THE PROBLEM
Those of you reading this may be part of the estimated 129 million Americans with chronic disease like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, just to name a few. These same diseases are tied to the leading causes of death in the U.S. and around the globe.
We all want to be healthier but Modern Life seems to hold us back. From ultra processed foods, to lack of daily movement, ineffective stress management, and poor sleep, Modern Life’s conveniences have led us down a path of unhealthy habits, which fosters much of the chronic disease we see nowadays.
This burden leads to real life consequences for us and those we love. It’s a shock when we suddenly become sick with a new diagnosis. While you or someone you know may be in physical and mental pain, you feel blindsided, overwhelmed and disempowered.
​Fear of the unknown sets in, as do thoughts of things getting worse, perhaps even worst case scenarios. With all the uncertainty, you begin to question everything. How could things get to this point? Why does something bad have to happen to a person’s health before we finally decide to do something about it? And why do we often react to health problems rather than prevent them?
For one, we lack proper education. From grade school to college, no one is teaching us what it means to be healthy and how stay healthy. Secondly, we lack awareness of engrained behaviors because our health habits become second nature over time that we don’t even realize the specific ways we live out our daily lives. These aspects have lead to the current crisis of widespread chronic disease.
This is not just an issue for the few, but for the majority of America as 6 out of 10 Americans have at least 1 chronic disease. And these numbers continue to climb. With the overwhelm to make a dent into the seemingly insurmountable chronic disease, I’m brought back to why I went into medicine. My inspiration came after my father passed from an avoidable chronic disease. So for myself, this not just a professional battle but a personal one.
From my work as a hospitalist (a doctor who cares exclusively for very sick hospitalized patients), I know firsthand that, we as a medical community are very good at curing acute illnesses - like treating serious infections or repairing broken bones. However, we’re not so great at preventing or even reversing chronic disease.
Our current healthcare system is mainly driven to treat chronic disease symptoms with pills and procedures. Why? This issue goes back to lack of education, and specifically, getting to the root of the problem. Our medical training does not heavily focus on identifying and treating the underlying cause. Through the years, I became discouraged after many of my patients would come in and out of the hospital over and over and over again for worsening but preventable chronic disease. So, I launched into a mission to find answers.
THE SOLUTION
I became determined to find a solution and dove deep into research on health and vitality. I scoured through books, research and talks on the subject. I sought further training in Lifestyle Medicine, which focuses on lifestyle factors as a way to prevent, treat and potentially reverse chronic disease. After that, I became a certified health coach. Through all of this, I learned that chronic diseases are heavily influenced by our unhealthy lifestyle choices. Then one day, it dawned on me. If unhealthy habits are the problem, then healthy habits can help to avoid and rid ourselves of chronic disease. In this way, the problem becomes the solution: healthy habits becomes our medicine for lasting health and vitality.
Through my endeavors, I created my company, 4 Truth Health, to help you build strong health habits to withstand the forces of Modern Life.
Right now, as you read this, you may be struggling with a health issue. Or perhaps, someone you know had a recent health scare, and now you’re concerned that the same could happen to you.
Know this - when it comes to our health, two truths exist in each of us:
#1 A future healthier version of ourselves awaits us
and
#2 we have the power to make it a reality.
So, no matter where you are on your health journey, you are capable of rewriting your health.
It is never too early and never too late to start. But the time for change is NOW. And timing is truly divine because you have come to the right place.
I am so excited for the opportunity to help guide you on the path of healthier living!
Much Love, ~ Jonar de Guzman, M.D.