The Healthy Blogger

Secrets to a long life

So, what is the secret to old age? Well, nobody really knows. Health experts are continually pushing on the exercise, eat a balanced meal, don’t smoke, and only drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. And, of course, The Healthy Blogger advocates all of this. Yet, it is not the magic prescription, for people still die at young ages from many different causes. On the other hand, some may live to be over 100 and never followed this advice.

When we hear of someone reaching the 3-digit mark, we make general assumptions about that person based on where they come from. These general assumptions are always about food – you know, “Oh, it must be…

1.) …the olive oil“: if they are from the Mediterranean area.

2.) …the fish”: if they are on an island.

3.) …the rice”: if they are from the Orient.

And the list goes on.

But what do the centenarians really attribute it to? The answers can be rather funny at times. Most of them also attribute it to food, but some just say it is healthy habits, such as exercise and not smoking. Of course, we’ve all heard some of them make jokes, such as quitting smoking about 5 years previously. As for food, again, we hear some extreme tales that can be hard to prove or disprove. According to the BBC Magazine page, some claim their longevity is due to things such as custard, salt, and donkey’s milk. I heard someone once say they had 4 eggs a day.

Of course, we have to take all this with a “grain of salt“. Maybe it is true that these unusual dietary habits did sustain these people. But, we need to be careful not to assume that it will work for us. There is no one special secret to old age. Each of us require a different formula and only some of us are fortunate enough to discover that formula.

The “medicalisation” and overmedication of life

Two interesting articles I read today have prompted me to comment. Though the articles are unrelated, my comments pertain to both. One article discussed the “medicalisation” of life, while the other introduced a new “polypill”.

Coming from the US, I have experienced the information overload from television ads for every prescription medication under the sun. Of course, most of the ads are for the most prevalent or popular conditions being discussed at the time. And it does seem that certain conditions become fads, which fade into posterity, only to make room for the next prominent diagnosis and pill to treat it.

The profit-hungry drug manufacturers are major contributors to this “health conscious” public. They claim that people need to be informed about medical problems and potential treatment. They argue that an informed public will seek medical treatment for conditions which, if unrecognised and undiagnosed, may lead to negative outcomes. The public, of course, love to hear that someone is fighting for their good, so they agree with that. Hence, the free rein for drug companies to advertise all their products to the unsuspecting consumer. But time has revealed that “a little knowledge can be dangerous” and doctors have been bombarded with patient questions regarding new medications. Many of them try to convince their doctors that they need such and such a pill because the ads said so. Granted, a few people might actually have the condition for which the pill addresses, but imagine all the other people who would not only not benefit, but may actually be harmed if they used such a medication. There is no one available to protect the consumer from him/herself.

Dr. Louise Foxcroft pointed out the series of diagnoses that have been given out throughout history. Today, we may laugh at what was defined as physical and mental illness and the treatments provided, but future generations will probably do the same to us. We are in danger of promoting new illnesses by constantly pursuing new diagnoses, all at the demand of drug companies. Also, many are persuaded to blame all their problems on these new diagnoses. There are countless instances I have witnessed of inappropriate medication, in my opinion. These mostly relate to depression. Practically all of us have experienced feeling down once in a while in our lives. It is normal. It may be a reaction to the various stresses in our lives. Most of us have developed means to address and overcome these feelings. To classify it as a mental disorder and give it a medical terminology allows people an outlet for blame. It’s a cop-out and in this “scapegoat” world, it is easy to accept. For those who want to dull all their senses so that they cannot feel grief, sadness, or anger, it is a deprivation of a life experience. I do not dispute that there are many cases of real “depression” out there, but the numbers provided for research purposes by drug companies are over-inflated.

I completely agree with Dr. Tim Kendall that we have become a society that likes to categorise people into medical problems. Everything that is part of life has now become a medical issue and pills are continually being manufactured to combat all of life’s “problems”. Even menopause is a medical diagnosis. The public needs to accept that we are born, we live and we die. We cannot stop that (even though some scientists are trying to develop ways to make us live forever). While we live, our bodies undergo natural changes. Sometimes, these natural changes go out of control and we may need help to fix it. Sometimes, that is not possible. That is why our bodies die, some old, some young.

While we live, we have the opportunities to take care of our health as best we can. This includes eating right, exercising, and avoiding all the unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Unfortunately, not everyone listens to this sound advice. In fact, more and more people are listening less and less. That is why there is a growing problem with obesity, resulting in diabetes and increased heart disease. But science refuses to stop and encourage people to change their habits. No, they would rather create more medications to address the new and real medical conditions that have arisen. As more and more medications become available, there is the danger that someone can require too many pills. Polypharmacy has been a major issue for some time and the risk of adverse side effects and interactions of medications is very serious. So drug companies have turned to making “polypills” – those two-in-one drugs that have now been extended to five-in-one in the latest research. These polypills only encourage bad behaviour as people view these as a “cure-all” for all their problems. Unfortunately, what they do not realise is that all five may not be necessary for what they need.

