You hear us talk a lot about lifestyle medicine, but if you’re not really sure what that means, we’re here to break it down for you.
To summarize, lifestyle medicine assesses the foods we eat, our physical activity, stress levels, current medical conditions, and how those
things are related to our overall health:
- Most common chronic diseases can be effectively treated through a lifestyle medicine approach. Examples include high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, general fatigue, obesity, osteoporosis and arthritis, plus more. Lifestyle medicine doesn’t just manage symptoms, but rather pinpoints the root cause(s) and hones in on the underlying problem. We like to reference the phrase “genes load the gun, but bad lifestyle choices pull the trigger.” Put simply, genes can oftentimes be turned on or off based on our lifestyle choices when it comes to most chronic conditions. So just because your parent suffers from heart disease, that doesn’t mean you’re destined to have the same fate.
- Generally speaking, lifestyle medicine is much more affordable than standard healthcare. But why, you ask? Well not only can chronic conditions be halted or reversed through lifestyle medicine practices, but it can also prevent health issues from arising down the road. This, in turn, leads to less doctor visits, fewer medical treatments and the need for little or no prescription medications.
- While diet and activity are often looked at as the main components of the lifestyle medicine approach, there is much more to it than that. It also encompasses stress reduction, social connection and purpose. Addressing the combination of these factors is the best method for fostering an ideal state of wellness.
- Lifestyle medicine provides individuals the knowledge and life skills to make effective behavior changes. It can be frustrating to live with chronic pain or symptoms of illness, but when you learn the basic root causes for common issues, you feel empowered to make the right decisions to turn your health around.
Interested in learning more and adopting the lifestyle medicine approach yourself? Call us at 507-218-3095 to schedule an appointment today.