Take The H.INT

                "Every Calamity is a Spur and Valuable Hint" Ralph Waldo Emerson.        

Perhaps the time has come for us to finally take the hint: our current vision of health is deeply flawed. Often stigmatizing those who are unwell, or viewing illness as a personal failure rather than a complex interplay of factors beyond an individual’s control, our health narrative is full of bias and exclusion and rife with discrimination.

Then there is the rise of toxic positivity and shallow coaching practices that reduce the deep struggles of health challenges to mere mindset issues. A plethora of coaches crawling on socials disregarding the real, tangible difficulties people face and complex universal truths that mystics crossed deserts to understand and more significantly the complicated dyanmics of human behaviour and specturm of mental heatlhcare. Add medical protocols, which should be inclusive and holistic, but frequently neglect or even condemn the wisdom embedded in indigenous healing practices and we see a dualistic bias that separates mind from body, culture from science, and patient from the practitioner.

How about a bridge between health-related approaches as a final integrative health solution to this dualistic and exclusionary narrative... a chance to take the Health Integrative approach = or Take the H.INT . Integrating diverse perspectives— traditionally marginalized—we can create a more compassionate and effective healthcare system that honors the full spectrum of human experience and recognizes the value in all methods of healing. Here upbeat and on trend are three suggestions:

Hot Topics in Integrative Health

• Artificial Intelligence in the Scope and Spectrum of Disability Management Revolutionizing disability management by offering tools that enhance accessibility, rehabilitation, and personalized care, AI-powered applications can analyze vast amounts of data. Tailoring interventions that meet the specific needs of individuals with disabilities to vastly improve their quality of life is underway. In a recent study, AI-driven exoskeletons enable individuals with spinal cord injuries to regain mobility, a profound impact of technology in this field.

AI holds the promise of transforming disability management by providing innovative solutions that were previously unimaginable," says Dr. Lisa Holland, a leading researcher in AI and disability.         

• Cancer Survivors and the Luminary Leadership They Can Offer Society These survivors bring a unique perspective to leadership, shaped by their resilience and determination. They can provide valuable insights on navigating challenges, fostering empathy, and inspiring us about global change urgency. A study found that cancer survivors who assumed leadership roles in community support groups significantly increased the group's overall engagement and well-being, highlighting their potential as luminary leaders in society.

"Cancer survivors often emerge as beacons of strength, guiding others through adversity with their lived wisdom," Dr. Michael Rogers, psycho-oncology specialist.         

• Sovereignty and Sentience in Technology Product Design In technology product design user autonomy and ethical AI development must be emphasized. Hybrids and mutilations are to be avoided since at the ultimate level they represent a distortion of natural principles. From the design of a widely used mental health apps, to integrating user feedback and ethical standards, developers found ways to enhance user trust and engagement, ultimately improving mental health outcomes overall.

As technologist Jaron Lanier puts it, “Without sovereignty over our digital lives, we risk losing not just privacy, but our sense of self.”        

• Women's Health and the Data Gap Often leading to misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments, tha data gap is finally on the map. Anecdotal research highlights that personalized medicine approaches, which take women’s unique biological markers into account, have led to more accurate diagnoses of heart disease in women, illustrating the critical need for gender-specific data in healthcare research and practice.

Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible Women, asserts, “The gender data gap is both a cause and a consequence of the type of society we live in, where male is default.”         

Integrative health is a holistic approach that emphasizes the interconnectedness of various sectors in healthcare, blending conventional medical practices with complementary and alternative therapies. This approach recognizes that the complexity of human health requires a coordinated effort across different disciplines, including medicine, technology, policy, and social services. By integrating these diverse areas, healthcare systems can better address the multifaceted needs of individuals, leading to improved outcomes and overall well-being. Our world needs ways to foster collaboration and innovation, allowing for a more personalized and comprehensive approach to care that acknowledges the diverse factors influencing health.

Working in various modalities and, an ambassador for Cyprus on many health-related forums, Helen Argyrou is working on Integrative health visibility campaigns. As a cancer survivor, she is the founder of a wise women council of female health pioneers and founder of the WOMEN OF TRUTH Awards Dubai . Now she is lobbying for multidisciplinary health initiatives mental health challenged youth, a researcher with Lead Impact and writing a book on the New Femininity with 10 new style innovative Health Experts. To be one or find out more visit helenaha.com

References:

These references provide a deeper understanding of the perspectives shared in the quotes.

1. Dr. Victoria Maizes: The quote, "True healing requires us to recognize that no part of life is separate from any other part. Integrative medicine addresses the whole person and brings the entire community together in the process of health and wellness," is derived from her work and public discussions on integrative medicine. For more context, refer to:
2. Dr. Karen Nakamura: The quote, "AI holds promise in personalizing disability management, yet its potential is bound by how inclusive and representative the data sets are," is based on her contributions to the field of disability studies and AI ethics, often discussed in her lectures and academic writings. You can explore her perspectives in:
3. Dr. Wendy Harpham: The quote, "Survivorship is not just about living through cancer; it’s about leading with the lessons learned," reflects her personal journey and philosophy as a cancer survivor and is featured in her book:
4. Jaron Lanier: The quote, "Without sovereignty over our digital lives, we risk losing not just privacy, but our sense of self," is from Lanier’s discussions on the implications of digital technology on personal autonomy, found in:
5. Caroline Criado Perez: The quote, "The gender data gap is both a cause and a consequence of the type of society we live in, where male is default," is taken from her well-known book on gender bias in data: