Diagnosis: The Anatomy of The Four Pillars of Health

What makes you happier, live longer and feel amazing? It’s fundamental to your wellbeing. And way easier to guess than you think: your health. Without it – or just one health issue – there’s an imbalance in your body. Something always feels “off.” Sound like you? And while it may be straightforward to pinpoint a challenge like frequent headaches, that’s just the start of solving the problem. Piecing together your health puzzle means looking at an overall picture. A combination of a few factors makes all the difference for a proper diagnosis as to why you’re always getting a headache. An expert healthcare professional may refer to them as the four pillars of health. Got your interest? Let’s hit the books!  

Pillar One: The Anatomy of Gut Health

Have you heard that your gut is your second brain? Did you know that 90 percent of your happy hormone – serotonin – is produced in your gut? There’s something called the gut-brain connection. This means we need a good working gut and some nutrients like Vitamin D and Omega-3 to help with the binding of serotonin from the gut to the brain. And it’s not just all about good mental health. Ensure your gut is balanced and your body is in good shape. Your gut significantly impacts whole-body health, from immunity to general inflammation. Issues you may feel are common, like bloating or sensitivities to eating gluten or dairy, are often red flags. Gut conditions like Leaky Gut or Irritable Bowel Syndrome can explain why you suffer from tummy problems. And they can help diagnose more health challenges due to a gut disorder. 

Pillar Two: The Anatomy of Nutrition & Diagnosis

We take for granted the saying, “you are what you eat.” Love those takeaways, processed foods and sugary treats? You’re not alone, and you shouldn’t feel guilty. But too much means bad things for your health. Think of eating for your wellbeing versus eating just to satisfy your cravings like this: unhealthy food can increase your stress levels and make you tired and less productive at work. Over time, poor nutrition increases your chance of developing some illnesses and other health problems. The list includes obesity, high blood pressure and tooth decay. Basically, the goal is to eat well, with some treats, giving your body the right fuel for nourishment. Eat carelessly, and you’re putting yourself at risk. Making changes to your eating habits is simple. An expert healthcare professional uses your nutritional behaviour to understand what’s going on in your body and how things can improve. Adding supplements to boost your health is a great way to up your eating game. If you’re low on specific nutrients, your doctor will prescribe what’s needed, and your body will reap the benefits. 

Pillar Three: The Anatomy of Stress Management 

With today’s lifestyle (and challenges), stress is crucial to keep in check. What do you do to calm yourself when you’re feeling under pressure? Yoga, reading or a real hard-hitting game of tennis? Or is soothing stress more about talking it out for you? Stress management is also about finding out what your emotional health is doing to your body. Underlying mental health issues like depression and anxiety can bring physical pain that can be hard to understand. This is where a skilled doctor can guide you in discovering if your challenge is day-to-day stress or something deeper. And if it needs a diagnosis – rather than just a management plan – you’ll be on your way to better health. Anxiety, for instance, is linked to medical conditions like chronic fatigue or cardiac disease. And if you’re under chronic stress, you’re more likely to be overweight and develop inflammation or even high blood pressure. So, let your doctor diagnose and help you. Find natural remedies that support your emotional wellbeing and ways you can feel better mentally. This means looking at your lifestyle, including time to work up all critical sweat. 

Pillar Four: Exercise

Want to gain instant health benefits? Move! It’s known that those who make the time to get active do great things for their health. These rewards include better brain health, weight management, lower disease risk, and strengthening bones and muscles. And even just being able to do everyday activities more happily is one bonus. Not a fan of HITT or mountain biking? No stress. Just walking daily helps enormously. It’s a great, low-impact way to improve overall health and cardiovascular fitness. Start with 30 minutes a day and boost it from there. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Ready to invest in your health and start feeling yourself again? It begins with a proper diagnosis. Factoring in the four pillars of health and how they work together helps get you back on track. Your health is your wealth, so put back in what life takes out.