"CLAIM THE POWER AND OWNERSHIP TO TAKE OF YOURSELF"
This is a strong statement for anyone, but especially for me as a doctor telling my patients. There needs to be a good doctor -patient relationship. I do everything to the best of my ability to take care of patients. I feel it is the patient's responsibility to take care of himself/herself. I follow seven lifestyle changes- dietary, exercise, addictions, meditation, self esteem, anger/resentment and self love. The first two - dietary and exercise lifestyle changes belong to me as the doctor. I can help anyone who needs a dietary lifestyle change whether they are vegan, raw, carnivore or anything in between. It is also my job to make the patient aware of addictions, which I refer to as energy thieves and become aware of whether he/she is leaning towards self hate, self like or self love. It is also my responsibility to assist the patient in finding the right type of meditation. I often recommend hobbies to assist self esteem, as well as techniques for 'letting go'
All of these lifestyle changes are behavior changes that the patient is ultimately in control of. I hold to the best of my ability, my end of the bargain or partnership. It is the patients responsibility to be their own self advocate. In these medical hard times with insurance, a patient must be their 'own' doctor in the sense of investigating options for their problem/disease. Each individual should claim the power to care for himself/herself. Be empowered. Be courageous. Be honest.
Why do we still have heart disease in this country? Why is cardiovascular disease (CVD) still the number one cause of death in the United States? Since the early 1990's doctors have focused on treatment of the top 5 risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These risk factors are high blood pressure (hypertension) high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) obesity, diabetes mellitus (abnormal sugar, including insulin resistance) and smoking. While these are important risk factors, doctors need to dig deeper in other issues. One of these issues is dietary lifestyle. Insurances only pay for nutritional counselling for those individuals with diabetes and/ or kidney problems ( renal insufficiency). Why is that?
Doctors need to find out which came first- blockage or inflammation? What causes blockage? What is the inflammatory response to an insult to the arterial system? There may be numerous insults to the body and arterial system, but three biological responses are inflammation, oxidative stress and autoimmune diseases. Much of this is linked to what you put in your mouth. Do you consume fruits and vegetables that are high in anti oxidants and are also anti inflammatory? Do you consume blueberries? If not, you better start!
Most clinical cardiologists do not discuss inflammation! Cardiology is changing and some do. Yet many still leave it to the chemists and biologists.
For the last 15 years (of 19 years) in practice I have seen the need for a multifaceted approach to cardiology involving dietary and exercise lifestyle changes. It is not limited to this. Mind body healing, energy healing, and plain forgiveness often need to take place. I want you to get healthy. What I am trying to say is that anger, resentment and stress can lead to heart attacks and strokes. I have been holding on to this grudge - no a resentment that serves no purpose. I meditated on it this morning at 5 am. I felt so much better. These resentments for me lead to headaches. I never have headaches but lately I am now.
I must "heal thyself"-- It is difficult to be a good healer. I try to the best of my ability, but I must ALWAYS heal myself first. That may be selfish but it is so true. My approach to cardiology has been titled and written and sits on a bookcase among my office literature for years - it is called BEYOND CHOLESTEROL
Until tomorrow....
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