Exercise is often a prescription for prevention

Oct 18, 2023

As a physician, one of my goals is to prevent disease and promote health. My patients often come to me when they are ill and need medications, but one of the most underrated aspects of medicine is preventive care.

My prescription for prevention is often exercise. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine will lead to a healthier you. Exercise has many benefits, including decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, decreasing the risk of diabetes, decreasing anxiety and helping to treat depression.

If a patient comes to me because they want to lose weight or get off of medication, I tell them my job is 50% physician and 50% life coach. One of my favorite things to do with patients is talk through their average day so we can identify areas of opportunity to incorporate healthy change.

We aren’t looking to make huge commitments but rather small, incremental changes. We also talk about focusing on numbers other than the scale. Perhaps their weight may not be dropping as they’d hoped, but other numbers, such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, are improving. We often underestimate how much can be accomplished through small changes.

The biggest barrier we all face is time, but please don’t become apologetic about taking time to exercise. There are 1,440 minutes in each day, so taking 20 to 30 minutes is a small ask that will positively benefit those around you.

You could also make exercise part of your family routine by going for a walk or bike ride after dinner, attending a family yoga class, playing tag with your children or going for a hike. Together, we will find opportunities to increase activity without feeling like you are sacrificing in other areas of your life.

Participating in group exercise activities might help you stay more committed. I encourage you to consider registering for Reading Hospital Road Run on Oct. 15. The annual event is hosted by fhe Friends of Reading Hospital and includes 5K (3.1 miles) or half-marathon (13.1 miles) options. Walkers are invited to register for the 5K. As an added bonus, proceeds from the event benefit the Patient Assistance Fund at McGlinn Cancer Institute at Reading Hospital.

Runs like these are open to all experience levels and bring a sense of community. Being around other people and having a shared goal can be a real mood booster because there are others who can motivate and push you. As humans we respond to deadlines, so if you sign up for the run you may be more likely to stay with the training program.

There are many free training programs that can help you prepare and may help you achieve a goal you might not have thought possible.

My goal for you is to move. Find your soulmate exercise by trying several different things until you find the one for you. Remember, little by little becomes a lot — one single exercise session can improve blood sugar for up to 72 hours afterward!

You’re going to be more to everyone else if you fill your own cup first, and it is OK to take time for self-care in an effort to make a better version of yourself. You are going to heal and repair your body and you’ll have the energy to care for others around you in the best way possible.

Dr.: Krysta Brown is with Reading Hospital Internal Medicine Practice.

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