I often tell my patients: the basis of good mental health is a good quality of sleep. Everything seems a little harder when we have had a bad night, the pain seems more intense and anxiety can get the best of us because our brain is tired. When we feel like we are not doing too well mentally, the first thing to do is work on our quality of sleep.  
 
It's true that the symptoms linked to your chronic illness can largely disrupt your sleep cycles and your nights. According to the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, 30 to 50% of people with chronic diseases suffer from sleep disorders.   

It is also likely that your treatment itself is disrupting the quality of your sleep. The side effects of certain chemotherapies, for example, can cause physical discomfort, that considerably impairs sleep patterns or can cause you to wake up multiple times at night.  

Another important point is to absolutely avoid the presence of a television set in the bedroom, even if it is supposed to “help you fall asleep” or get back to sleep. What very often happens is that the TV stays on all night, which considerably lessens the quality of sleep. The light emanating from the screen prevents the brain from correctly producing melatonin, the hormone that give sleep its "restorative" qualities.  

Finally, as always when facing a problem, it is important to list all the "small" solutions that are within our reach. It is often the sum of these "small" solutions that will solve the problem, whatever it is. The quality of your mattress, whether it is too hard or not hard enough, controlling the noise in your bedroom, or even adding herbal tea to your nighttime routine, will perhaps be assets that can gradually improve your sleep and your quality of life.  

On that note, I wish you all a good night!  

When we feel like we are not doing too well mentally, the first thing to do is to work on our quality of sleep.

In this article Sebastien Landry gives you some ideas on how to manage sleep if you have a chronic disease.

First of all, before you start any physical activity, discuss it with your general practitioner or health care team so that they can give you the green light. 

Depending on where you will be this summer, you will have a range of possible activities. Don't forget that the weather is likely to be hot, so I recommend that you opt for less intense activities. Hikes, bike rides, walking in the water, yoga on the beach... The important thing is to continue to build muscle mass and to use your cardiorespiratory system. 
 

This is the number one rule when it's hot: cool your body down at all costs. During hot weather, you can lose up to 2.5 liters of sweat per hour. If you lose water, you also lose salt. You should drink even if you are not thirsty and drink much more often than you normally would because, with heat, the water cycle is much shorter and the absorption very fast. 

➡️ Choose the right moment to practice sports

Avoid the time when the sun hits the most, which is between noon and 4pm. Prefer the morning or early evening, just before sunset. You can also choose to exercise indoors, in a well ventilated environment.

Also keep in mind that some of your medications can be photosensitive and could react to the sun. Be sure to talk to your doctor before going out in the sun. 

Light colored clothing will reverberate the heat outward. Black, on the contrary, will attract heat and make you sweat more.  

When the body reaches a temperature of 41 degrees, efforts become impossible because the heat begins to attack the muscle itself. It puts you at risk of suffering a "heat stroke", which is a discomfort that goes beyond sunstroke.  

In conclusion, avoid making any major physical effort in the sun/when it is too hot. The most reasonable thing to do is to wait until the temperatures drop. Do yourself a favor, oxygenate yourself but don't try to do too much. 

My name is Eleonore, and like you, I am patient. I have experienced the benefits of physical activity and sport to recover. I practice regularly throughout the year, even in the summer. So here are my tips for staying active during the summer! 

In this article Eleonore, a patient, explains how to stay active during the summer and give you some healthy tips.

Have you ever gone through a period of time where you felt something was wrong with you?

A feeling, a discomfort, a sensation, or even a pain that manifests itself; it can really take a toll on you. During this time, your entourage doesn't necessarily understand what is happening, because symptoms are not always visible, and many will probably suggest that the solution would be psychological.

It can be so annoying; right? That's because you know better than anyone what you truly feel.

That's when you finally decide to consult a doctor to put a name on what has been ailing yy; but it is not always that simple. Between the limited knowledge that doctors have about certain diseases and your own anxiety to face this reality, it can be easy to get lost on the way.

Here are 4 tips to facilitate this process!

1) One of the most important advice : avoid compulsively searching your symptoms on internet, especially during a tough phase; you will not always be able to get a specific diagnosis and most probably will increase your anxiety regarding your pain. It is much healthier to take an appointment with your doctor as fast as possible, with whom everything starts: your family doctor or general practitioner.

2) If after many trials, your family doctor or general practitioner doesn't give you a satisfactory answer, don't hesitate to consult another doctor, and try again. Your 'family doctor' will not mind! They are aware that they know you well and that it is possible that there are things that they might not see. Therapeutic inertia starts often with the lack of a clear diagnosis, because that doctor might not be trained to see whatever you have, and logically, will not be able to direct you towards the right specialist. 

3) While you await for this response, you can already search for ways and practices that appease you. Sometimes, when you have a headache, you take a pill and you are fine, even though you don't really know the reason for that headache. It's the same process: therapeutic care first and then comfort. Hypnosis, acupuncture, sophrology, don't hesitate to try different techniques to take care of yourself, because between all of them, there is at least one that will enable you to feel better, by reducing the discomfort that this disease is causing, to which you don't have a name yet. It is a good way to start your treatment and not feel passive; which will enable a psychological satisfaction already. 

4) Preserve your good health when things are going well, in these moments where you have no pain or discomfort: soon you will get a proper diagnosis and put a name on your problem. A treatment path will certainly be suggested to you. It is always a good idea to prepare yourself physically to receive whatever treatment! A healthy lifestyle, a clean diet, regular physical activity... Start adopting these healthy habits to optimize the absorption of a new treatment; it will also help you avoid relapses and other future health issues. Physical activity will promote a proper elimination of toxins and reduce discomforts and secondary effects of medicines. 
This will give you more control over your destiny, which will be very positive for your psychological health!

Hang on, be aware that all difficult things come to an end.

Clinical or therapeutic inertia happens when you go through rows of medical consultations for a long time, sometimes for years, without succeeding at getting a proper diagnosis for your chronic symptoms.

Therapeutic inertia happens when you go through medical consultations back to back for a long time, sometimes years at a time, without succeeding at getting a proper diagnosis for your chronic symptoms.

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If you live with Nasal Polyps, you may face a challenging healthcare journey and experience a wide range of emotions. Living with a chronic disease can be difficult, and while there is no cure for chronic pathologies, there are ways to manage them and improve your quality of life. 
I am Vik Nasal Polyps, your source for medically-reviewed information to educate yourself about your disease so you can better live with it. I was created by health care professionals and I am here to support you every day.

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If you live with Atopic Dermatitis, or Eczema, you may have felt anxious and misunderstood. The best way to live with this chronic disease is to educate yourself about it so you know how it works and what triggers it. I am Vik Atopic Dermatitis, your source of information to help you better understand your condition and live better with it. I have been created by health professionals and am ready to support you every day.

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