Press "Enter" to skip to content

Change your annual check up to a “check in” and live longer | Myles Spar | TEDxManhattanBeach


[Applause]

[Applause] what if I told you that getting your

what if I told you that getting your

what if I told you that getting your annual physical is a complete waste of

annual physical is a complete waste of

annual physical is a complete waste of time you think you’re doing the right

time you think you’re doing the right

time you think you’re doing the right thing you schedule the appointment you

thing you schedule the appointment you

thing you schedule the appointment you take time off work you fast you go to

take time off work you fast you go to

take time off work you fast you go to your doctor feeling like you’re doing

your doctor feeling like you’re doing

your doctor feeling like you’re doing something good and useful for your

something good and useful for your

something good and useful for your health but you’re actually not research

health but you’re actually not research

health but you’re actually not research shows it is worthless worthless and

shows it is worthless worthless and

shows it is worthless worthless and making a difference in your likelihood

making a difference in your likelihood

making a difference in your likelihood of getting sick or even of dying may as

of getting sick or even of dying may as

of getting sick or even of dying may as a doctor have to admit I used to dread

a doctor have to admit I used to dread

a doctor have to admit I used to dread the annual physical the quick review of

the annual physical the quick review of

the annual physical the quick review of your complaints and ordering the same

your complaints and ordering the same

your complaints and ordering the same lab tests for everyone whether need it

lab tests for everyone whether need it

lab tests for everyone whether need it or not and then going over the results

or not and then going over the results

or not and then going over the results talking about how you really need to get

talking about how you really need to get

talking about how you really need to get the cholesterol down and start a new

the cholesterol down and start a new

the cholesterol down and start a new exercise program I mean how many times

exercise program I mean how many times

exercise program I mean how many times have you had the same conversations with

have you had the same conversations with

have you had the same conversations with your doctor about those extra 10 pounds

your doctor about those extra 10 pounds

your doctor about those extra 10 pounds or the need to get your cholesterol down

or the need to get your cholesterol down

or the need to get your cholesterol down promising you’re gonna change your diet

promising you’re gonna change your diet

promising you’re gonna change your diet completely have you ever actually made

completely have you ever actually made

completely have you ever actually made any changes as a result of your annual

any changes as a result of your annual

any changes as a result of your annual checkup for the majority of my patients

checkup for the majority of my patients

checkup for the majority of my patients the answer was always no but this wasn’t

the answer was always no but this wasn’t

the answer was always no but this wasn’t discussed when I was in medical school

discussed when I was in medical school

discussed when I was in medical school many people know what they need to do to

many people know what they need to do to

many people know what they need to do to get healthier but they’re not doing it

get healthier but they’re not doing it

get healthier but they’re not doing it but with time and experience I realized

but with time and experience I realized

but with time and experience I realized the key to driving real change is to tap

the key to driving real change is to tap

the key to driving real change is to tap into one sense of purpose what drives

into one sense of purpose what drives

into one sense of purpose what drives you what do you want your health for

you what do you want your health for

you what do you want your health for with that clearly identified upfront

with that clearly identified upfront

with that clearly identified upfront then the annual physical can be more of

then the annual physical can be more of

then the annual physical can be more of a transformative experience leading to

a transformative experience leading to

a transformative experience leading to meaningful change that does encourage

meaningful change that does encourage

meaningful change that does encourage you to make those lifestyle changes like

you to make those lifestyle changes like

you to make those lifestyle changes like starting an exercise program or changing

starting an exercise program or changing

starting an exercise program or changing your diet but it took me years to

your diet but it took me years to

your diet but it took me years to understand that because in my training

understand that because in my training

understand that because in my training doing the annual physical I just felt

doing the annual physical I just felt

doing the annual physical I just felt like I wasn’t getting to what really

like I wasn’t getting to what really

like I wasn’t getting to what really mattered to my patients so I would try

mattered to my patients so I would try

mattered to my patients so I would try and dig deeper and I would say okay so

and dig deeper and I would say okay so

and dig deeper and I would say okay so what made you come

what made you come

what made you come today for this checkup and I would hear

today for this checkup and I would hear

today for this checkup and I would hear well my partner made me come in or as

well my partner made me come in or as

well my partner made me come in or as one patient was upfront enough to say

one patient was upfront enough to say

one patient was upfront enough to say just to make sure I’m not dying doc but

just to make sure I’m not dying doc but

just to make sure I’m not dying doc but I would feel sort of like a fraud

I would feel sort of like a fraud

I would feel sort of like a fraud because I knew deep down the way I was

because I knew deep down the way I was

because I knew deep down the way I was doing it I wasn’t really impacting

doing it I wasn’t really impacting

doing it I wasn’t really impacting whether or not they were gonna die

whether or not they were gonna die

whether or not they were gonna die and unfortunately the impact of the

and unfortunately the impact of the

and unfortunately the impact of the failure of the routine checkup at really

failure of the routine checkup at really

failure of the routine checkup at really preventing disease as being felt

preventing disease as being felt

preventing disease as being felt nationwide do you know last year saw a

nationwide do you know last year saw a

nationwide do you know last year saw a decline in life expectancy in the United

decline in life expectancy in the United

decline in life expectancy in the United States across all races a decline

States across all races a decline

States across all races a decline attributable to a rise in heart disease

attributable to a rise in heart disease

attributable to a rise in heart disease stroke and other preventable diseases

stroke and other preventable diseases

stroke and other preventable diseases that means if this trend continues our

that means if this trend continues our

that means if this trend continues our children will live shorter lives than we

children will live shorter lives than we

children will live shorter lives than we will think about that it’s shocking it’s

