In its simplest terms, aging can be explained by the concept of the wear-and-tear of life exceeding the repair. This is often how I start the conversation with patients as we journey into the concepts of biological age vs chronological age. In our youth, we are often all too eager to hit those societally imposed thresholds of prefrontal cortex development that dictate when we…
Last month, in Part I of this article, I reviewed the different types of epigenetic modifications and how they can adversely affect children’s health. In the current article, I discuss these modifications in more detail, including how they can be effectively prevented or reversed. A variety of factors can lead to such epigenetic modifications, starting in the prenatal period and extending beyond and…
To create a healthy child, we must first look at the prenatal period and earlier. One could hypothesize that if Mom and Dad aren’t healthy, the likelihood of an optimal pregnancy and subsequent pediatric health is likely less than favorable. How do we counsel people who want to be parents to prepare for raising a healthy,…
Neuropathy is a painful condition characterized by numbness, prickling, burning, or other pain sensations, usually in the legs, feet, and hands. Diabetes is the most common cause of autonomic neuropathy
Thomas Edison once said, “The chief function of the body is to carry the brain around.” Indeed, the human brain’s importance is reflected in the fact that it is the most powerful computer ever created. If we bought a real computer, we’d invest in a warranty program to safeguard it. Yet, when it comes to our…
The human skin is the largest organ of the body. It comprises 15% of body weight and has an average surface area of around 2 m2 (21.5 square feet).1 The skin has a high turnover rate, with epidermal skin cells replacing themselves approximately once every 27 days.2 The skin contains and constrains the trillions of other cells that constitute the “us” that resides within. The skin is our interface between…
Autoimmune diseases afflict a considerable portion of the population, with recent numbers indicating that 15.9% of the US population, or 41 million people, suffer from an autoimmune condition.1 Although autoimmune diseases are more common among women, the number of men with this type of condition is increasing, according to a study conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health.1 At the same time, the incidence of food…
The philosophy of Hippocrates has been shown over the past 2400 years to not only have merit but also notable scientific veracity. Hippocrates advocated a natural approach to the treatment of diseases and emphasized the need for harmony between the individual and social and natural environments.1 His approach is especially relevant to mental disorders such as depression and…
Modern couples face many obstacles to becoming pregnant or giving birth to a healthy baby, and the distribution of contributing factors appears to be nearly equal between male and female. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12% of women aged 15 to 44 years in the United States struggle with becoming pregnant or carrying…