How Do We CREATE (CAUSE) Disease And Dysfunction?

Most people think of disease as something we “CATCH.” The flu, chicken pox, sinus infections, are a few examples. Then there are diseases that are non communicable like diabetes, obesity and cancer. Dysfunction is a term that applies to the loss of muscle, vital organs (ex. heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract, etc…) joint, tendon or ligament function. These are the basic causes of health complications we contend with that affect the quality of life we live.

Many of you probably think of disease and dysfunction as a “NORMAL” aging process. It is commonly believed that “LUCK” determines who will suffer disease and dysfunction and who will remain healthy.

It is because of this FALSE BELIEF that I write this article!

.

Creating disease doesn’t mean placing your head in a vat of viruses and breathing deeply. It means CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT within the BODY and MIND that is so weak and compromised, that mere exposure to a foreign substance (ex. “germs”) allows the body to succumb to disease. How do we create this weakened environment that compromises our natural defenses? This is best explained with an analogy showing the relationship between a car engine and the immune system.

Let’s pretend we use a LESSER quality oil in our car (often containing contaminants in the oil mix) to PROTECT our vehicle’s engine from damage.  Let’s pretend we don’t change it as frequently as recommended. Let’s pretend we drive the car “HARD“ (ex. don’t give it a chance to warm up, yet accelerate and decelerate frequently and suddenly.) Let’s pretend we avoid checkups and servicing and ignore the residue accumulating in the engine because the car is running without any problems (SYMPTOMS.) Ultimately the manner in which we drive, the accumulation of residue and the change in oil viscosity (thickness and flow) will cause increased wear and tear on the engine requiring a professional mechanic to service and repair the engine (as well as check and service any collateral damage resulting from the abusive treatment of the vehicle.)

.

Let’s change the story from a car engine to a person’s immune system.

.

Let’s pretend we use a LESSER quality source of FOOD (often containing contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, mercury {and other heavy metals,} hormones, antibiotics, dyes, preservatives, etc… to provide the nutritional needs to PROTECT our bodies from damage (disease and dysfunction.) Let’s pretend we don’t follow the recommended types of foods, quantities of foods and frequency of supplying these nutritional needs to the body. Let’s pretend we work the body “HARD” (ex. living stressful lives, VOID of necessary and restful sleep, VOID of adequate hydration, VOID of exercise necessary for maintaining healthy heart and lung function, etc…) Let’s pretend we avoid checkups and ignore the residue accumulating within us because our bodies are functioning without any “problems” (SYMPTOMS.) Ultimately, the manner in which we LIVE will cause increased wear and tear on the BODY requiring a professional health care provider to “service” and help REPAIR the compromised immune system resulting in disease and/or dysfunction (as well as check and service (TREAT) any collateral damage (ex. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, reflux disease, cancer, etc…) caused by this self abusive behavior.

.

LIFESTYLE IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF DISEASE AND DYSFUNCTION!

.

Aging, shifting weather patterns through the seasons and everyday “germs” ARE COMMONLY BLAMED (INCORRECTLY) for the diseases we succumb to and the physical and mental dysfunction that impairs our ability to enjoy an active recreational and social agenda . It is NOT simply “bad luck” in most cases. It is the result of years of self abusive eating, drinking (sodas and alcohol), sedentary living, environmental toxicities and the continued willingness to maintain this lifestyle.

I hope this analogy simplifies just how important a role LIFESTYLE plays in determining the chances of acquiring communicable diseases {ex. flu, chicken pox, sinus infections, etc…} and non communicable diseases{ex. diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, cancer, etc…} as well as local or systemic dysfunction {ex. loss of muscle, organ (heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract, etc…) joint, tendon or ligament function.}

The good news is, if we are capable of CREATING Disease and Dysfunction, we are also capable of PREVENTING  IT (in most cases.)

Tags: disease, dysfunction, exercise, health, lifestyle, nutrition, quality of life, sedentary living, self image