Taking Agency Over Our Own Health
‘Karen and Jay share the excitement of health and fitness – describing the many benefits of being fit and how healthy living can improve our happiness and joy’
There’s an exciting movement in the making. People all around our country – of all ages – taking proactive measures to improve their health. All on the quest to live longer, but also to live better. In other words, to enjoy a quality of life and a health span that will dwarf the expectations of previous generations. This is what I like to refer to as ‘taking agency over our health.’ It’s preventive. It focuses on natural solutions versus pharma. And it’s about treating the whole person and the root causes – rather than simply addressing symptoms. If your experience is like mine, you see this trend happening everywhere and in every demographic. There are a number of drivers causing this phenomenon. But I think that one of the most important developments that has accelerated the trend has been the proliferation of so many wearable devices – such as the Apple watch, the Fitbit, Garmin, the Oura ring, the Whoop band and others – all of which provide real time data and metrics on our health. They tell us how many steps we’ve taken, our heart rate, the quality of our sleep and much more. In fact, they act pretty much as a dashboard – a critical dashboard or readout on our health and fitness. As such, these devices can radically change our behavior in a positive way. This is because as humans, I believe we tend to want to gamify things. So, for instance, when we see a particular metric on our fitness – we might say ‘I’m not fully satisfied with that, I’d like to improve it.’ So, we try things. We reach for various levers. Such as fitness regimens, nutritional approaches, supplements – or perhaps hormone therapies, peptides or even approaches to improve our sleep. And in each one of these areas of ‘levers,’ new solutions and businesses are being created and being offered. Improving all the time. Last, what makes this movement especially exciting is the role of AI. If you take a big step back, you’d probably say that two of the biggest trends of the next 5 to 10 to 15 years are first – longevity - taking agency of our own health and fitness; and second, obviously, AI. And very interestingly, these two trends actually are converging. In a very real sense, many or perhaps even most of the metrics and ‘levers’ that are now available to measure and improve our fitness were not even possible two or three years ago and are only now possible due to the development of AI. It's clearly a brave new world – where so very much is possible. New companies, new technologies and new business models are forming right now – even every day. Making for one of the most exciting moments in the history of mankind for us to be alive. Let’s celebrate this movement, let’s enjoy it and most important – let’s live it! Onwards and upwards toward longevity, fitness and health!
This week we are delighted to highlight a true leading light in health, Dr. Rishi Manchanda. Dr. Manchanda is a physician, public health innovator, and author who has dedicated his career to addressing the root causes of health issues, particularly in underserved communities. As the founder of HealthBegins, a social enterprise that supports healthcare systems in addressing social determinants of health, Dr. Manchanda advocates for an "upstream" approach to healthcare - focusing on factors like housing, food security, and environmental conditions that significantly impact health outcomes. His work emphasizes the importance of integrating social care into healthcare delivery, aiming to transform the healthcare system to be more equitable and effective. Dr. Manchanda's approach has influenced numerous health systems and policies, promoting a more holistic view of health that extends beyond clinical care. In his widely viewed TED Talk, "What Makes Us Get Sick? Look Upstream," Dr. Manchanda illustrates how addressing social determinants can lead to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. His message resonates with the core values of community empowerment and proactive health management. Dr. Manchanda's efforts have been recognized nationally, and he continues to inspire healthcare professionals to consider the broader context of their patients' lives. His work exemplifies how individual initiative, and systemic change can converge to improve community health. Dr. Manchanda, we salute you for your efforts!
Quote of the Week
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." — Mahatma Gandhi
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