By Dr Attia Anwar
Being a physician I am always interested in the long-term health of people. For me, the definition of health is a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being not merely the absence of disease.
When I start working to discover the real meaning of well-being and the factors that prevent our real pursuit of health and happiness. I came across a new branch of medicine which is lifestyle medicine. I want the intervention we use to improve health should be evidence-based and scientifically proven. This branch helped me a lot to understand healthy behaviors and the roadblocks that prevent them.
In this age and time, almost everybody knows good and dangerous things. Everybody can give you advice to do this and to do that. But the important thing about lifestyle medicine is it uses scientifically proven tools to encourage healthy behaviors and identify roadblocks. Lifestyle medicine uses proven techniques to support people to change their lifestyle and maintain it. They acknowledge the socioeconomic determinants of health. The approach is patient-centered which means they use a unique way that is individualized for a particular patient, keeping the situation and needs of that particular patient in mind. It is multidisciplinary and multisystem approach. It involves clinicians, Public health professionals, researchers, scientists, and educators working together to bring the change. Clinicians or doctors as we call them play an important role.
This is not a replacement of medicines and surgical treatment when it is needed. It is about not blaming or lecturing the patient to be healthier, it is working with the patient using knowledge of behavioral skills identifying the roadblocks, and trying to remove them. Then these techniques are eighty percent effective. Apart from a person-centered, interventions are value-based and support patient self-care. Techniques that are used for this purpose include motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, health coaching, brief intervention, and group consultation. This is not a panacea for all medical illnesses, but very effective for many problems.
Lifestyle medicine focuses on addressing the root causes of chronic disease by promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyle habits. It emphasizes evidence-based interventions such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep hygiene, and avoidance of risky substances like tobacco and alcohol. Lifestyle medicine plays a key role in our overall well-being. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management play crucial roles in preventing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. By adopting healthy behaviors individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing these diseases. It is also important for the people already living with chronic diseases. Lifestyle changes can complement medical treatment by improving outcomes and reducing symptoms.
The approach can lead to better control of conditions, like diabetes or hypertension, potentially reducing the need for medication or lowering dosage requirements. Sometimes people can be off medicines by using these healthy ways. So we should opt for the skills before pills approach. There should be more stress on healthy behaviors than taking medicine. For lifestyle medicine important thing is it does not simply advise people to do certain things, but scientific interventions for behavior changes are used. It supports individuals to make positive changes by not blaming or lecturing them.
It also helps in the improvement of mental health. Lifestyle factors impact mental well-being significantly. Regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Additionally, mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques are integral parts of lifestyle medicine that contribute to mental health improvement. That also enhances the overall quality of life. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will improve energy levels, mood stability, cognitive function, and physical fitness. It promotes a sense of well-being and self-efficacy by empowering individuals to take control of their health.
Preventive measures and lifestyle interventions are more cost-effective than treating advanced stages of chronic disease. By promoting healthy behaviors early on lifestyle medicine can potentially reduce the healthcare costs associated with managing chronic conditions. Lifestyle medicine takes into account individual differences in genetic environment and personal preferences. This personalized approach helps tailor the intervention to each person’s specific needs, making it more likely for individuals to sustain healthy habits on a long-term basis. It considers the unique persona of everyone and uses an individualized approach.
The benefits of adopting healthy behaviors go beyond individuals to the community. There is a social phenomenon which is called the hundredth monkey effect. If more than a hundred people adopt a certain lifestyle. It spreads by unexplained means to the whole community even to the people who have not witnessed it. Lifestyle medicine promotes societal health by encouraging healthier communities and reducing the environmental impact associated with chronic disease management. In essence, lifestyle medicine recognizes the interconnectedness of lifestyle choices and health outcomes. Advocating a proactive, holistic approach to improve and maintain wellbeing across the population.
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
