When we were newly married, I convinced my husband to make a doctor’s appointment. He’s a typical guy and hadn’t had a check up for a few years. I wanted to make sure he was healthy.
His doctor came in, asked a few questions and performed a quick exam. After the 5 minute visit, he turned to leave, grabbing the doorknob. As he opened the door to leave the room, he turned to my husband and said, “you are obese and your blood pressure is borderline. I’d like to run a few lab tests and see you in 6 months.” Then he left the room.
My husband was mortified. “I’m obese,” he exclaimed!
You see, even though he knew he was a few pounds overweight, the word “obese” hit him right in the gut.
The experience was mind opening for me. I was just starting my integrative medicine practice and even though I knew he definitely needed to lose some weight, I was appalled at how the doctor delivered the diagnosis. My husband was told he was obese as the doctor walked out of the room. No explanation, no further instructions and no tips on how to reverse a problem that we know can cause long term complications.
I knew what would happen if we did what the doctor said. In six months, he’d still be overweight, his blood pressure would still be a bit high and he’d be placed on 1-2 drugs to treat his “diseases.”
We never went to his follow-up exam. We did his labs and he became a patient at Wagner Integrative Health instead.
Since that visit, ten years ago, my husband has made some major changes to his lifestyle. He eats healthy and exercises regularly. He prioritizes sleep. He’s used some medications to optimize his health while also working on his lifestyle.
He’s no longer obese or hypertensive.
I like to think my husband was lucky. I think about the hundreds of thousands of patients suffering from things like obesity and other chronic illnesses (high blood pressure, high blood sugar and/or diabetes, heart disease etc). Year after year in the western medical system, they get sicker and sicker and never get the chance to reverse their preventable diseases.
You shouldn't have to be married to a doctor who specializes in integrative medicine to be given the tools to reverse chronic disease. Patients shouldn’t be labeled with diagnoses and prescribed medicine without also receiving a prescription for lifestyle change.
Which brings me back to Commandment One.
The Healthy Man has 1000 wants, the Sick Man has only ONE.
It’s easy to let year after year go by and slowly lose health, vitality and conditioning. It literally creeps up on you. Pretty soon, your life is dictated by your state of disease and not your goals and aspirations.
You can’t rely on your traditional doctor to catch your decline and steer you in the right direction. You have to do it on your own and if available, with the assistance of a doctor or healer who looks at things in a different way.
As stated in my first newsletter, “I want to help people take the reins back on their health so they can reach their potential.”
And that’s what I promise to you. If you can’t work with a doctor who thinks outside of the box, let me give you the questions you can ask them and the things you can do on your own to make sure your body keeps up with your passions.
Today's “assignment:” do a check in on your state of health. Do you feel vibrant, strong, clear headed, fit and energetic? If not, that’s ok! Most of us don’t and none of us feel that way all of the time.
If you want to take things a step further - you can use the wellness wheel we have patients at my clinic fill out when they get started with us attached here. Answer the questions and if you feel artistic - color in the wheel based on your answers. It’s a great visual that will show your starting point. There’s more to come on all of the ways you can optimize these areas of wellness and health that are simple and I’d say even fun.
Download the Wellness Wheel below:
If I can help you (or your spouse) in any way, feel free to reach out.
Onward.
Dr. Lynn Wagner (
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