What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Simply put, it is a distinct field of medicine aimed at treating the root cause of disease.
By definition, It is a branch of medicine that uses evidence-based therapeutic approaches to prevent, treat, and at times reverse chronic lifestyle-related diseases.
Lifestyle medicine is an evidence-based medical practice, and prescriptions are made on the following elements after a thorough Medical and Lifestyle Assessment.
Nutrition
Physical Activity
Sleep
Stress management and emotional wellness
Smoking cessation and avoiding risky substances.
Positive psychology and connectedness.
The strongest evidence-based lifestyle changes are prescribed as the most crucial therapy for prevention, treatment, and reversal. Evidence-based medications are also used depending on the stage of the medical condition whenever it is required.
A Lifestyle Medicine provider will be a medical expert and a coach for the patient. Patients will actively participate in therapeutic lifestyle management programs and understand their responsibility in treatment outcomes.
Why Lifestyle Medicine?
All of us know there is a Tsunami of Chronic medical conditions and diseases. 85% of this has unhealthy lifestyle choices as the root cause.
Shouldn't we be addressing the root cause of diseases too?
Shouldn't we do it when there is a way to prevent medical conditions?
When Research-based evidence proves that 85 % of diseases can be prevented/ treated/reversed depending on the stage of the condition with healthy lifestyle choices, let us all recognize Lifestyle Medicine as the need of the hour.