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LIFESTYLE MEDICINE INFORMATION LEAFLET

LIFESTYLE MEDICINE What is Lifestyle Medicine Lifestyle Medicine is the medical specialty which uses therapeutic interventions as a primary method to prevent treat and sometimes even reverse chronic conditions Lifestyle Medicine Physicians use evidence based strategies to achieve the aforementioned goals There are six pillars to success used in lifestyle medicine These are Diet healthy wholesome and nutritious foods Physical Activity High Quality Sleep Stress Management Avoidance of Risky Substances Positive Social Connections When the above 6 pillars are addressed and worked on individually the collective result is astounding Lifestyle medicine is not about going to the doctor to get fixed It is about identifying the causes of the disease and getting actively involved to prevent treat or even reverse them Does Lifestyle Medicine Work Yes Lifestyle medicine has the ability to prevent treat and reverse some of the most common chronic diseases which cause 80 of all illnesses Lifestyle medicine also adds to a healthy heart Did you know 80 of heart conditions are a direct result of your lifestyle By addressing the 6 pillars you can drastically improve your lifestyle while minimizing your chances of suffering from cardiovascular disease

How Does it Work Prof Kelly who is also a behavior coach uses a behavioural system called Tiny Habits in order to make these lifestyle changes for his patients By introducing tiny changes which you can later build on across all 6 pillars you WILL succeed in building a healthier and better life with a reduced chance of many illnesses and diseases The important thing is not to take on too much too fast Doing so will lead quickly to failure Making tiny changes will lead to lasting success For example if one of your goals is to reach 10 000 steps daily do not start with this It is too big Start with just a 5 minute walk each day You can then build on this as it becomes a habit Before you know it you will be hitting your 10 000 step goal as part of your regular daily routine Who is Lifestyle Medicine For Everybody Lifestyle medicine is all inclusive and as such is suitable for absolutely every person of any age sex fitness level ethnicity or system of beliefs It is never too late to make changes which can lead to a healthier happier and better life Prof Kelly is a firm believer that lifestyle medicine has the ability to make a difference in the lives of every person who takes part How Does the Course Work The course takes place via Zoom and is broken down into 6 sessions over the course of 6 weeks Each session is just 90 minutes long Between sessions you will be asked to write down some of your thoughts and practice your new tiny habits You will be with a group of your peers for these sessions which creates an environment of support for all takng part Each session is led by Prof Kelly and participants are invited to take part in the conversation throughout these Zooms There is group WHATSAPP for daily communication and information sharing

The Pathway to Wellness How Healthy are you Do you smoke cigarettes Do you take drugs Do you drink more than 12 units of alcohol week Do you eat 5 portions of vegetables and two of fruit each day Do you drink at least 2 liters of water each day Do you exercise at a moderate pace for at least 30 minutes each day Do you do weight resistance training Do you do the gardening Do you sleep for at least 7 hours each night Do you drink more than 2 cups of coffee each day Do you work more than 8 hours each day Do you take breaks during your workday to go outside Do you struggle with finding time for breaks exercise Are you stressed exhausted tired all the time Are you burned out Are you happy Are you positively minded Do you get time to meet friends at least once per week Do you switch off your mobile phone after work dinner Do you look after your self care Have you got a GP Family Doctor Have you had a Medical Examination in the last year Is there an area of your health wellbeing that you would like to change Pick ONE today and think of 2 small easy behaviors that you can do each day to create healthy habits for your healthiest self

How Am I Supported Through the Program As well as the weekly Zoom sessions participants will have direct contact with Prof Kelly and access to a private WhatsApp group This group is made up of the peers in your course and is built to encourage and support you throughout your journey Prof Kelly will also provide a list of reading materials and video content which you may find useful and motivational to watch How Can I Sign Up If you would like more information on the program or would like to sign up to take part please contact Deirdre oconnor beaconhospital ie or ruth fennell beaconhospital ie About Prof Robert Kelly Prof Robert Kelly is a Consultant Cardiologist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician in Beacon Hospital Prof Kelly has worked as a Cardiologist in Ireland the UK Europe and the United States After many years in cardiology Prof Kelly saw for himself the diference lifestyle medicine could make to many of his patients With this in mind Prof Kelly decided to establish the country s first ever hospital based Lifestyle Medicine Department and program Prof Kelly is passionate about helping people He cares about preventing treating and potentially reversing chronic illness and disease in order to help everybody to live a long healthy and happier life

Beacon Hospital Sandyford Dublin 18 D18 AK68 www beaconhospital ie Version 01 04 2023