Remember Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko” ? It had quite a bit of notoriety several years ago  but I could never bring myself to watch it. Why you might ask? Although I agree that our medical system is tragically flawed and due to implode at any moment, there was a very important piece missing from that movie.You might want to call it the “elephant” in the room. Michael Moore himself appeared to be overweight and out of shape. Did he address that in his movie?

Where was personal accountability? Sometimes things happen. Cancer is one of those things. It is the result of many factors that are often out of our control (not smoking however which is in our control), but what about taking responsibility for one’s own health? Many diseases can be prevented with a healthy diet and exercise. We have the unhealthy habit in this country of blaming others when something goes wrong. What about looking within? We have great technology that can do amazing things such as opening arteries in the heart to prevent heart damage from a heart attack and removing plaque from the arteries that feed the brain to prevent damage from strokes. Even with all of this technology the true ability to prevent disease and keep things from getting to the point of needing it comes down to lifestyle choices. If you exercise, eat healthy, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking or never start, have your blood sugar and blood pressure and cholesterol under control odds are you will not need it!

I see patients all of the time who are fatigued and achy and angry that despite optimizing their hormone levels and vitamin levels they are still tired. When I ask them whether they have incorporated exercise and healthy living into their life they say “no”. What more can be done? What will it take to turn on the light of understanding? I am still trying to find the answer to that question. Each person is different, but it is a beautiful thing to watch when a patient figures it out. I am sorry it doesn’t happen for everyone. It needs to, and I challenge Michael Moore to find that answer to that question for one of his next movies!