Health Education and Mind/Body Medicine By Holly Avey, M.P.H. Health Educator Office of Health Promotion Grady Health System, Atlanta, GA Doctoral Student Department of Health Promotion and Behavior University of Georgia, Athens, GA

What is Mind/Body Medicine? “What is going on inside our minds, our hearts, and our spirits may have tremendous impact on what happens to our bodies.” Mind/Body Health by Hafen, Karren, Frandsen, & Smith, 1996

Related Fields Psychosomatic medicine Health psychology Behavioral medicine Psychoneuroimmunology

Key Findings Thoughts and emotions create physiological responses.

Key Findings Overstimulation of neurotransmitters can lead to reactive inhibition from tissue fatigue.

Key Findings Allostatic Load - the body loses its ability to adapt and adjust. Prolonged response (stuck in “on” position) Inadequate response (stuck in “off” position) Lack of adaptation (always turning on & off)

Implications for Disease: Immune System Prolonged response –allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis Inadequate response –colds, flu, dental caries, herpes, ulcers, cancer, HIV

Implications for Disease: Cardiovascular System Prolonged response –hypertension, hypercholesterolemia Lack of adaptation –arrhythmias

Implications for Disease: Endocrine System Prolonged response –diabetes

Implications for Disease: Nervous System Inadequate response to pain –headaches, back aches, fibromyalgia

Implications for Disease: Gastrointestinal System Lack of adaptation –Irritable bowel syndrome –Ulcers

Implications for Disease: Reproductive System Lack of adaptation –menstrual irregularities Prolonged response –decreased fertility

Population-Based & Long-Term Implications for Disease Health disparities –measures of chronic stress? Successful aging –optimism and good coping skills

Mind/Body Research: Public Health Perspective Education Public vs. individual perspective - underlying societal causes Multi-disciplinary/ multi-dimensional research

Barriers to Mind/Body Health Education Ignorance of mind/body research and treatments Fear of addressing mental health issues Segregation of existing programs into disease categories Funding by disease categories

Medical Disease Model  Prevention vs. Biopsychosocial- spiritual Health Model  Promotion

Where Do We Go From Here? Include mind/body research in Health Education curricula Challenge the disease prevention model in program conception & development Identify interested parties & organize Advocate for new & different funding opportunities

Useful Resources Journal Articles Books Organizations/ Websites Funding Opportunities