Health Conditions

A health condition, also called an illness or a medical condition, is a condition that impacts your physical, mental, or emotional well-being.

Tips & Links

• Health conditions can be acute (short-term) to chronic (long-lasting/ life-long) illnesses caused by genetic factors, infections, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and many unknown causes.
• Some common chronic health conditions affecting seniors are diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, emotional health, mental illness, and autoimmune diseases.
• Seniors often are dealing with multiple health conditions at one time.
• Know that some health conditions are not easy to diagnose, and some people live with symptoms and problems that are never diagnosed or labelled. Many autoimmune diseases do not have a label or cause.
• Ask how your health condition can impact your life, including its effects on your physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being; what is the prognosis or expected outcome of this condition; and what treatment options are available, such as medications, surgery, or therapies.
• Learn how to use your Mywell Health planner to organize your health information. List all your health conditions in your health profile, collect handouts and print resources from research-based websites like Healthlink BC.
• Explore various strategies for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle when living with a chronic health condition from Healthlink BC.
• If you have been recently diagnosed or have been living with a chronic health condition – check out this free health and lifestyle course to manage your condition offered online to BC residents.

Tools – Handouts & Videos