Wellness Posts by Donald McGee

How Daily Choices Affect Our DNA

2022-12-18T05:00:00Z

Wellness.com - How Daily Choices Affect Our DNA by Donald McGee

If “wellness” is a result of our daily choices that lead to healthy balanced states of mind, body, spirit, lifestyle, and Social aspects, then how might various imbalances or unhealthy choices (stress, food choices, etc) affect our DNA or even our children? - In this breakthrough study (-Environmental Health Perspective- , 2006 114:567-572), researchers showed that dietary changes of pregnant mice permanently impacted the lifelong gene expression of the resulting offspring as to obesity, cancer protection and fur color. Although highly technical, the basic research has to do with turning genes on or off as a function of food choices. Of course, experimental mice do not make “choices” but these researchers graduated the intake of a biochemical in soy, and the resulting gene expressions in the offspring show remarkable outcomes in terms of the color of the fur and the weight of the mouse. At one end is an unhealthy, obese, pale-yellow mouse and the other end a healthy, lean, brown mouse. In between are three mice showing incremental changes of weight and color based on the incremental increase of the intake of this one ingredient while still inside the womb. This study suggests that CHOICES turn on and off our DNA on a minute by minute basis as each of our millions of miles of DNA repair and grow cells. Millions of miles? We humans are active physiological beings whose DNA end-to-end are astronomical. Do a Google search on the length of DNA in one human being and be prepared to be astounded. This is life, constant, second by second, as DNA is used to code for enzymes that build or destroy in a 37 trillion cell organism that is one human being—you. I call this the “Alpha of Wellness,” or the beginning. The “Omega of Wellness” I’ll save for a different discussion but, suffice it to say, it’s related to how we age. Our DNA health works to manage our 37 trillion cells under constant changes and attacks by organisms and environmental events. And our “aging,” so to speak, even seems to be a function of that part of the DNA called the telomere, the ends of the chromosomes that protect the DNA strands from fraying and becoming damaged, much like the "aglets" or plastic tips on the end of your shoe laces extend the life of the laces. There are literally millions of miles of DNA in trillions of cells constantly working as you sit at your desk drinking a cup of coffee. But choices determine DNA health. I contend these choices are more than food, but also your fitness, your stress, your relationships: all connected to the mind, body, spirit, lifestyle, and social natures of what is you and your wellness choices. This is the Alpha—healthy gene expression. But another hint of what's to come: Think about what breakdown in the body might be attributed to the development of cancer and atherosclerosis, including diseases we call heart attacks, strokes, hard cancers, and dementia? What could we do to break down slower or “age later” so to speak? Stay tuned. In the meantime, what daily choices could you make in your life to improve any aspect of your mental health, fitness, nutrition, spirit or relationships? Start anywhere. Remember, do the basics first: - Get 7-8 hours of quality sleep - Drink pure water & eat real fresh food (not processed) - Exercise daily (take a walk) - Take some time for yourself (renew your spirit) - Let go of anger, blame and resentment (forgive & forget) - Be well...

Beat Inflammation Before It Beats You

2022-01-14T06:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Beat Inflammation Before It Beats You by Donald McGee

