Lee McKinley, M.D., FACP
Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians
What are some of the common health challenges your patients face? How have those challenges changed during your career?
Many of my local patients are underinsured. The challenge of staying medically insured is growing and tying insurance to employment is a major contributor to who is or is not offered health care. Lack of knowledge about the human body is another medical challenge that, in my opinion, could be helped by educational programs in our school system. Learning basic anatomy with small doses of medical terminology could go a long way in helping patients understand their office visits, hospital stays, and when to seek out emergency care. Health outcomes could be greatly improved.
You recently gave a lecture on issues around health and aging. In that lecture, you state that stress isn’t the major factor in aging and health but rather how one copes with stress is the major factor. Could you go into more detail?
Our ability to withstand daily stress determines our susceptibility to illness and premature aging. We produce adrenaline and cortisone when we react to stress and these chemicals in excess are the triggers for inflammation and most chronic diseases. I teach a simple technique to improve resilience to stress called HeartMath, but any conscious attempt to take deep breaths, step away from the situation, and consider an alternative response to the stressful situation can work. When symptoms are more severe, cognitive behavioral therapy may be needed.
In that same lecture you mention that each person has the power to “turn on or off” genetic factors such as diabetes. Tell us more.
Epigenetics is the science behind whether a certain gene is turned on or off. Let’s say you inherit the gene for diabetes. By using simple lifestyle techniques, you can reduce the risk of diabetes by 58% without using medications! Multiple studies confirm the #1 medical killer of Hoosiers is cardiovascular disease and 75% of these deaths are preventable by doing just 5 things. They are: 1) not smoking; 2) eating 5 servings of fruits/vegetables per day; 3) walking 150 minutes per week; 4) keeping your Body Mass Index (BMI under 30) and 5) observe 10 minutes per day in silence/meditation/prayer. We can literally see in the laboratory the modifications in genetic configurations when we incorporate these lifestyle changes in our daily lives.
Your lecture also discussed “real age” and individualized diets. What are the best ways for us to determine, based on our genetics and lifestyle, which diet and exercise plan is best for us?
One’s real age is not found on a birth certificate but is a combination of inherited traits, the environment, and the ability to adapt to change. Treating illnesses early, limiting the effects of stress, and having an evaluation of risk factors is crucial. Until genetic testing is perfected, we can obtain clues by researching our family histories and measuring our waistlines, cholesterol and blood glucose, monitoring blood pressure and kidney functions. The best “diet” and exercise programs are personalized using these factors. Wellness programs, if available, are one way to receive this information, as well as talking with your primary care provider.
Beyond attending to our own personal and mental wellness, what can we do as individuals to impact the health of our community?
Beyond advocating for our own health, I believe we should advocate for both clean water and air, locally produced food without the use of pesticides, and affordable access to medical care for all families. The most recent Community Health Needs Assessment (2015) identified these areas in our community which need consideration: substance abuse, obesity, chronic diseases, mental health issues, and the basic needs of clean air and water, food and healthcare. These are not new problems so no one person needs to try to re-invent the wheel on solving them. There are many good people and organizations working on these issues right now and not just in our community. Join a working committee, organize within your family and friends, attend community meetings, volunteer. Ask questions, offer solutions.
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Dr. McKinley has been in the practice of medicine for over three decades. He received his medical education and completed his internal medicine residency at Indiana University School of Medicine – Indianapolis. After residency, Dr. McKinley served in the U.S. Air Force for four years as Chief of Medical Services at England Air Force Base and returned home to Bloomington, Indiana in 1986 to begin solo private practice. He has served on numerous medical staff committees over the years including bylaws, credentials, ethics, medical executive, pharmacy and therapeutics, quality improvement and served as Chief of Staff in 1993. Additionally, Dr. McKinley served three years on the Bloomington Hospital Board of Directors. He teaches nursing, allied health, and medical students, and lectures nationally on preventive medicine and the health effects of stress and chronic diseases. He is a member of the Local Council of Women and sits on the Community Health Committee of the IU Health Southern Indiana Regional Health Board.
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