Lifestyle Prescription
A balanced diet, sleep, hydration, a good support network (strength is better than size), engaging in the arts, time spent in nature and exercise are all components that build towards a healthy ‘Lifestyle Prescription’.
The NHS has recognised that optimum health can be maintained from a patient taking control of their own health plan and formulating a Lifestyle Prescription via ‘Social Prescribing’. This offers patients the opportunity to improve their health by working out “what matters to me?” in a holistic approach facilitated by an NHS Social Prescribing Link Worker. A Social Prescription might be comprised of a number of different lifestyle areas requiring development that support a patient to make positive change. The ‘prescription’ will include what is meaningful to the individual, such as contact with relevant community groups, engaging in the arts, exercise classes, gardening, practical services such as housing, or taking part in Health and Wellness Coaching.
Patients engaging in Social Prescribing have the opportunity to be involved in the direction of their health journey, which has been shown to improve wellbeing. An elevated feeling of wellbeing can raise positivity and benefit physical health from a range of different mechanisms including improving communication between the gut and brain, known as the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA). The gut microbiota (bacteria) play a key role in coordinating this communication system. Negative thoughts, stress and anxiety, dietary and lifestyle choices can affect the composition of the gut microbiota and as they formulate over 75% of the immune system it’s helpful to keep them and you happy. Therefore, engaging in a Social Prescription could benefit patient immunity from improved feelings of wellbeing; other boosts to the immune system would involve them addressing relevant dietary and lifestyle factors in their patient-led health plan. Further benefits of Social Prescribing include reducing pressure on NHS services such as GP consultations, A&E attendances and hospital bed stays.
The benefits for Social Prescribing patients, referred to Claire Health and Wellness, include holistic and personalised coaching to meet the needs of the individual. In a collaborative process, that at its heart is exploratory and organic, clients are encouraged on their journey to create positive, lasting change. Working closely with clients to assess all areas of their life and to help them to remove obstacles that are preventing them from moving forwards with their health condition.
A client may be struggling with a recent diabetes or metabolic condition diagnosis and feel overwhelmed by having to change dietary patterns they are so familiar and comfortable with. It could be that someone has already made positive changes to their health and lifestyle, following an illness such as heart disease or cancer, but have slipped off track a bit and need support and guidance to work out why they walked down that pathway and how they can move forwards in a refreshed direction. Perhaps isolation and loneliness is a key theme in their life and they are at a loss at how to approach that emotional landscape on their own. We work together to address all of the areas that are causing them to suffer so they can move towards feeling healthy and happy.
Health is a work in progress and even the most motivated of people can slip off track. Social Prescribing partnered with Health & Wellness Coaching can provide an opportunity for patients to make sustainable change and keep motivated about improving their health because they are in control of the decision making process, with encouraging professional guidance from a Health Coach. Through holistic, personalised Health & Wellness Coaching clients are empowered and supported to follow through on their Lifestyle Prescription to improve their health and overall feelings of wellness.
All humans could benefit from designing their own Lifestyle Prescription, not just patients of Social Prescribing. What do you need in yours? What is most important to you in your health and personal wellness right now?
Design your Lifestyle Prescription
