Why Subjective Measures Fail
Studies reveal that relying solely on subjective measures to gauge health can be misleading. Patients often feel underwhelmed and disappointed by treatments, regardless of their type or cost, when relying on feelings alone. Here's why:
Subjectivity: Feelings and intuition vary widely between individuals and can be influenced by mood, stress, or recent events.
Bias: Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias and the availability heuristic, can skew intuitive health assessments.
Lack of Sensitivity: Many serious health conditions do not manifest noticeable symptoms until they are advanced.
Misinterpretation of Symptoms: Anxiety can mimic heart disease symptoms, making it hard to distinguish without objective tests.
Placebo and Nocebo Effects: Belief in a treatment's efficacy or harm can alter perceived symptoms without physiological changes.
External Influences: Opinions of others, media, or simply being asked about a symptom can affect health perceptions.
Emotional States: Temporary emotions like sadness or elation can distort overall health perception.
Normalizing Symptoms: Chronic symptoms might be seen as normal, leading to overlooked health issues.
Delayed Symptoms: Lifestyle choices might show effects years later, misleading one to believe they're in good health.
Lack of Comprehensive Understanding: Intuition doesn't consider the holistic health picture, encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being.
However, intuition and feelings are not entirely without merit. Patients often know their bodies best, and a gut feeling that something is wrong can lead to the discovery of health conditions.
Hidden Health Shifts: What’s Changing in Your Body Without You Realizing?
Many health aspects and physiological changes might not manifest as immediate feelings:
Subclinical Nutrient Deficiencies: Deficiencies in vitamins or minerals can impact health without noticeable symptoms.
Early-stage Chronic Diseases: Conditions like hypertension or high cholesterol may not show symptoms until advanced.
Low-grade Chronic Inflammation: Chronic inflammation can lead to diseases but often goes unnoticed.
Mild Cellular Changes: Oxidative stress can damage cells and DNA, leading to aging and increased cancer risk.
Suboptimal Gut Microbiome Balance: Changes in gut bacteria balance can affect health without obvious symptoms.
Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction: Minor imbalances in thyroid hormones can influence metabolism without noticeable symptoms.
Hidden Tumors: Early-stage tumors might not produce symptoms or be palpable.
Bone Density Changes: Reduced bone density may not be evident until a fracture occurs.
Liver Fat Accumulation: Fat buildup in the liver can progress to severe diseases without initial symptoms.
Glucose Regulation: Prediabetes might not produce symptoms but indicates higher-than-normal blood sugar levels.
Latent Infections: Infections can reside in the body without symptoms, like latent tuberculosis.
"To convert feeling-based misinformation into reliable information, one must think consciously about whether the information was derived from reliable processes."
—Paul Thagard, Ph.D.
How To Better Approach Tracking
To effectively track health metrics, consider the following approaches:
Wearable Devices:
Activity Trackers: Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch track steps, heart rate, sleep.
Sleep Monitors: Oura Ring, sleep tracking apps provide insights into sleep quality.
Mobile Apps:
Lifestyle Tracking: MyFitnessPal, Cronometer track food intake, exercise, water consumption.
Mood & Habit Tracking: Daylio, Moodnotes, HabitBull track mood and habits over time.
Regular Blood Tests:
Routine Lab Tests: Schedule comprehensive blood tests to evaluate markers like cholesterol, blood sugar, liver, and kidney function.
Home Testing Kits: Companies like Lab Me offer home blood test kits for tracking specific markers over time.
Digital Health Platforms:
Online Dashboards: InsideTracker, WellnessFX allow uploading blood test results, analyzing data, getting recommendations.
Manual Journaling:
Dedicated Journal: Note daily activities, food intake, mood, sleep, symptoms.
Blood Pressure Monitors:
Home Devices: Automated monitors track blood pressure over time, some connect to apps for data storage.
Blood Glucose Monitors:
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): Freestyle Libre, Dexcom G6 provide real-time blood sugar insights.
Standard Glucose Meters: Useful for monitoring blood sugar levels post meals.
Scales and Body Composition Monitors:
Smart Scales: Withings, Fitbit track weight, body fat percentage, and other metrics.
Calendar Alerts & Reminders:
Set Recurring Reminders: Use phone or computer alerts for tracking specific metrics regularly.
Integration Platforms:
Aggregate Data: Apple Health, Google Fit combine data from different sources for a comprehensive view.
Understanding our health should not rely solely on feelings, akin to guessing a movie plot by watching a few scenes. Feelings provide hints but do not reveal the full picture. For long-term health insights, we need comprehensive tools like medical tests that offer a clearer view of our internal health.
Consistency in tracking is crucial. Regularly review data to identify patterns, assess intervention effectiveness, and adjust lifestyle or habits accordingly.
Dripdok emphasizes metrics as they map outcomes and success. To learn more or book an appointment, contact us today.