What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Compared to traditional medicine, Lifestyle Medicine is a much more holistic approach to health and wellness. It focuses on the whole person—body, mind, and lifestyle—as well as their environment. It addresses lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise that can play a significant role in preventing disease or managing existing conditions. Unlike your primary care doctor, a lifestyle medicine specialist will address the underlying root causes of any illnesses or health issues you encounter, rather than simply applying a Band-Aid “solution”. Rather than simply treating your symptoms, a lifestyle medicine specialist will help you find ways to prevent disease and improve your quality of life. They’ll also help you manage existing conditions by focusing on improving your overall health rather than just managing symptoms. If you’re looking for Lifestyle Medicine in Anoka MN, Dr. Leah Novak D.O. is here to help.
Does My Insurance Cover Lifestyle Medicine?
Many insurance plans will cover lifestyle medicine services. To make sure, you can check with your provider to see if they offer this type of coverage—you may be surprised by how affordable it is! Even if your insurance does not cover lifestyle medicine, this doesn’t mean it isn’t an option for you. Many holistic medicine doctors can work with you and your budget to find a treatment plan that is manageable for you- just make sure you communicate any budget restrictions before appointments or treatment begins.
Is Lifestyle Medicine for Me?
The best way to know if lifestyle medicine is right for you is to discuss it with your doctor. It’s important to note that lifestyle medicine isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so make sure you have an open dialogue about what treatment options are available and how they could help your specific health concerns. If you want to get started on the right foot, here are some things to consider:
-Do you feel like your current treatment plan isn’t working?
-Are you ready to take control of your health and wellness?
-Do you want to make changes that will help improve your overall well-being?
If you said yes to any of these questions, then lifestyle medicine will help you. Find a functional medicine doctor near me today for more examples of the types of problems and conditions lifestyle medicine can help treat.
Getting Away From the “Quick Fix”
The underlying principle behind lifestyle medicine is that it takes time to achieve results. Rather than offering quick fixes and Band-Aid solutions, lifestyle medicine aims to identify underlying causes of disease and help patients make lasting changes that improve their overall well-being. This is something that many people are looking for in a doctor today—a willingness to listen and understand where a patient is coming from before making recommendations about treatment plans or options for wellness. Especially for those suffering from chronic conditions who haven’t found relief even in short-term solutions, finding an expert lifestyle medicine doctor who can provide the right kind of support is extremely important.
Taking a Holistic Approach to Your Health
Taking a holistic approach to your health is a great way to ensure that you get the best care possible. It’s important to find a doctor who is willing to take the time to listen, understand and provide guidance on how you can live your best life. The right kind of support and guidance can help patients achieve optimal health through lifestyle changes that are sustainable long after they have left their doctor’s office. If you’re still curious on what specifically lifestyle medicine can help you treat, here are just some problems a holistic approach to health can treat:
Improve Your Sleep
Sleep is a vital component of overall health, but many people don’t get the quality sleep they need to function well throughout their day. Poor sleep can cause fatigue, stress and even mood disorders like depression. For some people, these symptoms are exacerbated by other diseases or conditions they suffer from as well. This is where lifestyle medicine comes in. If you have trouble sleeping due to stress or anxiety, lifestyle medicine may be able to help alleviate those issues so you can get more restful sleep at night.
Improve Your Nutrition
Poor nutrition can lead to a host of problems, including unwanted weight gain. This is especially true if you’re eating too much processed food. Your doctor may recommend changes to your diet as part of lifestyle medicine treatment. For example, he or she may suggest eating fewer carbohydrates and more fruits and vegetables instead of sweets and processed foods that contain high levels of sugar. However, a lifestyle medicine specialist will approach any nutritional changes with a sustainable approach- one that doesn’t make you feel deprived or hungry.
Reduce Stress
Stress can make you feel tired, irritable and unmotivated. And if you’re stressed-out all the time, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits like overeating or skipping meals. A lifestyle medicine specialist may recommend strategies to help manage stress in your life (like meditation), as well as other ways to improve your overall mental health.
With Dr. Leah Novak, you can receive help related to Personalized Medicine, Health Consulting, Life Coaching, and more. If you’ve experienced low energy, depression, stomach weight, or undesired weight gain, Dr. Leah Novak can help with a personalized action plan.
