve your health!).
What Is Noncompliance?
According to health statistics, approximately 50% of patients with chronic conditions are compliant. In the most general sense, this means that only half of a provider’s practice actually implements and follows through with their recommendations. The other 50% are noncompliant.
Noncompliance worsens your symptoms and condition, and it ultimately causes you to spend more money on emergency visits, new medications, etc.
Most people don’t wake up and decide to be noncompliant, especially if they have a chronic condition and seek treatment. We rarely think about the burden of living with a chronic condition or the responsibility of managing your condition, medical treatments, and your personal and professional duties.
If you have a chronic illness and want to improve your medical compliance and health outcomes, these simple tips are just for you!
Get a Buddy
Research shows that community is the key to improving health outcomes 1. Essentially, you see a noticeable change when everyone plays their role – from specialist to supporter.
Having a chronic health condition can make you feel isolated or alone, especially if you experience a higher burden or impact than others. The solution is Huddy Health, a virtual health assistant created to help you reach your health goals. The Huddy Health application keeps proactive about your health. With it, you track, log, and monitor your symptoms and response to treatment. Your saved health data helps you make better decisions about your health.
Track Your Symptoms
One way to stay proactive about your health is to control and manage your health symptoms. There are several applications on the map that allow you to log your symptoms. But very few help you make sense of that data.
The Huddy Health application offers a solution to this common problem. Not only does it enable you to log your symptoms, but it uses it to generate basic reports. These health reports help you make sense of your health and catch subtle changes in your health before they worsen.
Use the Same Pharmacy
Have your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. One benefit is that you develop a better relationship with your pharmacist. Your pharmacist can help you understand your medications, educate you on how and when to use them, and help you stay on top of refills (to avoid lapses in/noncompliance with your treatment).
Watch for Side Effects
All medications have the potential to cause adverse side effects. For some people, these side effects are more annoying than harmful. However, other people can have significant or life-threatening side effects from their prescription medication. If you experience new side effects or have worsening symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately!