Is Chronic Disease Reversible?

Over and over, clinical studies show that 80 percent of chronic disease and premature death could be prevented by not smoking, being physically active and sticking to a healthful diet. They conclude that chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia and cancer are all influenced by lifestyle choices. So, why aren’t we all changing our lifestyles?

Eric Mueller, DO, with LVPG Internal Medicine–Cedar Point, who is also board-certified in lifestyle medicine, acknowledges that changing learned behavior is difficult. “I was raised in the Lehigh Valley on scrapple, cheese steaks and pizza, and I didn’t receive much nutrition education in medical school,” he says. “It was over time that I learned the power of food as medicine.”

This knowledge serves him well as a consultant at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)’s Diabetes and Metabolism Center. The Diabetes and Metabolism Center provides care and education to adults with diabetes and prediabetes, as well as nutritional support for those with obesity, chronic kidney disease and other metabolic conditions. Dr. Mueller also has made lifestyle medicine part of his internal medicine practice, basing his approach to care on lifestyle medicine’s “six pillars” of health:

• Nutrition: Evidence points to a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet.
• Sleep: Americans are “under slept,” getting below the recommended seven to nine hours.
• Exercise: This doesn’t have to be structured exercise; regular movement is the key.
• Avoidance of risky substances: This includes alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Harnessing stress: Seek healthy ways to deal with stresses (and not turn to food for comfort).
• Social connection: Stay connected to friends, family, people and pets.

Dr. Mueller was first introduced to lifestyle medicine during his second residency at Cleveland Clinic. There, he encountered Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., MD, whose research is the basis for Cleveland Clinic’s Esselstyn Heart Disease Program. Dr. Esselstyn reported clearing the arteries of cardiac patients through a strict WFPB diet that included no oils whatsoever. According to him, patients, who at one time couldn’t walk to the mailbox without chest pain, were able to resume their lives after adopting his diet.

So impressed by this encounter, Dr. Mueller pursued a certification in lifestyle medicine and brought it to his practice at LVHN and the Diabetes and Metabolism Center. He is passionate about sharing what he has learned about chronic disease prevention.

“I Integrate lifestyle medicine into office visits with what may be applicable to each patient,” he says. “For example, maybe they saw a family member suffer with a certain chronic disease and want to avoid going down the same path. I let them know there is something they can do. I convey the evidence, give them information on after-visit summaries, and provide meal planners, community resources and links to useful websites.”

Dr. Mueller’s belief in lifestyle medicine has been “gaining momentum” with fellow clinicians, while his patients are responding with enthusiasm. He is observing results such as lower LDL cholesterol numbers and being able to reduce or eliminate blood pressure medication. “I’m often pleasantly surprised when I see a patient for their annual checkup and there have been improvements over the last year,” Dr. Mueller says. “Even if I’m able to impact one fraction of my patients’ lives for the better, that’s very rewarding.”