Body inflammation gets a lot of bad press, but these stories refer to chronic or excessive inflammation that causes health problems. There is also a good type of inflammation that occurs when a strong immune system responds therapeutically to an illness or injury. Beneficial inflammation is a survival tool the healthy immune system uses to differentiate a harmless substance from a harmful one called an antigen. Inflammation occurring appropriately in the body is a sign that an individual's immunity is hard at work as a healer. Unfortunately, if the immune system becomes impaired, it is liable to attack the body's own cells or tissues and create a harmful type of inflammation that becomes chronic, causing untimely aging and illness. When inflammation invades the body as an immune system overreaction, it may initiate a detrimental response to a new allergen, formerly innocuous. Worse, it can result in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and diabetes. Autoimmune diseases have both acquired (obtained after birth) and hereditary component, often overlapping, and something we are learning we have more control over. Stress, exercise, and our diet DIRECTLY interact with our own DNA and can turn on and off good and bad genes via TELOMERES. Healthy weight and diet can keep the autoimmune DNA disposition of diabetes at bay. Additionally, chronic inflammation within our microvascular system contributes to serious health conditions like heart disease, solid cancer (breast, colon, prostate), and dementia; also impacted by our stress, exercise, and diet DIRECTLY on the DNA responsible for the inner lining of our arteries: endothelial glycocalyx. Here are some principal triggers of chronic inflammation. Learn them and make lifestyle changes to protect yourself from an inflammatory rampage. STRESS - Chronic stress keeps the body on “fight-or-flight" alert and is an inflammatory factor that can throw the immune system out of whack. Research at Carnegie Mellon University showed that prolonged psychological stress lessens the immune system's ability to regulate the inflammatory response, increasing risk for certain diseases. Meditation and other stress management techniques may help. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS - The modern world we live in provides us a wealth of technology and bounty that people in the nineteenth century couldn't imagine. This progress carries a high price, however, because our twenty-first century environment is filled with toxins, such as mercury, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Scientific advancements by industry and agriculture introduced more than 75,000 synthetic chemicals into the environment, and their use increased in recent years. If you expect government agencies to protect your family from dangerous toxins, think again. The EPA, FDA, and USDA seem less intent on protecting the public's well-being than ensuring that industry and agribusiness continue to spew poisons into the air and water. It's up to individuals to learn about common toxins and how to avoid them as much as possible. One non-governmental agency providing information about toxins in air, water, food, and common consumer products is the Environmental Working Agency, which also urges safer practices by energy-producing companies and industries. Check -www.ewa.org- for helpful guides to safer consumption and use. INFERIOR DIET- – Eating too much sugar, refined grains, processed foods, trans fats and other fats that oxidize when heated, including hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils and margarine, can produce chronic inflammation. While the Internet and numerous books tout a variety of “anti-inflammatory diet" plans, it's wise to consult your primary care doctor before embarking on a special diet. If you eat a whole foods, high-fiber, heavily plant-based diet rich in phytonutrients (plant chemicals that are naturally anti-inflammatory) and consume healthy monounsaturated fats with omega-3 fatty acids and not chemically hydrogenated (good fat examples: olive oil, flaxseed oil, nuts, and avocados), you will go a long way toward improving your diet and keeping chronic inflammation at bay. EXERCISE DEFICIENCY -– By now, most people are aware that a lack of regular exercise plays a role in many health problems. You don't have to spend hours at the gym or perform stringent workouts in order to benefit from increased movement. Simply aim for at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise daily. A brisk walk will do, or, if you have aching joints or mobility issues, a half-hour swim in a heated pool at the YMCA is adequate. PERSISTENT INFECTIONS AND ALLERGIES- – People who have chronic infections, caused by bacteria, yeast, viruses, or parasites, are likely to have body inflammation. An opportunistic fungus called Candida Albicans is one of the worst culprits, taking advantage of a period of stress or course of antibiotics that upsets the balance of intestinal flora, and then excessively multiplying until it controls a large portion of the digestive tract, sometimes spreading throughout the body. Uncontrolled food or environmental allergens also spark inflammation. A thorough physical checkup or allergy testing can lead to the correct diagnosis and treatment. Do what you can to avoid chronic inflammation. It's hazardous to your health. http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/Encyclopedia/Content... http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/autoinflammat... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/12040...

Can a Common Spice Treat Depression?

2021-08-20T08:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Can a Common Spice Treat Depression? by Donald McGee

If you find yourself grappling with depression, you are—for better or worse—not alone. However, if you do suffer from depression, you do feel alone.... as of 2012, diagnoses of depression are growing at an alarming rate ... Healthline- reports that, as of 2012, diagnoses of depression are growing at an alarming rate and, as if depression alone weren’t enough, states that report high rates of depression also report accompanying physical manifestations of stress with greater obesity rates and incidences of heart disease. Perhaps you have tried talking with a therapist or counselor, which is an effective way to tackle this often desperation-inducing condition, but it often works even better when you treat the chemical side of the issue. Doctors often prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as Fluoxentine, Sertraline and Citalopram, and they are often effective but they sometimes come with side effects that may complicate treatment, at the very least. Another option you might consider is looking into natural treatments for depression. You might even ask your physician or psychiatric professional what experience and information they have regarding natural approaches to treating depression. If you begin your own research, you will come across many fascinating natural supplements to help you find some clarity in the midst of depression. Some of the most common treatments include St. John’s Wort, 5HTP, SAMe, L-Theanine, Vitamin D3, B-vitamins and Fish Oil. Treatment with Turmeric - Lurking in your spice rack is a potentially powerful component of your depression treatment. Something as delightful and delectable as turmeric that adds the beautiful yellow color to your curry dishes and mustard can actually become an integral part of your wellness. Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for a wide range of conditions, illnesses and disorders for more than 4,000 years and -in China from 700 A.D. Curcumin and Neurogenesis - Curcumin, which is turmeric’s active ingredient, has been tested on animals and has shown effective improvement over depression in the animals. According to Dr. Weil, curcumin spurs nerve growth in the frontal cortex and hippocampal portions of the brain. One line of thinking attributes depression to damage to the hippocampal neurons, so anything that serves to repair that area might serve as the secret weapon against depression. Along with high impact exercise, bright light and learning, Curcumin has the potential to increase neurogenesis to decrease the negative effects of depression, if not the depression itself. Curcumin and Turmeric Increase Serotonin and Dopamine in the Brain - Similar to the benefits of SSRIs, turmeric and curcumin increase serotonin levels, which help regulate sleep, learning, memory and mood. To a lesser degree, curcumin increases the level of dopamine in the brain, which controls emotional responses to situations and movement. Turmeric On Its Own for Treating Depression? - While turmeric is effective in conjunction with SSRIs, it is not yet certain whether you could eschew your antidepressant prescription quite yet. Your doctor might have more information about the synergistic effects of taking turmeric or curcumin as a complement to your SSRI prescription or any other medication you might take to help with depression. Additional Sources - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929771/ - http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-turmeric-mood-depression-trial.html

