Years and years ago, I was the Medical Director of a REALLY LARGE group here in Chicago. At its peak, we had over fifty doctors, both primary care physicians and members of virtually all specialists. We provided care for over 20,000 patients both in Chicago and the suburbs. There were patients in about 15 primary care offices, over 20 nursing homes, and seven hospitals.
Beyond my administrative duties, I was only responsible for a tiny fraction of these: patients in two offices, two hospitals, and three nursing homes. All-in-all, a reasonable day’s work, except too much driving, too much hospital food.
But the patients themselves, in all three settings, office, hospital, nursing home, had all gone through that slow deterioration of preventable illnesses: heart disease, diabetes, various preventable cancers, strokes, chronic lung disease from smoking, AIDS.
In medical school, and in any residency (medical or surgical), you’re taught treatment (medication/surgery) (“diagnose quickly, move on to the next patient”), never prevention. This is exactly the same now as it was when I was in school.
Moreover, the entire economics of the healthcare system encourages “speed”. “Move ‘em in, move ‘em out”. “Write your prescriptions, refer to specialists.”
And in the process, the average American’s life expectancy is dropping.
So in the 1990’s, remarking to myself how stupid the whole healthcare system was, and how the patients were getting a seriously short shrift, I opened the first WholeHealth Chicago, emphasizing ‘wellness’ and prevention. I joined with a team of “alternative” practitioners, the very first of its kind in Chicago, some of whom are with me to this day. Interestingly, this concept was met more with surprise than anger or resentment from the conventional medical community although we were once ‘raided’ by a very confused Chicago policeman who thought we were an illicit massage parlor.
And those of you who are WholeHealth Chicago patients know you’re a healthy bunch. You’re really very proactive about your health. Good eating habits, regular exercise, honestly, you guys are a dream practice.
So I must recommend a book I recently finished. I bought it based on the title and a visit to his website.
“The Longevity Guidebook: How to Slow, Stop and Reverse Aging and NOT Die From Something Stupid”, by Peter Diamandis, M.D.
My major take-aways:
PRO’s: 70% of longevity depends on lifestyle choices; not on genetics. You will learn the healthiest exercise, diet, sleep, mindset for longevity.
All very reasonable, which I especially liked.
CON’s: Although you will learn breakthroughs in age related testing, these are not covered by insurance and can run into serious money.
Unless you’ve got a specific risk, like a high family history of cancer where the Galleri screen you for 50 cancers ($995) most people really don’t need their telomeres checked annually.
Dr. Diamandis does recommend taking A LOT of supplements. He admits to 75 (!!) a day. Your WholeHealth Chicago practitioner will help you trim Dr. D.’s list into something well, realistic (and affordable).
Still, I thought the book was excellent. He’s got a very good website and (of course) you can buy the book directly from there. Click this link.
Be well,
David Edelberg, MD