Lifestyle vs Conventional Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine Review
- Similar to Alternative in that it can be an alternative treatment- as in the Ornish program for
CAD, or a lifestyle approach to treating low back pain,hypertension, dyslipidemia, etc - Similar to Integrative in that there is evidence to support its use with conventional medicine for many conditions, and it is integrated into conventional medicine
- Similar to Preventive in the attention to good health habits, the role of lifestyle behaviors in controlling disease, and the application to every person
Differences between LM approach and the others:
- Seems to fit between alternative medicine and conventional medicine.It is more specific (i.e., prescniptive) in 1ts use of lifestyle interventions
- Stronger evidence base than most alternative therapies
- Includes fewer treatment options: does not include the vast array of therapies that are used in alternative therapy
- It is not used in place of conventional medicine as is alternative medicine
- Some aspect of LM is almost always appropriate with conventional treatment
- LM does not include the screening, immunizations, and preventive medical therapies that are part of preventive medicine
- Better defined than integrative or functional medicine; the interventions that make up these approaches are not specific; these approaches seem more nebulous
Unique role of Lifestyle Medicine:
- Strict focus on lifestyle behaviors. Success depends on patient motivation. Must include motivational coaching. Applies to every practice, every patient.
- Emphasizes the use of a collaborative care model.
- Limited number of intervention approaches- more conducive to staff training
- Involves more prescriptive lifestyle interventions for specific diseases or risk conditions
- Recommended in many national guidelines for use in both prevention and treatment
- The inclusion of motivational counseling in lifestyle change, coaching patients to become more involved and responsible for their own outcomes.
Differences Between Conventional and Lifestyle Medicine
|
Conventional |
Lifestyle |
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Treats individual risk factors |
Treats lifestyle causes |
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Patient is often passive recipient of care |
Patient is active partner in care |
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Patient is instructed to make changes |
Patient is supported and encouraged to make changes |
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Treatment is often short term |
Treatment is always long term |
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Responsibility falls on patient to follow doctors orders |
Collaborative partnership between doctor and patient to facilitate lifestyle change |
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Medication is often the "end" treatment |
Medication may be needed but as an adjunct to lifestyle change |
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Emphasis is on diagnosis and prescription |
Emphasis is on root cause of diagnosis |
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Goal is disease management |
Goal is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention |
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Little consideration of the environment |
Consideration of the environment |
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Side effects are balanced by the benefits |
No side effects to positive lifestyle changes |
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Referral to other medical specialties |
Referral to allied health professionals as well |
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Doctor generally operates independently on a one-to-one basis |
Doctor is coordinator of a team of health professionals |