Ever noticed how a walk in nature can boost your mood and lower your blood pressure? Or how a stressful day can lead to poor sleep, unhealthy food choices, and even strained relationships? That’s ‘Whole Person Health’ at work – a holistic view that sees your health as more than just the absence of illness. It’s about understanding how your environment, DNA, relationships, habits, and even hobbies all contribute to your overall wellness. Although this concept is gaining ground with healthcare providers, it’s too personal and all-encompassing for them to lead the charge.
That’s where you come in. We’ll introduce you to the concept of whole person health, its four pillars, and how precision health tools can help you tailor your wellness journey. This is about taking the reins of your health, armed with knowledge and cutting-edge technology.
What is Whole Person Health?
Whole person health is all about seeing the big picture. It’s not just about fixing a headache, dealing with IBS, or managing heart issues. It’s about understanding that you’re a complete, interconnected individual. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) explains that “whole person health involves looking at the whole person — not just separate organs or body systems — and considering these four factors that promote either health or disease:
- Biological Factors: This pillar encompasses our physical body and its genetic makeup. It includes our DNA, organ systems, and physiological processes. Biological factors play a crucial role in our predisposition to certain health conditions and how our body responds to various treatments and lifestyle changes.
- Behavioral Factors: Our daily habits and choices form the behavioral pillar. This includes our diet, physical activity levels, sleep patterns, and stress management techniques. It also covers behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance use. These lifestyle choices significantly impact our short-term and long-term health outcomes.
- Social Factors: The social pillar recognizes the profound impact our relationships and community have on our health. It includes our family dynamics, friendships, work environment, and broader community connections. Social support, or lack thereof, can greatly influence our mental health, stress levels, and even our physical well-being.
- Environmental Factors: Our surroundings play a vital role in our health. This pillar considers elements such as air and water quality, access to green spaces, noise levels, and exposure to toxins. It also includes broader socioeconomic factors such as housing conditions, neighborhood safety, and access to healthy food options.
The History and Evolution of Whole Person Health
While Whole Person Health might sound new, it’s actually rooted in ancient traditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine, dating back 2,000 years, and Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old Indian system, both view health holistically. Many Native American cultures also practice holistic healing, emphasizing connections with nature and community.
Throughout history, this approach has evolved and gone by various names. Holistic Health and Alternative Medicine gained popularity in the 1970s, focusing on treating the whole person rather than just symptoms. Integrative Medicine emerged later, combining conventional and complementary therapies. In the 1990s, Functional Medicine appeared, concentrating on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease.
In recent years, modern healthcare has started to catch on. Research institutions like the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) now include it in their 2021-2025 strategic plan. Some healthcare systems, such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic have implemented similar programs. There’s also a growing emphasis on preventive care and lifestyle medicine in conventional healthcare settings, signaling a shift towards a more comprehensive approach to health and wellness.
How to Build Your Whole Person Health Plan
While healthcare providers are increasingly embracing whole person health, the reality is that there are many moving parts involved, and they can’t do it all. Doctors, despite their best intentions, often don’t have the time to help each person develop a comprehensive whole person health plan. This is where we need to shift our thinking and take a more active role in our own health journey.
By creating our own personalized whole person health plan, we can take charge of our well-being in a way that addresses all aspects of our lives. This proactive approach allows us to tailor our health strategies to our unique needs, circumstances, and goals.
Here are some steps to creating a roadmap for your personalized whole person health plan:
Self Assessment – Get Real with Yourself
First things first – it’s time for a good old-fashioned self-assessment. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if that’s more your style) and take some time to reflect on your life. How’s your physical health? What about your mental state? Are your relationships fulfilling? How’s that work-life balance looking? And let’s not forget about your environment.
Be honest with yourself. We all have areas that could use a little TLC. The key is to identify them without judgment. Remember, this isn’t about beating yourself up – it’s about recognizing where you can improve. Here is an example of a Whole Person Health Assessment from VA.
Set Goals – Chart Your Course
Now that you’ve got a clear picture of where you stand, it’s time to develop some action plans. Focus on specific goals that you can achieve and that are within your control. For example, instead of saying, “I want to be healthier,” try something like, “I will cook three balanced meals at home each week.”
Don’t be afraid to include goals that might seem less controllable, especially when it comes to your environment. Maybe you can’t single-handedly solve air pollution, but you could research air purifiers for your home or look into local community gardens.
