Integrating medicine with lifestyle for personalized and holistic healthcare

Introduction

Personalized medicine has become a groundbreaking approach to healthcare that aims to tailor medical decisions and treatments to each individual’s unique needs (1). It goes beyond a narrow focus on genetic predisposition to encompass a comprehensive understanding of various factors such as personality, cognition, social interactions, goals, and values (2). The human genome is subject to both endogenous and exogenous factors that can lead to mutations and enhance susceptibility to disease. However, personalized medicine recognizes that genetic predisposition alone does not determine a person’s state of health (3). It recognizes that personality, which encompasses a range of psychological traits and behavioral patterns, is shaped to a significant degree by the information individuals receive and process, as well as the organization of vital forces and the values they seek to achieve (4).

Over time, the individual accumulates knowledge and experiences that lead to a better understanding of the world and a more refined interaction with others. This ongoing process of learning and personal growth shapes evolving goals and values and contributes to the development of accumulated knowledge. Despite increasing knowledge and growing emotional and intellectual maturity, individuals may face health problems and physical deterioration as they age. Personalized medicine, closely related to P4 medicine (predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory), recognizes that an individual’s health is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, personal, and environmental factors. Predictive medicine focuses on early intervention based on genetic and environmental risks. Preventive medicine aims to strengthen the immune system and align treatments with individual lifestyles. Personalized medicine tailors treatments to each patient’s unique needs, while the participatory aspect engages patients actively in their healthcare. This approach enhances outcomes and promotes overall well-being (5). By taking into account the unique characteristics and circumstances of each individual, healthcare professionals can provide tailored medical interventions, preventive measures, and treatment plans that are more closely aligned with the needs and preferences of the individual. This approach holds immense potential for significantly improving patient outcomes, optimizing therapeutic effectiveness, minimizing adverse effects, and enhancing overall wellness.

Human personality and lifestyle are closely intertwined and influence and shape each other (6). Personality encompasses psychological traits, behaviors, and thought patterns, while lifestyle refers to the individual’s daily choices and habits. Personality traits affect lifestyle choices, and lifestyle in turn influences personality development and expression. Healthy lifestyle choices can enhance well-being and promote positive personality traits, while unhealthy choices can contribute to negative traits. Recognizing this relationship is important in order to align lifestyle with desired personality traits and overall well-being.

In the quest for more effective treatments and personalized healthcare, the integration of medicine and lifestyle has emerged as a promising way to revolutionize the healthcare system (7). This approach recognizes that health is not only dependent on the physical aspects of a person, but is also influenced by lifestyle practices and beliefs. The goal is to provide comprehensive and personalized health care that takes into account all aspects of a person’s life, including their dietary preferences, social relationships, and cultural and spiritual beliefs (8).

In this article, we will take a closer look at the concept of personalization of medicine and lifestyle. We will explore how this approach can revolutionize healthcare by creating a harmonious system that combines therapeutic effectiveness with individual values and beliefs. By understanding the importance of this integration, we can pave the way for a new era of medicine that is truly personalized, holistic and must meet the diverse needs of patients in an increasingly multicultural and interconnected world.

Synergizing holistic personalization in healthcare

The synergy of holistic personalization in healthcare is activated through the enriched connection between patients and healthcare providers, as well as the integration of therapeutic drugs and patients‘ lifestyles. This visionary approach recognizes individuals as multi-faceted entities and strives to create favorable circumstances for healing, going beyond the conventional focus on symptoms or diseases (9). By integrating medicine and lifestyle, healthcare providers effectively address the influential role of lifestyle choices on health outcomes, acknowledging their significant impact on overall well-being (10). The integration of medicine and lifestyle is facilitated through a collaborative approach between healthcare providers and patients, incorporating cultural and spiritual practices into the treatment process. This collaborative environment fosters trust, respect, and support, creating ideal conditions for synergy and cooperative effects. By actively involving patients in their healthcare journey, healthcare providers and patients work together to develop personalized treatment plans aligned with individual needs and preferences, leading to more effective and sustainable health outcomes (11). Promoting self-care practices and enabling patients to make informed decisions and actively participate in their treatment plans fosters a sense of self-determination. This active involvement enhances treatment effectiveness and ensures positive and sustainable long-term health outcomes. The synergy between healthcare providers and patients, combined with the integration of medicine and lifestyle, creates a powerful force for holistic healing. The integration of medicine and lifestyle aims to optimize treatment efficacy by leveraging the potential of personalized medicine and information. It recognizes the intricate interplay between individualized medical approaches, the multifaceted nature of human personality, and the integration of relevant information. By tailoring treatment plans based on individual lifestyle factors, personalized medicine improves therapeutic efficacy, promoting balance and congruence between the non-physical and physical components of human health. This comprehensive approach represents a paradigm shift in healthcare, harnessing the synergistic potential of a holistic approach. Placing individuals at the center of their health development and recognizing their unique needs and preferences, this approach provides comprehensive care beyond the treatment of symptoms and diseases. The integration of medicine and lifestyle in the pursuit of holistic personalization represents a transformative approach to healthcare, promoting optimal well-being and enhancing the overall quality of life for individuals.

