The Myth of " getting old"
As you may have noticed I really like to use analogies in my conversations with patients about their health.
Some of my favorites analogies seem quite relevant to many health related subjects. The one about getting older has particular meaning for me as it has to do with assigning difficulties with your health from aging.
Here is a most common scenario. A patient will talk to me about their left knee being in constant pain, it hurts most when it is used extensively. After x - rays and examination, their diagnosis is arthritis. They were told this condition exists and it is a common event from getting older. My reaction to this information is, I smile. They look at me in puzzlement.
I ask them, " Do you skip when you walk? " , "or have you injured that knee before?" Their answer is no about the injury and that they never skip.
Next question is have you been on crutches ? They say no, starting to get somewhat perturbed from this line of questioning. Then finally I ask them this question.
How does your right knee feel ? They pause somewhat and many times say it is fine. I then ask them how old is their right knee ? So much for the age rationale.
Pain, diagnoses and dysfunction have causes, and often AGE is not the cause! Undeniably, age causes you to use the parts of your body longer. But the condition of the body part is largely based on the nutritional status over the years and consequently how it has repaired itself. What you eat can have as much of a detrimental effect as what it has been deficient in.
Trauma can have a devastating effect but far too often the tissue is deemed irreparable prematurely.
You can be physiologically younger and chronologically older.
It is based on how you take care of yourself. Do you notice some people who look young for their age as well as others who have not aged well ? Another way to view it, is the function of the body capable of healing. From this point it can be viewed as how well it repairs itself.
If you surveyed the people, who are older and look great about how they have taken care of themselves you will not be surprised by their answers - Usually they have been eating well and exercising consistently and live life with an attitude which is impressive and insightful.
If you consider how you have taken care of yourself you can determine how old you really are.
Here is a checklist you can use:
Some of my favorites analogies seem quite relevant to many health related subjects. The one about getting older has particular meaning for me as it has to do with assigning difficulties with your health from aging.
Here is a most common scenario. A patient will talk to me about their left knee being in constant pain, it hurts most when it is used extensively. After x - rays and examination, their diagnosis is arthritis. They were told this condition exists and it is a common event from getting older. My reaction to this information is, I smile. They look at me in puzzlement.
I ask them, " Do you skip when you walk? " , "or have you injured that knee before?" Their answer is no about the injury and that they never skip.
Next question is have you been on crutches ? They say no, starting to get somewhat perturbed from this line of questioning. Then finally I ask them this question.
How does your right knee feel ? They pause somewhat and many times say it is fine. I then ask them how old is their right knee ? So much for the age rationale.
Pain, diagnoses and dysfunction have causes, and often AGE is not the cause! Undeniably, age causes you to use the parts of your body longer. But the condition of the body part is largely based on the nutritional status over the years and consequently how it has repaired itself. What you eat can have as much of a detrimental effect as what it has been deficient in.
Trauma can have a devastating effect but far too often the tissue is deemed irreparable prematurely.
You can be physiologically younger and chronologically older.
It is based on how you take care of yourself. Do you notice some people who look young for their age as well as others who have not aged well ? Another way to view it, is the function of the body capable of healing. From this point it can be viewed as how well it repairs itself.
If you surveyed the people, who are older and look great about how they have taken care of themselves you will not be surprised by their answers - Usually they have been eating well and exercising consistently and live life with an attitude which is impressive and insightful.
If you consider how you have taken care of yourself you can determine how old you really are.
Here is a checklist you can use:
- Do you have any unexplained pains for a long period of time.
- Do you have a condition that has not resolved ?
- Are you taking any medication which is to mask the pain or problem of a condition?
- How long have you been taking this medication ?
- Do you sleep well ?
- Do you eat well ?
- Do you use the bathroom every day?
- Do you drink enough fluid every day?
- Do you handle stress well?
- Are you happy often ?
- Do you exercise consistently ?
- Is there something you know you need to do for your health but are neglecting ?
- Is you energy level stopping you from living your life as you choose ?
- Do you work more than 40 hours a week and are stressed at doing it ?
The body has maintenance requirements ! The benefit and liability of meeting these requirements are self evident. When you take care of yourself you will be rewarded in the long term.
Sometimes as a defense against this premise some will say, but what about " the person who is a "health food nut" , she exercises all the time and they are now really sick !" This situation is often baffling and sometimes negates, for some, the necessity for taking care of yourself.
Invariably, when you look closer at this person you will see some profound areas of neglect which have befallen them. Unfortunately, sometimes they are doing what they think is necessary to be healthy but their information may fall very short of what actually is the case. I have seen people in this situation and their frustration is profound.
Common sense is the best answer I can give you in these circumstances.
It is almost as firm as a law that if you do the right activities for your health, you can predict the end result. So I suggest you look at the "questionnaire" I have provided and see how closely you fit to some of these categories. The health you save IS your own and well worth the effort.
I will help you and it will be my pleasure to do so.
Contrasting this newsletters, I discovered this test to determine your "real age" : https://www.age-test.com.
Sometimes as a defense against this premise some will say, but what about " the person who is a "health food nut" , she exercises all the time and they are now really sick !" This situation is often baffling and sometimes negates, for some, the necessity for taking care of yourself.
Invariably, when you look closer at this person you will see some profound areas of neglect which have befallen them. Unfortunately, sometimes they are doing what they think is necessary to be healthy but their information may fall very short of what actually is the case. I have seen people in this situation and their frustration is profound.
Common sense is the best answer I can give you in these circumstances.
It is almost as firm as a law that if you do the right activities for your health, you can predict the end result. So I suggest you look at the "questionnaire" I have provided and see how closely you fit to some of these categories. The health you save IS your own and well worth the effort.
I will help you and it will be my pleasure to do so.
Contrasting this newsletters, I discovered this test to determine your "real age" : https://www.age-test.com.
You will notice that it addresses your attitudes towards life and activities. You may see it puts far more credence on attitude. A different point of view. I guess both are vital.Take Charge of your health today!
Visit our website for more information : Alternative Healthcare Center Website
Visit our website for more information : Alternative Healthcare Center Website
Dr. Marc