Develop Good Habits – Make Mindful Choices
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Now that you’ve assessed your health and pinpointed areas for improvement across the four pillars of Whole Person Health, it’s time to put your plan into action. Living a whole person healthy lifestyle means making intentional choices every day that contribute to your overall well-being.
Identifying behavioral habits might be straightforward, but addressing biological factors often requires more creativity. Your genetic predispositions may call for targeted approaches. Don’t be discouraged if these aren’t immediately obvious – work with healthcare providers and use available health data to craft biologically-informed habits.
Here are some habits to consider for each pillar:
Biological:
- Get regular health screenings based on your age, gender, and family history
- If you have a genetic predisposition to diabetes, monitor your blood sugar regularly
- If your biomarkers indicate high cholesterol, focus on a targeted diet and exercise plan
Behavioral:
- Start your day with a glass of water
- Take a 10-minute walk after each meal
- Set a consistent sleep schedule
Social:
- Schedule regular check-ins with friends or family
- Join a club or group aligned with your interests
- Practice active listening in conversations
Environmental:
- Create a designated recovery space in your home
- Spend time in nature regularly
- Reduce clutter in your living space
To make these changes stick, let’s turn to James Clear’s “Atomic Habits.” Clear outlines four laws for behavior change that can be incredibly effective:
- Make it obvious: Set clear intentions and cues for your new habits. For example, place your running shoes by the door if you want to jog in the morning.
- Make it attractive: Find ways to make your habits enjoyable. If you’re trying to eat more vegetables, experiment with delicious new recipes.
- Make it easy: Simplify your habits. If meditation seems daunting, start with just one minute a day.
- Make it satisfying: Ensure there’s a reward associated with your habits. Maybe treat yourself to a relaxing bath after a week of consistent exercise.
Remember, start small. Choose one or two habits to focus on initially. As these become part of your routine, you can gradually add more. The key is consistency and patience.
Rally the Troops
Remember, you’re not in this alone. Talk to your friends about your whole person health journey. Chances are, they’re interested in improving their own well-being too. Share your goals, discuss strategies, and consider buddying up for accountability.
If possible, look for a functional medicine doctor. These practitioners integrate lifestyle medicine and whole person care into their practice. If that’s not an option, start the conversation with your primary care doctor. You might be surprised at how supportive they can be.
Combining Whole Person Health with Precision Health: The Future of Personal Wellness
As whole person health gains traction, a new ally is emerging: precision health. This innovative approach tailors health solutions to the individual, considering the complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Through advanced technologies such as biomarkers, health trackers, and smart scales, precision health empowers us with detailed knowledge about our bodies, paving the way for more personalized and proactive health management.
These tools provide insights into sleep patterns, heart rate variability, nutrient levels, and stress responses. Many apps also offer personalized recommendations for improvement, making it easier to take action on the data.
While healthcare providers often can’t delve into this level of detail with each patient, we can leverage this health technology revolution ourselves.
Incorporating precision health into your whole person health plan is a journey. Start small, perhaps with a fitness tracker, and gradually add more elements. As you revisit your plan annually, integrate more personalized data.
By combining whole person health’s holistic approach with precision health’s detailed insights, you’re creating a truly personalized wellness experience. It’s an exciting time in health and wellness – why not take full advantage?
Whole Person Health – The You Knowing You Approach
As we wrap up our exploration of whole person health, let’s recap the key points:
- Whole person health is a comprehensive approach to wellness that considers all aspects of an individual’s life, not just their physical symptoms or conditions.
- The four pillars of whole person health—biological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors—provide a framework for understanding the complex interplay of elements that influence our overall well-being.
- Modern healthcare is increasingly embracing the whole person health approach, recognizing its potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
- While healthcare providers are leading the charge, the broad and personal nature of whole person health means that ultimately, we are responsible for taking an active role in our own wellness journey.
- Combining whole person health with precision health tools and technologies offers an exciting opportunity to create more specific and actionable health plans tailored to our individual needs.
Whole person health represents a paradigm shift in how we approach wellness. It acknowledges that our health is not just about treating illnesses, but about nurturing every aspect of our being. By understanding and addressing the four pillars of health, we can create a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Ultimately, embracing whole person health is about taking control of our own well-being. It’s about recognizing that every choice we make, every relationship we nurture, and every environment we inhabit plays a role in our health. By adopting this comprehensive approach and leveraging the tools of precision health, we can create a roadmap to wellness that is uniquely our own.
