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 The 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 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 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 The second E stands for EXERCISE, which is important for supporting mood, stimulating our immune system, producing fat-burning enzymes and improving cardiopulmonary efficiency.

W W is for WATER. I find many patients are frequently dehydrated. Drinking eight glasses of pure water daily are important for optimal health.

A 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 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.