The Bacteria Battle Inside Us

2018-05-01T07:00:00Z

Wellness.com - The Bacteria Battle Inside Us by Donald McGee

Health claims attributed to probiotics abound—from alleviating diarrhea and controlling chronic digestive problems to curing vaginal yeast infections in women. In some instances, research evidence supports claims; in others, the findings aren't clear. With so much conflicting information, what should you believe about the health benefits of probiotics? Should they be ingested regularly as a preventive? Which health problems may be avoided or successfully treated by eating foods or taking supplements containing probiotics? - The term “probiotics" (meaning “for life") refers to live bacteria in fermented foods or nutritional/therapeutic supplements. Since your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight a bacteria-caused illness, it may seem odd that purposefully ingesting bacteria can be a beneficial measure. If you think of infection-causing bacteria as “the bad guys" and probiotics as “the good guys," what appears to be a paradox becomes easier to understand. The human body's digestive system alone normally hosts an estimated 100 trillion microorganisms and more than 500 different bacterial species. Normal bacteria, or microflora, are the good guys. They not only don't make us sick, but actually help sustain healthy body functions. Normal intestinal bacteria play a supportive role, acting like bodyguards to keep bad bacteria, or pathogens that cause illness, at bay. They assist proper digestion, help the body absorb nutrients, and boost immune function. Many believe they boost brain function and some arguably attribute the term “gut feeling" to the connectivity between the digestive system and the brain. Good bacteria also populate the upper respiratory and urogenital systems. The balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria protects our complicated body “ecosystems." - For example, while one course of antibiotics, or even two, may be necessary to treat an entrenched infection, the medication can cause side effects—an upset stomach or diarrhea. Antibiotic therapy continued for an extended period may kill off the body's good microflora in excessive numbers, leaving the field wide open for bad bacteria to take over. This condition upsets the natural microbial balance, wreaks havoc with the immune system—our body's first defense against infection—and causes illness. The overuse of antibiotic therapy is strongly discouraged, since it's the reason for an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs." - Another enemy of natural body microbes is the extensive use of chemical additives in processed foods. They may interfere with good bacteria and allow the growth of detrimental bacteria, viruses, and fungi, causing infection, chronic inflammation, allergies, and even autoimmune disorders. It is possible that pesticides and herbicides used in traditional agriculture may have the same effect—a reason to buy organic foods. Advertising promotes mostly unsubstantiated beneficial properties of yogurt and other fermented foods. Yogurt, in particular, is a popular folk remedy used by women to treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Although research doesn't strongly support its effectiveness for the former, probiotic treatment for UTIs is currently under study by medical scientists. Results of clinical trials testing therapeutic probiotics are mixed, but some findings are clear while others justify ongoing studies. The most positive outcome is the use of Lactobacillus GG for the treatment of infectious diarrhea in infants and children, with a 60% reduction in the illness compared to results from a placebo. Physicians who treat such chronic digestive disorders as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, increasingly add probiotics therapy to their arsenal of treatment weapons. There are also reports that specific probiotics reduce allergic development in children and decrease proliferation of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), now known as the cause of most stomach ulcers. Priority research projects supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine focus on gastrointestinal diseases in infants and children, including necrotizing enterocolitis, and also crucial research into combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Probiotics appear to be safe for most people without side effects; however, the potential for serious adverse consequences exists in some instances. Probiotics are contraindicated for critically ill patients and individuals with a compromised immune system due to disease or chemotherapy. In particular, probiotics are dangerous for patients with severe pancreatitis. If you are considering probiotics for either preventive or treatment reasons, first consult your primary care physician. Confirmed health benefits depend on specific strains and dosages. Also, remember that dietary supplements are not regulated like drugs in the U.S. Supplement manufacturers, however, may use a voluntary certification program through ConsumerLab. Look for the CL Seal of Approval on a supplement product's packaging for confidence that it's passed - CL testing and contains the type, amount, strength, and purity of the listed ingredients. If you're healthy and enjoy yogurt, cheeses and other foods containing live cultures of probiotics, go ahead and eat these foods. Just be aware there's no corroboration that Lactobacillus acidophilus, the probiotic strain in many commercial yogurts, is beneficial for such ailments as diarrhea or vaginal infections. When purchasing supplements, look for products that contain at least 10 different strains of probiotic bacteria and at least 10 billion live cells. Refrigeration is critical for many strains and brands, so read the labels carefully. Most of the dedicated vitamin and supplement stores, as well as chains like Whole Foods, have a refrigerated section with many options to choose from. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/probiotics/faq-20058065 - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/probiotics/introduction.htm

