We've all heard that maintaining a healthy diet is important to maintain or improve your ideal weight, lower your cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and lower your risk of developing chronic diseases. Probably. But that's not the only thing to consider when considering your overall health. happiness.
Physicians and residents at McLaren Greater Lansing Family Medicine Residency Clinic and Multispecialty Clinic utilize a lifestyle medicine curriculum to help patients live healthy lifestyles and reduce their risk of chronic disease.
“Lifestyle medicine is comprised of six pillars and looks at the whole person, not just specific medical aspects,” said director of behavioral health academic programs at McLaren Greater Lansing Family Medicine Residency Clinic. said Dr. Brenda Lovegrove Lepisto, MD, LP. “These pillars are nutrition, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, social connection, and avoidance of dangerous substances such as tobacco, drugs, and excessive alcohol consumption.”
Although the concept behind lifestyle medicine is not new, up-and-coming doctors are just beginning to learn how big a role lifestyle medicine can play in impacting their patients' chronic diseases. . According to the American Academy of Lifestyle Medicine, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and lifestyle medicine is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. It has been used to and even reverse such conditions.
“All of our physicians and residents are trained in lifestyle medicine, so when we see a patient, we not only think about the medications they need, but also consider diet, exercise, social connections, and genetics.” etc.,” Dr. Lepisto said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 80% of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and 40% of cancers are preventable primarily through diet and lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle medicine builds on evidence-based medicine when considering these six pillars and how they correlate with a person's overall well-being. A baseline for physicians, residents, and patients to better understand where their health status is at the time and what they can do to improve during a visit in a residency clinic or multispecialty clinic As such, a lifestyle medicine evaluation may be performed. In certain areas.
“We can customize the lifestyle to fit each patient's needs,” says Dr. Lepisto. “Lifestyle medicine allows even small modifications to our daily routines to have a big impact on our bodies and minds.”
For those interested in learning more about lifestyle medicine, McLaren also hosts healthy lifestyle group meetings every other Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. at McLaren Greater Lansing Cardiac Rehabilitation. These meetings are free and open to anyone.
“Our internal medicine residents have the opportunity to earn a certification in lifestyle medicine, help people learn about healthy eating practices, and help them live healthier lifestyles with any questions they may have. “We have the opportunity to run group meetings where we can receive the best treatment possible,” said Dr. Aaron Bohler, program director of the multispecialty clinic's internal medicine residency program.
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Click here to schedule an appointment at McLaren Greater Lansing Multi-Specialty Clinic. We provide internal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology services for adults.
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