Your mission as a natural healer is to improve the health of every patient – but sometimes, don't you wish you could build a "better" patient? You know, a patient who understood the value of lifelong health on every level – and thus the value of your lifelong care?

A better patient can be accomplished with education. An educated, informed patient is a) more invested in their care; b) more open to conversations about their health and wellness; and c) more likely to become a lifelong patient who trusts you, their acupuncturist, for their overall health care, not just for pain relief or to give acupuncture "a try." Here are four research-supported education moments to share with every patient.

#1: Step It Up for Lifelong Heart Health

Walking 6,000-8,000 steps per day significantly increases cardiovascular health among older adults, according to a meta-analysis of eight studies involving more than 20,000 people (average age: 63 years) from the U.S. and 42 other countries. All participants used wearable devices to measure steps and were tracked for an average of six years to assess heart health.

Walking reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease events, defined in the analysis as fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. More steps lowered CVD risk compared to fewer steps. Findings appear in Circulation, a research journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) [2023;147:122-131]. Of note, number of steps taken was more important than the speed / intensity at which participants walked, said the researchers.

#2: The Pain of Not Losing the Weight

High body-mass index is associated with numerous elevated health risks, but one many people don't realize is that being overweight / obese hurts – as in an increased risk of experiencing one or more musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

Researchers analyzed data from Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study, World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure, World Bank, and International Labour Organization databases, looking for any association between high body-mass index and the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders. They found it:

High BMI was associated with 73 million cases of osteoarthritis, 36.3 million cases of low back pain and 16.9 million cases of gout. And overall, these MSK disorders attributable to high BMI contributed to an estimated 7.3 million global years lost to disability in the working-age population (ages 15-84 years). Source: JAMA Network Open [2023;6(1):e2250674].

#3: Vitamin D Helps Prevent Skin Cancer

Researchers classified 498 patients at increased risk for skin cancer into low-, moderate- and high-risk groups; and also categorized them based on their use of oral vitamin D supplements (non-users, occasional users and regular users). Melanoma cases were significantly lower in regular users of vitamin D supplements vs. non-users, and skin cancer risk classification was also significantly lower. In fact, melanoma risk was more than half that of non-users.

Occasional users of vitamin D supplements experienced lower risk reductions compared to regular users, but superior to non-users. Findings appear in Melanoma Research [2023;33(2):126-135].

#4: Why You Shouldn't Put Off Prioritizing Your Health

The perils of procrastination can negatively impact your health, according to research published in JAMA Network Open [2023;6(1):e2249346] that gathered data every three months for nine months to determine how procrastination impacted health outcomes. Study participants self-reported procrastination, using a 1-5 scale (1= "very rarely or does not represent me"; 5 = "very often or always represents me") to assess their procrastination. After nine months, researchers gathered data on 16 self-reported health outcomes and evaluated how participants' procrastination scores correlated with their health.

Participants with higher procrastination scores also had a higher likelihood of poor health outcomes after nine  months, including symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress; disabling pain (neck, upper back, lower back, upper extremities and/or lower extremities); unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (poor sleep, physical inactivity); and loneliness. The higher the score, the greater risk of experiencing one or more of these health issues.

---

Acupuncture Today editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email mailto: .

Next Article in Issue

Previous Article in Issue