Most people want to be healthy, but one of the issues they face is what it means to reach that status. If they follow the typical advice, they will strive for what is considered “normal” health. Instead, they must strive for “optimal health” to get the most out of their lives and careers. It’s optimal health that will help people in all facets of their lives and help them reach new levels.
“Our current healthcare system in this country is not working well,” said Parham Javaherian, chief executive officer of JumpstartMD. “There are issues that it doesn’t address, leaving people feeling unsatisfied and not reaching their goals. We can and should do better.”
According to a report issued by the American Medical Association, achieving health equity is not a utopian dream. On the contrary, we have the technical capacity and material resources to make health equity a reality—to assure that all communities have the conditions, resources, opportunities and power to attain optimal health, and to know that health is a human right.
Javaherian is on a mission to elevate how we handle healthcare, switching from a mission of people focusing on achieving normal health to one striving for optimal health. Optimal health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It is a delicate balance of dimensions that enhance one’s overall health and well-being. The good news is that this can benefit both the patients and healthcare businesses.
Today’s healthcare focuses on encouraging people to strive for normal health. In many cases that is a noble mission, butthose parameters are insufficient, often neglecting subtle but criticalsymptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, low libido, and many other symptoms that remove one from an optimal life. Optimal health aims to address these overlooked symptoms to enhance daily life significantly. For example, a seemingly healthy individual experiencing chronic fatigue can be considered healthy but can also greatly benefit from personalized lifestyle interventions, nutritional adjustments, and hormone therapies, thus considerably improving their productivity and well-being.
Here are 7 reasons why optimal health matters
- Changes in the healthcare landscape. Traditional healthcare is increasingly inadequate, evidenced by rising chronic disease rates, patient dissatisfaction, and fragmented, reactive solutions. While innovations like AI and wearable tech promise improved care, the lack of personalized, proactive attention remains glaringly unresolved. Truly adequate healthcare must anticipate patient needs, focus on preventative care, and deliver personalized guidance to reach optimized health.
- No longer about being reactive. Reactive healthcare models inherently respond only after problems have surfaced, frequently resulting in delayed diagnoses, worsening health conditions, and higher costs. By the time patients experience noticeable symptoms, the opportunity for preventive care has already been missed, often requiring more extensive and expensive treatments. For instance, conditions like type 2 diabetes are typically addressed only when symptoms become severe, despite clear opportunities for early intervention through lifestyle modification and preventive measures. This reactive model also leads to rushed, impersonal interactions, leaving patients feeling disconnected and inadequately supported.
- Addresses women’s health gaps. Women’s health, particularly around perimenopause and menopause, has been historically neglected, with symptoms commonly dismissed as being normal. However, targeted hormone treatments, precision diagnostics, and tailored lifestyle interventions significantly enhance women’s quality of life. Companies addressing this underserved market, as demonstrated by the increasing popularity of specialized women’s health clinics, can achieve robust business growth while dramatically improving patient outcomes and optima health.
- Tackles the obesity epidemic. With over half of U.S. adults suffering from obesity and related chronic illnesses, GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide offer groundbreaking treatments. However, medications alone can prove insufficient without medical oversight and integrated lifestyle management. Businesses that combine medication, nutritional coaching, and physical activity, such as structured wellness programs, have consistently shown superior long-term results. Moreover, ensuring these solutions become widely covered by insurance is a logical next step to achieving a broader public health impact.
- Improves patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction and measurable health outcomes should be central metrics guiding healthcare businesses. This is good for the business and the people it serves.
- Promotes responsible medication management. Proper medication management requires personalized prescriptions, thorough assessments, diligent monitoring, and lifestyle integration. Avoiding pill mills (i.e., clinics that indiscriminately prescribe medications) is crucial for patient trust, health, outcomes, and long-term business sustainability.
- Enhances human connection with technology. Technology in healthcare is best leveraged to enhance, and not replace, human interaction. Intuitive, patient-centered digital solutions should streamline communication and provide valuable insights without adding complexity or diminishing personal care.
“Accepting merely normal health parameters falls short of what patients deserve. Optimal healthcare enhances patient lives and experiences and establishes sustainable, profitable business models,” said Javaherian. “Prioritizing optimal health sets a new standard, reinforcing the belief that every patient deserves the best possible care, the best possible outcomes, and the best and most optimal life”.
