Services for Exercise Prescription as Part of a Lifestyle Intervention Program for Chronic Disease

  • A collage showing a heart with a heartbeat line, a hand with words "stop cancer," an illustration of lungs, and images related to diabetes management including a glucometer and insulin injection.

    What are non-communicable "chronic" diseases of lifestyle?

    Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a group of chronic, non-infectious diseases that mainly include the following: heart diseases, lung diseases, diabetes and cancer.

    A key fact is that these diseases currently are responsible for most deaths worldwide (>71%) but are largely preventable by following a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise.

    Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful tools in the prevention and treatment of these diseases.

  • List of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs): 1) Tobacco use, 2) Harmful use of alcohol, 3) Unhealthy diets, 4) Physical inactivity, labeled as daily choice risk factors; 5) Raised blood pressure, 6) Overweight/obesity, 7) High blood sugar, 8) High blood fats, labeled as metabolic/physiological risk factors; 9) Psychosocial stress (mental health).

    Risk factors for NCD's

    The main risk factors for NCDs are related to four daily choices (lifestyle factors) and four main metabolic / physiological risk factors.

    Lifestyle risk factors are physical inactivity, use of tobacco, unhealthy eating and harmful use of alcohol and other drugs.

    Many of these lifestyle factors also influence the metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure, being overweight, high blood sugar, unhealthy lipid profile and psychosocial stress.

    Following a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, is a powerful way to reduce the risk of dying early from NCDs.

  • Illustration of a doctor monitoring a patient on a treadmill for a heart test

    What is a lifestyle intervention program for chronic disease?

    A lifestyle intervention program consists of:

    1. Identifying risk factors for chronic disease and determining of there is any evidence of chronic disease.

    2. Following a comprehensive medical assessment, each risk factor as well as any known underlying disease is managed through a personalised intervention program.

    3. Regular monitoring and follow-up ensures that the program is effective to:

    a. reduce the risk of new NCDs

    b. slow down or reverse progression of existing NCDs

    c. improve general quality of life

  • Silhouettes of people running with a heart illustration in the background.

    Special services for lifestyle intervention

    In our practice we offer the following specific services for lifestyle intervention to prevent and treat NCDs:

    1. Comprehensive medical assessment to identify risk factors for NCDs and diagnose underlying NCDs

    2. Risk stratification to ensure that risk of medical issues and injuries during exercise is reduced

    3. A personalised lifestyle intervention program with a key focus on an appropriate exercise prescription

    4. Exercise interventions may include medical supervised exercise in a group setting

    5. Monitoring and follow-up, using modern technology including data from smart-watches, to track progress

    We work within a multi-disciplinary team of doctors in other medial specialties, physiotherapists, biokineticists, dieticians and psychologists.

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