Let's rework our thought process on Chronic disease.
For ages, chronic disease has been thought of in a certain light. Our own ideas on chronic disease have taken a more fatalistic attitude. Well, we’re all going to die anyway so what’s the point? Let me enjoy the ride at least. That way of thinking is problematic for multiple reasons.
1) We adopt this mindset and then apply it to multiple facets of our lives. I don’t like working out, so why bother? I don’t like vegetables, so why put myself through that? I already have type II diabetes, so I’m just going to take meds for the rest of my life.
2) There are very basic principles that remain applicable to humanoid health and longevity. Exercising has a direct effect on cardiovascular health. Posture is responsible for a myriad of early onset diseases and symptoms. The food we eat is responsible for the health of our cells and brain tissues. Mental health is a serious concern and with all the science out on neuroplasticity today, it is paramount to utilize one’s mind throughout life and to challenge it in different ways constantly. Hygiene and sanitation have a direct link to prevention of disease and infection.
3) The average life expectancy for the first time in hundreds of years is expected to decrease within our current generation. This is incredibly indicative of our attitude towards health and disease needing to change. Logically, if we continue making improvements, there should continuously be an increase in life expectancy, right?
The scientific community is well versed on the possibility to prevent chronic disease and this is from the CDC website: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that eliminating three risk factors – poor diet, inactivity, and smoking – would prevent: 80% of heart disease and stroke; 80% of type 2 diabetes; and 40% of cancer. With 75% of healthcare spending being on chronic disease in 2009, one can only imagine that these numbers have gone up drastically in 2018. There is definitive knowledge that most chronic disease is preventable through diet and lifestyle. There are also studies on epigenetic potential with offspring and how diet and lifestyle choices affect that gene expression in our children. Simply, what we do and what we eat gets transferred to our children and they might have those same propensities. So in order to start our children off on the right foot, our choices need to be educated.
Nowadays, the frequency in which chronic disease medication is prescribed can be detrimental. Side-effects involved with the drugs and medications prescribed cannot be overlooked. In most cases, patients are not aware of the risks or possible health effects of these medications. For instance, most people do not know that statins affect hormone levels dramatically. Most statins function to reduce cholesterol, lipids, and triglycerides in the blood. However, these molecules are the building blocks for hormonal development. Notably, men who take statins do not realize that their testosterone is going to take a hit. You’re essentially taking away your body’s main compounds to formulate testosterone effectively.
Understand that this is not the fault of medical Doctors as they are hamstrung in more ways than we can count. It is part of a much larger systemic issue. We are not asking ourselves the right questions when it comes to our health. We are not educated enough to make the smart choice in most cases. Not everyone has access to research and inside information that Doctors have. We need to flip the script. Start thinking about your health differently. Become informed and do your own research. Your cells are only as healthy as what you feed them. Your body is attuned for what actions or stressors you put it through. Your mind becomes acclimated to daily processes. These concepts are known.
The main point is that if you want you and your children to live the best lives possible, a large percentage of potential heartache is avoidable. Our elderly years do not have to be spent taking large amounts of medications, bedridden, or in pain. The choice remains your own. You do have a choice when it comes to preventing chronic disease. What are you gonna do about it?