Renewal
and The Wellness Continuum
by Mark Swircenski, PA-C
The
wellness approach to health care
does not wait for symptoms to diagnose… |
Our state of health is
never static. Instead, health tends to be a dynamic continuum. In my
office I have a chart that displays a Wellness Continuum. I frequently
ask patients where they feel their health registers on that continuum.
The Wellness Continuum is focused toward the earliest stages of
degenerative disease and towards maintaining the patient in
disease-free states of health and well being.
As people move up the
Wellness Continuum, the possibility of anti-aging is all the more
visible and attainable. I find the Continuum is key to dislodging the
complacency that lures many people into the degenerative disease
experience. Why? Because even no symptoms can indicate a danger zone!
Here is a version of
the Wellness Continuum:
7 - VITALIZED At this
state, you are at the peak of health. You get maximum enjoyment out of
life. You live up to your genetic potential and can expect vitality
well into your ninth and tenth decades.
6 - RESTORED You have a
new clarity of mind and an abundance of energy. Your body regenerates
itself. Hormone systems are supported at youthful levels. You
experience freedom from age-related degeneration.
5 - PROTECTED You
awaken fresh every day. You do not get sick often. If you do get sick,
you recover quickly because your body and its immune system have been
strengthened by nourishing food and nutritional supplements. You get
regular exercise and eliminate toxins from your food, water and air.
4 - NO SYMPTOMS You
feel OK, but this lends a false sense of security. Habits and behavior
patterns have established the early stages of degenerative diseases.
If you're not actively climbing this chart, you're sliding down.
3 - RUN-DOWN You are
tired, moody and "blah" much of the time. Lab tests are
inconclusive. You make regular use of over-the-counter medications,
coffee, sugar, food and alcohol for energy or relief. You feel
yourself getting worse with age.
2 - ILLNESS DIAGNOSED
Your doctor has found something wrong. Drug intervention and therapy
are likely.
1 - SERIOUS ILLNESS
Your "disease" has advanced. There is a poor prognosis and
it may be irreversible.
0 - Mort…. You are
run into the ground -- literally!
Unfortunately, many of
us fall into the "No Symptoms" range on this continuum and
thus have a false sense of security because of the absence of
symptoms. The wellness approach to health care does not wait for
symptoms to diagnose, but instead looks at using specific nutritional
and other lifestyle approaches to intervene in degenerative diseases
that may manifest later.
I encourage my patients
to actively participate in a program of RENEWAL to actively improve
their health and climb the wellness continuum. Each letter in the word
RENEWAL stands for an important component that should be addressed in
any program to enhance health and longevity.
R stands
for REST. The quality and quantity of our rest is important, as this
is where many restorative processes occur. Our immune system produces
more immune cells and our pituitary gland releases the largest pulse
of human growth hormone in the deepest stages of sleep.
E
represents our ENERGY needs. It is critical to supply the mitochondria
of the cell with the proper nutrients needed to naturally produce
energy. Fatigue is not due to a caffeine deficiency.
N is for
NUTRITION, both in terms of macronutrition (our dietary intake of
foods like protein, carbohydrates and fats) and micronutrition (the
vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and essential fatty acids
that are important for optimal health).
E stands
for EXERCISE, which is important for supporting mood, stimulating our
immune system, producing fat-burning enzymes and improving
cardiopulmonary efficiency.
W is for
WATER. I find many patients are frequently dehydrated. Drinking eight
glasses of pure water daily are important for optimal health.
A
represents ASPIRATIONS. What are your life goals and what steps are
you taking to achieve them? What did you do yesterday that made you
feel fulfilled and satisfied? Aspirations are important for our mental
health and, as a consequence, our physical health.
L stands
for LIFESTYLE. Our modern lifestyle tends to be stressful. Stress
causes the adrenal glands to produce hormones like cortisol and
adrenaline. These stress hormones can increase blood pressure, heart
rate, anxiety and insomnia and can even affect our immune systems.
Chronic stress affects our health and prematurely ages us. Measures to
reduce stress such as exercise, proper nutrition, adequate rest,
meditation, prayer, yoga, massage, etc., are all helpful in improving
health.
Implementing a program
of RENEWAL into your life will help you actively climb the Wellness
Continuum, thus improving your health and longevity.
Mark Swircenski, PA-C, a member of the American Academy of
Anti-Aging Medicine, is a Physician Assistant at Alaska Family
Wellness Center. For a free wellness consultation or to contact Mark,
call 561-9444 or e-mail markswircenski@netscape.net
