Preventive Health refers to the implementation of certain lifestyle and health care practices (such as disease screening) to extend your disease-free healthy years and avoid specific common diseases (such as heart disease, cancer, and immune system diseases caused by gluten and other dietary sensitivities). It makes good sense to me that more energy and health care dollars should be put into preventing disease so less will be required for treating disease (because there would be less).
The same approach can be taken to specific diseases through screening. This is my philosophy to gluten sensitivity as just one example. We now have the technology to detect the immune reactions to gluten at an early stage before a child's growth is stunted, before irreversible osteoporosis sets in, before other autoimmune diseases come about, before lymphoma and other cancers occur. I do not believe that detectable gluten sensitivity and/or intestinal dysfunction should go untreated, insisting that damage to the small intestine must be present on a biopsy before dietary modification is recommended. Pathologists have known for years that anatomic damage always follows functional impairment. It is this functional impairment that should be the concern, not the anatomic damage. Dietary modification forgluten sensitivity is just one area where preventive health philosophies can be implemented in a person's life for optimal health. Other more obvious areas include implementation of other healthy practices such as avoiding use of tobacco, excessive alcohol, and illicit drugs, exercise, other healthy nutritional practices, and good oral hygiene. For more preventive health ideas, see my Ten Steps to Finer Health and Nutrition below.
Holistic Health
Holistic health or holistic medical practice, although sometimes wrongly confused with the practice of alternative medicine, refers to maintenance of the entire health of the person (all physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual systems) rather than just one aspect of health or one body system. For example, as a gastroenterologist, people consult with me routinely for intestinal diseases. Focusing strictly on their intestinal symptoms and treating them with a drug would be typical of traditional medicine practiced in this country. However, I favor a more holistic approach. It is well known that emotional factors, dietary factors, stress, and physical activity (such as exertional exercise) influence intestinal function greatly. All of these areas must be addressed for optimal long term treatment success of intestinal and any body system ailment. Thus, an asymptomatic or symptomatic individual is best served by a health maintenance approach that includes assessment and treatment of the whole person (and hence term "Holistic") rather than one specific part.
My Ten Steps to FinerHealth and Nutrition are an example of a holistic approach to health.
Ten Steps to FinerHealth and Nutrition
Eat wisely for proper nutrition, energy, and optimal intestinal and overall health
Get adequate sleep, following a regular sleep/wake cycle that works best for you (sleeping for at least 8 hours during the darkness of night and arising about sun-up is best for most)
Exercise daily, preferably outside in the sun
Utilize non-medicinal methods of stress reduction daily (particularly exercise, meditation, prayer, and if necessary, stress avoidance)
Do not use tobacco, alcohol, or other mood altering substances
Practice methods of good oral hygiene (regular brushing and flossing)
Minimize exposure to, or if possible, avoid environmental toxins in food, water, and air
Take measures to play and laugh regularly, and to feel happy, grateful, and positive about your life and your self
Help others and practice the “Golden Rule”
Seek calm, peace, humility, simplicity, love, and G-d's will in your life .
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