will think about that it’s shocking it’s

will think about that it’s shocking it’s partly due to statistics like this and

partly due to statistics like this and

partly due to statistics like this and the rise and other negative health

the rise and other negative health

the rise and other negative health indicators that leading medical groups

indicators that leading medical groups

indicators that leading medical groups actually recommend against doing the

actually recommend against doing the

actually recommend against doing the annual preventive wellness exam for

annual preventive wellness exam for

annual preventive wellness exam for patients without symptoms but everyone

patients without symptoms but everyone

patients without symptoms but everyone is still doing it because it’s how we’re

is still doing it because it’s how we’re

is still doing it because it’s how we’re taught so you know when I was a medical

taught so you know when I was a medical

taught so you know when I was a medical resident a doctor in training in New

resident a doctor in training in New

resident a doctor in training in New Orleans I had a patient named Renee and

Orleans I had a patient named Renee and

Orleans I had a patient named Renee and she made me rethink this annual physical

she made me rethink this annual physical

she made me rethink this annual physical she came in with high cholesterol high

she came in with high cholesterol high

she came in with high cholesterol high blood sugar a good 25 pounds overweight

blood sugar a good 25 pounds overweight

blood sugar a good 25 pounds overweight so I had the same talk with her I had

so I had the same talk with her I had

so I had the same talk with her I had with many of my patients about getting

with many of my patients about getting

with many of my patients about getting control over blood sugar exercising and

control over blood sugar exercising and

control over blood sugar exercising and she would listen politely nod like she

she would listen politely nod like she

she would listen politely nod like she was taking it all in and then come back

was taking it all in and then come back

was taking it all in and then come back the next visit the same way or maybe

the next visit the same way or maybe

the next visit the same way or maybe even a little heavier with the same

even a little heavier with the same

even a little heavier with the same cholesterol and blood sugar finally

cholesterol and blood sugar finally

cholesterol and blood sugar finally after years of these redundant checkups

after years of these redundant checkups

after years of these redundant checkups exasperated I said Renee why do you

exasperated I said Renee why do you

exasperated I said Renee why do you think you haven’t lost any weight and

think you haven’t lost any weight and

think you haven’t lost any weight and she said you know I hear what you’re

she said you know I hear what you’re

she said you know I hear what you’re saying I need to lose weight for my

saying I need to lose weight for my

saying I need to lose weight for my overall health but it’s just so hard for

overall health but it’s just so hard for

overall health but it’s just so hard for me and I think I look okay and I said

me and I think I look okay and I said

me and I think I look okay and I said well Renee does your weight affect you

well Renee does your weight affect you

well Renee does your weight affect you in any real way in your life and here’s

in any real way in your life and here’s

in any real way in your life and here’s where it all changed for me she said

where it all changed for me she said

where it all changed for me she said actually I’d love to coach my

actually I’d love to coach my

actually I’d love to coach my eight-year-old daughter’s soccer team

eight-year-old daughter’s soccer team

eight-year-old daughter’s soccer team but I get out of breath so easily I

but I get out of breath so easily I

but I get out of breath so easily I can’t keep up with the girls running up

can’t keep up with the girls running up

can’t keep up with the girls running up and down the field and I know it’s

and down the field and I know it’s

and down the field and I know it’s partly because of my weight so I said

partly because of my weight so I said

partly because of my weight so I said you know what

you know what

you know what now when you come in for your checkups

now when you come in for your checkups

now when you come in for your checkups we’re not gonna be doing weigh-ins and

we’re not gonna be doing weigh-ins and

we’re not gonna be doing weigh-ins and checking blood sugar your checkups are

checking blood sugar your checkups are

checking blood sugar your checkups are gonna be all about checking in and how

gonna be all about checking in and how

gonna be all about checking in and how long you can be active for to see if

long you can be active for to see if

long you can be active for to see if these changes we’ve talked about you

these changes we’ve talked about you

these changes we’ve talked about you making can actually help you be active

making can actually help you be active

making can actually help you be active longer so you could maybe help coach her

longer so you could maybe help coach her

longer so you could maybe help coach her team since I was a resident my teachers

team since I was a resident my teachers

team since I was a resident my teachers would ask me how’s her blood pressure

would ask me how’s her blood pressure

would ask me how’s her blood pressure how’s her blood sugar and I would say

how’s her blood sugar and I would say

how’s her blood sugar and I would say you know we’re not checking that we’re

you know we’re not checking that we’re

you know we’re not checking that we’re just checking how long she could be

just checking how long she could be

just checking how long she could be active for you can imagine how they felt

active for you can imagine how they felt

active for you can imagine how they felt about that what do you mean you’re not

about that what do you mean you’re not

about that what do you mean you’re not checking it you need to record her blood

checking it you need to record her blood

checking it you need to record her blood pressure in her chart you need to record

