Conventional medical care often overlooks a crucial element of well-being: lifestyle. Dr. Cristina Sánchez, an oncologist specializing in lifestyle and precision medicine, argues that factors like sleep, diet, and stress management aren’t just “advice at the end” of a consultation—they’re integral to treatment itself.
Lifestyle as Medicine: A Holistic Approach to Health
A growing movement emphasizes the power of daily habits in preventing and treating chronic disease.
- Dr. Sánchez integrates oncology, precision medicine, and lifestyle medicine for comprehensive care.
- Lifestyle factors—sleep, activity, diet, and stress—should be considered as essential as medical analysis.
- Patients often experience noticeable improvements within two to four weeks of adopting a healthier lifestyle.
- Lifestyle medicine focuses on modulating inflammation, metabolism, and resilience.
This February, Dr. Sánchez released her first book, ‘Repara. Reset. Revive’ (Editions B), a definitive guide to preventing chronic diseases. She’s also known for sharing health insights on social networks.
Speaking this week, Dr. Sánchez revealed what’s frequently missing from traditional medical discussions. She contends that a healthy lifestyle isn’t simply an add-on, but a core component of treatment, stating that it “should become part of the treatment just like we look at an analysis.”
“One part is the medicine, the other is the body. If we do not treat both, we are doing the job half-heartedly”
Dr. Sánchez’s approach combines three medical disciplines—oncology, precision medicine, and lifestyle medicine—which, while seemingly distinct, are deeply interconnected. “Precision medicine tells me your risks and your biological vulnerabilities,” she explains, “and tells me about what illness you suffer from and at what time, since there is great variability interindividual.”
Oncology, on the other hand, focuses on “marking the therapeutic plan when necessary,” but Dr. Sánchez emphasizes the importance of complementary therapies to maximize treatment effectiveness. “One part is the medicine, the other is the body; and if we don’t treat both, we are doing the job halfway,” she says.
The Power of Lifestyle Interventions
Lifestyle medicine, she argues, is “the ground on which everything stands,” helping to modulate inflammation, metabolism, body composition, rhythms, and resilience. It’s a powerful tool for both preventing and treating a wide range of diseases.
In fact, lifestyle interventions can yield significant benefits relatively quickly. “Many people notice changes between two and four weeks when we apply good therapy,” Dr. Sánchez assures.
Some of the most frequent improvements patients experience include deeper, more stable sleep; a less ‘accelerated’ mental state when screen time is reduced and breathing exercises are practiced; better digestion with increased fiber intake and reduced consumption of ultra-processed foods; and increased energy levels and mood regulation through movement and exposure to natural light.
What are the benefits of lifestyle medicine? Lifestyle medicine can improve sleep, digestion, energy levels, and mood by addressing factors like diet, exercise, and stress.
For Dr. Sánchez, these positive changes aren’t the result of magic, but rather “simply biology, responding to the right signals.”
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