What is self-directed health? Part II
The irresistible itch
The prospect of self-managing aspects of health is tantalizing to a lot of people.
Self-directed health conceivably means that cholesterol abnormalities can be identified and managed without a doctor; blood pressure reduced without seeing a doctor; early osteoporosis corrected using commonly available nutritional supplements and exercise; vitamin D blood levels can be self-measured and self-corrected; low thyroid underlying fatigue can be identified and corrected.
When people begin to realize just how much they are capable of in directing their own health, an amazing spark of interest ignites and they develop a deep fascination with learning more⎯a stark contrast with the conventional health interaction.
Self-directed health is a phenomenon that will stretch far and wide into human health. It will encompass preventive practices, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic strategies. Self-directed health will grow to include heart disease, cancer prevention and identification, diabetes and pre-diabetes identification and management; osteoporosis identification and correction; genetic testing; issues peculiar to men, issues peculiar to women.
Self-directed health will dramatically shift the landscape of healthcare, change the economics of payment for healthcare, and revolutionize health for millions. This is not a concept, but the start of a movement.
Critics will say this is hazardous. In our drive-thru, just-add-water-and-microwave world of instant gratification, critics will warn that potential for danger is prohibitive. They fear that people will misdiagnose, misinterpret, or fail to recognize health conditions, choose the wrong diagnostic test, institute the wrong treatment. Chaos will result, unnecessary or unwise treatments instituted.
I disagree.
Surely, increased freedom necessitates increased responsibility. Boundaries will need to be established, rules followed, guidelines provided, guidance available.
But I predict that self-directed health will, on the whole, improve health⎯enormously.
The prospect of self-managing aspects of health is tantalizing to a lot of people.
Self-directed health conceivably means that cholesterol abnormalities can be identified and managed without a doctor; blood pressure reduced without seeing a doctor; early osteoporosis corrected using commonly available nutritional supplements and exercise; vitamin D blood levels can be self-measured and self-corrected; low thyroid underlying fatigue can be identified and corrected.
When people begin to realize just how much they are capable of in directing their own health, an amazing spark of interest ignites and they develop a deep fascination with learning more⎯a stark contrast with the conventional health interaction.
Self-directed health is a phenomenon that will stretch far and wide into human health. It will encompass preventive practices, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic strategies. Self-directed health will grow to include heart disease, cancer prevention and identification, diabetes and pre-diabetes identification and management; osteoporosis identification and correction; genetic testing; issues peculiar to men, issues peculiar to women.
Self-directed health will dramatically shift the landscape of healthcare, change the economics of payment for healthcare, and revolutionize health for millions. This is not a concept, but the start of a movement.
Critics will say this is hazardous. In our drive-thru, just-add-water-and-microwave world of instant gratification, critics will warn that potential for danger is prohibitive. They fear that people will misdiagnose, misinterpret, or fail to recognize health conditions, choose the wrong diagnostic test, institute the wrong treatment. Chaos will result, unnecessary or unwise treatments instituted.
I disagree.
Surely, increased freedom necessitates increased responsibility. Boundaries will need to be established, rules followed, guidelines provided, guidance available.
But I predict that self-directed health will, on the whole, improve health⎯enormously.
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What is self-directed health?
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