Health for the Holidays: 3 Strategies for Empowering Medication Adherence, Clarissa Benfield

The holidays bring joy, but also stressors that disrupt routines and self-care, especially for those managing chronic conditions. Travel, shopping, and emotional challenges can make it difficult to stay on track with medications, leading some to mistakenly skip doses. However, poor adherence contributes to half of avoidable hospital admissions and 125,000 preventable deaths annually in the U.S. The impact of missed medications, especially for conditions like diabetes, can be disastrous—particularly when combined with holiday indulgences.

The best gift for someone managing a chronic condition is emotional support and guidance to stay on track during the season. It takes time to develop the skills needed for positive decision-making, symptom management, and emotional resilience.

Planning ahead is key. Patients should have a steady supply of medications, utilizing options like 90-day prescriptions or mail-order services to avoid disruptions during the busy season. Providers, health plans, and pharma companies can also support patients emotionally by identifying those at risk of stress or mental health challenges and offering targeted, personalized solutions.

As the New Year approaches, it's the perfect time for patients to reflect and recommit to their health goals. With the right support and guidance, individuals can strengthen their medication habits and enjoy future celebrations without compromising their well-being.

Poor medication adherence is tied to approximately half of avoidable hospital admissions and at least 125,000 preventable deaths each year in the United States, costing the health system up to $300 billion in direct and indirect costs. Even short breaks from important medications, such as metformin or insulin to manage diabetes, can have disastrous impacts on health, especially when combined with the sweets and feasts in many traditional celebrations.

https://medcitynews.com/2024/12/health-for-the-holidays-3-strategies-for-empowering-medication-adherence/

Rays of light in the corridor of the hospital.

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