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What is lifestyle medicine?
Table of Contents
1. Lifestyle medicine is the definition
Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses therapeutic changes in daily habits as a major tool in treating chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Lifestyle Medicine focuses on 6 main areas called the pillars: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, ?? smoking tobacco (and other uses), social support, coping with stress.2. Lifestyle medicine is history
), is a relatively new concept of lifestyle medicine. It was first used as the name of a symposium in 1989, and in the 1990s. It began to appear in scientific publications (B. Yeh, I. Kong 2013).3. Lifestyle medicine is pillars
As mentioned earlier, lifestyle medicine is based on six pillars, so it's worth taking a look at how experts approach them and what recommendations and changes are recommended.4. Pillar I is nutrition
It should also be noted that these principles are consistent with the recommendations of many organisations in the field of dietetics and nutrition, including the Polish National Centre for Nutrition Education. The use of the Mediterranean Diet or DASH model as an appropriate method of nutrition is also recommended. Lifestyle medicine also emphasizes that changes should be adapted to the patient's age (health, health status, ability to produce food and to introduce dietary changes) and that practical modalities should be taken into account (whether specific solutions are provided for specific purposes, whether or not dietary supplements based on vegetables and vegetables should be made available on a realistic basis, and whether the dietary and dietary basis of vegetable and vegetable sources should be considered as being adequate.5. Pillar II Physical activity
Exercises can be a combination of activities of varying intensities; they should also include strength training for all muscle groups. The type of exercise should be tailored to the patient's ability and preference. A second area important for lifestyle medicine is physical activity both daily, spontaneous (during cleaning, cooking or shopping) and exercises performed to improve fitness and health. The recommendations are subject to modification in specific situations, i.e. for people whose health conditions cause restrictions on physical activity, women during pregnancy and sexual intercourse, as well as adults over 65 years of age.6. Pillar III is a dream
However, there are people who need to sleep longer (510% of the population needs more than 9 hours) or shorter (5% less than 6 hours) to function properly. The bedroom should be quiet, cool and dark, and for 2 hours before bed it is advisable to avoid plenty of meals, alcohol and caffeine, as well as high exposure to light (as opposed to electronic devices).7. Pillar IV smoking tobacco and other tobacco products
Lifestyle medicine practitioners use a variety of techniques to change habits: motivational dialogue, mindfulness meditation, or joint identification with the patient of the mechanism that stimulates the desire to reach out and try to replace it with positive behaviour physical activity, meditating, listening to music or social interactions. Abstinence from use and unfavorable habits is a pillar that differs from others in that instead of modification, it seeks to completely stop certain behaviours. In particular cases, it may be necessary to refer the patient to tobacco addiction specialists.8. Pillar V Social support
It is therefore important to analyse the quantity and quality of the patient's social contacts and the level of loneliness they experience, to educate them about the importance of contacts (especially those experienced in the real world) and to provide individual advice on how to make them, e.g. in local interest groups, through sport or volunteering.9. Pillar VI is stress
Some patients also choose negative behaviors, such as utilities or unhealthy foods, that give a temporary sense of well-being. These include various forms of meditation, mindfulness training, or breathing exercises; positive action may also reduce the amount of time spent on social media. With daily stress caused by work, family situations, health problems, or other external stimuli, it is possible to cope with it by eating a healthy diet, a favorite form of physical activity, relaxation, or contact with others.10. Is it lifestyle medicine at all? Who can become a specialist?
It can be attended by doctors (who have an active right to practise), but also by other specialists who hold a Master's degree or a Doctorate in a health-related field (e.g. Physiotherapist, dietitian, nurse/nurses, public health graduate). Upon completion of their training, candidates take part in a standing examination, the positive result of which allows them to obtain the title of Certified Lifestyle Medicine Specialist (English: Lifestyle medicine in Poland is currently not considered a medical specialty.11. Lifestyle medicine in Poland
Its activities focus on the conduct and dissemination of scientific research results and education of students, medical professionals, as well as other members of society in the field of healthy lifestyles, the principles of lifestyle medicine and work for its development and widespread implementation. More information about the activities of the society can be found on the official website. Its mission is to create, develop, implement and promote evidence-based scientific practices and behaviors that support a healthy lifestyle with respect to the planet.12. The difference between conventional medicine and lifestyle medicine
Lifestyle factors are primarily important, and pharmacotherapy complements the changes. Battersby, G. Litt 2011) The first involves the patient in the therapeutic process, transferring some of the responsibility for the course of treatment and requiring significant changes. Lifestyle medicine also focuses on the long-term actions, motivation, and fulfillment of desires by the patient who remains under the care of a team of medical specialists (M. Egger, J. In the book Lifestyle Medicine: Managing disease of lifestyle in the 21st century, the authors note a number of important differences in the patient's approach between medicine and lifestyle medicine.
