Who makes you a piping bowl of soup when your throat hurts? Who brings you a box of tissues and a hot cup of tea when you have the flu? Where does all your source of laughter, comfort, and love come from when you’re feeling ill? 

The answer is simple: family.

Few things are as valuable to us as the love and support of our family. Whether dealing with an unexpected health diagnosis, managing ongoing medical issues, or trying to maintain our well-being, having a solid family network is invaluable.

Your family provides emotional reassurance and helps you navigate the healthcare system. But most importantly, they understand what you’re going through.

So, let’s look at why you must value and cherish your family when dealing with health problems.

Stress Management

It’s natural for fear and anxiety to wash over you when you’re struggling with deteriorating health. The innumerable questions flood your mind, and it’s hard to make sense of anything.

What if the treatments don’t work? What if I can’t afford it all?

All this leads to stress – a persistent condition that can lead to further health complications. Stress can cause high blood pressure, depression, and a weakened immune system.

In such a situation, the love and support of family members can act as a buffer against stress-inducing situations. They remind you that it’s not the end of the world and assure you they’ll be there with you throughout your ordeal. This motivation and positivity help you stay calm and tackle your problem without fear.

Help with Filing Lawsuits

Sometimes, our workplace and the healthcare system can be negligent toward our health. Maybe your employer knowingly exposed you to unsafe working conditions like asbestos resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma, or your doctor overlooked a health issue that eventually became worse. The condition affects the abdominal lining, and those who have it will likely experience abdominal pain, fluid buildup in the abdomen, anemia, weight loss, and more.

In these cases, your family can provide the necessary help for filing a lawsuit and seeking justice.

Your family will help you articulate your case and build a strong argument that aligns with the law.

Family support is instrumental if you’re dealing with medical malpractice cases. You need to have enough evidence and documentation to prove the negligence on their part, which your family can help document.

Some common ailments that qualify for medical malpractice suits include misdiagnosis, birth injuries, and surgical errors.

Medical Care at Home

Some serious diagnoses require constant monitoring and care. Usually, it is managed in a hospital. But once you are discharged, your family can be an extension of your medical care team.

They can help you take medications on time, help with mobility and physical therapy exercises, provide emotional support when the treatment gets tough, and keep a watchful eye on daily activities like eating or taking baths.

Your family can also help you keep up with follow-up checkups and doctor’s appointments. Making sure you are well informed about your condition and taking the proper measures to manage it is where family support comes in handy.

Access to Resources

Healthcare is becoming increasingly expensive and complex. It often takes a lot of work to keep track of medical treatments, doctor appointments, and lab tests. You need to have access to financial resources and adequate medical insurance.

It’s a complex process, especially when you’re already dealing with the physical and emotional pain of a health problem.

Your family can help you navigate this ordeal by finding the right doctors, helping with insurance and payment issues, or simply staying with you during doctor appointments. If you’re short of funds, your family members can also provide financial support.

Invaluable Companionship

If there’s one thing an illness can take away from you, it’s your sense of freedom and independence. You’re stuck in a hospital bed or restricted to the four walls of your room. It can take a toll on your mental health and lead to feelings of isolation and depression.

And this is where family comes in. Their presence reminds you that you’re not alone and that people care about you. They talk to you, give you a hug, or hold your hand and let you know that they’re there. This companionship is like a tonic and helps you fight off loneliness.

Studies also show that hugs and physical contact release oxytocin, the hormone of love. This hormone reduces cortisol levels in the body and heals wounds faster.

Reintroducing Fun

When dealing with a chronic health issue, you tend to forget the fun activities that make life enjoyable. Movies, dinner outings, and trips – all these things seem like a distant dream.

Your family can help you regain your enthusiasm for life by planning activities together. It could be anything from a simple game night to a fancy dinner. It’s incredible how the smallest gestures can make us forget about the struggles and aches for a short while.

How to Make the Most of Family Support

When help comes easy, it’s easy to take it for granted. But it’s important to remember that your family is willing to be there for you and that their support is invaluable.

To make the most of it, follow this advice:

• Be open and honest about your health condition. Let them know what you’re going through and how they can help.
• Listen to your family members and appreciate their advice. They’re likely to have the best of intentions for you.
• Be polite and patient with your family members. Remember, they try their best to help you in a difficult situation.
• Sometimes, family members feel helpless and don’t know how to respond. Allow them to show their love and be proactive in providing support.
• If your family members are scattered across the country, stay connected with them. Whether you talk on the phone or have video calls, it’s crucial to maintain a connection and not feel isolated.
• Express your gratitude when they help you out. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in strengthening your relationship with your family members and making them feel appreciated.

The Bottom Line

Family is one of the essential pillars we must lean on when dealing with health issues. We should appreciate and cherish their presence, for it is through them that we gain the strength to fight on.

Knowing that you have a support system can relieve your worries and make you feel much better. So, never take your family for granted – they’re the best companions you can have when facing health problems.

We hope this article has made you aware of the importance of family and why you must prioritize them. Take care of your family, and they’ll take care of you in times of need!