In our article last week, we looked at what Lifestyle Medicine is all about.  We discovered that it is a relatively new branch of Medicine, with equal scientific support to any other specialty, like Internal Medicine or Paediatrics.  More importantly it affects every other specialty in the sense that most chronic diseases have a strong lifestyle causative component.  And that is what is addressed with Lifestyle Medicine.

ALSO READ : Turning the Tide – Getting back to basics

An example:  Atheroscleoris is the underlying pathology in heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, aortic aneurysms and peripheral vascular disease.  These various disease manifestations may be treated by a cardio-thoracic surgeon, cardiologist, vascular surgeon, specialist physician, and of course by the GP and emergency medicine specialist in the acute phase.  Each of these specialists would provide management for the patient, but most do not address the underlying atherosclerosis – which is most commonly caused by poor diet, stress and inadequate exercise.  So, as much as the patient with a heart attack needs urgent intervention to save his/her life, perhaps with a stent or by-pass surgery; or in the case of an imminently rupturing aortic aneurysm which needs highly sophisticated surgery to repair the defect before it ruptures – these interventions don’t deal with the causes, or even hope to reverse the pathology.

The basic philosophy of Lifestyle Medicine is that our bodies are incredibly designed to heal and maintain health if we treat them correctly. 

Of course we live in an imperfect world with a host of hostile influences intent on destroying our health and well-being.  But the sooner we acknowledge that there is a wiser way to live and participate in what is healthful for our bodies, the sooner we can experience optimum health and vitality.

One of the points brought out in the article last week is that Lifestyle Medicine is not so much about a doctor applying a pill or potion to heal the sickness, as it is about being empowered through knowledge and encouragement to make long-term commitments to adopting healthier behaviours.

The changes we are talking about are varied but include such things as:

• Adopting a plant-strong diet (increasing the amount of whole plant foods in your diet).
• Increasing the amount of physical activity in your daily life.
• Ensuring balance in your sleep patterns.
• Eliminating addictive behaviour, whether to socially acceptable substances like processed food, alcohol, and nicotine, or to so-called “recreational” drugs.
• Living life with purpose – finding meaning in your life through loving connection with family and friends and with God.

Five steps have been identified in the journey to change:

1. Pre-contemplation – “I have not considered making a change in my lifestyle, just happy to continue as I am, even though it may be harming me”.
2. Contemplation – “I am thinking about making changes. I have realised that things need to change, and I am considering the idea”.
3. Preparation – “I am getting serious about changes, making plans and have made some changes but not sure how to go about it effectively”.
4. Action – “I have made some successful changes but am battling to maintain the motivation and momentum. It is less than 6 months since I adopted my new lifestyle”.
5. Maintenance – “I have been doing things differently now for more than 6 months. I have developed some strategies for relapse prevention, and I am experiencing the new vitality from a healthier lifestyle.  I feel more energetic; my weight is down; I have a clearer mind; I sleep better; I have more purpose to my life”.

One way to assess your attitude towards change is through plotting your readiness and confidence for adopting lifestyle changes on the following scales:

• On a scale of 1-10 where you are totally disinterested, through to ten where you are convinced and ready to give it a try – where would you plot your status?

• On a confidence scale of 1-10 where at ten you are very confident that you are going to make the changes – where would you plot your confidence?

If both scales are at 7 or higher, you are ready to adopt changes to your lifestyle.

Now you need to find someone who can guide you into how to go about the nitty gritty of a healthier lifestyle.  It is a process, and there is much you can learn from professionals, but also from Lifestyle Medicine links on the internet.  I will be happy to supply appropriate links if you wish.  I would also be willing to engage in support as far as I can.  You can e-mail me at dglass@venturenet.co.za.

Here is one link:

Here is another:

Here is a free website with masses of information:

Next week we will look at some of the barriers in our own thoughts to adopting change and how to overcome these.

To positive thoughts towards improving your quality of life.

Dave Glass

Dr David Glass graduated from UCT in 1975. He spent the next 12 years working at a mission hospital in Lesotho, where much of his work involved health education and interventions to improve health, aside from the normal busy clinical work of an under-resourced mission hospital.

He returned to UCT in 1990 to specialise in obstetrics/gynaecology and then moved to the South Coast where he had the privilege of, amongst other things, ushering 7000 babies into the world. He no longer delivers babies but is still very clinically active in gynaecology.

An old passion, preventive health care, has now replaced the obstetrics side of his work. He is eager to share insights he has gathered over the years on how to prevent and reverse so many of the modern scourges of lifestyle – obesity, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, common cancers, etc.

He is a family man, with a supportive wife, and two grown children, and four beautiful grandchildren. His hobbies include walking, cycling, vegetable gardening, bird-watching, travelling and writing. He is active in community health outreach and deeply involved in church activities. He enjoys teaching and sharing information.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

To receive our FREE email newsletter, click HERE