Q: If your patients were to take only one piece of advice to heart, what would you want it to be? A: The best kind of exercise is the one you’ll actually do.

 “PATIENTS OFTEN ask, ‘What kind of exercise should I do?’ The big problem isn’t identifying the type of exercise to do—it’s getting them to do any at all. For some of them, it’s Peloton. But for others, it can be dancing, walking, going to the gym, or swimming. There isn’t really a magic exercise or an exercise that works better than any other. Whatever you can stick with is the best option for you. Daily exercise is important. Even if you don’t lose weight or change your lung function, it’s wonderful for other things, like mental health and sleep quality. It doesn’t cost anything, and it doesn’t need prior authorization from insurance. I’m a pulmonologist, a lung doctor by training. A lot of lung diseases are treatable but not curable, so my patients struggle a lot with shortness of breath, particularly with exertion. The thing is, exercise really improves that. Even if the patient’s lung function doesn’t improve on testing, the things that matter to them—like how far they can walk, how many groceries they can carry, or if they can get up the stairs—really get better.”

— Christopher Huffer, M.D.

Pulmonologist with Witham Specialist Center

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Q: If your patients were to take only one piece of advice to heart, what would you want it to be? A: Talk to your kids about health consequences.

“ER DOCTORS don’t see people on their best days. In fact, we often see them on one of their worst days. We joke that the famous last words before someone ends up here are, ‘Hey, watch this!’ Humans are an impulsive breed every now and then. It’s something that I can’t really fault people for. But sometimes taking a few seconds to think about the consequences can help prevent a fair amount of injuries and even sometimes some illnesses. For example, maybe the cinnamon challenge isn’t the best idea for your lungs, or vaping isn’t as harmless as you think. And jumping off a second story to impress someone is likely not going to go well in the long run.”

— Tyler Stepsis, M.D.

Medical director of emergency medicine with Eskenazi Health

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Q: If your patients were to take only one piece of advice to heart, what would you want it to be? A: Do not skip your annual exam.

“EVEN IF you don’t have symptoms, it’s important to check in regularly. It’s getting a baseline of where your body is at from the perspective of your vital signs, basic screening, and blood work. I think for a lot of people, there’s this sense that if you go to the doctor, you’re going to walk away with a medication. But if you’re proactive with it, you can often prevent the need for medication by correcting something. When your car’s check engine light comes on, you get the engine checked. Let’s try to fix it before there’s a problem and something needs to be repaired. It’s the same with your health. My goal is to avoid medication if possible. The sooner we recognize an issue, the sooner we can address it and make lifestyle modifications, ideally to correct it. The definition of ‘doctor’ in Latin is ‘teacher.’ So our job isn’t to make you do anything. Our job is to help guide you and teach you. So my message to patients is to take control of your own health. Recognize when something’s going on with your body, know when to seek help, and come to us.”

— Greg Specht, D.O.

Family medicine doctor with Franciscan Physician Network

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Q: If your patients were to take only one piece of advice to heart, what would you want it to be? A: Take a walk after dinner.

“I’D LIKE my patients to have knowledge about their disease state, and I encourage them to engage in their health through lifestyle changes. I don’t just mean healthy food choices and daily exercise, but also self-care practices like meditation, taking care of mental health, and engaging in preventive care. They can start small by taking a walk for 20 minutes after dinner. Most of us don’t move after dinner—we watch TV and then go to bed. We have a big, carb-heavy meal, don’t digest it well, and then complain about feeling lethargic the next morning. But a short walk after dinner could help, and it might even lead to having a lighter meal. I also think that social activity is important for older patients. For instance, many of my patients enjoy pickleball, which has become a social activity that gets them up and moving. The worst thing that can happen after retirement is to isolate yourself—socially, mentally, and physically. Walking and engaging with others can make an enormous difference.”

—Priya Menon, M.D.

Endocrinologist with Hendricks Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists

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