How Much Water Should I Drink?

2018-02-23T05:00:00Z

Wellness.com - How Much Water Should I Drink? by Donald McGee

Continuous media hype from self-proclaimed “health experts" and diet gurus decrees the necessity for drinking a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. There are other people, many of whom are bona fide experts, waging the argument that you can drink too much water, even to the consequence of death. The ever-present water bottle clutched in the hands of celebrities whose photos look out at you from every newsstand lends credence to the concept that everyone should sip water continuously. Viral posts on social media reinforce that notion. The ubiquitous “8x8" directive is accepted as a basic health care rule, but what is the origin of the rigid tenet that adults must drink 64 ounces (2 liters) of water daily to be healthy and hydrated? If you're confused by what you hear or read regarding how much water to drink, you are not alone. Which side of this controversy should you believe? - Let's look at facts about the role water plays in keeping a body healthy (and the flip side of that coin, its potential for danger) to determine how much water you need. Drinkable, unpolluted water is one of the most necessary substances on the planet and a precious commodity in areas of the world where drought is common. Water isn't just a thirst-quencher—it's a life-sustaining liquid. It accounts for over 60% of a person's total weight and provides essential care for every body system, transporting nutrients to cells and carrying wastes away from them, cleansing toxins from vital organs, and keeping membranes in the nose, throat, and eyes comfortably moist. Water is primarily lost from a healthy body through sweat, urination, and, to a lesser degree, breath and bowel movements. When the human body loses too much water, whether from heat exhaustion in hot climates, profuse sweating by athletes, fluids lost through vomiting or diarrhea, or some types of kidney failure, dehydration ensues. Severe dehydration is dangerous and can lead to death unless quickly corrected, especially among children. But the claim made by self-styled authorities that a full three-fourths of the public suffer chronically from a state of dehydration is not backed up by scientific proof. Here's what we do know: - A kidney specialist and professor at Dartmouth Medical School, Dr. Heinz Valtin, wrote in the American Journal of Physiology that after he and his colleagues became concerned by the numerous articles published that promoted sipping water all day, he could find not a single scientific study that substantiated the “8x8" rule. He noted that the National Research Council's Food and Nutrition Board recommended in 1945 drinking one milliliter of water or other non-diuretic beverage for each calorie of food consumed on a 2,000-calorie diet. The Council, however, observed that much of the suggested volume is contained in food and it should be considered with regard to total water consumed. The NRC water consumption advisory made public a half century ago was the only official recommendation he uncovered in his research. Other specialists in nutrition and body water balance searched through electronic research databases to double-check the work of Dr. Valtin, and they found no evidence to suggest the need for drinking 64 ounces of water per day. Dr. Valtin acknowledged that certain diseases, such as kidney stones, do require drinking greater amounts of water (sometimes - ask your physician) than normal, but concluded that most people (healthy, mainly sedentary adults in temperate climates) do not need to drink the large amounts of water advocated by “…someone misinformed…." He maintained that drinking enough water to satisfy thirst, including coffee, tea, and other beverages, is adequate for average circumstances, while vigorous work or exercise, especially in hot climates, justifies a greater intake of water. His credentials—more than four decades of research on the body method that controls water diffusion through the cells, the osmoregulatory system—make Dr. Valtin a highly-qualified subject matter expert regarding human needs for water consumption. So, how much is too much? - There is danger in over-hydration, or overdosing, with large quantities of water or other fluids, particularly when consumed in a brief time period. This can cause a life-threatening condition called hyponatremia, sometimes referred to as water intoxication, which occurs when too much sodium has been displaced in the blood. There are documented deaths from large intakes of water too quickly, a situation more likely to occur when marathon runners drink gallons of water without replacing electrolytes. Drinking too much water in this manner overwhelms the kidneys, which cannot get rid of the extra water quickly enough to prevent electrolyte imbalance. Water ultimately enters the cells, which swell to accommodate it. When brain swelling occurs, the skull allows no room for expansion, which causes seizures, coma, or even death. In addition to intense exercise, here are some other risk