Placebo effect in personalized medicine

Patients’ attitudes and beliefs about medicine and treatment play a crucial role in the healing process. In the context of personalized medicine, building trust between patients and healthcare providers is an essential factor that creates mutual understanding and an atmosphere that promotes the will to cure. The placebo effect refers to the phenomenon that positive expectations and cognitive processes play an important role in triggering a therapeutic response. The administration of a trusted therapeutic agent with active pharmacological properties leads to positive physiological and psychological effects (12).

Considerable progress has been made in placebo research, particularly in understanding the neurobiology underlying the placebo effect. Placebos are sometimes used as a therapeutic intervention in the context of personalized medicine and have been shown to produce measurable physiological changes. Dr. Benson’s extensive body of work elegantly underscores the intricate and scientifically proven link between positive beliefs, particularly belief in a higher power, and our physical well-being. His deep expertise underscores the importance of a holistic approach to health that considers the interplay of beliefs, the powerful placebo effect, and therapeutic medications. This comprehensive approach not only improves health outcomes, but also enhances the overall well-being of patients (13). However, the use of placebos as a primary therapeutic approach rather than just as a control in clinical trials remains controversial (14).

Developing a strong therapeutic alliance between therapy and patient can facilitate the complementary use of placebo effects in personalized medicine, thereby improving the overall response to therapy (15). While therapeutic medicines are critical for combating disease and promoting recovery, fostering trust between the patient and the therapeutic process is equally important for improving treatment outcomes (16). Building trust promotes patient confidence, rising expectations, and the natural ability to recover through physical and cognitive mechanisms (17). These insights highlight the importance of personal interactions, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral interventions in the healing process. They provide a valuable context to facilitate the patient’s healing response and drive the development of more effective treatments. Finally, while the placebo effect can trigger or support the healing process, therapeutic medications also play an important role in facilitating this process and guiding patients towards complete recovery in the field of personalized medicine (18).

Compatibility in personalized medicine

Achieving optimal health outcomes requires the personalization of medicine by creating a compatible system between the human personality and health systems. Compatibility encompasses several dimensions, including physical, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, social, organizational, and environmental factors (19). Its goal is to integrate multiple systems that work together harmoniously without significant change. Compatibility has proven successful in several areas, such as multiple drug administration, organ transplant matching, and blood group compatibility. Of particular importance is the harmonization of treatments to a person’s specific health needs, highlighting the importance of compatibility in activating potential and promoting positive health outcomes (20,21).

The mind has the ability to rationalize various aspects of lifestyle or religion, comprehending their influence on behavior, emotions, and treatment outcomes. Consequently, when therapy is compatible with an individual’s lifestyle or beliefs, it establishes an integrated and stable system that facilitates coexistence, reduces intolerance, and potentially enhances the body’s responses to treatments (22).

The implementation of strategies, such as increasing medication dosage or extending the duration of drug action, has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of therapy, although it also carries a higher risk of side effects (23). However, when the therapy is aligned with an individual’s lifestyle, it promotes a tolerance system that perceives the medication as compatible with the human body, leading to improved tolerance (24,25). This perception reduces the likelihood of rejection and can result in a longer duration of drug action. When there is compatibility between prescribed medications and an individual’s lifestyle, it may allow for a reduction in high doses of potentially toxic medications while maintaining or increasing the duration of drug action, thereby enhancing efficacy with fewer toxic effects. By optimizing treatment outcomes while minimizing potential adverse effects, this personalized compatibility approach aligns with the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy and contributes to the overall optimization of health (26,27).

Discussion

In the face of healthcare challenges, healthcare professionals increasingly recognize the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to healthcare that incorporates both rational and logical thinking. Rationality provides a structured, evidence-based framework for understanding and treating disease and offers health professionals a solid foundation for formulating treatment strategies. However, it also has its limitations, particularly with respect to our ability to accurately observe and interpret complex health problems, which can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments. In contrast, logical thinking brings a creative and adaptable dimension to problem-solving, which proves invaluable in dealing with intricate and multifaceted health challenges. This approach encourages healthcare professionals to think innovatively, explore alternative solutions, and tailor treatment plans to the unique needs of individual patients. By blending the rational and logical perspectives, healthcare providers can enhance their comprehension of a patient’s condition, ultimately leading to more favorable treatment outcomes (28).

