“The time is always right to do the right thing.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
After 24 years as a practicing physician assistant I have come to the understanding that with all the modern advances in medicine we are losing the battle with chronic disease. Just today I heard a patient tell me if she would’ve known what it would be like to get older she would’ve taken better care of herself. Like this patient I cannot count how many other times I have heard this statement in 24 years of service. So why is it so difficult to do the right thing when it comes to our own health? This question may be mind boggling for some yet I believe it comes down to one simple concept…immediate gratification. We are a society conditioned to get what we want now. Many of us do not even leave the house for essential items anymore because of a company that began as an internet bookstore known as Amazon.
Convenience has become a way of life in industrialized countries like the US. Now for the human species this is a recent development. Modern homo sapiens have roamed the Earth for the past 160,000 years or so according to scientists. The majority of this time was spent surviving as we did not exist at the top of the food chain. The majority of our ancestry existed as potential prey to predatory animals. Convenience was nowhere near possible during these times. Humans existed in groups collaborating in order to survive. Hunters and gatherers finding solace from predators in small groups protecting their young together. Nomadic lives subject to the seasons of the year and the seasons of time. Growing old was a luxury then.
During the paleolithic era about 8000 generations ago the average human life expectancy was 33. It is estimated that 75% of the deaths occurred as a result of infection, including diarrheal diseases that resulted in dehydration and starvation. To perpetuate our species, the genes of our ancestors mutated over time, with beneficial mutations accumulating to protect them against the hazards they faced. They craved food, especially the tastes of sugar and protein, and gorged when it was available. They benefited from their “thrifty genotype” genes that individually helped them store a little more fat, and that collectively explains why at least 25% and perhaps as much as 80% of modern obesity and type 2 diabetes is heritable. (1) Once again demonstrating one of our finest traits: adaptability. During this time it was estimated that approximately 15% of human deaths occurred violently.
As we continued to evolve as species we continued to adapt to what the environment provided, always working to obtain nutrients. Advances in time would allow us to inch our way up the food chain. Our footprint only beginning to take form on Earth. In time they would gather in large numbers forming larger communities. Incentivized to remain together we eventually began to create settlements on fertile lands where animal domestication, agriculture and hunting allowed our ancestors to propagate further. Work was still the theme of the day. Convenience at the time meant the nomadic lifestyle was no longer necessary as human populations grew along the equator. Human standard of living continued to improve in time as cities developed bringing about a new host of health issues. It is presumed that life continued in this diurnal pattern until the Industrial Revolution began.
During the Industrial revolution about 120 years ago the average life expectancy was about 54 years. Human health shifted to more man made causes of death. The leading public health challenges were air, sewage and water pollution; industrial toxins; smoking and accidents. It was this time that began to pave the way for the comfortable lives we all live now. A far cry from that of our ancestors whose main preoccupation was survival. The UN estimated that in 1804 our population reached 1 billion worldwide. By 1927, just 123 years later the population doubled. Yet, it only took 33 years for the global human population to reach 3 billion. Legislation and regulation of industry became the solution to the leading health challenges during that period.
The current world population is 8.1 billion according to the UN. The leading public health issues facing our species today are no longer predators. The leading public health issues are obesity, diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, depression, suicide, heart attacks, strokes and degenerative diseases. These are all diseases of abundance not scarcity. These diseases also pose the greatest financial burden in industrialized nations. Comfort and convenience have brought about a serious change to human health. This became evident to me when I attended my first epigenetics conference about 6 years ago. It was presented that 90-95% of the chronic diseases listed above are preventable with lifestyle modifications. Following this conference I began to wonder how I could utilize this information to assist my patients.
Unfortunately, I made little ground suggesting behavioral modifications to chronically diseased patients that I had been seeing for the past 24 years. Western medicine is phenomenal at treating acute illness and trauma, however very poor at managing chronic diseases. Over the past 6 years, I have educated myself primarily in eastern holistic philosophies, as well as, in the understanding of the human mind. If we are to make a dent in chronic disease it will involve a cooperative effort between caregiver and patient. The primary issue with western medicine’s approach to chronic disease is that it disempowers the patient into a convenient way of viewing their health. Pharmaceuticals replace behavior modifications due to the ease of use. However, all pharmaceuticals bear adverse effects which can compound the diseased state. In western medicine it is not uncommon to treat a medication side effect with another medication.
This brings me back to the patient who mentioned she wished she had taken better care of herself when she was younger. We started Quantum Human Health in order to help everyday people like you develop sustainable lifestyle changes based upon scientifically proven methods ensuring long term wellness. Convenience and immediate gratification prevent each of us from appreciating the long term consequences of today’s decisions. At Quantum Human Health, it is our mission to educate our clients regarding the latest scientific advances using ancient wisdom fused with modern technology to increase health awareness promoting a practical approach to holistic care. We believe in empowering our coaching clients physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually as they reach new wellness heights. Our primary aim is to put you in touch with the best possible version of yourself which allows us the ability to create a roadmap for your personal health journey. Yet, our support does not cease there.
Our ultimate goal is to foster a trusting and accepting environment as we walk alongside you every step of the way. We will guide you along your path empowering you to take on daily challenges building resilience and fortitude for life’s road ahead. There has been no better time to take control of your health. The health care crisis will only worsen in the coming years as chronic diseases continue to climb in numbers despite all of the latest medical advances and pharmaceutical interventions. Insurance premiums and deductibles will also continue to climb based on the sheer numbers of the disease to be treated in the near future. In the case of diabetes alone, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be 1 billion people on Earth affected by this disease which could be easily managed with behavioral and lifestyle changes. Do not become a statistic. With our guidance and your effort we can join forces to create the sustainable change your health and wellness deserves. Focus on your health and save your long term wealth.
Our vision is to help end chronic diseases by 2050 yet we need your help. Your effort will be the instrumental part of our mission to create a healthier society for ourselves and future generations to follow. As your physical and mental health improves you will begin to notice those around you taking inventory of your changes. Your effort may inspire those in your immediate environment to begin making changes of their own as you continue the ripple effect that we and many others have created with this mission in mind. It is time for us to unite under one common bond all humans can have: collective health and wellness. So grateful for your time and effort in reading through this document. I look forward to meeting you soon.