2. Treat underlying medical conditions.

It stands to reason that you're not going to have optimal health if you let some chronic disease go untreated.

I'd like, though, to suggest that you do more than simply treat a chronic medical condition. I'd like to suggest that you take some time and understand it.   What causes that disease, what is done about it, why does that work? 

Don't just turn your situation over to a doctor: take responsibility for understanding what's going on with your body.

If you have atrial fibrillation....what is it?  What's going on with your body?  What are the symptoms?  What is the risk of not treating it?  What's the difference between a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker?  What are the side effects of those medications?

Every possible condition, disease or illness has a website.  The CDC is an excellent source of information.  Ask your doctor questions.

All the pharmaceutical companies have websites where you can review their drugs, what they do, side effects...usually in pretty simple to understand language.

Whether it's AF, hypertension, diabetes, thyroid imbalances, whatever your particular chronic condition: make yourself an expert.  It's your body, it's your life.   

Your doctor understands medicine, but they'll never understand your body as well as you do...you've lived in it forever.  So get involved, educate yourself, show an interest.