The concept of Lifestylopathy has emerged as a response to the challenges and constraints of modern medicine. Lifestylopathy integrates principles from physics, chemistry, and medicine to delve into the human body at the molecular and quantum levels. It places a strong emphasis on the enhancement of overall health and disease prevention by fostering a harmonious equilibrium between lifestyle factors, potential energy, and entropy. Central to Lifestylopathy is the enrichment of homeostasis and the delicate balance between anabolic and catabolic processes. Additionally, the immune system plays a pivotal role in both preventive and curative aspects of Lifestylopathy (29).

Another critical aspect of Lifestylopathy involves the development of one’s personality and the interconnection between the mind, behavior, and health (4). This holistic approach is especially significant in the context of cancer treatment, as it strives to maximize both physical and personal potential. By addressing these challenges and limitations inherent in modern medicine, Lifestylopathy offers a promising avenue for improving human health and well-being, with the ultimate goal of achieving better outcomes for patients and communities alike (30,31).

In today’s diverse society, people follow different lifestyles and adhere to certain dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, lactose-free, glucose-free, vegetarian, or vegan diets. Religious practices, such as halal or kosher, further influence their choices (32,33). According to Lifestylopathy, personalized medicine has the potential to address these specific needs and enables the labeling of medicines according to patients’ specific lifestyle preferences. Labeling medications according to a patient’s lifestyle ensures that the drug’s quality, ingredients, and formulation align with the patient’s specific needs. This approach ensures that medicines not only meet dietary requirements, but are also consistent with patients’ values and beliefs. This promotes the development of a compatible system that activates the patient’s potential for better health outcomes. By promoting compatibility and harmony between medicines and lifestyle, personalized therapy boosts patients’ confidence and activates their potential, leading to better health outcomes (34).

Apart from the therapeutic effects, the integration of medicine and lifestyle offers a number of benefits, including the establishment of trust, which plays a central role in the healing process (35). The personalized therapy approach recognizes the interrelatedness of the various factors in biology and embraces the principles of cooperative interaction. In biological systems, the combined action of several components or effects often leads to a synergistic effect, where the overall result exceeds the sum of the individual parts (36). By incorporating the concept of integrating medicine and lifestyle into medical practice, we can consider and influence more than one factor at a time. This comprehensive approach combines lifestyle adjustments with appropriate medical interventions, activating potential and building confidence. The placebo effect harnesses the mind-body connection and contributes to an overall positive therapeutic outcome (37). The synergistic effect, as shown in Figure 1, involves the integration of the placebo effect, which results from trust and positive expectations, and the compatibility effect between therapeutic medications and the patient’s lifestyle, which can ultimately lead to complete recovery (38). By using the compatibility effect together with personalized therapy and the placebo effect, we maximize the synergistic potential for recovery and well-being. This comprehensive approach promotes confidence, enhances therapeutic response, and empowers patients on their healing journey, ultimately leading to optimal health and holistic well-being.

Figure 1 Synergistic approach: harnessing therapeutic, placebo, and compatibility effects for enhanced treatment outcomes.

A new era of personalized medicine is emerging with the concept of harmonizing medicine and lifestyle. This approach recognizes the importance of holistic health by taking into account the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. Incorporating both the information aspect and the physical medicine aspect allows for a comprehensive approach to healing, where the power of knowledge and the therapeutic properties of medicines synergistically contribute to our overall well-being. With the principles of Lifestylopathy, we can enhance our understanding of the human body at the molecular and quantum levels, enabling a comprehensive approach to healthcare that promotes overall health, prevents disease, and balances lifestyle and medical interventions. As the integration of medicine and lifestyle is further explored and implemented, we will move closer to a healthcare system that is truly personalized, integrative, and patient-centered. By recognizing the importance of this approach and incorporating it into our health practices, we can improve health outcomes and provide effective care that respects individual values and beliefs.

Conclusions

Personalized medicine, also known as precision medicine, is an approach to healthcare that tailors treatments and interventions based on individual characteristics such as genetic information, personal and family history, and environmental factors. Lifestylopathy aligns with the principles of personalized medicine by recognizing the importance of individual lifestyle preferences, including dietary restrictions and religious practices. Moreover, the integration of medicine and lifestyle promotes a comprehensive approach to healthcare, considering multiple factors simultaneously. The synergistic effect resulting from the compatibility between medicines and lifestyle, the placebo effect, and personalized therapy contributes to improved treatment outcomes and overall well-being. By embracing personalized medicine, healthcare providers can enhance their understanding of patients’ conditions, empower patients to participate in their own healthcare decisions, and promote optimal health outcomes.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Prof. Khaled Abou Hadeed (Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich) for useful discussion and support.

Funding: None.

Footnote

Peer Review File: Available at https://jphe.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jphe-23-71/prf

Conflicts of Interest: The author has completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jphe.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jphe-23-71/coif). The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The author is accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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