High impact lifestyle medicine is transforming patients lives

Sarah Hannigan, general practice nurse, Paddington Doctors, and Fellow, Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine

As a general practice nurse with 14 years’ experience, I've witnessed a concerning rise in chronic health issues, such as heart disease and diabetes. This increase adds a significant strain to general practice. Evidence-based lifestyle medicine has allowed me to have a significant impact on the lives of my patients and has transformed the way that I practise. 

My role at Paddington Doctors primarily involves care planning and health assessments, providing me with invaluable one-on-one time with patients to discuss their well-being. After observing the potential for lifestyle changes to enhance both the longevity and quality of life for our patients, I embarked on a journey of learning. Initially, I gained certification as a lifestyle medicine practitioner with the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM), before achieving the prestigious status of Fellow (FASLM) in 2019. Additionally, I’m a certified health and wellness coach, having earned my qualification from Wellcoaches Australia.  

By adopting a preventive approach to healthcare, we foster healthier individuals. Statistics suggest that Australians, on average, spend approximately 11 years in poor health, constituting around 13% of their lifespan. In the year 2020–2021, nearly half of Australians – or 46.6% – were reported to have one or more chronic conditions, while a staggering 67% of adults grappled with being overweight or obese.1 Chronic illnesses contribute to nine out of 10 preventable deaths in Australia.2 Nevertheless, it is estimated that a significant portion of this disease burden – 38%, rising to 49% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations – could be averted via targeted reductions in modifiable risk factors, such as obesity, physical inactivity, poor dietary habits and substance use (including alcohol, tobacco and other drugs).3 Effective prevention of these conditions and their associated risk factors hinges on identifying and addressing root causes.  

The underlying root cause of most chronic illnesses typically falls within one of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation, alcohol harm reduction, sleep, stress management and, notably, social connection. As nurses, we possess foundational knowledge on these subjects. We have the opportunity and time to engage with our patients, conduct assessments and pinpoint which pillar negatively impacts them the most.  

By becoming an ASLM certified practitioner, we acquire the credentials and confidence to broach these topics and offer guidance on the small changes that will yield the greatest improvements in the overall health of our patients. This shift from reactive to proactive care is empowering and elevates the health assessment to a new, exciting standard. We can deliver care with greater effectiveness and efficiency. As an ASLM certified practitioner, I have noticed that my patients are more invested in care planning sessions and are willing to return for more frequent reviews because I listen to their concerns and needs, rather than merely completing tasks for billing purposes. This transformation has made my role immensely gratifying and fulfilling, while also enhancing my own personal health and wellness journey.

What is lifestyle medicine and the ASLM? 

ASLM is a not-for-profit organisation working towards improved prevention, management and treatment of chronic, complex and lifestyle-related conditions. ASLM is a leading member of a global network of multidisciplinary societies and medical colleges, all working to establish lifestyle medicine as central to health and wellbeing, medicine, healthcare and health policy. 

Lifestyle medicine addresses the underlying cause of disease and ill health through the application of its six pillars: 

• Healthy eating 
• Mental wellbeing 
• Healthy relationships 
• Physical activity 
• Minimising harmful substances 
• Sleep. 

As the leading voice for lifestyle medicine across Australia, ASLM represents hundreds of medical and health professionals, including registered nurses, all with a shared interest in an interdisciplinary lifestyle medicine approach that promotes health and wellbeing for all. It provides professional development and training in evidence-based lifestyle medicine, including the recently launched ASLM Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine. 
 
For more information about ASLM and lifestyle medicine, and to explore our membership and training opportunities, visit our website.
 
References. 

About the author

Sarah Hannigan completed her nursing training at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, qualifying as a registered nurse in 1989. She has developed a wealth of experience throughout her career and has thrived in general practice, with her warm and friendly approach. 

Sarah is an Accredited Nurse Immuniser and is committed to ensuring that her patients have the best start in life. She is also focused on improving the health and wellbeing of her patients at all stages of their life. She enjoys helping her patients stay healthy through a systems-based approach to prevention, and by coaching them to set and achieve their own health and lifestyle goals. Following her passion for preventative healthcare and wellness, Sarah became a Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and a Certified Health and Wellness Coach in 2021.