What is Lifestyle Medicine (and how does it propose that 45,000 deaths a year in Spain could be avoided)

Lifestyle Medicine has arrived in Spain with the creation of the Spanish Institute of Lifestyle Medicine (IEMEV), a professional medical association with a more modern medical approach that considers that in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases the most important thing is the adoption of an adequate lifestyle.

Dr. Jose Luis Palma, president of the recently created Spanish Institute of Lifestyle Medicine (IEMEV), assures that Following the Institute’s recommendations could prevent 45,000 deaths a year in Spain. What does this new medical institute promote, and why does this approach promise to be the future of medicine?

Lifestyle Medicine: what is it?

Lifestyle Medicine is a medical approach that is based on scientific evidence supporting that prevent, treat and even reverse disease replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones.

The 8 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine

According to Lifestyle Medicine, the best things the “doctor can order” are eight practices, backed by experts, that allow us to strengthen our health and well-being. The most interesting thing about this approach is that they are tips that you can apply to your life from now on to live longer years of health, without the need to resort to drugs:

Eating healthy by following a plant-based, whole-food diet. Choosing whole, plant-based foods, rich in fiber and nutrients, is critical. Prioritize vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds as part of your diet.Increase physical activity. Regular physical activity – such as walking, gardening, or simple exercises – is essential for optimal health. Find activities that you enjoy and that you can incorporate into your daily routine.Develop strategies to manage stress. Stress can have a negative impact on our health. Learn stress management techniques and coping mechanisms to reduce its negative effects and improve your emotional well-being.Give up smoking. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you want to quit smoking, you can try on your own or seek counselling. In your primary care center they can help you. Form and maintain interpersonal relationships. Maintaining social connections is essential to our emotional and general health. Loneliness and isolation are associated with increased mortality and morbidity, especially in those who already have lifestyle-related conditions.Improve sleep habits. A good rest is crucial. Lack of quality sleep can affect our ability to recover, weaken our immune systems, and increase our risk of chronic disease. If you have trouble sleeping, you have time to adopt habits that help you get a restful sleep.Don’t forget sexual health. Lifestyle Medicine considers it important to strengthen the sexual life of young people and adults in the healthiest possible way, adapting it to personal abilities according to age, for example. It is important to know how to adapt to andropause (men) and menopause (women). Avoid toxic pollutants.Given that today the environmental impact caused by pollution and toxins to health is known, it is advisable to adopt protective measures. For example, the
Domestic pollutants cause multiple chronic diseases and lifestyle changes should be made to avoid our exposure to them.

Benefits of lifestyle medicine

The recently launched and pioneering Spanish Institute of Lifestyle Medicine (IEMEV) – made up of highly qualified professionals in medicine, technology, architecture, journalism and other disciplines – aims to bring lifestyle medicine to our country following the experience of other European countries.

This approach already has a long history in the United States. where the American College of Lifestyle Medicine has been dedicated to transforming health and redefining healthcare through this approach since 2004. This vision is already considered the future of health care in the United States today.

Dr. Manuel Martínez-Sellés, president of ICOMEM, highlights the growing importance of Medicine based on Lifestyle in the future in our country because, as he assures, This approach makes it possible to keep the population healthy, which, apart from being cheaper and more effective than treating diseases, is much more satisfying for doctors and allows them to have a real impact on the population.

To promote knowledge in this field, the IEMEV –in collaboration with ICOMEM– has organized the first Spanish course on Lifestyle Medicine. The objective is to integrate Lifestyle Medicine into medical practice. to reduce the burden of disease, ensure the sustainability of the health system, and promote promotion and education on triggers of chronic diseases (such as nutrition, physical activity, healthy sleep, mental health, social relationships, and pollution) environmental).

Lifestyle Medicine opens up new opportunities to improve global health, defining the needs to create favorable and more humanized living environments. This implies providing new forms of housing, towns and cities, leisure opportunities and healthy tourism, healthy eating, clothing, vehicles and other activities that promote well-being and health.