• Are you satisfied with how medicine is practiced today?

• Do you ever walk out of your doctor’s office feeling unheard?

• When you visit your doctor, do you feel as if you have been given adequate options from which to make decisions?

• Does your doctor routinely ask about your sleep pattern, your gut function, or your exercise routine?

• Does your doctor address your nutritional needs?

If the answer to these questions is NO, the time is ripe for CHANGE. Given the current climate of corporatization of healthcare, the pandemic, and the dictum that “one size fits all,” it’s unlikely to expect a shift to more personal care anytime soon.

THE ANSWER: BECOMING YOUR OWN MEDICAL ADVOCATE

It’s about taking charge of your health and always staying in the driver’s seat. It’s not about expecting less from the medical establishment. It's about expecting more from ourselves. 

I was hospitalized twice in a span of 19 months for two unrelated medical emergencies. I learned firsthand that the traditional medical model was not enough for me to thrive. So, I grabbed the bull by the horns and became my own best Medical Advocate. This book not only recalls my journey, but it also lays the groundwork for you to follow my lead and become your own Medical Advocate.

The book is divided into five parts:

Part 1 is my actual story. I’m a cardiologist who happened to sustain a mild heart attack. Despite all my experience and training, I was in complete denial. How did that happen? How can I prevent a future cardiac event?  What can you do to prevent such a mishap? Seventeen months later I was back at Cedars -Sinai Medical Center in need of emergency back surgery. My surgery was complicated by permanent nerve damage. I was very much broken. I worked hard to recover, but I didn’t do it alone. I assembled my “Dream-Team” and aimed for the stars. It’s not about looking back, but about pushing forward. 

Part 2 is the medical or factual component where you will learn about the various risk factors for heart disease, both major and minor players. The less appreciated risk factor, stress, is highlighted in detail.

Part 3 introduces the concept of the Medical Advocate. You will read about individuals who did what was necessary to take control of their health. This underscores the fact that you don’t need to be a doctor or medical professional to be your own best Medical Advocate. Furthermore, there is a section on assembling your Dream-Team. You don’t have to do this alone.

Part 4 is the “how to” portion where I describe both patients’ bill of rights, and patients’ responsibilities. Knowledge of both is essential when transforming oneself to the role of Medical Advocate. 

When speaking about medical advocacy, I discuss the importance of the 5 dimensions of health:

• Physical well-being
• Mental well-being
• Emotional well-being
• Spiritual well-being
• Social well-being

Chapters on nutrition, supplements, exercise, stress management and longevity follow. All these topics are crucial when seeking optimal health and wellness.

Part 5 is the unexpected part that was not supposed to happen. In May 2015, I experienced a serious setback, a major blow to both my unstable spine and pre-existing nerve damaged right foot and ankle. This was truly the unplanned portion of the book. It certainly was not part of my outline. Its content is written extemporaneously in a journaling style. 

Pulling in the reins as it relates to your health and wellness is the only way to fully retain your ability to heal and thrive. The time is NOW.

Click HERE to pre-order a copy on Amazon, Kindle or softcover! Launching on September 27!

As a special gift, the first 50 lucky recipients will get a FREE bottle of my IMMUNOWISE Supplement ($20 value), redeem with instructions at the Book Website. Immunowise is a custom-formulated high-quality blend of powerful immune-boosting and anti-viral ingredients.

I hope my own journey to an expanded self-awareness of my health and medical advocacy will inspire yours!
Enjoy!

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE / DISCLAIMER: I am offering—always—only general information and my own opinion on this blog. Always contact your physician or a health professional before starting any treatments, exercise programs or using supplements. ©Howard Elkin MD FACC, 2022.