Medications are often viewed as the one and only way to treat chronic medical conditions.
This is one of the most common medical myths I hear.
Pills, tablets, and non-habitual syrups are not cures — while they have their place, for many people they are simply surface-level comforts that dull symptoms temporarily.
And relying on them to solve chronic medical issues may leave you in a precarious situation.
Medications certainly play an important role in preventing certain diseases, including persistent conditions. But for many chronic illnesses, medications should not be the first line of defense or the only treatment used to manage symptoms.
Here’s why.
The modern medication paradigm
The vast majority of our doctor appointments end in prescription medications. There is very little time spent on underlying conditions, and even less time dedicated to nutrition advice or lifestyle changes.
I believe there are two factors in this equation: physician perspectives and patient messaging.
The Western medical system is very good at treating acute illnesses. However, it’s not very good at preventing healthcare concerns from turning into chronic conditions. Physicians often get so focused on treating the problem that they struggle to see the underlying issues, much to the detriment of patient outcomes.
From the patient side of the equation, a lot can be blamed on consumer marketing. From billboards and TV to in-store advertising, the messaging we hear today emphasizes instant gratification — especially from medications.
Pop a pill, and symptoms of your chronic heartburn simply melt away. Mix a powder with eight ounces of water, and the pain in your knees will be gone. Eat whatever you’d like as often as you’d like, then chase it down with a shot of peptic relief.
Patients are sometimes in so much pain that they disregard long-term consequences in favor of short term relief. More often than not, this leads to a reliance on prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs.
But again, medications are used to mute symptoms — not to address their root.
We know that medications alone are not the best treatment for chronic disease. We also know how the myth is being propagated. What we don’t have is a solution.
Therefore, I propose a different approach.
Medication should be used as one smaller aspect of a much bigger plan to address chronic disease. This plan should revolve around three main pillars:
- Nutrition
- Lifestyle changes
- Activity
Whole-body treatment should be top of mind, and customized to individual patients with unique goals and needs.
The goal is not to make you feel better for a few hours — it’s to make lasting changes that improve your quality of life forever.
That is the power of sustained metabolic health.
How to improve your heart health without medications
If you are on medications for a chronic illness, you can still augment your treatment plan with metabolic support.
There are many different avenues you could take, although I suggest starting with the basics:
- Focus on eating whole, real foods. These should come from the ground and be raised from the ground, and as minimally processed as possible.
- Get regular exercise. This can be anything from a brisk walk to HIIT, but the key is to get your heart rate up and break a sweat at least a few times per week.
- Manage stress. Stress has a direct impact on chronic disease so it’s important to find ways to lower your stress levels. The stress-reduction activity in question is largely up to you, but yoga, walking, and new hobbies are all good options.
If you follow these basic steps, you’ll be well on your way to better heart health — without such a huge lean on medications.
Remember: the goal is to address the underlying causes of chronic disease rather than mask the symptoms. The results may not be as instant as extra-strength acetaminophen, but they will become obvious in time and they’ll help to protect you from other illnesses in future.
Treating chronic conditions through an integrated framework
I want to be clear: there are situations where medications are the best way to treat a problem, particularly acute symptoms and emergency care. If you get an infection, for example, medication can help you recover more quickly and with far fewer risks.
However, there is always room to address underlying factors. How did the disease develop in the first place? Are the symptoms abating with improved metabolic health?
Step back and ask yourself, ‘is there something deeper going on that may have led to this, and what can I be doing to prevent this in the future?’
When it comes to the vast complexities of the human body, medications will only take you so far. It’s time to think differently about how you address your health, both from a healthcare perspective and your own approach to care.
Don’t make the mistake that an immediate cessation of symptoms is the same thing as a cure.
It’s not.
If you’re interested in taking a more active role in your health, I applaud your efforts. Taking the first step is no easy task — although it’s not one you need to do alone.
You can schedule a complementary call to discuss your metabolic health markers in greater detail. I’d be happy to talk you through lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments that address your chronic conditions in an integrated framework.