Dr. Tanelian's Weblog

Our Nation’s Number One Concern – HEALTH CARE

Every hour we are bombarded with the cost of gasoline on the news. It seems that our main focus or concern is the price of oil per barrel. Yes, this is a concern, but what should be our #1 concern is HEALTH CARE. This seems to have taken a back seat, been swept under the carpet, or just simply ignored.

The US uses 20.8 million barrels of oil per day (2007 CIA Factbook), which is about 1 trillion dollars per year or $8.98 per day for each American. In 2007, the US spent 2.3 trillion dollars or $20.90 dollars per day for each American on healthcare and this is projected to increase to 4.2 trllion dollars (6.9%/yr) or $30.28 dollars per day for each American by 2016 (US Govt. Accounting Office). Remember, these are average costs and the cost of health care actually increases, as we get older. HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURE AND THE HEALTH OF OUR NATION ARE OUR #1 CONCERNS!

Why are these real and relevant facts not told to us by our politicians and reported on the news? Are we expected to live our lives in Disneyland until the economic reality of healthcare (SICK CARE) hits us on the head? The fact is that our nations #1 concern should be HEALTH CARE and in order to correct our ailing economy and provide a future for our children we must become healthy. The fact is that the ONLY way to correct our ailing population and economy is to have healthy people and the ONLY way to achieve this is by PREVENTION OF DISEASE AND LEADING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

This idea is not new, rather it has been promoted for thousands of years, yet we continue to ignore it and sweep it under the carpet. Rome did not heed the words of Pliny the Elder (23 AD – 79 AD) who insisted that the health of the Roman Empire depended upon the health and fitness of its people; who if healthy, would always be ready and prepared to defend their country. Unfortunately, his advice was not heeded and the Roman people became obese and unfit, leading to their demise by the mercenary armies they hired. Franklin D. Roosevelt reiterated the words of Pliny the Elder in 1940 when he said, “The total defense which this nation seeks involves a great deal more than building airplanes, ships, guns and bombs. We cannot be a strong nation unless we are a healthy nation.”

THESE STATEMENTS ARE MORE TRUE TODAY THAN EVER?

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.

To Wine or Not to Wine

Wine (drinking any form of alcohol) has been given a “bad rap” in terms of liver disease, especially cirrhosis, but is that true? Yes, excessive alcohol consumption is potentially toxic and damaging to your body, organs and cells. But what about modest drinking wine? Actually, this is good for you, your organs and cells!

Resveratrol and other polyphenols that are connexin-enhancers are found in wine and have been found to be protective of known disorders attributed to liver and other diseases. Recently, a study done in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego was published in the journal, Hepatology (See Dr.Tanelian’s Medical News). This research shows that modest wine drinking can actually decrease fatty liver disease often associated with cirrhosis. Moreover, resveratrol has been shown to be protective of another complication of liver disease, portal vein thrombosis.

Red wine consumption has even been shown to maintain healthy liver function in centenarians (people 100 years of age or older), published research in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation from the Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery in the University of Florence, Italy (Referenced in Dr. Tanelian’s Medical News).

Actually, Fatty Liver Disease leading to cirrhosis affects all age groups, including children; some estimates suggest it may effect as many as one-third of Americans and is not associated with alcohol consumption, but rather with overweight, obesity and diabetes (Mayo Clinic, Feb 19, 2007).

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.

The Economy and Health

During downturns in the economy it is easy to diminish or disregard our own health. We justify our disregard for health and reprioritize what we consider to be essential(s): gasoline, food, housing, television, video games, cell phones, clothing, haircuts, cosmetics, lawn caretakers, car washers, home cleaners, etc. But what happens to our HEALTH?

HEALTH is given a back seat, but what do we have when we lose our health? NOTHING. Let’s take an objective look at what we consider to be our priorities. Are these truly priorities in the big picture of life or have our wants become confused with our needs?

Actually, when the economy becomes strained our HEALTH becomes even more important. HEALTH: our health, the health of our children, our family’s health is the most important possession we have during an economic downturn or recession. HEALTH is the one essential that will always Sustain, Maintain and Improve the quality of our lives. Preventative health should have always been a major priority, but now in times of heightened stress it becomes an even greater priority and necessity.

The old adage is really true – HEALTH IS WEALTH!

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.

Why the Connexin Molecule?

Have you ever heard of the gap junction; a.k.a. the connexin molecule? Maybe, but have you ever really contemplated its role in life as we know it, multicellular life, such as ourselves? Probably not.

“It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious”
Alfred North Whitehead (1861 – 1947)

Let us think about the simplicity and elegance of this molecule and how it makes our cells communicate with one another other, how it makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts.

“The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.”
Arthur Koestler (1905 – 1983)

“Truth is eternal, knowledge is changeable. It is disastrous to confuse them.”
Madeline L’Engle, An Acceptable Time

As simple as the connexin molecule seems and as many complexities that it solves does not change the truth and importance of its function.

“A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works.”
John Gaule

From simple systems that are reliable come all well functioning complex systems.

“Maybe you have to know darkness before you can appreciate the light.”
Madeline L’Engle, A Ring of Endless Light

Unfortunately, this seems to be the way in which we live our lives. We refuse to acknowledge the light until we know darkness, then it is too late to regain the light.

“That’s the way things come clear. All of a sudden. And then you realize how obvious they’ve been all along.”
Madeline L’Engle, The Arm of the Starfish

In time, every man realizes that lifestyle directs his life and health, but don’t let that time pass.

“Every man is the builder of a temple called his body”
Henry David Thoreau

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D,. Ph.D.

Coffee to the Rescue Once Again

As we all intuitively know and have been accustomed to for hundreds of years, coffee is good for you.

Yes, once again researchers have published that coffee inhibits platelet aggregation. This study was conducted at the National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition in Rome, Italy and published in the British Journal of Nutrition on April 28, 2008 (see Dr. Tanelian's Medical News for the actual study abstract). Might the antiplatelet quality of coffee be as good as or maybe even better than the host of antiplatelet drugs [aspirin, dipyridamole (Persantine), clopidogrel (Plavix), ticopindine (Ticlid), etc.] with all their side effects that are highly marketed and promoted? Do we really need these drugs when we have a safe, natural and tasty beverage such as coffee?

This news is not really new, since in 1987 researchers at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center published a similar study in the International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research that was entitled, Coffee extracts inhibit aggregation in vivo and in vitro.

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.