Things You Shouldn’t Say to Someone with a Chronic Illness

by Marta Ribeiro | August 25, 2016

Dealing with a chronic and rare disease like pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be complicated for people around those living with PH. Mystery surrounds the disease and the sheer lack of knowledge can confuse friends and family who don’t even have a clue about your condition. Sometimes they say some things they shouldn’t (even when they think they are just being nice).

You know you have a chronic illness when…

Have you ever heard comments like “you don’t look sick!”; “you shouldn’t be parked there, that’s for disabled people”, “you are so boring, you never come out anymore!”; “is it contagious?!”? Those are just a few of the comments people sometimes direct to chronically ill patients. In this video shared by Gifted Life, Lauren shares some great examples of some things that just shouldn’t be said to people living with a chronic illness. Feel free to share the message with others.

But what shouldn’t you say to someone living with PH? Here are four important things.

Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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About the Author

Marta Ribeiro Marta graduated from Universidade Fernando Pessoa in Porto with a degree in Communication Sciences and a Masters degree in New Communication Technologies. She has experience in social media, worked with several media channels, and has also worked as a freelance photographer and a graphic artist for almost 10 years.