Lifestyle medicine and how it can benefit you

John Manna, FNP

Lifestyle Medicine

Most diseases are influenced by how we live – what we consume and what we do (or don’t do). Changing these behaviors can have a tremendous influence on our health. John Manna, FNP, explained how lifestyle medicine can help you make these changes and improve your health.

What is lifestyle medicine? Is it like holistic or alternative medicine?

Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses lifestyle changes to prevent, treat and sometimes reverse chronic disease.

There are six main pillars in lifestyle medicine:

• Nutrition – whole-food, plant-predominant
• Physical activity – regular, weekly exercise that you enjoy
• Restorative sleep – seven or more hours of restful sleep per night
• Stress management – using coping mechanisms and stress reduction techniques
• Avoidance of risky substances – such as tobacco and alcohol
• Positive social connections – through strong relationships and social networks

“These six pillars are the focus of this kind of medicine, as they have the biggest impact on overall health and wellbeing,” Manna said. “It’s not holistic or alternative medicine. It’s evidence-based medicine involving the whole person, including their physical, mental and emotional health.” 

Is lifestyle medicine an actual health care field?

Yes, lifestyle medicine is an actual field of medicine in which clinicians can be board certified. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine are the professional organizations that promote education and board certification.

How can chronic conditions be reversed with lifestyle changes?

There are many chronic conditions that can be treated with mindful changes to your lifestyle, and some can go into remission or be reversed.

“Up to 80% of chronic diseases have contributing factors based on our lifestyle,” Manna said. “Lifestyle medicine can help to get to these root causes and with appropriate changes we can see improvement as well as potential reversal of chronic conditions.”  

What are some examples of diseases that can be reversed with lifestyle changes?

Some of the most common conditions that can be reversed with lifestyle changes are obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol), sleep apnea, coronary artery disease and certain cancers.

There are many other chronic conditions that can be treated with lifestyle changes sometimes leading to a reduction in medication and overall better health outcomes.

How can people let go of old habits and make healthier choices?

“It can be very difficult to make new healthy habits,” Manna said. “To make these changes, it is important to have a support team.”

Frequent visits with a lifestyle medicine specialist can help patients make SMART goals that they are able to maintain. Smart goals are those that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound.

“Making healthier lifestyle choices is a journey,” he added, “but with the appropriate support system it is possible. Most patients start to feel better within weeks of making lifestyle changes and therefore become more motivated to continue the healthier choices. Every person has their individual reasons for better health and those goals can be the strongest motivation when the person is equipped to meet their health goals with the correct tools and resources.”

How can patients find a lifestyle medicine provider?

To find a lifestyle medicine provider, search the expert directory on the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s website.  

“You want to make sure that the provider is board certified in lifestyle medicine as this shows evidence of their education and dedication to the field,” Manna said. “You can also schedule directly on MyChart with a Prisma Health provider. I am more than happy to see any patient who would like to discuss how lifestyle medicine can be used in helping better their health. You can continue to see your primary care provider and specialists as well!”