Week 2 Post 1

 Leading Causes of Death:

#1- Heart disease (90% of cases preventable)

#2- Cancer (50% of cases preventable)

1900-53% of deaths were secondary to infectious disease

Epigenetics: heritable changes in gene expression (active vs. inactive genes) that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence (a change in phenotype without a change in genotype) which in turn affects how cells read the genes. 

• BRCA(breast cancer gene)=60% chance of getting breast cancer
• Our exposures are able to turn genes on or off with modification 

Modification: DNA Methylation

• Diet, pollution, infection increase susceptibility 

What is DNA Methylation? Process by which methyl groups are added to DNA

• Modifies function of DNA
• Important role in the regulation of inflammatory genes
• Bacterial infection induces hyper methylation in IGF2 gene

Example: Ingrown toe nail=puss, redness (this is good)

Problem=we now have low grade chronic inflammation from epigenetic factors/Biggest cause=FOOD

Foods that trigger inflammation: 

Animal Foods:                                                   Processed Foods:

-Saturated Fats                                                   -White Flour 

-Trans Fats                                                         -Added Sugars

-Red Meat                                                          -Oil

-Iron                                                                   -Meats

Also, physical inactivity, alcohol, smoke, and stress trigger

Those factors=source of almost all chronic disease. Over 90% of all heart attacks and strokes and over 90% of all type II diabetes, 60% all cancers. 

Why? Health care spending crisis. 75% of more than $3 trillion goes to chronic illness. That spending accounts for 16% of our GDP! (More than infrastructure, military, or education). 

America is ranked last among wealthy countries for health and quality care but we spend the most!

TREAT THE CAUSES!

4 simple behaviors: not smoking, 3.5 hours of exercise per week, healthy plant-based diet, healthy weight (BMI<30). This will prevent most cases of chronic disease.

MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ANY OTHER PREVENTATIVE MEASURE OR TREATMENT. 

DON'T treat risk factors, DO treat cause. 

Preventative Medicine=bad for business

No one profits so no incentive. 

Not taught so not easy. 

Salary>Science so no doctors want to learn. 

Take Back Your Health Act (2009)-"Intensive lifestyle treatment that doctors are taught and paid to practice"=DIED!

Increased Food Energy Supply: 

Increase in energy intake is sufficient alone to explain the increase in weight in US. 

• Physical activity levels actually have not decreases (may have even increased)
• Diet=Catalyst of America's bad health 
• Physical activity=Moderator of weight gain 

To fix? Focus on energy intake- obesogenic food environment drives the current energy overconsumption.

McKinney, Amanda. "Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine". DoaneX: BIOL-212X.  https://courses.edx.org/courses/course-v1:DoaneX+BIOL-212x+2T2020/886f85ee3d284626b884d40ce7d80248/.