The management of chronic diseases has made great strides in recent years thanks to many new drugs. However, taking prescription drugs can pose serious risks and side effects, especially for older adults.
Ann American College of Life SciencesThe booklet “6 Ways to Take Control of Your Health'', created by , outlines the six pillars of lifestyle medicine and states that it does more than just help manage chronic diseases. When used intensively, these evidence-based lifestyle changes can prevent and even reverse chronic disease, eliminating the need for pharmaceuticals.
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find the root cause
find the root cause
“Whether we're talking about cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, diabetes, or cognitive impairment, all chronic diseases involve pathways associated with inflammation, microbiome changes, epigenetics, or impaired neuroplasticity. , based on the same underlying pathophysiology,” says Kate Collings, MD. He is a cardiologist and past president of the American Society of Lifestyle Medicine. “When we prescribe lifestyle medical interventions, we have the potential to influence one or more of these pathways and change the trajectory of chronic disease.”
The six pillars of lifestyle medicine are:
- Whole foods, plant-based nutrition.
- physical activity.
- stress management.
- Avoidance of hazardous substances.
- restorative sleep.
- social connections.
Some interventions target only one pillar, while others target all six. Additionally, interventions can be prescribed in more or less potent doses based on the patient's needs and readiness. However, regardless of the dose, follow-up and specificity are important.
Rather than advising patients to follow a plant-based or Mediterranean diet in general, a lifestyle medicine approach specifically prescribes “what to eat and what to avoid” and a culinary medicine approach. You can facilitate that by including class introductions and common medical appointments. Acquisition of skills. Dr. Collings said doctors may need to see patients more frequently to ensure accountability and monitor laboratory variables.
“The lifestyle medicine approach relies heavily on physicians balancing a coach’s approach with an expert’s approach, which can be translated as listening more than talking. It creates a better environment for,” she said.
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Higher risk for older people
Higher risk for older people
The chronic disease epidemic in the United States currently affects adults of all ages. Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2021, more than 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic disease.
However, older adults are more likely to have chronic diseases, further increasing the risk of polypharmacy.
“Ideally, doctors have carefully screened for all potential drug interactions, but we're always learning more, even after a drug has been approved,” Dr. Collings says. said. “If an elderly patient is taking two or three medications, there is no particular concern, but if they are taking, for example, 10 to 12 medications, drug interactions and financial risks increase. Masu.”
As with pharmaceutical interventions, the more severe the disease, the higher the dose of lifestyle intervention. However, unlike prescription drug use, therapeutic lifestyle changes across the six pillars interact positively. For example, better sleep often gives you more energy to exercise and cook at home. If patients are proactive and compliant, lifestyle interventions can be effective quickly. While this is good news, Dr. Collings noted that dosage changes may also need to be made quickly.
“For example, if a patient is taking a diabetes medication that causes hypoglycemia and is making a significant change in diet, the doctor may need to reduce the dose of that medication to avoid developing hypoglycemia. “No,” she said. .
Patients begin to see results as soon as they change their lifestyle.
“In many clinical cases, diet and exercise therapy can result in dramatic improvements in just three to four weeks,” she said.