Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle medicine uses an evidence-based approach to prevent, treat, and reverse chronic disease by addressing root causes rather than just managing symptoms, focusing on daily habits to optimize health and well-being. Turning health habits into action is a challenge, but you do not have to do it alone.
Lasting change requires consistent accountability, feedback, and encouragement. During your healthcare visits, we will help you master the six pillars of wellness.
Six Pillars
Small daily choices. Big impacts on your health.
Healthy Eating
Eating patterns like the Mediterranean and DASH diets are linked to living longer and having fewer heart attacks, strokes, and cases of diabetes. Focus on a diet built around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and less processed foods and red meat.
Physical Activity
Aim for about 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week. Regular activity helps control weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Strength training twice a week helps keep your muscles, bones, balance, metabolism, and independence strong as you age.
Stress Management
Talk-based skills, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, is a proven first choice when stress or anxiety becomes hard to manage. A counselor or therapist can teach these skills. Additional skills like relaxation, mindfulness, and staying connected to others help protect your health.
Restorative Sleep
Getting enough good-quality sleep supports your heart, weight, mood, and blood sugar. Target 7–9 hours nightly and keep a consistent sleep/wake schedule. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, heavy meals, and bright/screen light late in the day, as these fragment and degrade sleep quality.
Social Connection
Strong relationships and community are linked to better health and well-being. Emphasize building diverse networks, forming new relationships, using technology wisely, and engaging in meaningful connection.
Avoid Harmful Substances
Avoiding drugs, tobacco, and alcohol are among the most powerful things you can do for a longer, healthier life.
“At Chandler Health we believe Lifestyle Medicine shouldn’t be an afterthought — it belongs at the center of your primary care. We partner with you to transform health knowledge into a personalized, sustainable plan that fits your life and elevates your wellness.”
Research Shows
Up to 80% of long-term health problems can be prevented. Yet, standard doctor visits miss the opportunity to discuss healthy habits like nutrition and movement two-thirds of the time. We aim to bridge this gap and give you the complete wellness care you deserve, combining regular medical care with coaching toward healthy habits.
Stop Up to 80% of Chronic Health Issues
Prevent Diabetes
In a large study of people with prediabetes, those who lost a modest amount of weight, ate healthier, and exercised regularly cut their chance of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half. This worked even better than medication.
Smart Habits, Healthy Hearts
People with heart risk factors who improved their diet and activity had about 20% fewer heart problems. Intensive lifestyle programs have even helped slow or reverse the buildup of plaque in arteries. Healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, better sleep, and stress management can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. For some people this may reduce the need for medication.
Want to understand your lifestyle health across the six core pillars of whole-person wellness?
Fill out the Lifestyle Medicine Whole Person Health Index!
This questionnaire looks at health behaviors and lifestyle risks tied to chronic disease.
It takes about 10 minutes to complete and is most helpful if you can answer honestly and accurately.