A lot of time, we often find ourselves in situations whereby we go see a doctor on a health challenge, and at the end lots of drugs were prescribed. Don't get it twisted, drugs aren't bad but a lot of times, illness that could have been easily treated with lifestyle change that comes with long lasting recovery, goes and returns as many times as it can, even some life terminating diseases can be treated with lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle change is the process of training one’s body system to start embracing what it is not used to, like increase in physical activity, change in nutrition, stress management and/or alternative medicine, and the likes. Luckily, positive lifestyle changes does not only affect our physical well-being, they also improve our emotional well-being too.
A study was carried out to investigate the preference of lifestyle changes to medications in prevention of cardiovascular diseases as well as response belief in their ability to maintain lifestyle change. In 2012, a few samples of 40–60-year old Danish inhabitants were invited for a survey and were asked to imagine that they had been diagnosed with a critical heart disease. Subsequently, they were presented with a choice between a preventive medical interventions and lifestyle changes. Th
However, from the study population of 1069 participants, only a total of 962 participants preferred lifestyle changes to medication treatment. Significant determinants for preferring lifestyle changes were female gender with high level of physical activity. Significant determinants for not opting for lifestyle changes were being self-employed, poor self-rated health and smoking, low educational attainment, lifestyle risk factors, self-reported health-related challenges and prior experience with heart disease were associated with a low belief in ability to maintain lifestyle changes.
With the above result, it shows that there have been encouraging changes on integrating lifestyle change as an option in the medical world.
Lifestyle changes are processes that take time and require lots of support. Once you’re ready to make a change, the difficult part is committing and following through. So do your research and make a plan that will prepare you for success. Careful planning means, setting small goals and taking things one step at a time, as you know Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Would you like to read more? Check below.
A patient's story: Why one man opted for lifestyle changes instead of treatment
Determinants of preferences for lifestyle changes versus medication and beliefs in ability to maintain lifestyle changes. A population-based survey
What are your thought on lifestyle? Have you undergo lifestyle changes before? How effective was it? Tell us your experience in the comment section.
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