How do you define good health
In a new book, Dr Lucy McBride aims to help us navigate US healthcare – and tread carefully in the wellness industry
TL;DR
- The US medical system is perceived as broken, transactional, and impersonal, leading patients to seek solutions in the wellness industry.
- Defining personal health goals is the first step, as opposed to letting doctors (focused on lab tests) or the wellness industry (focused on protocols) define it.
- Basic health needs include physical activity, nourishment, sleep, and social connection, but effecting behavioral change is challenging.
- Patients should prepare for medical appointments by examining themselves, documenting their history, and clearly communicating their concerns.
- The wellness industry offers an illusion of certainty and control, but health is influenced by genetics, luck, wealth, and factors beyond individual control.
- Supplements can be harmful, interfering with organ systems or leading to toxic levels, and should not replace standard medical treatment.
- Approaching health involves identifying specific pain points and priorities rather than attempting to optimize everything at once.