Starting a bonfire with damp wood can be challenging, and it is like asking a sedentary person to start an exercise program. Where I grew up, this huge mango tree gave us lots of fruits during the summertime. I used to sweep our front yard daily to clean up the dried leaves and burn them…
This article is about how exercise stimulates the production of new brain cells, also known as neurogenesis. About 700 neurons are generated every day but that decrease as we age. Stress can hamper neurogenesis by the production of endogenous steroids. Lack of new brain cells can present as anxiety, depression, and later as neurodegenerative diseases…
Why do I need to read this? To have a better understanding of why exercise is the benchmark therapy for chronic diseases like metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Exerkines Exerkines are substances released from the skeletal muscles and other organs like the fat (adipokines), liver (hepatokines), brain (neurokines), and kidneys, (nephrokines)…
We know that food and activity can affect our health, but the city where we live can have a direct effect on our health. Recently I was in Shanghai, China to attend my daughter’s graduation. The subway system is called the Metro. The Metro is very efficient in handling thousands of people even during rush…
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint inflammation. OA is commonly attributed to aging, overuse, and joint degeneration from increased mechanical loading of the neck, lower back, hips, knees, and feet in obesity. Recently, there is an interest in the association of OA and MetS. This makes sense, considering that there has been an…
Plasticity is the ability of a solid material to deform secondary to external stress and retain its functionality. Just like when you throw a plastic ball. It may deform as it hits the floor, but as it regains its shape in a microsecond, it bounces back in its original form. Before 1950, there was no…
Well, it is not like I see the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse around the corner. This post is about the practical use of intermittent fasting and physical fitness in disaster situations. Events like a house fire or natural calamities like blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, and a zombie apocalypse can abruptly and rudely introduce…
Why Can’t I Lose Weight?
The article, Physical Activity Correlates with Life Span, discussed the longer life expectancy associated with physical activity. The article How Does Exercise Prolong Life? Explained the different biological processes that are activated that lead to a longer life. In contrast, a sedentary lifestyle is chock full of diseases. Clinical Consequences of Inactivity: Metabolic Diseases Obesity Risk…
Loose teeth may be periodontitis, and they may have Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Conversely, if someone has poorly controlled diabetes, they may have periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a disease of the mouth caused by germs that weakens the attachment of the tooth to the gums that ultimately leads to loss of teeth. Signs and symptoms…
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The article, Physical Activity Correlates with Life Span, and How Does Exercise Prolong Life? Discussed the gains from physical activity and exercise. The more intense the activity or exercise, the more health benefits you get. But how do you know what is the right intensity? The recommendations for this article is from the Department of…
There is a dose-response relationship between physical activity and length of life. The more and vigorous the movement, the longer the life. That was the topic of Physical Activity Correlates with Life Span. The more powerful the movement, the longer the life. So how does the body do that? How can movement and exercise make…
This article was a continuation of a post about the story of GS when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. While in the hospital, she was seen by a hospitalist and she was advised to be mindful of gluten intake too. GS was told that gluten can also cause symptoms similar to CD Knowing that…
Crohn’s disease (CD) is of particular interest to me because I know someone close to me that was diagnosed with CD. It was a scary time. During medical school about 30 years ago, we were taught that CD is only seen in young Caucasian males in their 20s. Presently, as people adopt a “westernized…
Paracelsus said, “The Dose Makes the Poison.” It means that the poison is in the dose of a substance and not the substance itself. Sola Dosis Facit Venenum We encounter the concept every day. Alcohol in moderation is preventive for heart attacks. But if you have too much alcohol, then you can get into trouble….
Let’s say you live in an old house that has seen better days. The floors are getting rickety, the roof is leaking, and the walls, countertops, and cabinets are old-fashioned and tired-looking. You hired a handyman to do the remodeling. But instead of buying new lumber and supplies for the project, he cleaned up and…
This post is a continuation of the previous article, Metabolic Syndrome and the Pancreas. The recent post described the progression of the pancreatic disease from fat infiltration, nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) to nonalcoholic steatopancreatitis (NASP) characterized by chronic inflammation resulting in scarring and even pancreatic cancer in some patients. The pancreas serves a vital function in…
What is the Pancreas? The pancreas is a vital organ located behind the stomach. It makes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon. It is connected to the gallbladder system and intestines by small tubes that conduct the bile and digestive enzymes to go to the duodenum to digest fat, carbohydrates, and proteins. Insulin…
O.O.D.A. means Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. The OODA loop was developed by U.S.A.F. Colonel John Boyd, a fighter pilot, military strategist, and Pentagon consultant. The OODA loop was initially used for air-to-air combat as part of the Energy-Maneuverability theory. It has been used in the military, sports, business, and litigation. We live in a…
