Lifestyle as Medicine

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Why a Healthy Lifestyle matters!

• More energy
• Reduced risk of anxiety and depression
• Lower blood pressure
• Helps with weight loss
• Improves our immune system
• Reduces risk/severity of heart disease
• Improves memory, lowers dementia risk

What do we mean by lifestyle medicine?

• Evidence-based clinical care
• Support people to prevent, manage and even reverse chronic conditions
• Through supported behaviour and lifestyle changes

Learn more about this on the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine website

The impact of chronic disease

• Most disease in the 21st century is chronic and not related to infections (which is what used to kill us)
• World Health Organisation statistics - 74% of all premature (early) deaths globally are due to “chronic disease”
• The main four chronic diseases are cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and long term respiratory disease
• Risk is mostly down to your environment and lifestyle rather than genetics
• Lifestyle changes are proven to reduce the risk of chronic disease and allow us to age well

How to get help?

• One You Kent - lifestyle advisors - self-referral using this link for the form or phone 0300 123 1220
• Ask to see the practice “social prescriber” for help with activities and groups to improve mental wellbeing and get involved in your local community
• Make an action plan with your nurse in clinic, or with your GP