Resources

These resources are designed to accompany Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 5th Edition and Living a Healthy with Chronic Pain, 2nd Edition. 

This list includes suggested further readings, useful websites, and other helpful resources. It's compiled by the authors of the book and maintained by the publisher.

Getting Started - Index

To get started, select a topic below. Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Other things you might need

Visit the Self-Management Resource Centre | Millions of adults live with one or more chronic health conditions. Our programs help people and their caregivers manage their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs.

Looking for copies of My Action Plan, charts, worksheets, or Self Tests that appear in the books? You can download copies from our website. 

• - Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 5th Edition
• - Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain, 2nd Edition

Find a self-management program or workshop near you | This searchable map allows you to find programs or workshops by zip code, country, or you can filter by program.

Report a broken link  | If you would like to report a broken link or make a suggestion, please contact us. 

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

Choosing Wisely | http://www.choosingwisely.org

An initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation. The mission of Choosing Wisely is to promote conversations between clinicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is supported by evidence. 

• Patient Resources: https://www.choosingwisely.org/files/5-Questions_ENG.pdf

Consumer Lab | https://www.consumerlab.com 

Their mission is to identify the best quality health and nutritional products through independent testing. 

Health Canada: 

- Drugs and medication - https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication.html

- Drug products - https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products.html

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Health Information | https://nccih.nih.gov/health 

Quackwatch | https://www.quackwatch.org

An international network providing links to information on health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies and misconduct.

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

American Heart Association | https://www.heart.org

Nonprofit organization offering healthy living tips and information about different heart related health topics, caregiver support and community forums. 

• High Blood Pressure https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Blood Pressure | https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/ 

Mayo Clinic: Video - How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/multimedia/how-to-measure-blood-pressure/vid-20084749

Mayo Clinic: High blood pressure (hypertension) | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410

Medline Plus: High Blood Pressure | https://medlineplus.gov/highbloodpressure.html 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute | https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute plans, conducts, and supports research, clinical trials, and observational studies related to the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases, and sleep disorders. 

• High Blood Pressure https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/high-blood-pressure 

Videos

Mayo Clinic: How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/multimedia/how-to-measure-blood-pressure/vid-20084749 

Medline Plus: Hypertension Overview | https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000072.htm

National Association of Community Health Centers: How to use your home blood pressure monitor | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGyRJxbYpQ 

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

American Heart Association | https://www.heart.org

Nonprofit organization offering healthy living tips and information about different heart related health topics, caregiver support and community forums. 

• Arrhythmia https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia 
• Heart Failure https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure 
• Peripheral Artery Disease https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/peripheral-artery-disease/about-peripheral-artery-disease-pad 

American Stroke Association | https://www.strokeassociation.org/en 

A division of the American Heart Association providing information about stroke and life after stroke, along with financial resources, support networks and more. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Heart Disease https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/ 
• Stroke https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/ 

Kaiser Permanente: Your guide to heart health | https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health/care/!ut/p/a0/DcdBCsAgDATAF8nee-srWnNbJKhgokjo--tlYCB4Ic6vV0afznGei3rovppyRzqOaHggkLVZjcg-U2FpimV2_9KWcfA!/ 

Mayo Clinic

• Heart Disease in Women: Understanding symptoms and risk factors https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art-20046167 
• Heart Failure https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142
• Stroke https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113 

Medline Plus

• Arrhythmia https://medlineplus.gov/arrhythmia.html 
• Blood, Heart and Circulation https://medlineplus.gov/bloodheartandcirculation.html 
• Coronary Artery Disease https://medlineplus.gov/coronaryarterydisease.html 
• Heart Diseases https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseases.html 
• Heart Disease in Women https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html 
• Heart Failure https://medlineplus.gov/heartfailure.html 
• Peripheral Artery Disease https://medlineplus.gov/peripheralarterialdisease.html 
• Stroke https://medlineplus.gov/stroke.html 
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) https://medlineplus.gov/transientischemicattack.html 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute | https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute plans, conducts, and supports research, clinical trials, and observational studies related to the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases, and sleep disorders. 

• Arrhythmia https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/arrhythmia 
• Heart Failure https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-failure 
• Ischemic Heart Disease https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/ischemic-heart-disease 
• Peripheral Artery Disease https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/peripheral-artery-disease 
• Stroke https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/stroke 

Office on Women’s Health: Heart Disease and women https://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-disease-and-stroke/heart-disease/heart-disease-and-women 

WebMD

• Coronary Artery Disease https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-coronary-artery-disease#1 
• Heart Disease Health Center https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/default.htm 
• Stroke Health Center https://www.webmd.com/stroke/default.htm 

WomenHeart | http://www.womenheart.org/

The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Website offers information about preventing, diagnosing and treating heart disease, help to find a support network and blog. 

