Is ‘Disease’ a Gateway ‘Drug’?
Can one disease be a leading cause for another disease? A recent article appears to confirm that a Disease can be a precursor for a secondary Disease; or at least in the area of ‘cognitive decline’.
Nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription medication and more than half take two medications according to the Mayo Clinic. We are an aging country with 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching age 65 each day; and this is expected to continue into the 2030’s! And typically, the older we get, the more illnesses we encounter however a new longitudinal study now confirms that multi-morbidity does not just affect physical health; it can also severely impact mental health and hasten cognitive decline. In other words, if one has multiple illnesses it will ‘severely impact mental health and HASTEN cognitive decline. Cognitive decline is the hallmark of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s Disease.
Adding 2 + 2 we see that a person with two or more diseases (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, etc.) has a much higher risk for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. This should be the Headlines in medical journals and newspapers throughout the world. And yet the information only confirms the logical progression and outcomes. This article, to the medical community, is of serious concern of epidemic proportions; to the rest of the population this is what we call a “Double Whammy!” What makes it bad is that we now have diseases producing diseases and that ain’t good!!!
In a recent research article, which appeared in “The Journals of Gerontology: Series A”, the information reveals that when a person has two chronic medical conditions, there will be a major toll. The cost for this toll road is extremely high. The research team, led by Dr. Melissa Wei, and based at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, studied thousands of clients over a 14 year time frame. Dr. Wei and colleagues calculated their findings of 14,265 participants with 73,700 interviews. 60% were female, the mean age was 67 and they followed the participants over a period of 14 years. We know that living with multiple chronic conditions can take its toll on a person’s general well-being. However, a large new longitudinal study now confirms that multi-morbidity does not just affect physical health; it can also severely impact mental health and hasten cognitive decline.
This is a well documented and detailed scientific study that reveals a positive connecting link with diseases producing disease. We must understand that we must protect ourselves from illness and disease. We must not depend on our family doctors and medical science to cure our diseases; medications and surgery are not cures. Our present lifestyle behaviors of not exercising, eating bad food, sleepless nights, and overwhelming stress is leading us down the wrong path. It is our role and responsibility to become responsible for our lifestyles.
Lifestyle behaviors that give us the best chance for avoiding disease processes are: 1. a plant based nutrition, 2. exercise daily, 3. sleep, 4. loving relationships, and 5. the ability to handle stress. Vegan Doc 7/15/19
