ASK YOUR DOCTOR

Ask your doctor if he or she believe the basis of good health is achieved by:

1. eating healthy

2. exercising

3. attaining restful sleep of adequate duration

4. balancing stress

5. consuming adequate hydration

Now ask them, “if these components are crucial in obtaining good health, why are these topics not covered in detail during the office visit?” Do you think it’s possible the answer is based on a lack of training and education in these topics?

How much academic and clinical training do you think your doctor gets in:

1. nutrition

2. exercise

3. causes of sleeping disorders

4. stress management

5. adequate hydration for quality health

Let’s review the MEDICAL literature and other referenced sources to objectively answer this question?

1. Doctors and NUTRITION:

“Modern medicine maintains the importance of proper nutrition, yet on average, U.S. medical schools only offer 19.6 hours of nutrition education across four years of medical education, according to the perspective authors.” “This corresponds to less than 1 percent of estimated total lecture hours,” they wrote. “Moreover, the majority of this educational content relates to biochemistry, not diets or practical, food-related decision making.” (REFERENCE: American Medical Association: The Current State Of Nutrition In Medical Education)

2. Doctors and EXERCISE:

“The majority of institutions did not offer any physical activity education-related courses. When offered, they were rarely required.” “Over half of the physicians trained in the United States in 2013 received no formal education in physical activity and may, therefore, be ill-prepared to assist their patients in a manner consistent with Healthy People 2020″ (REFERENCE: Journal Of Physical Activity And Health: If Exercise is Medicine®, Where is Exercise in Medicine? Review of U.S. Medical Education Curricula for Physical Activity-Related Content

3. Doctors and PATIENT STRESS MANAGEMENT:

Google this topic and you will see an overwhelming number of articles teaching doctors how to manage their own stress rather than their patient’s stress. Interestingly, these recommendations for self management include exercise, nutrition, yoga, meditation, etc…whereas the “gold standard” for patient management is anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications. Why is there a double standard for managing stress when it comes to the physician versus the patient? Since there is no formal course curriculum in medical school addressing this topic, industry standards have been designed from a business model prescribing medications to 1 in 6 people today. (REFERENCE: Scientific American: 1 in 6 Americans Takes a Psychiatric Drug)

4. Doctors and PATIENT MANAGEMENT OF SLEEPING DISORDERS:

“Primary sleep disorders constitute a significant health problem because of their relatively high prevalence and their potential to adversely affect the morbidity, mortality, and quality of life of those who suffer from them. “Given the impact that sleep disorders have on the health and well-being of a significant portion of society, it is remarkable that so little structured, didactic time is given to these topics in the medical school curriculum.” (REFERENCE: American Medical Association Journal Of Ethics: Lack of Training in Sleep and Sleep Disorders

5. Doctors and WATER HYDRATION:

“As undoubtedly the most important nutrient and the only one whose absence will be lethal within days, understanding water measurement and requirements are very important. The effects of water on short and long-term health are quite clear.        … this review has attempted to provide some sense of the importance of water to our health, its role in relationship to the rapid increases of obesity and other related diseases…(REFERENCE: NIH (National Institute Of Health) Water, Hydration and Health)

When the medical literature and other referenced sources show the importance of these 5 components in preventing disease and achieving quality health, while simultaneously divulging the gross inadequacy in education and training our doctors undergo in these essential areas, the consumer must begin to re-examine his or her doctor’s supporting role in achieving and maintaining their HEALTH.

The medical physician is best utilized to overcome infections and life threatening conditions. Whether these occur from traumatic injury (ex. car accidents, house fires, slips and falls, etc…) or foreign substances overwhelming the immune system (ex bacterial infections,) the medical doctor is provided a first rate education both academically and clinically.

When it comes to avoiding and or overcoming chronic diseases (ex. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, obesity and cancer) the medical education and clinical training has proven grossly inadequate.

Reversing the growing trend of chronic diseases starts with investing more research dollars in the 5 components discussed in this post including, (1) nutrition, (2) exercise, (3) attaining restful sleep, (4) managing stress and (5) drinking adequate amounts of quality water. The problem is most research dollars comes from the pharmaceutical industry. Why would ANY industry (let alone the pharmaceutical industry) invest money in research resulting in reduced revenue? The pharmaceutical industry is NOT an evil empire; they are an industry based on a growing consumer demand for their drugs to sustain diseases consumers have imposed on themselves (in many cases) through lifestyle choices. Until we awaken to this reality, we will continue to suffer the increasing rates of preventable diseases and death we experience today. Our doctors are simply not equipped with the academic and clinical training in these FIVE areas necessary to provide and sustain quality health.

…but don’t take my word for it…..

ASK YOUR DOCTOR

if the facts stated in this post accurately describe their education and clinical training in the basic FIVE foundations of HEALTH?

Tags: attitude, disease, doctor, exercise, health, lifestyle, nutrition, pharmaceutical