{"id":2185,"date":"2025-11-14T07:38:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T12:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.madischu.com\/?p=2185"},"modified":"2025-11-14T07:38:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T12:38:25","slug":"lifestyle-and-major-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.life360coach.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/14\/lifestyle-and-major-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"Lifestyle and Major Diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Did you know that lifestyle factors have an impact on major diseases? Studies show that L<\/strong>ifestyle is the most powerful tool in preventing chronic diseases.<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>Lifestyle factors, primarily <\/span>not smoking<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>maintaining a healthy body weight (BMI 18.5\u201325)<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week)<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>healthy diet (e.g., Mediterranean-style, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low in processed foods\/red meat)<\/span><\/span>, and <\/span>moderate or no alcohol consumption<\/span><\/span>, have profound effects on preventing chronic diseases.
\nBelow is an expanded breakdown of the claims, supported by major epidemiological studies and meta-analyses.
\nThe five pillars of Lifestyle Medicine I learned in the Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching Course from Harvard Medical School Executive Program can be remembered using the
\nNESSS mnemonic device:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. N – Nutrition<\/li>\n
  2. E – Exercise<\/li>\n
  3. S – Sleep<\/li>\n
  4. S – Stress<\/li>\n
  5. S – Social Relationships\/Spirituality<\/li>\n
  6. S – Substance Abuse- Avoidance of Risky Substances
    \nTo these, I would add one more:<\/li>\n
  7. P – Purpose & Meaning<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    My model of Lifestyle medicine is NESSSSSP
    \n<\/strong>Between N for Nutrition, to which I would add Nature and Nurture, E for Exercise, to which we can add Energy or Vitality, and P that stands for our life’s Purpose and Meaning, there are four S letters.
    \nWe must remember that Stress influences all the other six factors.
    \nChronic stress is a significant factor that affects:
    \n– Nutrition<\/strong> through poor digestion, gut and microbiome dysfunction,
    \n– Sleep<\/strong> through insomnia and restlessness
    \n– Social Relationships<\/strong> through irritability and withdrawal
    \n– Substance Abuse<\/strong> – chronic stress can lead to increased alcohol, medication, or even risky substance intake that can cause addiction.
    \n– Gets us burned out, exhausted, and sick to the point that we have no more energy to think about our life purpose and meaning.
    \nIt is a vicious circle that should never occur if we are aware of all this and pay attention to destressing, meditating, taking breaks, and maintaining mental and physical hygiene.
    \nWe must remember that it is okay to do nothing – to meditate, to take breaks so we can relax our nervous system and transition from the Sympathetic ‘Fight, Flight, or Freeze’ state into the parasympathetic ‘Rest and Digest’ state, where we should be, ideally.
    \nSpirituality is an excellent remedy for stress, as prayer and positive thinking are effective de-stressors.<\/p>\n

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    1. Lifestyle Factors Can<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease by Over 80%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n