Print

Cohen, Barry. Coronary Heart Disease: From Diagnosis to Treatment 2019.

Heller, Maria. The DASH Diet Action Plan: Proven to Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol without Medication. 2014.

Ornish, Dean and Anne Ornish. Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases. Ballantine, 2019.

Rippe, James M. Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease for Dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2015.

Taylor, Jill Bolte. My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey. New York: Viking, 2009.

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders | https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders

- This article by the National Institute on Deafness and other communication disorders describes assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders.

MAYO Clinic Hearing aids: How to choose the right one | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/in-depth/hearing-aids/art-20044116

Federal Trade Commission: A place to search for general consumer advice | https://consumer.ftc.gov/

Healthline: Hearing and Speech Impairment Resources | https://www.healthline.com/health/hearing-or-speech-impairment-resources 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Find resources to help you understand communication and communication disorders | https://www.asha.org/

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): Assistive Devices for People with Hearing or Speech Disorders | https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders

European Federation of Hard of Hearing People | https://efhoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EFHOH-Survey-European-Standard-EN-15927-2010-Services-offered-by-hearing-aid-professionals.pdf  

- This link discusses the trial period and follow up on hearing aids in Europe.

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

Mental Health America: Workplace Wellness | https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/workplace-wellness

National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability: Deskercise | https://www.nchpad.org/1061/5452/Deskercise~~20~Ways~to~Get~Moving~While~you~Work

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Website

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Weight Loss What Works for Me | https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/weight-loss.html 

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

Web MD: Breathing Techniques for Stress Relief | https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-relief-breathing-techniques#1

Applications

Breathe2Relax 

• - For Apple devices https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/breathe2relax/id425720246
• - For Android devices https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.t2health.breathe2relax&hl=en_CA 

Sanvello App | https://www.sanvello.com/

* Formerly Pacifica 

Videos

Reframe Health Lab: The Single Most Important Thing You Can Do for Your Stress by Mike Evans MD | https://www.reframehealthlab.com/9010-stress/ 

TED Talks

• - Change your mindset, change the game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tqq66zwa7g 
• - How to make stress your friend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcGyVTAoXEU 

Print

McGonigal, Kelly: The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It. 2015.

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sleep and Chronic Disease | https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/chronic_disease.html 

Mayo Clinic: Lack of Sleep: Can it make you sick? | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/lack-of-sleep/faq-20057757 

National Sleep Foundation

• - Sleep and Disease https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/sleep-disease 
• - The Link Between Lack of Sleep and Type 2 Diabetes https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/link-between-lack-sleep-and-type-2-diabetes 

WebMD: The Sleep-Diabetes Connection | https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/diabetes-lack-of-sleep

Downloadable PDFs

American Thoracic Society

• - What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults.pdf 
• - Women and sleep https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/women-and-sleep.pdf 

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Food Guides

USDA Food Guidance System: My Plate | https://www.choosemyplate.gov/ 

Websites

American Cancer Society | https://www.cancer.org/

Nutrition for People With Cancer, learn about nutrition needs during treatment and how to manage treatment side effects that could affect how well you eat. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/6711.00.pdf

The American Heart Association | https://www.heart.org 

Offers many resources to help you with healthy living and eating. Also many recipes: https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes

Eat Right | https://www.eatright.org

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals founded in Cleveland, Ohio. Today, the Academy represents more than 100,000 credentialed practitioners and is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: DASH Eating Plan | https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/dash-eating-plan 

Nutrition.gov | https://www.nutrition.gov/

Sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, the website features information about basic nutrition, diets for various health conditions, dietary supplements, food assistance programs and more.

The New York Times | https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/13/well/eat/yogurt-kimchi-kombucha-microbiome.html

How Fermented Foods May Alter Your Microbiome and Improve Your Health: Foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha increased the diversity of gut microbes and led to lower levels of inflammation.

Videos

Voice of America News: Grocery Store Tours Emphasizing Healthy Choices | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUdLl1RDhEA 

A YouTube video of a brief tour that provides tips for healthy good choices. 

Applications

My Fitness Pal  | https://www.myfitnesspal.com/

A free, easy to use food and activity tracker that you can use on your computer or smartphone.