How Can You Make Better Decisions About Your Health?
By Dennis H – Former Gym Manager | Qualified Personal Trainer | Longtime Student of Evidence-Based Health and Healthy Ageing
Every day we make decisions that affect our health. Some are relatively simple, such as choosing what to eat, whether to go for a walk or how much sleep we should aim for. Others can have lifelong consequences, such as deciding whether to have surgery, begin a new medication or make significant lifestyle changes.
The difficulty is that we rarely have all the answers before we need to make a decision. If we waited until we knew everything, we would never make one.
Over the years I have come to realise that making good health decisions is not about knowing everything. It is about knowing enough to ask the right questions.
In many ways, questions really are the answers.
Why this website exists
The purpose of Vitality Hub is not to tell you what to think or what decisions you should make.
Instead, I hope to provide information that helps you better understand your body and your health so you feel more confident asking questions, weighing up your options and making decisions that are right for your circumstances.
If each article leaves you understanding a topic a little better than before, then it has done its job.
You don't need to become an expert
Many people believe they have only two choices. They either accept everything they are told without question or they spend countless hours trying to become experts themselves. I don't believe either approach is necessary.
Doctors, physiotherapists, dietitians, exercise professionals and many other health practitioners spend years developing knowledge and experience. Their expertise is invaluable, and there is absolutely no substitute for it.
At the same time, you are the person who lives with the decisions that are made. Asking thoughtful questions is not challenging a professional's expertise. It is becoming an active participant in your own healthcare.
Knowledge helps you ask better questions
One of the greatest benefits of learning about health is not that it gives you all the answers. It gives you better questions.
The more you understand about topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, inflammation, healthy ageing and cellular health, the easier it becomes to have meaningful discussions with your healthcare team.
You do not need to know every detail. Sometimes understanding just enough to ask one important question can make all the difference.
Questions open conversations
A good question often reveals information that might never have been discussed otherwise.
For example, if a treatment is recommended, you might ask:
· Why do you believe this is the best option for me?
· What benefits should I realistically expect?
· What are the possible risks or side effects?
· Are there reasonable alternatives?
· What could happen if I decide to wait?
· How will we know whether the treatment is working?
None of these questions are confrontational. They simply help you understand your options so you can take an active role in the decisions affecting your own health.
Keep an open mind
One of the most valuable habits we can develop is keeping an open mind. That does not mean believing everything we hear. It also does not mean dismissing new ideas simply because they are unfamiliar.
Whether information comes from your doctor, a physiotherapist, a personal trainer, a pharmacist, a scientific paper, a book or a website, it is worth taking the time to understand why a recommendation is being made.
Sometimes the answer will strengthen your confidence in the original recommendation. Occasionally it may raise another worthwhile question. Either outcome helps you make a more informed decision.
Better questions lead to better decisions
None of us will ever know everything about health.
However, every time we learn something new, we become a little better equipped to ask thoughtful questions. Those questions lead to better conversations.
Better conversations often lead to better understanding. And better understanding usually leads to better decisions.
That is the philosophy behind Vitality Hub.
My hope is not that you will agree with everything you read here. It is that each article gives you another piece of the puzzle and encourages you to keep learning, keep asking questions and become an active participant in your own health journey.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your healthcare, medications, diet or exercise programme, particularly if you have an existing medical condition.
Published by Vitality Hub
Evidence-based health information in plain English.