pressure in her chart you need to record

pressure in her chart you need to record her blood cholesterol I caught hell for

her blood cholesterol I caught hell for

her blood cholesterol I caught hell for it but it was exhilarating feeling like

it but it was exhilarating feeling like

it but it was exhilarating feeling like I was on the patients team and letting

I was on the patients team and letting

I was on the patients team and letting her control what measures of success we

her control what measures of success we

her control what measures of success we would use when you know six months later

would use when you know six months later

would use when you know six months later she came in having lost some weight and

she came in having lost some weight and

she came in having lost some weight and telling me the yes she had had had

telling me the yes she had had had

telling me the yes she had had had enough active energy to coach her

enough active energy to coach her

enough active energy to coach her daughter’s soccer team and when we did

daughter’s soccer team and when we did

daughter’s soccer team and when we did finally recheck her blood tests her

finally recheck her blood tests her

finally recheck her blood tests her blood sugar and cholesterol were both

blood sugar and cholesterol were both

blood sugar and cholesterol were both better so we both got what we wanted I

better so we both got what we wanted I

better so we both got what we wanted I knew she had less risk of heart disease

knew she had less risk of heart disease

knew she had less risk of heart disease and diabetes and she was engaged with

and diabetes and she was engaged with

and diabetes and she was engaged with her daughter in a way that really was

her daughter in a way that really was

her daughter in a way that really was important to her this was a huge moment

important to her this was a huge moment

important to her this was a huge moment of realization for me reframing the

of realization for me reframing the

of realization for me reframing the check up around what the patient really

check up around what the patient really

check up around what the patient really cared about as opposed to around what

cared about as opposed to around what

cared about as opposed to around what lab values I was supposed to help make

lab values I was supposed to help make

lab values I was supposed to help make sure get better was way more powerful so

sure get better was way more powerful so

sure get better was way more powerful so when I began talking to my patients

when I began talking to my patients

when I began talking to my patients about what mattered to them did they

about what mattered to them did they

about what mattered to them did they have any goals they wanted to achieve

have any goals they wanted to achieve

have any goals they wanted to achieve that health could either hinder or

that health could either hinder or

that health could either hinder or facilitate or have some clarity about

facilitate or have some clarity about

facilitate or have some clarity about their sense of purpose that was exactly

their sense of purpose that was exactly

their sense of purpose that was exactly the catalyst many people needed to

the catalyst many people needed to

the catalyst many people needed to engage in the very behaviors that

engage in the very behaviors that

engage in the very behaviors that ultimately would make them healthier I

ultimately would make them healthier I

ultimately would make them healthier I mean imagine yourself starting your

mean imagine yourself starting your

mean imagine yourself starting your interaction with your doctor with your

interaction with your doctor with your

interaction with your doctor with your overall purpose for being healthy in

overall purpose for being healthy in

overall purpose for being healthy in your goals rather than your chief

your goals rather than your chief

your goals rather than your chief complaints you walk away from the visit

complaints you walk away from the visit

complaints you walk away from the visit with a plan rather than just a list of

with a plan rather than just a list of

with a plan rather than just a list of lab results and prescriptions for

lab results and prescriptions for

lab results and prescriptions for medications in fact purpose is powerful

medications in fact purpose is powerful

medications in fact purpose is powerful research shows identifying a clear sense

research shows identifying a clear sense

research shows identifying a clear sense of purpose lowers your mortality rate

of purpose lowers your mortality rate

of purpose lowers your mortality rate that means your risk of dying in five

that means your risk of dying in five

that means your risk of dying in five years by

years by

years by percent that’s on par with quitting

percent that’s on par with quitting

percent that’s on par with quitting smoking or starting an exercise program

smoking or starting an exercise program

smoking or starting an exercise program and according to Blue Zones author Dan

and according to Blue Zones author Dan

and according to Blue Zones author Dan Buettner identifying a clear sense of

Buettner identifying a clear sense of

Buettner identifying a clear sense of purpose which is one of those attributes

purpose which is one of those attributes

purpose which is one of those attributes common to the five regions around the

common to the five regions around the

common to the five regions around the world where people live longer and

world where people live longer and

world where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else on earth

healthier than anywhere else on earth

healthier than anywhere else on earth identifying that clear sense of purpose

identifying that clear sense of purpose

identifying that clear sense of purpose adds seven years to life expectancy what

adds seven years to life expectancy what

adds seven years to life expectancy what would you do with seven more years of

would you do with seven more years of

would you do with seven more years of life now I’m not advocating getting rid

life now I’m not advocating getting rid

life now I’m not advocating getting rid of an annual check of some sort some

of an annual check of some sort some

of an annual check of some sort some sort of health check I’m just saying it

sort of health check I’m just saying it

sort of health check I’m just saying it needs to be transformed from a check-up

needs to be transformed from a check-up

needs to be transformed from a check-up to a check-in

to a check-in

to a check-in a check-in about how you’re doing

a check-in about how you’re doing

a check-in about how you’re doing related to how you want to be doing not

related to how you want to be doing not

related to how you want to be doing not just how you’re doing it not dying what

just how you’re doing it not dying what

just how you’re doing it not dying what does the check-in look like number one

does the check-in look like number one

does the check-in look like number one it starts with purpose number two we use

it starts with purpose number two we use

it starts with purpose number two we use health as a tool to achieve that purpose

