Modern medicine has made many advances benefitting our health and wellbeing. Our understanding of disease has progressed tremendously, more so in some fields than others. An examination of life expectancy is evidence of these advances. Prior to the development of antibiotics, before we knew about bacteria and hygiene, many infections were deadly. These days, more people succumb to the chronic diseases of lifestyle as opposed to trauma or infection, as was the case just a few decades ago.
Read MoreRemember some of the old doctor shows, there have been quite a few over the years. The patient would lie down on the exam table and the physician would place their hands on the individual’s belly to palpate their “insides,” amounting to feeling around. Of course, this was always followed with use of a stethoscope to listen to their breathing and heartbeat. At last, voila! The wise healer would provide the precise diagnosis.
Read MoreDid you know that “germs” are everywhere? A specific term is ubiquitous, meaning they are everywhere, a part of our environment. Certainly, germ is an antiquated term, referring to microscopic biological organisms. Most people automatically associate this with bacteria, but it can also refer to viral particles and fungal organisms.
Read MoreAs the science of medicine advances, and more research is performed, our understanding of the importance of nutrition deepens. As the cliché goes, we are what we eat. Our body fuels the minute-by-minute process of cellular growth and provides for tissue repair, via the consumption of solids and liquids. It’s what is in our foodstuffs, the actual molecular composition, that is so critical to health.
Read MoreBillions of dollars are spent in America in caring for illness and disease. Many tears have been shed from the lives lost to our biggest killers, the chronic diseases of lifestyle. Modern medicine has struggled to combat the rising tide of these conditions, like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. And the link to the epidemic of obesity over the last half century is hard to ignore.
Read MoreMedical myths abound in most cultures, beliefs that are grounded in history or arising from a neighbor’s experience. A large number of these have no scientific backing. This is not to say they aren’t accurate or don’t work, only that there isn’t good evidence either way. But it is a very human trait to draw conclusions. We do this routinely about many issues regarding our health, our illnesses, and the therapies we use. (How about the one where you can catch an upper respiratory infection because of an open window?)
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