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LIFESTYLE MEDICINE

Lifestyle Medicine is a relatively new specialism that seeks to address the huge rise in chronic non-communicable conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, dementia and mental health issues.

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There is a growing recognition that these conditions are the result of complex lifestyle factors. They have physical, emotional, environmental and social causes.  Hence addressing these issues is the best way to achieve long term good health. ​Most people would agree that this is preferable to increasing medical intervention and drugs, which come with their own risks such as medication side effects. 

Unfortunately, topics such as nutrition are barely mentioned during medical training and doctors are subject to the same pressures as the public from the food and pharma industry. Medications have a role in the management of chronic illness but unfortunately, medicines cannot treat the underlying cause. 

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In acute illness, such as an infection, treatment with medications is curative and can be lifesaving. When it comes to chronic illness, however, the ability of tablets to cure is limited.  Though great strides have been made in prolonging life, peoples quality of life is often diminished. 

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Better detection and treatment of cancers has to led to great strides in prolonging and curing people dependent on the type of cancer. These strides can be further improved with positive lifestyle changes which Lifestyle Medicine seeks to promote. For example, it is estimated that 4 in 10 cancers in the UK or 135,000 cases could be avoided with the adoption of a better lifestyle. Obesity is the second leading cause of cancer behind smoking. The great news is that both of these causes can be addressed when a person wants to change and Lifestyle Medicine is here to help.  

​Over time, more and more medical professionals are seeking to help patients using the principles of Lifestyle medicine, rather than medication.

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The six principles of Lifestyle Medicine are:

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  1. Diet and nutrition

  2. Physical activity and exercise

  3. Adequate sleep

  4. Stress reduction and mental health

  5. Harmful substance reduction or cessation

  6. Healthy relationships

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