Lifestyle Medicine

We apply lifestyle medicine to conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Clinicians certified in lifestyle medicine are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle changes to treat and, when used intensively, possibly reverse chronic conditions.

Lifestyle medicine is not about helping you live longer, since you can live a long time being ill or incapacitated. Rather, it’s about your health span: how healthy you are while you are living. The approach is based on six categories, called pillars, which form a framework toward preventing chronic disease.

What are the six pillars of lifestyle medicine?

Looking at people through the six pillars creates an effective way to balance health. Following these guidelines is important for individuals, as well as to clinicians, who can encourage the practices when they see patients. The pillars are:

Eat for nutrition

According to a study cited in Scientific American, a vegetarian diet is associated with a 25 percent relative risk reduction for coronary heart disease and an 8 percent relative risk reduction for cancer. A plant-based diet is part of the lifestyle medicine approach. However, this pillar emphasizes knowing what’s best for your body and putting nutrition first.     

Prioritize physical activity

This doesn’t necessarily mean a gym membership. This pillar is about including movement in all you do. The American Heart Association lists benefits of physical activity including lowering your blood pressure, improving blood flow, keeping weight under control and preventing bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis.

Manage stress

Emotional stress can increase blood pressure, which contributes to heart disease and other conditions. To manage stress, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s important to take care of your body and your mind. The latter includes suggestions such as practicing meditation, taking a walk outdoors and connecting with others.   

Avoid risky substances and behaviors

Even if we just look at alcohol use as an example, drinking too much can impact your physical and mental health. For example, alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.

Get restorative sleep

A study completed by the Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research, with what was formerly the Institute of Medicine, now known as the National Academy of Medicine, found that sleep loss (less than seven hours per night) can affect virtually every system in your body. It’s been associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as anxiety and depression. Good sleep is essential to avoiding disease and to functioning each day.

Make and keep social connections

Evidence and the CDC says that people with healthy relationships are more likely to make healthy choices that lead to better mental and physical health. Because humans are social creatures, making connections with people you can turn to during both good and hard times is essential for health and avoiding disease.