factors for hyponatremia: (1) the small body mass of babies under nine months of age that puts them at increased threat in a briefer span of time, if, for example, an infant is given several bottles of heavily-diluted formula in a day; (2) regular ingestion of certain medications, such as diuretics (water pills), pain medications, or antidepressants that cause increased urination or perspiration; (3) hormonal changes of the thyroid or adrenal gland that affect the body's ability to maintain its electrolyte balance; (4) age-related changes in the elderly that may alter the body's sodium balance; (5) any person on a sodium-restricted diet whose blood sodium level may already be affected; (6) competitive eaters who often train for contests by drinking large amounts of water for rehydration during short periods; (7) a person with undiagnosed or untreated diabetes insipidus; and (8) use of the recreational drug, Ecstasy, an amphetamine that increases the danger of severe hyponatremia and even death. There is no “one-size-fits-all" water drinking formula. Several factors can impact how much water an individual may need, and these are situational. Exercise is one, and a hot environment is another. Even when exercising intensely for more than an hour (such as when running a marathon), no more than 30 ounces of water should be consumed hourly, and sports drinks rather than plain water can help keep the body's potassium and sodium at the appropriate levels. Anyone engaging in work or activity outdoors that causes sweating for shorter periods should replace lost fluids by drinking an extra cup or cup-and-a-half of water. Acute illness with fever and gastrointestinal involvement may cause a higher than normal loss of body fluids. Bladder infections or urinary tract stones usually call for increased water intake. Pregnant or breastfeeding women need additional fluids to ensure adequate hydration. Conversely, congestive heart failure and some types of kidney, adrenal, and liver diseases may cause the body to retain fluids and require the limitation of water intake. Illnesses that may affect the body's electrolyte balance, whether acute or chronic, should be monitored and treated by a physician. Although not common, there are tragic examples of death due to water overdoses that caused hyponatremia. In 2005, a 21-year-old man died after being forced to drink excessive amounts of water during a fraternity hazing at California State University. Another fatal overdose of water occurred in 2007 when a California radio station held an ill-advised on-air contest of competitive, excessive water drinking with no bathroom breaks allowed. A 28-year-old mother of three died after downing six liters of water in three hours and not being allowed to use the restroom. She did this in the quest to win a Nintendo game console, taking second place for a pair of concert tickets. Leaving the radio station complaining with a severe headache, she went home and called into work sick, dying in her bathroom only a few hours after the contest ended. A jury's $16.5 million judgment against the radio station in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the woman's husband was unlikely to be much comfort to her children, but may prevent other corporations from engaging the public in such dangerous activities. What her husband told "Good Morning America" afterwards was just unbelievable. Her husband told “Good Morning America" that the station had the information that heavy water drinking could cause harm months in advance of the contest and listeners of the show, including a nurse, called in to warn the disc jockeys that contestants could die from water intoxication. Perhaps the best lesson to be learned about how much water you should drink comes from Joseph Verbalis, chairman of medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. As long as you are healthy and your body's gauge for thirst is not marred by age or mind-altering drugs, he says, you should "drink to your thirst. It's the best indicator." - Healthy kidneys can eliminate up to one-fourth gallon of water in an hour. If you don't have a risk factor for hyponatremia, how fast you drink water is more critical than how much you drink. Pay attention to your body. Drink when you're thirsty, stop when your thirst is satisfied, and urinate when you feel the need. Drink water responsibly. A few pointers: - 1. It's a good idea to drink eight to sixteen ounces of water first thing in the morning - 2. Ideally drink clean, filtered water - 3. Try to avoid drinking water out of flimsy water bottles as they are known to leach chemicals - 4. Don't over-hydrate while eating or you can interrupt digestion - 5. Don't under-hydrate during strenuous physical activity - Selected Sources - http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long... http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition... http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/whats-main-purpose... http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm - http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange...

