What does it mean to be healthy? Answering this question can become a philosophical exercise. The World Health Organization defined health in 1986 as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” I have always liked the WHO definition because it includes more than just being not sick. Unfortunately, I have found over my years of practice that people do just that. When I ask patients how they define health, all too often the response centers around not being sick and being able to do the activities they need/want to do today. Imagine if we viewed financial health in the same short-sighted manner! I’m not broke and I can buy what I need today.
My personal definition of health has, of course, evolved over the years. To me, being healthy is a lifestyle, a choice, a responsible way of living. Yes, that is correct, I believe that being healthy is a responsibility. I have a responsibility first and foremost to myself, followed by my family, my patients, friends, community, and last, but certainly not least, our socialized system of health care. By allowing myself to fall into disrepair, I can no longer be of service to all of those mentioned above, just the opposite. In fact, I become a burden to them.
I have not made this statement lightly. I appreciate that there are circumstances beyond our control that lead to states of reduced capacity and, occasionally dependence. At those times, we are certainly fortunate for the love and care that those around us provide. It is also at those times we rely on a robust and well-engineered healthcare system.
My perception of Health in 2021 and beyond is multifaceted. I want to be optimized, to be the best that I can be. I want to be pain-free. I want to run, jump, and play like I always have. I want to remain cognitively sharp, thinking clearly and efficiently. I want to be relevant, someone who’s opinion and views are valued and sought after. I want to be disease free. I want my metabolism to be operating at peak efficiency. I want this today at 55, but just as importantly, I want it at 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100!
Living to 100…. I had better take a moment to discuss my views on aging. Aging from a functional perspective can be sadly defined as an advancing state of dysfunction, pain, and “decrepitness”. From a purely statistical view, aging is simply the increasing risk of death with the passage of time. We could discuss aging and the study of aging, Biogerontology, but to really get into the weeds, we would need significantly more space than this monthly update allows.
When I ask people if they would like to live longer, many of them, the majority of them, think of the traditional view of aging and say quite firmly, “No”. But then I reframe the question. Imagine you could get older without aging; would you choose to live longer? That makes it very clear that getting older isn’t the problem, aging is.
Over the past 18 months, I have taken a deep dive into understanding the factors associated with aging. It has been an exciting time for me to dig into the research and come away with a newfound sense of hope. Hope that I may be able to change the trajectory of my aging. Aging is slowly becoming recognized as a disease that we may one day be able to cure. Our present understanding of the mechanisms which lead to ever-decreasing cellular and metabolic function and eventually manifest as aging has allowed us to take the first steps towards decreasing the rate at which humans age.
In order to take advantage of this rapidly evolving knowledge base, a new field of medicine is developing, Precision Medicine. There are several descriptions of Precision Medicine. The University of Calgary has a new postgraduate program starting this September and describes it as follows;
Precision Medicine represents a new and disruptive approach to the way health care is delivered, with the “precision” of care and wellness actions that are tailored to the individual makeup of each person. A lynchpin of this field is the direct application of “big data” molecular biology and computational tools in the clinical context. The promise of Precision Medicine (the scale of data production and the power of computational analytical tools) in Canada is to significantly improve the quality of care, the efficacy of prevention, and the economy of healthcare delivery.
I am pleased to be a member of the inaugural class this September! When I told my girls that dad was going back to university, the first thing they asked me was “Do you get a dorm room?!?!”.
I have always believed that how we age is a choice. Now I know it is and even better, that we have the ability to measure, monitor, and direct our aging process. Staying abreast of the science on a daily basis has proved as exciting as it is challenging. So much so, that we have recently engaged the services of two keen and extremely bright university science graduates to make it their daily mission to locate, digest and summarize the latest science.
My father-in-law said to me on his 75th birthday this month, “I realize now that I can buy anything I need, but I can’t buy time”. Taking a focused, precision approach to health may in fact increase an individual’s health span, the number of pain-free years lived in the absence of chronic illness.
The actionable takeaways of Precision Medicine, from a practical perspective, involve the following;
1. What can I do? Lifestyle and behavior optimization.
2. What can I take? Exogenous substances, or supplements.
3. What can I use? Devices and digital technology.
Precision Medicine will redefine our definition of health and aging. There are exciting times ahead. Stay tuned.
Dr. Rohan Bissoondath,
Medical Director
Discover XONE Precision Medicine - Coming in 2024!
Xone Precision Medicine is the emerging approach for predicting, preventing and treating disease, and, of equal importance, maximizing health and wellness — an approach that is fully customized to each patient and employs technological devices to track and analyze data.
XONE Precision Medicine brings “high tech” and “high touch” together by accounting for as many biomarkers as possible, understanding your internal mechanics and genetics, then using big data to optimize the prediction and prevention of disease, as well as optimize your body, mind, and overall health for as long as possible. XONE Precision Medicine shows us that we have the ability not just to treat diseases but to prevent them from developing in the first place.
The healthcare system has always had a focus on treating sick people. As healthcare professionals, we learn a lot about sickness and how to treat it – but not enough about how to help people stay healthy and prevent sickness.
XONE Precision Medicine is the missing link between clinically valuable, patient-generated data and its use for customized care.
At XONE, we focus on a more proactive and personalized care that empowers people to lead healthy lives, and that is why Precision Medicine is in our DNA. We never want to lose track of In a nutshell, this means we are gathering data about your biology, your DNA, sleep, fitness level, nutrigenomics – and putting these to use to tailor our advice or therapies to YOU, resulting in a more efficient, more informed, more customized approach to your health and wellness.
What To Expect From XONE Precision Medicine
By accounting for as many biomarkers as possible, understanding your internal mechanics and systems, and taking gene variability and lifestyle into consideration, we present an opportunity to optimize your body and mind – defining a new meaning to healthspan. A streamlined approach to obtain the most accurate picture of your health state.
Baseline Testing
In depth blood test analyzing 40 different biomakers to assess your overall health.
Device Monitoring
Top of the line technology to monitor your body and health state in real time to provide immediate feedback to you.
Follow Up Testing
Track any changes or progress in your health and adjust the action plan.
Our Comprehensive Approach To Precision Health
Biomarker testing to help us paint an accurate picture of your current health state and guide us in developing the most effective wellness plan for you.
Whole-Genome and Microbiome Sequencing
Full genome sequencing and the personal diversity and functionality of your gastrointestinal health to optimize your mental health, metabolism, disease risk, and immune function.
Disease and Cancer Diagnostic Screening
Nearly 1 in 2 Canadians are expected to develop cancer in their lifetime. In most cases, early detection is possible through screening and allows for early treatment and curative intent.
Health Monitoring Devices
Health monitoring technology allows us to track and respond to changes in your physiology in real-time, and give our team the most accurate picture of your individual health.
Physical and Mental Health Assessments
Mental health affects many aspects of our daily life. Our focus is to maintain, restore, and help you develop a strong connection between your mental state and physiology.
Dr. Rohan Bissoondath Talks About Precision Medicine
Thanks to a hand-selected team of leading experts in Preventative Care, we take pride in educating patients about aging in peak health. Watch our live segments on CTV Morning Live to learn more about our approach to healthy aging.
Be The First To Hear From Us
At Preventous, as you already know, we focus on prevention. Precision medicine is already in our DNA. For this reason, we are expanding to offer more to our patients. To be the first to hear about our Preventous Precision Medicine services, sign up now.