Non-communicable diseases(NCDs) used to be called Chronic diseases. These are diseases once infected with, are gonna prolong and stay with us for a reasonably long time. Examples include Obesity, Diabetes, Cardio vascular diseases, Cancer, Asthma etc.,
NCD’s are an epidemic which the daily news doesn’t talk about unlike communicable diseases like Influenza and Covid. NCD’s account for 68% of deaths world over, and is far bigger than other communicable deaths combined. In fact, the numbers are close to 87% in cities.
To our surprise, these diseases were almost not in existence a century ago!
So, what went wrong? — Simple answer, our understanding of Biology.
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The modern medicine generally assumes any organisms in our body other than that of ours’ seems to cause danger to us, the humans. This could be bacteria, viruses, fungi etc.,
But this turns out to be fully false.
Based on several analysis, it’s concluded that we the homo-sapiens, fall under mammal category according to the topology classified. However, it was discovered that we are close to 90% that of microbes.
Like a fully nourished rain-forest, which consists of millions of species, that live in harmony; human body seems to consist at the least 10,000’s of micro-organisms, in major part of gut(gastrointestinal tact), skin, etc., And, they seem to play a MAJOR role in our metabolism, and the very existence of we, the humans.
No human may have all 10,000’s of the organisms, but as we adopt as groups, and consume local food that’s available, seem to grow a different set of microbes in our body. For examples the microbiome of Indians would be completely different from that of people of Japan, and both can remain healthy by consuming and living locally.
The modern medicine instead of seeing the microbes as part of our body, has seem them as aliens; Of course the best of the minds have worked on improving the medicines, however, our fundamental assumption has been completely different to reality!
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Cornell Professors’ shocking research says the origin of NCDs’ are determined even before they are born, and up to 4 years of the initial growth.
The reason the gut microbiome get distorted are primarily influenced by birth delivery mode, the food that we consume, the place where we live, antibiotic overreach, efforts at human safety, and mammalian only human medicines amongst many others.
NCD’s seems to be caused because of the distortion of the microbiome. This unlike a Tsunami is not caused in one-shot; but due to several factors, that keep accumulation over a long period of time.
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The author concludes saying there are good number of ways to prevent this from happening, and that can happen only on understanding the above reasons, and educating even Doctors, to transition to the modern world.