PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

Western medicine has spent a great deal of time and effort reducing the risk of infectious diseases throughout the world through vaccines and antibiotics, which have saved millions of lives.

There have also been thousands of scientists and billions of research dollars put into the effort of slowing the progression of heart disease – the number one cause of death in essentially every industrialized nation in the world. Billions of dollars have also gone into reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, such as, cancer, diabetes, etc.
Unfortunately, this tremendous amount of work is commonly overlooked by the average patient in a Western physician’s office because of the economic and insurance pressures placed upon the physician.

Since insurance companies pay doctors based upon diagnoses and not nearly as much for preventive work, the focus of most Western physicians has been to primarily treat disease processes.

Eastern medical practitioners, who have not had the same financial encumbrances, have traditionally spent a lot of time with their patients focusing on disease prevention through balance in all areas of their lives.

They have also used herbs to treat disease processes, which are in effect their form of medicine or pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, Eastern medicine has not applied rigorous, randomly selected, doubleblind studies to these herbs and subsequently, many have been found to be toxic or lethal even when given at traditional dosage strengths.

Surgical and diagnostic technology has lagged very far behind the West and a great deal of Eastern medicine is based upon spiritual practices (not nlike the Incas of Peru or tribal practitioners of Africa) that have been widely accepted without significant scientific review and analysis. Both Western and Eastern medicine traditions have their strengths and weaknesses and neither tradition should be completely avoided or completely accepted.

Preventive medicine is an exciting blend of the two that seeks to bridge the gap. It takes the best of the Eastern preventive approach and herbal support while applying tough scientific standards of Western medicine and utilizing Western diagnostics, medicines and procedures only when necessary.

Its emphasis is on balanced nutrition, exercise and appropriate lifestyle which if followed correctly will dramatically reduce the need of procedures and medicines. Even the insurance companies in the West are beginning to realize the tremendous economic benefit of reducing, preventing or delaying disease and have begun to provide money to support this effort.

We are embarking on a new journey in preventive medicine which I’m honored to be a part of these last 17 years. The future of preventing or slowing the development of chronic disease looks very bright.

In conclusion, let’s participate in the best the Western and Eastern medical traditions have to offer through preventive medicine. Before you begin an exercise program, check with your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to begin. Eat a well balanced, calorie controlled diet rich in fruits and vegetables and supported with fish sources. Reduce your risk factors for chronic disease (see “The Impact of Lifestyle and Diet Upon the Body”) and consider supplementation to fill nutritional gaps and for special needs. Take these steps and you will be well down the road to “Optimum Health”. We are excited for you and look forward to hearing about your progress.

By Dr Duke Johnson M.D.