Increasing the Efficacy of Your Health Regime & Treatment

Health is wealth - this may be a cliché, but you realize how very true it is when you fall ill and suffer a health setback due to a chronic condition, disease or accident. Pain, debility, reduced mobility and other disease symptoms - these are things that make us realize the significance of avoiding ill health as well as the importance of regaining good health and mobility as soon as possible. Here is a look at how medication adherence can help you recover faster and how you can use other methods to help yourself feel better, faster.

Medication adherence

Also known as medication compliance, this concept measures the extent to which a person follows medical advice and treatment protocols. Do you get your prescription filled? Do you take your medications as directed? Do you take the proper precautions and follow the dos and don’ts advice of your doctor? Non compliance is seen as a major obstacle in patient care worldwide and is known to increase illness symptoms and disability. You can avoid this by doing the following:

• Inform your doctor about your health history, drug intolerances and other relevant information about other medications you are on. Be sure to mention any herbal or alternative medications you're taking as well.
• Ensure that you take medications as directed - the correct dose, at the correct time and before or after meals as directed. Also be careful to finish the medications as directed. Stopping antibiotics before time could mean that the infection has not had a chance to be fully eradicated from the body.
• Follow instructions about whether or not to exercise. In many cases physiotherapy is vital for proper healing; in others rest is required to heal completely.
• Avoid foods that could interfere with the efficacy of a medicine and have what is recommended.
• Look after surgical or accident wounds as directed to prevent infection and speed up healing.
• Use technology to help you adhere to your medication protocol - apps for mobiles, smart phones, tables and so on can remind you of the time to have your dose, they can calculate the amount of calories consumed and expended by way of exercise, help set goals and so on.

Other ways to improve health and wellbeing

In addition to taking your medicines on time and as directed, you could ensure that you heal faster and get better quicker with the help of a few of these tips:

Meditation - This is proven to help reduce stress and therefore improve feelings of wellness, in turn helping the body heal faster.

Positive thinking - It can be difficult to think positive when you're unwell and in pain but when you measure your progress, note improvements and examine other positive aspects of your life such as a support structure at home, good relationships and close friends, you could notice that you're feeling physically better as well.

Visualization - Picturing oneself healthy and happy in the mind, helps to manifest the thought into reality. Help the healing process by seeing yourself with your mind’s eye, in the state you would wish to be in. The same follows with negative visualization. Thinking about your illness all the time and focusing all your energies on the problem at hand, only intensifies it. Instead, focus on the solutions.

Indulge in your hobby or a calming activity - Many find solace in painting or a similar creative outlet. So find an activity that soothes and calms you or something that simply makes you feel better.

Positive thinking and visualization helps a great deal - almost as much as the medication and care. Use it in all aspects of your life. Picture yourself in the state you’d like to be in, and express gratitude for helping you get there. It really works!