“Jailing the mentally ill is an expedient – but ineffective – solution. “

2016-12-08T08:00:00Z

Wellness.com - “Jailing the mentally ill is an expedient – but ineffective – solution. “ by Donald McGee

What is Wellness - for Communities: - Founders for Wellness.com have been working on a paradigm to define - What is Wellness for Individuals, their Family, their Work Culture, and their Communities. It is a balance between the functions of Mind—Body—Spirit—Social/Emotional—and Lifestyle. Now, I would like to address a - Community What is Wellness - and a specific topic of the community - Safety - as it relates to released Inmates into YOUR COMMUNITY requiring mental health management. Many inmates are incarcerated because of their mental illness, which is not the best place - but often the only place - to get mental health care. Here comes a solution from Texas: A community Collaborative Approach amongst agencies and providers that is working. The - Mind - Function of the - What is Wellness for Your Community - is how to common sense solve problems. The -Spirit- Function is the greater awareness most good people have in being responsible citizens and helping those in need and struggling. The - Body - Function in this case is the physical health and security of the “body” of the community. The - Social- Emotional - Function is the emotive caring- feature, while feeling safe. And the - Lifestyle - Function relates to the actions a Community Collaborate installed in the community that follow the common sense, spirit, body, and social- emotional principles that preceded it. Wellness.com as a public service, like all of our educational material, wants the following message to go out with link (**) to a specific article from one of the leaders of this Collaborative. Colonel (retired) Leo Rios, served as a jail administrator within rural Texas and observed a growing mental health crisis affecting our communities today. Mentally ill persons are often incarcerated for minor crimes, treated while in jail, and released only to find themselves back in jail because they do not receive adequate mental healthcare within their communities and therefore continue to violate the law – often escalating in the degree of severity. I invite visitors to Wellnesss.com to make comments and suggestions and pass the word to good people in their respective communities how Collaboration might help define - What is Wellness - in your community as it relates to this difficult problem.

SuperBug E Coli and Sick Care: As Sick Care is the Third Leading Cause of Death

2016-07-14T07:00:00Z

Wellness.com - SuperBug E Coli and Sick Care: As Sick Care is the Third Leading Cause of Death by Donald McGee

SuperBug E Coli and Sick Care: As Sick Care is the Third Leading Cause of Death - As the founder of Wellness.com and still a busy practicing physician, I have for decades rebelled against what President (5 star General) Eisenhower would paraphrase as “The Sick Care Industrial Complex”- his phrase was the “Militrary Industrial Complex”. This metaphor means that “sick care” with all its money, lobbyist, and political influence over government regulators has become any entity within itself, distancing itself from the very reason it exists - primarily serving consumers and patients. Usually insurance companies are (mis-)termed “payers”, but the truth is the people are the real payers without free market choices - in taxes and insurance premiums (plus co-pays and deductibles) with little say in how this money is spent. Health is personal, not collective. Yes, there is population management for patients with chronic disease (e.g. diabetes), who cost the Sick Care Industrial Complex money, but again, this purpose serves bean counters more than patients, unless, of course, the bean counter gets diabetes and then it is personal again. Now, like an ISIS terrorist attack, the news hit last week that the first Superbug E coli ( - Bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotic appears in US - ) has finally hit the United States, coming from pigs in China like the killer influenza viruses. “Normal” E coli are the most common bacteria causing urinary tract infections and food poisoning and is spread by fecal contact. But, this Superbug exists because of the Sick Care Industrial Complex’s over-reliance on prescribing antibiotics, because antibiotics are the simple answer to get patients out of your office quickly (the 6 minute visit) and part of the drug treatment mantra of our Sick Care Industrial Complex. Part of Big Pharmacy, "Give a pill." “Quick fix" even though it is a virus and you would get better anyway, but you feel better because “the doctor” gave you an antibiotic. This new E coli, though, is resistant to ALL of our antibiotics and has the potential to be akin to the Black Plague of the Middle Ages where thousands die every day; millions projected within the next several decades. Even more scary, the above reference indicates this resistance can be passed to other species of bacteria; strep, staph, and so forth. ISIS could never come up with a terror weapon as powerful as this. Historically, Western Medicine was founded thousands of years ago in Ancient Epidaurus of Greece by the historical Christ-like Healer Asclepius, later the God of Medicine; whom I took an oath to on graduation from medical school in New York (i.e., the Hippocratic Oath, - Asclepius - ). Two of his daughters were Panacea and - Hygeia. Panacea translates to Sick Care, Hygeia (hygiene) to Health and Wellness. We have lost the balance. Sick Care (complications from medications, superbugs in hospitals, complications from surgery, failure to address the root cause of obesity, vascular health, oxidative damage, etc) is the third leading cause of death now ( - Hospital Errors are the Third Leading Cause of Death in US Hospital - ) after cancer and heart disease, ignoring the point that many cancers and most heart disease are caused by oxidative damage not competently addressed by Sick Care. As a World Community, we need to look to Hygeia to manage the root causes of diseases - our behaviors. We need to take care of ourselves. Our weight. Our food choices. Our fitness. Our stress management. Our healthy relationships. Our connection to our Higher Self or whatever our belief. Mind Body Wellness is related to how we fight infections and how vulnerable we are. There is SO much. We need BALANCE. This is the key to health and wellness... or - Hygeia. At Wellness.com, we named this “What is Wellness” ( - What is Wellness? - ); a balance of Mind, Body, Spirit, Social, and LifeStyle. Wellness.com has started a new initiative where we will take on obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stress, and so forth from a new perspective that health is personal. I am introducing my colleague, Tina Lensing, MSW and Health Coach, from whom I have learned a great deal about balance and behavior change, as she has been a major teacher and group leader in the large healthcare setting I am practicing in. She is now moving into private practice and Asclepius will be proud. This is how we bring balance back to the Sick Care Industrial Complex. Time to make it personal again. We are just starting the design now. Asking for your ideas and feedback. We will build a practice platform that honors the daughter, - Hygeia, of the God of Medicine. Thank you for your attention and your contribution.

