WE NEED VITAMIN ‘R’
What is called “lifestyle medicine” can help build a stronger immune system — a good defense against the Covid-19 pandemic, said Dr. Linda Lim-Verona in a webinar titled “A Healthy Lifestyle Amidst the Pandemic,” hosted by the Philippine College of Physicians recently.
A healthier lifestyle including a better sleeping schedule, food choices and daily vitamin intake can also lead to better mental health. “(We) are advocating for everyone (to have) a healthy lifestyle. Let us improve our immune system. Kasama na po
diyan ang pagpapa-bakuna (This includes getting vaccinated),” Dr. Lim-Verona said.
Vaccines stimulate our immune system. Secret killers cause chronic diseases, and they are responsible for different illnesses that lead to death.
Secret killers are actually simple things that we are oblivious to: animal fats, trans fats, high-fat diets, inactivity, vices, alcohol, excessive energy intake, low-fiber intake, processed food, salt, sugar, soft drinks and even unhealthy sleeping schedules all contribute to low-grade inflammation that eventually damage one’s body.
For Dr. Lim-Verona, it is important during this health crisis to check on ourselves and contemplate if we are living a healthy lifestyle.
“Lifestyle or deadstyle?” Dr. Lim-Verona asked.
The cause of having a “deadstyle” or poor health choices are because of unawareness of lifestyle medicines. People tend to forget to find the root cause of every health problem.
“The doctor of the future is not the one who gives a person medicine, but the one who instructs one to take care (of himself),” she said, quoting Thomas Edison.
Dr. Lim-Verona also explained the “Treatment Triangle” where lifestyle medicine serves as the foundation.
“Ang unang ina-advise po (in treatment) is to have a good or a healthy lifestyle,” she said. Physiologic therapies, medications and surgery follow.
“The good news is that although lifestyle problems are the top causes of death, they can easily be (prevented). We can change ourselves,” Dr. Lim-Verona said.
Lifestyle medicine is one of the newest specialties in the health industry. It is the therapeutic use of evidence-based lifestyle interventions to treat and prevent lifestyle-related diseases — empowering individuals to change unhealthy lifestyle habits is one of its objectives.
It is a worldwide movement, as there is now a Philippine College of Lifestyle Medicine that focuses on six areas of lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, physical activity, managing stress, healthy relationships, enough sleep and tobacco cessation.
In order for one to be healthier, Dr.Lim-Verona says humans need Vitamin R.
“Rest, Recreation and Reflection. Everyone needs a good night’s sleep. Once a year pause and relax. Make time to reflect on the good things that are happening to you,” she advised.
Lack of sleep can lead to a decreased ability to recover from different illnesses.
Dr. Lim-Verona says that an improved health is very reachable. It is just a matter of knowing and committing ourselves to doing it.
“Malaki ang maitutulong niyan satin. Because lifestyle IS medicine,” she said.