Keeping Healthy as a
Cancer Caregiver

Substance abuse is the overuse of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications. The line between use and abuse is not always clear.

Eating well will help both you and the person for whom you’re caring stay healthy. A healthy diet can protect you from heart disease, bone loss, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other illnesses.

As a caregiver, you’re at increased risk of emotional, mental, and physical problems. You may feel embarrassed, but getting help is important for both you and the person for whom you are caring.

Just a few minutes of activity per day can improve you overall wellbeing, give you more energy, reduce stress, and lift your mood.

Caregivers tend to brush aside their own needs by skipping preventive care appointments. As a caregiver, you are at greater risk for colds, infections, and chronic diseases.

As a caregiver, talking openly about how you’re feeling and what you need is a must. You have practical challenges that need to be handled and feelings that need to be addresses.