Five Strategies for Managing Multiple Health Issues

Seeing several doctors or taking multiple meds? Here’s how to stay on top of it all.

Are you juggling a few chronic health issues at once? According to Charles Holzner MD, an internist at PIH Health Lambert medical office building in Whittier, “When you have several health conditions, whether heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction, COPD, cancer, or others, it can be a lot to manage.” After all, you may have many appointments with specialists, take several medications, and must follow different treatment protocols.

“But even though it can seem overwhelming at times, there are ways to make it easier to keep tabs on everything, so you stay healthier with as little stress as possible,” says Dr. Holzner.

Here are five strategies that can help you stay on top of your health, even when you feel like you’re juggling multiple balls in the air:

1. Select one doctor to oversee care. It’s easy to feel lost and to be concerned that each doctor doesn’t know what the other is up to when you’re seeing multiple doctors for different health conditions. Dr. Holzner recommends, “It’s good practice to have one doctor, who can oversee all your medical care.” That person is usually your primary care physician (PCP), but it doesn’t have to be. With one person in charge, it’s less likely there will be missed details, medication mishaps or over-ordering of tests.

2. Use one pharmacy. When you use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions, your pharmacist will be able to easily identify any interactions between medications or duplicated orders by different doctors. Getting over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements at the same pharmacy also gives you a chance to ask the pharmacist if there is anything you should be aware of when taking them.

3. Ask for options. Taking multiple pills a day, keeping track of different schedules or having several appointments in a short period of time can be a lot to keep up with. Let your doctors know if things are hard to manage and ask if there are easier options, such as aligning the timing of medication from different doctors so it’s easier to remember when to take everything or scheduling multiple tests at the same time. This is when a PCP overseeing your care can really help streamline things.

4. Write things down. We all forget things and it’s especially hard to remember every detail when it comes to health problems. You may walk out of the doctor’s office and realize you didn’t ask a question or get home and forget what the doctor told you to do. A small notebook or putting notes in your phone makes it easier to keep track of things. Jot down symptoms, questions, test results, treatment protocol, or anything important. It’s also helpful to bring someone with you to appointments to help you remember and understand what was discussed.

5. Change one habit at a time. There may be several changes you need to make to get your health under control, but it’s not realistic to think you can change everything at once. “Whether you need to lose weight, increase your activity level, find ways to reduce stress or be more vigilant about avoiding symptom triggers, aim to make small changes to your habits that you can build on over time,” advises Dr. Holzner. You’re more likely to see positive results if you’re successful at changing one habit before moving onto the next.

Managing more than one health condition isn't always easy. Having one point of contact to oversee your care, asking for help when you need it, and making changes one step at a time can help you feel more in control of your health and your life, says Dr. Holzner.