WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

 Last week we set goals for our Healthspan. You were supposed to put some thought into where you’d like to be health wise at 70, 80, 90 even 100.

This  week we will look at the concept of The Four Horsemen of Chronic Disease and how they threaten both lifespan and healthspan.

The most common threats to our lifespan and Healthspan are what Dr. Attia calls the Four Horsemen of Chronic Disease. These are heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes. They are the main drivers of death and disability in our current culture and it’s critical for us to understand our personal risk factors, identify them and mitigate them long before they become health issues. As I said last week, even if you are currently dealing with one or more of these issues, all is not lost. It will just require more time and effort on your part.

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of both men and women, and it is driven by factors like high apoB levels, hypertension, and inflammation. But these threats don’t just appear on the scene overnight. They are hidden threats that slowly damage your arteries over time. When we emphasize early detection through advanced diagnostics, such as coronary calcium scoring, family history assessments, and detailed lipid analysis, we can uncover our personal risk that may go undetected by conventional medical assessments.

Cancer

To understand this particular risk will involve understanding your genetic predispositions, family history, and the role of environmental factors like diet, tobacco, and exposure to cancer-causing agent.  There are preventative lifestyle interventions and personalized cancer screening strategies that go beyond standard recommendations, tailored to your unique risk profile.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

I think all of us have someone in our circle of friends or family who suffers from conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. They are devastating, but they don’t happen overnight either. If we look closely, there are always clues. Risk factors such as insulin resistance, poor vascular health, and even low sleep quality play a significant role in the development of these diseases.  If we can address these early, through habit modifications and targeted preventive measures, we can significantly alter the trajectory of cognitive decline. Yes it IS possible!

Metabolic Disorders

Did you know that type 2 diabetes and related metabolic conditions are among the most preventable yet pervasive chronic diseases? It’s true! Insulin resistance, poor diet, and lack of physical activity are typical drivers of these disorders, which in turn amplify the risks of heart disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration. It’s like a vicious cycle and if you’re paying attention, you’ll see that all of these risk factors are connected to a lot of the same things. The focus here is on proactive management, including glucose monitoring and personalized nutrition and exercise plans aimed at improving and maintaining insulin sensitivity.

I’ve said it a thousand times. This is NOT rocket science, folks. Our bodies are so fearfully and wonderfully made and the maintenance on them is pretty minimal and easy if you think about it. You all know of my military background, and one of the things we learn early is tactics. Tactics are the specific actions we take to achieve our objectives and implement our strategy. The tactics we are going to discuss in the coming weeks are not temporary fixes; they need to be implemented into your daily life.  And they will enhance both your lifespan and healthspan, I promise you. Instead of the allopathic, traditional medicine reactive approach that we’ve all become too familiar with, we are going to use a proactive approach and focus on prevention, optimization, and personalized interventions.

Disclaimer here. This won’t be a walk in the park for many of you. If you have 50 years of bad habits and unhealthy lifestyles to undo, it’s going to take some work. But please consider the alternative. You’ve worked all your lives. Do you really want to spend those golden years sitting in a chair, unable to move, possibly not even recognizing your own children? I watched my once strong, virile Marine father waste away and die miserably in a VA hospital at 85 lbs. because of choices he made. Because of a lifestyle that had been ingrained in him since youth. Nothing I said or did would make him change those habits. And he died at 62. Unable to walk, having to be fed a liquid diet, and gasping for every breath.

I tell you this story because it doesn’t have to be this way. It breaks my heart to see the greatest generation wasting away before my eyes, when it could be reversed. I don't want that for the next generations. Next week, we’re going to talk about specific tactics in the areas of exercise, nutrition, sleep, emotional health, and medications & supplements. This will lay the foundation for our healthy approach to longevity. Until then,

LET’S GET BETTER!

Let's Talk!