Chronic Disease: Understanding and Managing Your Health

Chronic diseases are a serious and common issue, affecting six out of ten Americans. While they can’t be cured, they can often be controlled through ongoing medical care and lifestyle changes. The Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA) has a new publication, Chronic Disease: Understanding and Managing Your Health, to help you navigate these conditions and take control of your well-being.

What is Chronic Disease?

A chronic disease is any health condition that lasts for a year or more, requires continuous medical attention and limits daily activities or impacts daily life. Common examples include heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Living with a chronic illness can affect your day-to-day life by causing fatigue, aches and pains, and may require you to take medication. It can also impact your mental health, leading to feelings of loneliness, frustration, anger and an increased risk of mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

Risk Factors and Prevention

Many chronic diseases are highly manageable and even preventable. By making some key lifestyle changes, you can significantly reduce your risk. Here are some of the main risk factors and what you can do about them:

• Smoking and Tobacco Use: Smoking causes over 480,000 deaths annually in the U.S. To reduce your risk, quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. The LHSFNA offers tobacco quit kits to help you on your journey.
• Poor Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in lean protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains can greatly reduce your risk of developing conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
• Physical Inactivity: A lack of physical activity increases the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and certain cancers. Aim for 150 minutes of aerobic exercise and two days of strength training each week. The LHSFNA provides publications like the Physical Work & Physical Activity: Make it Work for You pamphlet, which helps laborers incorporate exercise into their physically demanding schedules.
• Excessive Alcohol Use: Over time, heavy drinking can lead to heart disease, liver disease and certain cancers. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation: no more than two drinks per day for men and one for women.
• Family History: While genetics are out of your control, knowing your family’s health history can be a helpful tool in preventive care.

Taking Control with LHSFNA’s New Publication

The LHSFNA is dedicated to empowering you to take charge of your health. Our new pamphlet, Chronic Disease: Understanding and Managing Your Health, is a great resource to help you better understand chronic illnesses and learn how to manage them. For a deeper dive into common types of chronic disease and how to manage them, LIUNA Local Unions, District Councils, signatory contractors and other affiliates can order or download the publication for free here.

[Hannah Sabitoni]