Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D.

What does “health” mean to you?

Maybe you think of something like the World Health Organization definition of health.

“a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

2 bandaids crossed on a world globe — photo from the Lightstock collection (affiliate link)

But do you know

There’s a Lot More to Health than Not Being Sick

So, what is “a lot more”?

I’m introducing you to two medical writers who believe health is multifaceted and not centered around the presence or absence of disease.

Health- flux and adaptation

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book cover- The LUCKY YEARS by David B. Agus, M.D.

Enjoying life to the fullest

Despite the author’s impressive credentials, I was skeptical about a health book called The Lucky Years , as if health is just a matter of the luck of the draw or throw of the dice.

The author is David B. Agus, M.D. , Professor of Medicine and Engineering at the University of Southern California , , author of bestselling books and a CBS News contributor.

In The Lucky Years- How to Thrive in the Brave New World of Health Dr. Agus covers some hefty topics including

how the human body ages
Innovative cancer treatments with immunotherapy , DNA sequencing, and molecular targeting
The use of clinical trials to study new treatments for cancer and other diseases
How cancers metastasize (spread)
Potential uses for stem cells
New insights into the development of antibiotic resistance
Proteomics- study of the body’s proteins
The relationship of antibodies to common viruses to onset of chronic diseases

Rather than highly technical detail he offers a broad overview of these new technologies and how they may help treat and potentially prevent the main causes of death, that is cancer and chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

He recommends patients understand and use technology to maintain and improve their health and not rely solely on their doctor to do so and to actively participate in the healthcare system.

He believes that health data will be used to prevent, detect and treat disease and to prolong life.

Large quantities of such data, organized in a secure database, will help us predict risk and recommend preventive measures, such as already done with

Colonoscopy to prevent deaths from colon cancer
Aspirin and statin use to prevent cardiac deaths
Management of low grade cancers conservatively, avoiding the use of surgery or chemotherapy

The body is an incredible self-regulating machine. You don’t need to do much to support its health and optimal wellness.”

Health is in perpetual flux.

I agree with Dr. Agus’ views on what health is, or rather what it is not.

“I don’t know what true health is, particularly on an individual basis.

For person A, health can be living totally free of illness and disability.

For person B, however, perhaps health means managing a condition well and enjoying life to the fullest despite some disability.

While we can certainly try to measure health in a variety of ways- weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood cell count, hormone levels, markers of inflammation, how you look, and how well you sleep, for example- none of those figures or generalizations will tell the whole picture.

And they won’t reveal how many years and days you might have left on this planet.”

He offers this advice –

“I encourage you to view your total health as a complex network of processes that cannot be explained by looking at any one pathway or focal point. Health is in perpetual flux.

book cover- FAST METABOLISM FOOD RX BY HAYLIE POMROY

A constant state of healthy adaptation

Nutritionist Hailey Pomroy, author of Fast Metabolism Food Rx, recommends using food as “metabolic medicine.”

“Food integrates with your body to create health in a powerful way.”

She explains health using the formula E + M = H which means

Eating, Exercise, Environment plus

Metabolism, Metabolic pathways, Me equals

Health, Homeostasis, Harmony

In this formula, E stands for everything we put into our bodies and everything around us, including people, our jobs, and the weather.

M is what is inside of you, including your genetic makeup, and what happens when your body processes (or metabolizes) food, nutrients, toxins, and medications.

“Health doesn’t always mean you are disease free, It means your body has created a homeostasis or internal balance, …is a constant state of healthy adaptation or flux.”

So, what does HEALTH mean to you?

Considering their advice, think about what health means to you.

Use these questions to get started.

Do you use any technology to manage your health and medical care? If so, is it helpful, or just more busy work?
What is your relationship with your personal physician? Do you rely on your doctor to tell you what you should do, or recommend what you should do to stay healthy and treat ailments?
Do you know what medical conditions you are at risk for, and what you can do to prevent them?
What health measures are important to you, like blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, BMI, mammogram, and why?
Are you “living life to the fullness” and if not, why not? What could you change to make that happen?
How do you use food?
What factors make up your E and your M? Do they add up to the Health that you want to create?

exploring the HEART of health

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Dr. Aletha

Remember it’s Spring forward to Daylight Saving Time

Most of the United States changes to Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday of March every year

So you will either be going to bed an hour later than usual, or awakening an hour earlier.

sleep

Either way, your body will tell the difference until your sleep cycle adjusts; I know mine always does. WebMD offers these tips to make the change easier.

If getting a good night’s sleep is a persistent problem for you, check out the information I shared in this post.

Expert advice to sleep well every night

We welcome the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere, with the occurrence of the vernal equinox which occurs around March 20 every year.

This link to The Weather Channel explains what the vernal equinox means.

graphic of the earth explaining equinox and solstice — original source not known

With more hours of sunlight and warmer weather you may spend more time outdoors.While that may mean greater fitness from the physical activity, you will be at risk of several outdoor injuries. Be proactive and prevent warm weather ailments with these tips.

insect bites and stings

Protect yourself against mosquitoes and other insects.

5 insect repellents to keep you safe this summer

sun exposure

Protect your skin with sunscreen while you’re outside.

(These are affiliate links placed here for your convenience. This blog can earn a commission from sales from these links. This does not imply endorsement of these products.)

blisters and other wounds

Protecting your feet.

Whether walking, jogging, gardening, or sports, our feet can take a beating from outdoor activity.

You probably don’t worry much about blisters- until you get one. Then the pain can inhibit walking, or even wearing a shoe.

At worst, blisters can become chronic wounds, get infected, and threaten limbs in susceptible persons like those with diabetes or poor blood flow.

Ways to prevent blisters include-

Proper fitting shoes, not too tight or too loose
Breaking shoes in before activity likely to cause a blister, like running, dancing, long walks, sports
Wearing absorbent cushioned socks, perhaps 2 pair together
Applying protective padding over pressure points on the feet. Even plain paper tape can accomplish this, according to this study published in the New York Times.

I own and wear several pairs of Skechers sports shoes. (affiliate link)

environmental allergies

What to do about seasonal allergies

Often called “hay fever”, allergic rhinitis doesn’t cause a fever but it can make us miserable with its characteristic symptoms-

runny nose, sneezing, congestion

diagram of the nose and sinuses — Allergies commonly affect the nose, throat, sinuses, ears, and eyes.

scratchy, itchy, or tickly throat

cough

ear itching and pressure

watery, itchy, red eyes

Even those people who have these symptoms year round may have seasonal exacerbations, usually spring and fall.

Here is information about allergy management from the American College of Allergy to discuss with your doctor.

Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies, like other allergies, develop when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment that typically causes no problem in most people.

exploring the HEART of health this spring

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Author: Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D.

Exploring the Multifaceted Nature of Health