‘Love More’: Why Doctors Should Promote Social Connection
💖 "Love More" in Lifestyle Medicine 💖
In a new article from The American College of Lifestyle Medicine: Social connection is key for health. It’s not just about eating & exercising right; loving relationships matter just as much.
At Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry, we treat people, not symptoms.
Why should doctors promote social connection?
Lifestyle Medicine Focus:
American College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference: Dr. Dean Ornish emphasizes the importance of love as a pillar in lifestyle medicine at the recent American College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference.
Key Principles of Lifestyle Medicine:
Lifestyle medicine advocates "Eat well, move more, stress less, love more." Social connectedness emerges as a vital pillar in the field, alongside healthy diet, sleep, exercise, and stress management.
Growing Impact of Lifestyle Medicine:
About 300 lifestyle medicine programs are integrated into medical school residencies across the U.S., reflecting significant growth in the past 5 years. Dr. Meagan Grega, the conference chair, notes unparalleled energy and growth in American lifestyle medicine.
Research Backing Love and Connection:
- Dr. Ornish's Preventive Medicine Research Institute has researched lifestyle changes, showing the healing effects of positive social connection.
- Patients in support groups, experiencing a sense of community, are more likely to make and maintain healthy changes.
Loneliness as a Health Crisis:
- Research links loneliness and isolation to various health issues, including mood disorders and cardiovascular disease.
- Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declares loneliness and lack of connection a "public health crisis" in the United States.
Harvard Study of Adult Development:
- Dr. Robert Waldinger, head of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, highlights the importance of community and close relationships in promoting longevity and happiness.
- Embracing relationships at age 50 correlates with better health at age 80.
Impact of Connection and Love:
- Loneliness is a stressor, affecting sleep and overall health.
- Isolation leads to earlier health decline, cognitive decline, and shorter lives. Connection, an activity beyond a feeling, helps protect the brain and promotes better health outcomes.
Challenges and Transformation:
- Dr. Ornish acknowledges skepticism about the "love more" aspect of lifestyle medicine. Patients may find lifestyle changes challenging initially, but understanding the sources of hope and meaning can drive positive transformations.
- Lifestyle medicine practitioners aim to reframe the motivation for change from fear of dying to the joy of living.
Future Outlook:
- Optimism for the future of lifestyle medicine, with survey results indicating medical students' strong interest in lifestyle training.
- Dr. Grega notes that 95% of medical students believe they would be better counselors with lifestyle training, reflecting a passionate desire for this approach.
Your Journey to Wellness Begins with Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry:
To embark on your path to anxiety-free living, we invite you to explore the possibilities at Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry. Visit our website at www.phillyintegrative.com or call 610-999-6414 to schedule a consultation. Your journey towards comprehensive and integrative care begins here, where families and healthcare providers unite for the betterment of individuals on the autism spectrum.
