Preventive Self-Care: Healthy Aging with Intention
"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Wayne Dyer.
Hi, I'm Dr. Stef.
Recently, I've noticed a shift in healthcare needs. The desire to be proactive - to anticipate and prevent problems before they occur. This is changing how people interact with the healthcare system. Although it's a positive trend, misaligned goals are causing friction for both the users and providers of healthcare. Here's why. Historically, that is not how we've interacted with it. The design and function of the current system are merely a reflection of how we've used it. Mostly sickness.
Not Sick, but not healthy either. Now what?
Our healthcare system is extremely limited in its capacity to identify and help people who are not sick, but also not healthy either.
Your labs look normal, but you don't feel well. You know that something is off, but you're told repeatedly "all is good". Despite your best efforts, nothing is making a real difference. You're just getting by with band-aid solutions, at best.
If you choose to see it this way, the middle place between health and disease represents an opportunity.
I know, I know. Not very fresh or original to call it an opportunity, but it's true!
Reactionary medicine is not a bad system.
In fact, this is not a "bad vs good" discussion. The point is this. The lens is focused on treatment. When we expect something different, that's when the friction begins. The root cause of dissatisfaction and frustration with the current healthcare system is misaligned expectations. Rather than being supported or encouraged to take a proactive role in their health, folks feel dismissed, alone and confused. Disconnected care pathways and biases in care add salt to the wound. It's tough to get health PLUS care.
No wonder people are seeking alternative healthcare solutions.
Why not leverage the benefits of both systems?
A reactionary healthcare system works amazingly well for specific situations and needs. I don't know about you, but I'm extremely thankful for many conventional medicine services and treatment modalities, like emergency medicine or surgery. If I just suffered a heart attack, I hope 9-1-1 dispatches a paramedic and not a Naturopathic Doctor! I'm not here to vilify conventional medicine. I appreciate it!
But, not every health problem can be solved with a hammer. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
Maslow’s Hammer
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. Abraham Maslow
This is a famous quote by Abraham Maslow which refers to a concept commonly known as Maslow’s Hammer.
It refers to an over-reliance on a familiar or favourite tool. In the context of modern healthcare, the use of conventional treatment options (namely, drugs and surgery) is analogous to using a hammer.
Although a hammer can be very useful at times, over-reliance on it is not always helpful.
The Goal: risk reduction
Chronic diseases fall under four main categories: Atherosclerotic disease, Cancer, Neurodegenerative disease and Metabolic disease. According to Longevity doctor, Peter Attia, these diseases account for over 80 percent of deaths in people over 50 who do not smoke. With data like that, you might wonder why healthcare isn't focused on reducing our risk of chronic disease.
The Constraint: the design of our healthcare system
Historically, sickness - not risk reduction, is how most folks have interacted with the healthcare system. We get sick, then we see the doctor. In other words, reactionary medicine. A system designed to be reactionary will not have the proactive solutions we desire. We have a disconnect between a reactionary healthcare system (whereby prevention is not the mainstay of medicine), and how we interact with, and use that system (especially when prevention is desired).
The Solution: take control of your health
Understanding the core issue allows you to find solutions that align with your goals, like seeking help from prevention-focused healthcare providers.Taking control of your health is empowering and confidence-building. On the other hand, it's also challenging and overwhelming due to information overload and conflicting health information.
"The first minute of action is worth more than a year of perfect planning." James Clear, Author (Atomic Habits)
Two Doors to Choose From
1. Door 1. Wait until you're sick enough to get a diagnosis along with treatments that attempt to reverse or slow the disease process—no shame or blame in this by the way.
2. Door 2. Or, take control of your current health to delay the onset or progression of chronic disease.
If the second path is more interesting to you, then you're in the right place. You're still in the right place if you don't know what that looks like.
It's your choice. Which door will you choose?
---
Disclaimer
This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information or materials linked to this blog is at the user's own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
