Each year, I see thousands of men, women, and children, of all ages, shapes, and sizes, with a variety of health conditions. What I often notice is, people who take care of their Spiritual, Emotional, and Mental Health have much better Physical Health than those who ignore their overall mind/body/spirit health conditions. Each of these key ingredients work together to build the best possible health conditions for each of us.

 

After being a family doctor for 35+ years with UPMC - Shepherdstown Family Practice, I am proud to say that our practice has been a safe haven for many patients. Family physicians are the first line of defense in combating many SPEM Health issues. We pride ourselves on paying attention to all aspects of our patients' health. This includes their Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health issues. Then, we can attend to their acute and critical health needs properly, while, referring them to specialists, when needed. 

 

Nobody has 100% perfect health, but by employing a variety of methods to take care of your SPEM Health, in addition to seeking assistance from medical professionals, you can  make a difference in your overall mind/body/spirit health and happiness on earth. Ignoring problems will not make them go away, and remember, they may worsen.

 

It is my intent to share medically sound instructions of how to treat your Physical Health with more respect, understanding, and care. As you become aware of what you are doing now and how it might bring medical issues into your life, you will be motivated to stop those problematic habits and replace them with healthier ones. Thus, you will be able to curtail many Physical Health problems from occurring. Remember, no matter what condition your SPEM Health is in today, you can make a positive difference in how it will be tomorrow. I am in your corner, so let's work together on reaching that goal!

 

Each of your Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health components are connected and give YOU the best health and life possible! They make YOU the person that God created YOU to be! Each key SPEM element supports the other three. When one or more ingredients are lacking, the others engage in ways that support the missing link(s). The key elements of your overall health condition share the load, so-to-speak!  If any one, or more, of the other aspects of your SPEM Health is failing, the remaining one(s) will support those that are failing. 

 

Many people are born with good SPEM Health, while others are born with a variety of maladies. Some people are born with life threatening diseases, some without limbs, while others with malfunctions in their Physical internal systems: integumentary, skeletal, nervous, cardiovascular/circulatory, endocrine, muscular, respiratory, excretory, reproductive, digestive, and immune, plus, their mental state, and emotional condition, and later, their spiritual commitment, or non-commitment, comes into play.

 

As life goes on, people with excellent health from birth will eventually find themselves exhibiting one health problem, or another, due to their genetic predispositions, accidents, illnesses, poor nutrition, etc. While some people develop Emotional concerns that wreak havoc within their minds. Other people’s belief in God has been challenged due to their parents being non-believers, thus they have no faith at this time, or they are blaming Him for difficult life experiences. But, each of our mind/body/spirit health ingredients can become healthier, in one way, or another. It may surprise you, but a significant portion of that result, depends on you!

 

Everybody needs to continue to seek professional medical care for many health issues. However, people in good health and those with health issues, each need to start learning what they can do and how to get started with a new routine of taking better care of their Physical Health. Your efforts will work in conjunction with the treatment and suggestions that medical professionals give you. Each of us should have the goal to become a part of improving our overall SPEM Health! Medical professionals can offer realistic healthy suggestions and guidance, but it is up to you to implement these ideas. If you do nothing, nothing will change, and your health and portions of your life will stagnate and worsen. 

 

You have probably heard this statement: "Recognition is 90% of the solution to the problem." That is absolutely true! God certainly had it right when He designed human beings' overall health into (4) separate major elements in our foundation for good health. Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health. Together they build our overall mind/body/spirit health condition. You need to recognize that there is much that can be done to keep all four connected ingredients in the best shape possible, which will allow you the chance to have better health, and a better life.

 

As I mentioned earlier, when part of your SPEM Health is weak, the other components need to help "take up the slack,” so-to-speak! Let's look at a scenario when a women in her 40's has an accident and becomes totally blind. The best chance to improve her ability to get through life, personally and professionally, comes in part, from improving her Spiritual Health by deepening her faith in God, which will help strengthen her resolve to keep moving forward, and give her needed courage to navigate through her life filled with new uncertainties. And, certainly, prayers to God for having her sight miraculously returned to her. 

 

A. To become as Physically independent, other senses must be developed, such as hearing. She will use this sense to help manage getting around in her "new" life. Her sense of hearing will be heightened due to her need to listen and hear every sound and word possible.

 

B. Her Emotional Health needs to be in tip-top shape in order to deal with the obvious need to express her frustration, denial, anger, despair, loneliness, and eventually, as difficult as it may seem, the acceptance of her "new" life. Her Emotional resiliency must, also, be developed to help her become satisfied with her "new normal" life.