I concede that the drug companies would argue that putting all five medications into one pill makes it easier on the patient, and they would not release it unless it was deemed safe. However, we have seen time and time again that what happens in research does not always translate into what happens in real life. Test subjects are not the same as real patients. It would certainly help if people can accept the facts of life, make life changes appropriate to their needs and only take medications when absolutely essential. It would also help if drug companies adopted the same stance.

Ageing gracefully

Have you ever looked at glamourous celebrities and wondered how you could look just as good as they do at their age? Well, scientists have concluded that those who look fuller in the cheek are those who look younger.

Yes, a study of twins showed that those who are lighter in weight look older by several years. This is exemplified by several actresses that were showcased in the Daily Telegraph. Yes, I agree that some of those gaunt celebrities do not look very good, but it’s hard to know what their age is just by the picture. What they needed to do was compare actresses of similar ages. Of course, you can’t even apply the theories to the stars because many of them also have all their fitness gurus working with them, not to mention plastic surgeons.

But I have noticed over the years that ‘fat’ faces do look younger. This is one advantage for those who are overweight. However, it should not be an inducement for women to overeat to keep a youthful appearance. On the other hand, women are also advised not to lose too much weight, as this is detrimental to their skin. It is sound advice because the ‘thin’ image had created many eating disorders. Poor physical and mental health contribute significantly to the ageing process, and we know that eating disorders are part of that vicious cycle of poor physical and mental health.

So, it is best to keep fit and accept that as you age, you may gain a little weight. Don’t try to fight nature, but don’t be too complacent, either.

The unknown dangers of ‘legal’ drugs

I read an article about the use of ‘legal drugs’ to get high by Dr. John Ramsey, a toxicologist. It was quite alarming. You only hear about these drug cases when some adverse consequence results, but there are so many others out there.

Attention has always been on cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, heroine, amphetamines, etc. These have all been classified as ‘illegal’. There are set negative consequences for their use. Yet debate still rages on over them. The ones being ignored are the ones that are in easy access. And the reason for this is that these ‘legally available’ drugs are constantly being changed.

Just looking over the history of this kind of drug abuse, you can recall the problem of kids sniffing glue, then graduating to sniffing household cleaners and the like. Public awareness of these dangers led to warning labels and campaigns to teach children. Not too long ago, we had cough syrup being used in new ways to achieve a high. There became stricter regulations on buying cough syrup.

Dr. Ramsey outlined the case of BZP, first introduced in New Zealand. What it was originally marketed for, I don’t know, but word came about that it was a ‘safer legal alternative’ to crystal meth. BZP derived from piperazine, a safe anti-parasitic medication. When BZP became popular, the authorities began investigating. They tried to study its safety but had to stop due to severe side effects suffered by participants. New Zealand banned the drug, but it had made its way into Europe. The UK is still pending a decision on this. I don’t know what they are waiting for. The drug had been shown to have properties similar to amphetamine and ecstasy, both of which are banned. In addition, it had some severe side effects.

It seems that those intent on using or abusing drugs will find new ways of developing new compounds. There is a constant black market for these ‘head drugs’. Unfortunately, there is no regulation because the authorities cannot keep up. Buyers and sellers are not fully aware of the negative effects until they experience them. Sometimes, these negative effects are permanent, whether disability or death. Not only should the government pay attention to those already classified as ‘illegal’, they need to make people aware of using any kind of drugs to get ‘high’.  Just because they are not ‘illegal’ doesn’t mean they are safe.

Risks and benefits of alcohol

A doctor once asked me, “What is the definition of an alcoholic?” The answer: “Someone who drinks more than their doctor.” Typical doctor joke, but what is one to do when there are mixed messages regarding drinking alcohol? OK, so drinking too much (that definition will vary depending on the person as the joke implies) is definitely bad for you. Not to mention the damage to your heart and liver.

But the recommended daily dosage of alcohol to remain safe does vary depending on who you ask. That French study years ago suggested that a glass or two of wine a night could be good for your heart. However, some government agencies would put a limit of 3-4 drinks (again, the type of alcohol varies) a day as safe. Now, there is data to suggest that even one drink increases your risk for certain types of cancer, with breast cancer being most prevalent in women. The study was not done in men, so perhaps, they will ignore the advice.

