Posts Tagged ‘physical health’

There is a study that shows type-2 diabetics have poor impulse control. Researchers writing in BioMed Central’s open access journal BioPsycho Social Medicine, suggested that neurological changes result in this inability to resist temptation, which in turn exacerbates diabetes.

Hiroaki Kumano, from Waseda University, Japan, worked with a team of researchers to assess response inhibition, a measure of self-control, in 27 patients with type-2 diabetes and 27 healthy controls. He said, “Patients with type 2 diabetes are required to make strict daily decisions; for example, they should resist the temptation of high-fat, high-calorie food, which is frequently cued by specific people, places and events. Appropriate behavior modification thus depends on the patients ability to inhibit impulsive thoughts and actions cued by these environmental stimuli”.

In order to gauge the patients’ ability to resist such impulsive behavior, the researchers used a test in which participants had to quickly press a button in response to the correct signal on a computer screen, while pressing the button in response to the wrong symbol counted against their score. They found that patients with diabetes performed significantly worse at the test, suggesting that they struggled to control the impulse to press the button. Other results showed that the inhibitory failure observed in diabetic patients was mainly explained by cognitive impairment of impulse control, rather than by deficits in motor performance, error monitoring and adjustment. According to Kumano, “This suggests the possibility that the neuropsychological deficits in response inhibition may contribute to the behavioral problems leading to chronic lifestyle-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes”.

Really

Previous generations did not have all the chronic conditions that American’s face today. These studies are similar to a dog chasing his tale. We are going in circles, without understanding the problem. Any amount of neurological damage can occur because of the poor diet being shoved down our throats.

People who are overweight already have an impulse problem. The most common one stems from poor glucose regulation, and poor nutrition. Cravings are set up by the food giants, and now we can study the effects and blame the victim.

Question

Which came first poor impulse control or a poor diet that changed hormones, cells, gene expression, and brain circuitry. Again, it is a question of which came first the chicken or the egg. Science in the 21^st century is chasing their tail at our expense.

Looking at every and any angle of why type-2 diabetics haven’t enough control in front of food is alright, if you ask the right questions. Extending it to impulse behavior that effects other things would make sense, if the whole population wasn’t heading down the same path.

Then the question becomes why is the entire population at risk, including the very young.

Sense and Cents

These studies really don’t make sense. I really would like to see more productive use of the funds that are being used for this so-called research.

Taking a look at our food supply might be a good start. People in this country are nutrient deficient while on a high calorie diet. A good part of the population is undernourished and overweight. All studies are being conducting on people who are not operating at their optimate level. In that case many functions will be frequently out of whack.

Whack rhymes with quack, and I see quack science searching for all the capabilities lost to an American diet. With all the research the solution remains elusive.

Real healthcare is an inside job. Up to now, it has been thought of as something that you look for outside yourself.

Brave Thinkers

Health has been snatched back; people are now taking charge of their own health. We have been operating in a gray area, not in black and white. The standard American care has somehow failed, and now it must be returned to its right full owners, the public.

There is a forward thinking group that is not ready to accept the status quo of our healthcare system. We have built healthcare directives based on the flimsiest of scientific studies.

Now we have powerful and passionate people that are saying that western medicine got it wrong. These brave thinkers are shaping our future.

 The Challenge

The challenge is how we manage this new information. The conundrum is that the new views are diverse. Up to now medicine has given us a false sense of security.

We accepted the dogma without much solid evidence. The medical orthodoxy will argue to protect the status quo. Here is an example in 1989, only 15% of people over the age of 65 in the U.S. and Canada had taken a flu shot. Today, more than 65% get the flu shot. Yet, mortality among the elderly has increased rather than decreased.

In 2004 vaccines production failed causing a 40% drop in available vaccines. Yet, mortality rates did not go up. Also in 1968 and 1997 the vaccine produced was different than the flu that circulated. This means that nobody was vaccinated and again mortality from all causes held constant.

How do we get away from dogmatic medical proclamations? What the misleading information has done is create panic. When this happens no one can see clearly.

Keeping it Simple

Healthy people will remain healthy. The driving force of healthcare is illness driven. Prevention is personal responsibility. With the growing awareness that health is not chaotic, it consists of smoking cessation, weight loss, activity, stress reduction, and optimism.