Sick Care: The Third Leading Cause of Death in America

2016-06-03T21:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Sick Care: The Third Leading Cause of Death in America by Donald McGee

As the founder of Wellness.com and still a busy practicing physician, I have for decades rebelled against what President (5-Star General) Eisenhower might call “The Sick Care Industrial Complex”: similar to his phrase the “Militrary Industrial Complex.” This metaphor means that “sick care” with all its money, lobbyist, and political influence over government regulators have become an entity within itself, distancing from the very reason it exists: primarily serving consumers and patients. Usually insurance companies are (mis)-termed “payers,” but the truth is the people are the real payers without free market choices. Consumers pay in taxes and insurance premiums (plus co-pays and deductibles) with little say in how this money is spent. Health is personal, not collective. Yes, there is population management for patients with chronic disease (e.g. diabetes), who cost the Sick Care Industrial Complex money, but, again, this purpose serves bean counters more than patients; unless, of course, the bean counter gets diabetes and it is personal again. The new E.coli - Now, like an ISIS terrorist attack, the news hit last week that the first Superbug E.coli (-Bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotic appears in US-) has finally hit the United States, coming from pigs in China like the killer influenza viruses. “Normal” E.coli are the most common bacteria causing urinary tract infections and food poisoning and is spread by fecal contact. But, this Superbug exists because of the Sick Care Industrial Complex’s over-reliance on prescribing antibiotics, because antibiotics are the simple answer to get patients out of your office quickly (the 6 minute visit) and part of the drug treatment mantra of our Sick Care Industrial Complex. Part of Big Pharmacy. Give a pill. “Quick fix “even though it is a virus and you would get better anyway, but you feel better because “the doctor” did give you an antibiotic. Resistant to ALL of our antibiotics - This new E.coli, though, is resistant to ALL of our antibiotics and has the potential to be akin to the Black Plague of the Middle Ages where thousands die every day; millions projected within the next several decades. Even more scary, the above reference indicates this resistance can be passed to other species of bacteria; strep, staph, and so forth. ISIS could never come up with a terror weapon as powerful as this. Historically, Western Medicine was founded thousands of years ago in Ancient Epidaurus of Greece by the historical Christ-like Healer Asclepius, later the God of Medicine, whom I took an oath to on graduation from medical school in New York: i.e., the Hippocratic Oath (-Asclepius-). Two of his daughters were Panacea and Hygeia. Panacea translates to Sick Care; Hygeia (hygiene) to Health and Wellness. We have lost the balance. Sick Care (complications from medications, superbugs in hospitals, complications from surgery, failure to address the root cause of obesity, vascular health, oxidative damage, etc) is the third leading cause of death now (-Hospital Errors are the Third Leading Cause of Death in US Hospital-) after cancer and heart disease, ignoring the point that many cancers and all most heart disease are caused by oxidative damage not competently addressed by Sick Care. We need to take care of ourselves. As a World Community, we need to look to Hygeia to manage the root causes of diseases - our behaviors. We need to take care of ourselves. Our weight. Our food choices. Our fitness. Our Stress management. Our Healthy Relationships. Our connection to our Higher Self or whatever our belief. Mind Body Wellness is related to how we fight infections and how vulnerable we are. There is so much… We need BALANCE. This is the key to health and wellness... or Hygeia. A balance of Mind, Body, Spirit, Social, and LifeStyle. At Wellness.com, we named this “What is Wellness” (-What is Wellness?-); a balance of Mind, Body, Spirit, Social, and LifeStyle. Wellness.com has started a new initiative where we will take on obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stress, and so forth from a new perspective that health is personal. I am introducing my colleague Tina Lensing, MSW and Health Coach, whom I have learned a great deal about balance and behavior change, as she has been a major teacher and group leader in the large healthcare setting I am practicing in. She is now moving into private practice and Asclepius will be proud. This is how we bring balance back to the Sick Care Industrial Complex. Time to make it personal again. We are just starting the design now. Asking for your ideas and feedback. We will build a practice platform that honors the daughter Hygeia of the God of Medicine. Thank you for your attention and your contribution. Donald McGee MD, PhD.

