No Vacation from Condition Management: What Summer Means for Patients & Pharma

Published July 11th, 2022 | 2 Minute Read

While summer may welcome beautiful weather and calendars overflowing with outdoor activities, it’s important to keep in mind a reality for millions of patients living with chronic illnesses: heat-induced challenges, changes, and flare-ups. As summer heats up, so do patient perspectives about chronic condition management in the summertime through Health Union’s growing portfolio of online health communities.

These mutually beneficial conversations about season-specific chronic condition management are created through social health: the dynamic, real-time action people take to find meaningful connections and share information that impact the health journey. Social health conversations and perspectives such as these provide valuable information for pharma marketers as they communicate with patients at different points in the year, while patients are provided a safe space for community and connectivity.

Below, patient leaders from six of Health Union’s online communities explain why the summer months bring condition management challenges unique to the season.

“Planning ahead is the key to maintaining asthma control in the face of hot, dry weather,” writes Kathi MacNaughton, an Asthma.net contributor and veteran consumer health education writer, describing how hot climate conditions and summer months can negatively affect patients. Among various tips and tricks, she suggests crafting an “asthma action plan” to stay safe in the face of unpredictable heat.
Peter Bunting, an AtopicDermatitis.net contributor, details several condition management challenges that accompany warmer weather. Looking to the summer months with caution, he recalls personal experiences with eczema and asthma comorbidities during the season.
“I don’t have to let my dry eyes stop me from living life. All I need is a little planning,” says Erica Osbourne, ChronicDryEye.net contributor, sharing how she navigates summer vacations battling a chronic condition. Planning ahead helped her foster confidence in traveling to a destination with a different climate.
“What helps you control your temperature when you’re struggling with migraines, specifically in summer?” asks Kelly, a Migraine.com moderator, alongside other questions to community members as she provides helpful, season-specific guidance surrounding migraine management.
“The summer can be an extremely challenging time for those with MS. While it’s true the physical challenges and increase in symptoms come along with this time of the year, so do extreme feelings of isolation,” admits Devin Garlet, a MultipleSclerosis.net contributor, as he navigates a myriad of MS symptoms that worsen in the face of summer temperatures.
Discussing humidity, high temperatures, and other seasonal shifts that exacerbate COPD symptoms, the COPD.net community gathered to share condition management tips ranging from planning ahead to staying hydrated.

Through the patient perspectives above—along with countless other stories featured across our online health communities—a common theme is revealed: preparing ahead for the summer is a critical part of chronic condition management. Coupling this takeaway with other environmental and seasonal nuances can help pharma marketers craft authentic messaging and better communicate with patient audiences during challenging seasons within their condition(s).

Learn more about Health Union’s socially driven solutions to uncover how your brand can reach and support patients through expertly navigating the expansive world of social health.

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