Now a group of forward thinking health advocates are not waiting for science to catch up. They are our ally in the quest for straightforward health information. They left in the dust all the antiquated views and made health easy to understand.

Visionaries

These are the people that are starting the hottest debates. When the right forces combine you have solutions. These people aren’t about choice of treatments; they want to reform health beyond therapy.

These are the people that will engage you and get you ready to take the next step. Doctors supposed purpose is to get you better, that’s the impression held by the majority of Americans. But this is a fanciful myth; the medical profession is there to help you manage your condition.

The doctor sees a distinct cluster of symptoms; a holistic healer sees a person out of balance and attributes the illness to this. He addresses the fact that you played a role, and will look at your lifestyle.

Wake Up Call

If ever in history there was a health care wake up call it is now. There are a variety of opinions on the best way to proceed. Americans should not get blind sided by the numerous opinions. The road to travel is the one that is the most effective for you as an individual.  

All the holistic diets that may seem diverse have one thing in common they all reduce inflammation, and build a healthy immune system. There is an endless trickle of opinions, but we will show you the ones that have the ingredients for success.

Living longer enjoying it less sums up the high price of medical advances. The problem is with our reliance on pharmaceuticals, and procedures, instead of a healthy lifestyle.

Old Age

Old age isn’t the problem; it is the way we age. We are told thanks to the marvels of modern science we are living longer than ever. Adults over 80 are the fastest growing segment of the population. Also, this group will spend their years needing help from others, and suffer from loss of independence. This is called the new old age, because the generations before did not have this opportunity to reach their eighties.

The Truth

These are fabrications of the truth. In the past generations there were strong and independent robust elderly citizens. What really has happened is we cut down on infections and disease by increased sanitation. We can operate and save lives, and have antibiotics for acute infections.

However, these procedures and drugs do not make robust health. Life extension is the product of some of the technological advances we have made. The formula for a healthy old age is really unchanged. A good lifestyle, faith, social contacts, and a optimistic view. What is different, those with a poor lifestyle and lots of blocked arteries are offered procedures that weren’t available until now. 

Taking advantage of these procedures doesn’t mean we obtained better health. Better health through technology really means that what you are missing diet wise is made up thought medical intervention.

Breakthroughs

With all the breakthroughs in diagnostic tools, we seem to just find more wrong. Rates for all so called diseases have escalated. Yet, we are not any nearer to solving the problems. Handing out drugs, chemo, dialysis, stents, stomach stapling, laxatives, sleep aids, and tranquilizers are not health aids, they are band aids.

Our breakthroughs are shockingly short termed and are missing the point. What’s inside us is not so insufficient that at every turn it needs to be resuscitated. It comes with an implicit warranty, which states under normal use everything should perform well.

Aging

Aging brings with it a sub-total of everything we put in and exposed our bodies to including nutrition, thoughts, stress, and medications. Genetics are reflected in the lifestyle choices we made. Aging is like a bank account, what you put in is what you can withdraw. These are not randomized experiences. It is well known if you are obese than you will have a higher rate of disability as you age.

Chronic conditions of aging are tied to lifestyle, and the sooner that fact is realized the less medical intervention will be needed. Most symptoms that are blamed on aging are lifestyle issues. It is not uncommon for someone in their 40’s to be told what they are experiencing is normal aging.

With this amount of misinformation it is no surprise that people expect a decline in health with age. It is ignorant to think of the 40’s, 50’s and beyond as anything but prime time.

Conclusion

Living longer enjoying it less seems to be an outcome of our medical mentality. The national pastime among seniors seems to be running to doctors. From one specialist to another, it is a never ending cycle. The one thing to get straight is in a few instances it is necessary,  For most a lifestyle change, more nutrition, activity, less prescriptions, more outdoors, and weight management will go a long way in producing favorable gene expression.

Research shows that lifestyle has a synergistic effect on biological activity and the functioning of human cells. To optimize energy output as you age it is necessary to have access to optimal nutrition, sunlight, and activities that are health promoting. Health care providers do not prevent diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular problems; they can only try to inhibit the process from causing havoc. Examining the results of intervention only shows it’s weakness in producing real long term benefits, without numerous side effects.