My own conclusion is that there is no safe limit to alcohol. A person may consume the recommended dose and probably will not be helping his heart or increasing his risk of cancer. At the same time, that dose may actually be hurting his liver. Government agencies have reported an increase in the rate of cirrhosis, which they blame on young people drinking more and at an early age. This may be true, but it may be that the youth only consumed the recommended dosage. You see, not everyone’s constitution is the same. Your body can metabolise the alcohol in different ways, at different rates, etc.

That’s where the risks and benefits come in. Each person will have to assess his particular risks and benefits individually. It can be daunting if you had to sit down and realistically and rationally look at your own health and well-being. If you are honest, you will find that all the information out there only serve to confuse you. And the reason so many people make bad choices is because they don’t want to have to examine their life in that detail. They would rather accept the fact that best supports their decision. Those who enjoy drinking will point to the benefits, while those teetotallers will emphasise the risks. The debate will never end.

The dangers of tanning beds

Just to re-emphasise my point: why are people so obsessed with tanning?! A story just appeared about a 14-year old entering an unmanned tanning salon and ended up with first degree burns, requiring medical attention.

At least the girl showed some maturity by accepting the responsibility for her actions. However, she did point out that teenagers are liable to do just about anything, so having an unmanned tanning salon is extremely dangerous. It does not matter that you have posters around warning about the dangers of using a tanning bed. Many teenagers either don’t care or they feel that adults are too overly cautious. Like some adults, they may also feel they know enough not to get injured.

It is illegal for someone under 16 to be using the tanning beds. But if the shop is unmanned, with beds being coin-operated, who’s to monitor the usage. Also, in manned shops, will the person on duty card everyone who enters? I doubt that. Additionally, are these managers qualified to give tanning advice? Many are probably students working for a little extra cash.

The tanning culture is so ubiquitous that even very young kids are getting the message that they must tan to appear acceptable. Why are we teaching our kids to be so superficial about such a thing as their skin color? There are enough problems to deal with. We should be teaching kids about the dangers of tanning and learning to accept themselves.

Tanning beds are dangerous.  The rays may not be as harmful as the sun, but the effect on the skin is the same.  It will cause the skin to age prematurely, as well as other skin damage.  And if people fall asleep, as occurs frequently, or end up staying in the bed longer than anticipated, resulting in burns, then the damage worsens.

Will tanning go out of style?

We are living in a tan-obsessed world. I would certainly welcome it when pale comes back into fashion, although that is highly unlikely. Tanning is so prevalent, despite all the health risks, that unless a lot more Hollywood starlets start sporting a beautiful, but fair, complexion, it will never go out of fashion.

Yet, it seems some people tan as if it WAS going out of fashion. The fact that some people fell for the farce of tanning through their computer shows how desperate people are to get a tan. Now, there is a new injectable drug, called Melanotan. Although this stuff is unlicensed in the UK, it is available, and people have taken advantage of it. Despite experts’ advice against use of the drug, due to its side effects and the fact that it is untested and unlicensed. They also worry that some people are reusing needles in order to inject themselves, which creates further problems. Now, they are urging retailers not to sell them. Yet, the product is available on the internet, so that all sales cannot be prevented.

Studies have shown that tanning can cause many skin problems, from cosmetic to cancerous, yet people do not seem to heed the warnings. They are constantly on the search for “safer” means to tan. But, there has not been any means that have been considered “safe”, yet people have not given up tanning for pleasure.

I cannot see what is so attractive in someone looking like a lobster, as a prelude to a beautiful tan. Or, those who tan so often in the tanning beds that they no longer look like their own race. Not everyone is attractive in dark skin.

Overcoming seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is well-recognised, especially since psychological and psychiatric disorders have gained prominence amongst health watchdogs. The disorder affects up to 1 in 50 people. It occurs as a result of hormonal changes that occur with the shortened days. Therefore, SAD is prevalent during the winter months.

The sun, or more generally, light, causes certain hormonal changes in the brain, which can affect people’s moods and feelings of well-being. In the winter, with the decrease in sunlight, people can tend to become moody, depressed, tired, and more stressed. This affects how they function at home, work, school, and play. Furthermore, it can depress the immune system, making people more prone to illness during the winter months.

The good news is that it can easily be treated. People are encouraged to go out and exercise as much as possible. In addition to the benefits of getting natural sunlight (on a nice sunny day), which counteracts SAD, the exercise can help restore some of the sense of well-being and improve the immune system. Even exercising indoors at night can help combat stress. Making sure to eat a well-balanced, healthy diet will also help the body combat illness.

Another means of treatment is the use of light. While natural sunlight is best, the use of bright lights on cloudy days or if you are indoors will simulate the effects of the sun. Although experts advise on avoiding stressful situations, this is not always possible. It is best to acknowledge your condition and inform family, friends and colleagues so that there will be no misunderstandings.