health as a tool to achieve that purpose

health as a tool to achieve that purpose not as the goal in and of itself and

not as the goal in and of itself and

not as the goal in and of itself and number three as your doctor I can become

number three as your doctor I can become

number three as your doctor I can become a resource in a facilitator I can work

a resource in a facilitator I can work

a resource in a facilitator I can work as part of a team to support you and

as part of a team to support you and

as part of a team to support you and hold you accountable to the goals you

hold you accountable to the goals you

hold you accountable to the goals you have set for yourself we can develop a

have set for yourself we can develop a

have set for yourself we can develop a customized plan for you what food should

customized plan for you what food should

customized plan for you what food should you be eating supplements should you be

you be eating supplements should you be

you be eating supplements should you be taking what tests might you need and

taking what tests might you need and

taking what tests might you need and what other modalities or practitioner

what other modalities or practitioner

what other modalities or practitioner should you see do you want to run a 10k

should you see do you want to run a 10k

should you see do you want to run a 10k then let’s plan what you need to do to

then let’s plan what you need to do to

then let’s plan what you need to do to cross the finish line the good news is

cross the finish line the good news is

cross the finish line the good news is this way of changing the conversation to

this way of changing the conversation to

this way of changing the conversation to be about a Purpose Driven approach to

be about a Purpose Driven approach to

be about a Purpose Driven approach to health is catching on functional

health is catching on functional

health is catching on functional medicine integrative medicine lifestyle

medicine integrative medicine lifestyle

medicine integrative medicine lifestyle medicine are all fields that embrace

medicine are all fields that embrace

medicine are all fields that embrace these concepts of shared decision-making

these concepts of shared decision-making

these concepts of shared decision-making and patient-centered care medical

and patient-centered care medical

and patient-centered care medical schools are teaching this approach and

schools are teaching this approach and

schools are teaching this approach and doctors all around the country are

doctors all around the country are

doctors all around the country are flocking to conferences to unlearn the

flocking to conferences to unlearn the

flocking to conferences to unlearn the generic complaint oriented prescription

generic complaint oriented prescription

generic complaint oriented prescription writing oriented checkup we hear a lot

writing oriented checkup we hear a lot

writing oriented checkup we hear a lot about Purpose Driven Life

about Purpose Driven Life

about Purpose Driven Life but this is about Purpose Driven Health

but this is about Purpose Driven Health

but this is about Purpose Driven Health we’re used to doctors encouraging

we’re used to doctors encouraging

we’re used to doctors encouraging patients to hold on to a sense of

patients to hold on to a sense of

patients to hold on to a sense of purpose in order to beat cancer or other

purpose in order to beat cancer or other

purpose in order to beat cancer or other serious diagnosis to stay strong long

serious diagnosis to stay strong long

serious diagnosis to stay strong long enough to make it to a child’s wedding

enough to make it to a child’s wedding

enough to make it to a child’s wedding or for the birth of a grandchild but as

or for the birth of a grandchild but as

or for the birth of a grandchild but as doctors we don’t harness the power of

doctors we don’t harness the power of

doctors we don’t harness the power of purpose enough when talking to patients

purpose enough when talking to patients

purpose enough when talking to patients about prevention

about prevention

about prevention yet preventable diseases account for 40%

yet preventable diseases account for 40%

yet preventable diseases account for 40% of the causes of death in the United

of the causes of death in the United

of the causes of death in the United States it’s simply about engaging on the

States it’s simply about engaging on the

States it’s simply about engaging on the level of what matters to you not just

level of what matters to you not just

level of what matters to you not just what’s the matter with you

what’s the matter with you

what’s the matter with you you know Viktor Frankl quoted Nietzsche

you know Viktor Frankl quoted Nietzsche

you know Viktor Frankl quoted Nietzsche in his book man’s search for meaning he

in his book man’s search for meaning he

in his book man’s search for meaning he said he who has a why to live for can

said he who has a why to live for can

said he who has a why to live for can bear almost any how now Franco was

bear almost any how now Franco was

bear almost any how now Franco was referring to a more dire situation but

referring to a more dire situation but

referring to a more dire situation but his message still applies to our health

his message still applies to our health

his message still applies to our health in order to make true sustained behavior

in order to make true sustained behavior

in order to make true sustained behavior change we all need a Y what I’ve learned

change we all need a Y what I’ve learned

change we all need a Y what I’ve learned is that the trick to getting yourself to

is that the trick to getting yourself to

is that the trick to getting yourself to do all the things you know you should be

do all the things you know you should be

do all the things you know you should be doing is to spend some time thinking

doing is to spend some time thinking

doing is to spend some time thinking about your sense of purpose and ideally

about your sense of purpose and ideally

about your sense of purpose and ideally sharing that with your doctor

sharing that with your doctor

sharing that with your doctor then you’ll transform the annual

then you’ll transform the annual

then you’ll transform the annual physical into a powerful tool to lead to

physical into a powerful tool to lead to

physical into a powerful tool to lead to a more more fulfilled and longer life

a more more fulfilled and longer life

a more more fulfilled and longer life one who had seven more years to your

one who had seven more years to your

one who had seven more years to your life then ask yourself this one question

life then ask yourself this one question

life then ask yourself this one question what do you want your health for thank

what do you want your health for thank

what do you want your health for thank you

you

you [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *