Noninfectious Lifestyle Diseases are Now Doing What Infectious Diseases Did in the Past
The many advances of medical science have been nothing short of amazing. With America leading the way in many of these medical advances, the future looks even brighter. There is definitely much to be proud of and much more to come.
Take into consideration that germs were only discovered around 150 years ago. Many of us might remember seventh grade science when we learned about Louis Pasteur’s discovery of the germ hypothesis. Pasteur’s findings led to many things that benefit us today like antiseptic surgery, improved sanitation, cleaner water, safer food, and let’s not forget the granddaddy of them all VACCINES.
Because of his discovery diseases like typhoid, cholera, poliomyelitis and smallpox do not affect us as it did in the past. For the most part many of these diseases are with us no more, except for the samples that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) keeps for research purposes. Many of these diseases like smallpox were leading causes of death in developed countries killing hundreds of thousands of men women and children.
In today’s society, these infectious diseases are no longer the threat to us like before. Now infectious diseases have given way to noninfectious degenerative-type diseases, also known as Western or lifestyle diseases. These diseases come upon us not because of germs or viruses. They come upon because of the way we live.
Many people whom I have had many conversations with about lifestyle diseases always ask the same question. “How do you know, and do you have facts to prove it?” I let them know that the proof is in the pudding. Here are some statistics that you cannot ignore:
- In 1900, about 10 to 15 percent of Americans died from heart disease and strokes (many of these were due to rheumatic heart disease). Today it is 45 percent.
- In those days, less than 6 percent died of cancer while today we are almost above 25 percent.
As you can see, the stats do not lie. I remember when I was growing up my grandmother would say “Back in my days only old people died.” I have never forgotten that statement, because in today’s time we have 32 year olds that are dying of heart attacks. It is mind boggling for me to hear that a healthy person and the ripe young age of 32 has suddenly died of a massive heart attack. This is not the way it was meant to be.
Our young people should not be dying of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and from cancer of the lungs, breast, prostate, and colon.
Did you know?
Cardiovascular disease as we know it did not begin to show its ugly head until after World War 1. It became a problem only after World War 2. During this time, people were able to afford diets rich in animal products. Also around this same time, the food industry began producing highly processed foods crammed with calories and emptied of nutritional value.
