MDNews - Mid Hudson

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ +PHySiCiAN LiFE BALANCE +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ obesiTy plays a maJor role in paTienTs' procliviTy To develop chronic healTh condiTions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabeTes. buT whaT if healTh care providers sTruggle wiTh The same healTh challenges as Their paTienTs? iT's all abouT finding The righT way To connecT and counsel paTienTs — as well as Time To improve personal healTh. A 2010 STuDy CoNDuCTeD by the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center and published i n P re vent ive Cardiology found that a physician's ability to appropriately counsel patients about healthy lifestyle was linked to the physician's own personal health and appearance. "There definitely is a connection. People tend to not study it as much as things like major medications or hypertension, but the literature I looked at does seem to suggest that when you're healthy, you're going to be more present in your job, but you're also going to be able to counsel better," says Elizabeth A. Jackson, MD, MHP, FACC, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of the Women's Heart Program, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Department of Internal Medicine at University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems. "Because if you're working hard to get to the gym at night or in the morning, you can completely relate to your patients' [ability] to do that." However, for physicians struggling with their own health issues, there's still hope. Sometimes being forthcoming about personal struggles can inspire an honest dialogue with patients as physicians work toward their own goals more so than physicians who maintain unhealthy habits and are less likely to counsel patients. "We asked physicians how they felt they were making a difference in their counseling, and the ones who were overweight felt like they were making more of a difference," says Dr. Jackson. "These kinds of studies were also done back when you could smoke in hospitals. When I was doing research for my study, we looked at that literature, and it suggested physicians who weren't attempting to quit [smoking] themselves didn't counsel patients. But the ones who smoked and were trying to quit counseled their patients. Those who didn't smoke also counseled their patients. So that suggested to me that physicians, nurses and other health providers who struggle with their own weight, exercise habits or nutritional issues may be counseling better than they think they are because they can say, 'Hey, I get this — this is difficult.'" Beyond Diet and exercise While a balanced diet and regular physical activity are the building blocks for a healthy lifestyle, back-to-back patient appointments or hospitals rounds can also lead to stress. New and tenured physicians alike need to find the best ways to unwind and refocus their energy during busy days. "There are many pressures on physicians — these are real issues," says Dr. Jackson. "My study looked at how we think about wellness, nutrition habits and lifestyle. Other researchers have looked at doing interventions, such as meditation or other stress reduction, to try to improve empathy and help overall quality of life in medical students." Need to refocus your personal health goals? Visit www.ama-assn.org and click "Physician Health" from the "Resources" drop-down menu to download American Medical Association's "Healthier Life Steps: A Physician's Guide to Personal Health." ■

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