Open Your App and Say Ahhhh...

2015-03-28T07:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Open Your App and Say Ahhhh... by Donald McGee

I just attended a very useful meeting, where there is a consensus that maybe how we practice primary care, an ideal, is actually a failure in reality. To some, it could look like a big power trip for a physician to invite you into her or his “territory,” ask you to sit on the end of a hard examination table half-naked, and offer no recognition that you took a half day off and maybe a quarter of tank of gas for 6 minutes in her or his exalted presence. You then get a prescription for some drug you barely understand, are told to lose weight, exercise, de-stress over your sixteen year old, and “see me” in 6 months for another 6 minute visit. Of course 6 months later, you have not lost weight, still are not fit, still arguing with your now sixteen and half year old - so your medication dose is increased. Maybe you are told to see the diabetic educator. And, if you get sick, your physician is not accessible, so you go to the ER where some unknown physician will run thousands of dollars of tests, and then have the effrontery to tell you to lose weight, exercise, and have a family counseling session “somewhere.” You might get antibiotics. If, however, you REALLY do know something about DNA telomeres and endothelial health (you know, those heart attacks, strokes, cancer, dementia causing things) you might be less interested in prescriptions and more interested in how to really lose weight, maintain fitness, manage stress, and do those things that have to do with comprehensive prevention and wellness. Prevention and wellness do not come in a pill (sorry statin industry). Primary care IS prevention and wellness. Does anyone else get this disconnect? - Many do now. And the answer is a paradigm change. See your physician for the annual check up exam, but after that, 90% of follow up visits can be by telephone or video visit app that includes your physician, but also those who (should) work with your physician in all things prevention and wellness: a nurse arranging immunizations and screenings (e.g. mammograms); a pharmacist on minimizing your dosages; a nutritionist who virtually is monitoring your food choices and weight through a mobile health app, and behavioral specialists who really can make a difference by integrating with other health apps. And, all this is in your “territory”: your home or workplace. Afterall, this is where YOU make your choices having to do with how YOUR DNA works and how YOU maintain vascular health. So, if your physician and supportive staff do not offer telephone and video visit encounters for most of your non-emergency needs for the year - change physicians or get a new insurance payer. I am an “old” family and emergency physician, and trust me, most of your needs are better met with virtual care that focuses on the relationship you have with a physician that does not require you half-naked every time. Your physician knows so much more than prescribing drugs - but in too many cases the broken office visit model cannot afford allocate the time you need for a thorough consultation. Virtual encounters can help change this relationship in your favor hopefully providing a bit more virtual face time with your trusted physician. Demand it. If you're a healthcare provider, you can start offering modern telemedicine services to your own patients by getting set up with an inexpensive Truclinic account. For more information on Truclinic, please email: steve(at)wellness.com for a demo.

Primary and Urgent Care Telemedicine (PUCT) Annual

2015-02-26T22:00:00Z

Wellness.com - Primary and Urgent Care Telemedicine (PUCT) Annual by Donald McGee

There certainly is a role for “Doc in the Box" TeleMedicine access to all patients: especially those that research a condition and looking for an expert or “secondary" opinion. In other words, there is an important role to have physicians and other licensed people, with particular expertise in conditions or sub conditions, handling informational consultations, akin to free market access for anyone and everyone. But, the real power of Primary and Urgent Care TeleMedicine (PUCT) is having your own chosen, primary care physician or other practitioner accessible who knows YOU. Such a person is a counselor-on-steroids who can guide you through issues of concern, manage your risk factors and preventive health screens, promote health and wellness, and can prescribe medications based on, what is termed in health care, Evidence-Based-Medicine. Evidenced Based Medicine because prescriptions carry their own risks, generally over prescribed anyway, and should be prescribed only if there is evidence or arguable reason to take them. So, your primary care provider needs to know you in order to orchestrate your Mind/Body/Spirit/LifeStyle/Social domains of Wellness, while using the power and convenience of telecommunications for video visits, to guide specialists and consultants, and to order imaging and laboratory testing in your behalf. So in PUCT I argue the yearly physical examination, so the practitioner gets to know you better and have a chance to exam those things that are not readily apparent, such as enlarged liver or spleen, skin lesions, hidden blood flow issues, and so forth. In many ways, Primary and Urgent Care TeleMedicine is another tool, although incredibly convenient and powerful, for your practitioner to serve you and your family in a patient-centered health economy.