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C. She will have a high degree of Mental stress as she tries to logically determine why this problem occurred, and as she figures out how to best go on with her "new" life, must all be dealt with effectively. Then, she needs to prioritize the next steps she must take to get on with an otherwise healthy and productive "new" life.

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D. When an individual has a serious impairment to their body/mind/soul, it becomes imperative that support is given within her SPEM Health connection, and externally from her medical and personal support systems. The criteria that doctors often use to develop healthy conversations with patients involve psychology, wisdom, knowledge, and caring support.

 

The SPEM Health connections will help this woman improve her daily overall health issues. Even her partially challenged Physical condition of being blind can be improved by other parts of her Physical Health coming more strongly into play. In this situation, her sense of hearing is not impaired, nor is her sense of touch, and smell. She can use these wonderful attributes to help "deal with" her lack of vision. If her Mental Health fails her, it will be hard to overcome this traumatic change in her life. If it is strong, she will be resilient and it will be an intricate help in getting her through this challenging time. Her Emotional Health works in a similar manner. And, if her Spiritual Health is in order, all of these functions will help her to get through this traumatic experience, much easier.

 

Here are some tried and true methods that I suggest you start adopting to keep your Physical Health in great shape. To start understanding yourself better, give yourself a once over -- look at your skin. Do you have any changes? Any new moles, age spots, bumps, or bruises? Are they staying the same color, shape, and size? Make sure, as you look yourself over each day to see if they are changing in any way. Changes could be a sign of possible health problems. Do you have trouble breathing as you climb stairs? Is your hair becoming limp and thinned out? Are you losing a great amount of hair anyplace on your body? How are your feet? Do you notice any unnatural curvature of your toes? Are there any new pains you have not experienced before internally? What type of diet are you on each day? Are you loading up on unhealthy carbs and fats? Do you know the difference between unhealthy and healthy carbs? Do you always enjoy a dessert after dinner? Have you found that soda pop is the only type of drink you consume? Does your morning caffeinated coffee turn into 3 or 4 cups each day? Are you exercising 30 minutes daily? Are you using weight training 2 or 3 times each week? 

 

These pointed questions are just an example of the first easy ways to start paying attention to your Physical Health. As people become better acquainted with their overall mind/body/spirit health, they will be able to go into doctor's office's better equipped with facts about their personal health issues. When speaking with your family doctor, they might give you an exam, ask you questions, and order tests to figure out how you can help to improve your health issue. Or, they might refer you to an appropriate specialist. It is frustrating when patients do not have their Physical ailments documented to help provide needed information which will lead doctors to more quickly determine what is going on with their health.

 

Always seek care from medical professionals for acute and critical medical needs. When you are at home and more relaxed, write down all the facts about your medical problem so you can discuss it in detail with your doctor. e.g. when did the problem occur, what happened, what type of discomfort are you having now, what have you done to improve your condition, when did it start oozing, on a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your pain, etc? You know how stressful it can be in the doctor's office, especially if you are in pain. So, before you go there, write down all of your questions about your medical problem. Then, while you are there, make note of your doctor's responses to your questions, and refer to your notes later on, as needed. As you discuss your medical concerns with your doctor and other medical professionals, make sure that you understand what they are telling you to do and follow their instructions completely concerning prescribed medication, vitamins, exercises, weight control, hygiene regimens, sleep patterns, not abusing alcohol and illicit drugs, plus much more! Ignoring their recommendations is not wise. And, always ask questions about anything they instruct you to do, that you do not understand.

 

Remember, each SPEM component is filled with connected health related processes that are a strong support to your overall health. Thus, we each have the opportunity to do what we can, to take care of and improve each of our SPEM ingredients. Doing so, will give each of us a better chance at living a healthier life. Plus, being free from unnecessary medical problems is a good reason to be happier, too!

 

We are each walking miracles! Just think of the damage that occurs to our bodies, from birth and throughout our lives, it is miraculous that we live into our 90's and 100's these days! I believe we are roughly 10 years better off in age, than in the past. e.g. 60 years of age today is like 50 years of age yesterday.  70….. is like 60;  80 ….. is like 70;  90 ….. is like 80;  100 .....well, is like still like 100! 

 

Many patients choose to ignore their Physical Health and overall SPEM Health. This is a very dangerous habit because many health problems are usually treatable early on, but they can become very difficult to resolve. Getting into a daily routine of being aware of any change to your Physical Health is critical to staying in the best shape possible.

 

​In Good SPEM Health. . . always!

 

Dr. Gary Schwartz, M.D.