Introduction
You might know people who were doing perfectly fine and then suddenly had to get admitted to the hospital for some serious illness. Or you may simply wonder why you're not feeling well even though you are not apparently ill. Although with advancements in the medical field, doctors have found cures for millions of diseases, there's still a high prevalence of some commonly occurring diseases. It is because of those "hidden causes" associated with these diseases.
Today, we will learn about these hidden causes of human diseases and how to deal with them.
You might know people who were doing perfectly fine and then suddenly had to get admitted to the hospital for some serious illness. Or you may simply wonder why you're not feeling well even though you are not apparently ill. Although with advancements in the medical field, doctors have found cures for millions of diseases, there's still a high prevalence of some commonly occurring diseases. It is because of those "hidden causes" associated with these diseases.
Today, we will learn about these hidden causes of human diseases and how to deal with them.
Lethal bacteria
Why did I use the term "Lethal" bacteria? Aren't all bacteria dangerous for us? No. Not all bacteria cause illnesses. Our body contains a lot of different types of bacteria as part of its normal flora.
Dangerous bacteria invade the body, weaken the immune system, and reside in different body tissues. These can cause heart diseases (infective carditis), rheumatic fever, meningitis, pneumonia, and other illnesses.
Genetics
A lot of diseases like diabetes, blood disorders, kidney dysfunction, and cancers come from genetics. It means a person is born with the susceptibility of having certain diseases.
Stress
A lot of psychiatric and physical illnesses get aggravated by stress. Examples include chronic gastritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, insomnia, depression, and many more.
Studies have revealed that chronic stress causes structural changes in certain brain areas like the prefrontal cortex and limbic system. These changes can cause behavioral and cognitive dysfunction (1).
Processed foods and beverages
With scientific advancements, our lifestyle has become more passive. People have started relying on fast foods, energy drinks, and processed beverages. These foods contain artificial sweeteners and extra calories that can lead to obesity (2).
Not just that, research has found that a lot of carcinogens are present in ultra-processed foods and beverages, increasing the risk of cancer (3).
Unhealthy lifestyle
Several illnesses like obesity, heart disease, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension are caused by an inactive and unhealthy lifestyle (4).
Polluted air
The air we breathe in contains a lot of carcinogens. Research has identified more than 2800 carcinogens in air near emission sources (5).
Breathing in polluted air can cause diseases like asthma, lung cancer, and heart and brain diseases. It can even affect babies before they're born, causing issues with their growth and weight (6).
How do we deal with hidden causes of human diseases?
● Maintain hygiene: This is the most important thing to do to avoid bacterial or other infections.
● Boost your immunity: You can boost your immunity with anti-inflammatory diets, citrus fruits, and vegetables.
● Manage your stress: When it comes to managing stress, you do not have to avoid the stressors. Instead, learn to manage your stress with different coping strategies.
● Avoid highly processed foods: Your snacks do not have to be ultra-processed and sweetened foods. You can try healthy alternatives like dry fruits, nuts, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
● Eat healthy: A healthy diet is one with low salt, sugar, carbs, and fats. Eat more protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
● Get active: Move your body daily. Even if you have a sitting job, take short breaks and move daily.
● Maintain a workout routine: Start with a 30-minute mild workout routine and gradually increase your workout span.
● Get regular physical exams: A lot of diseases take years to develop. Timely diagnosis can help you recover from the disease and avoid complications.
Quick Recap
As a whole, there are many hidden causes of human diseases. Our genes, the air we breathe, the foods we eat, stress, and various other factors can make us ill. It's like a mix of what we're born with and how we live. To understand and handle these reasons, we need to look at everything – not just fix symptoms but also think about how we live and what's around us. It's all about finding a good balance, taking care of ourselves, and making sure our surroundings help us.
References
1. Mariotti A. (2015). The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain-body communication. Future science OA, 1(3), FSO23.
2. Mambrini, S. P., Menichetti, F., Ravella, S., Pellizzari, M., De Amicis, R., Foppiani, A., Battezzati, A., Bertoli, S., & Leone, A. (2023). Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Incidence of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults: A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies. Nutrients, 15(11), 2583.
3. Isaksen, I. M., & Dankel, S. N. (2023). Ultra-processed food consumption and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 42(6), 919–928.
4. Park, J. H., Moon, J. H., Kim, H. J., Kong, M. H., & Oh, Y. H. (2020). Sedentary Lifestyle: Overview of Updated Evidence of Potential Health Risks. Korean journal of family medicine, 41(6), 365–373.
5. Lewtas J. (1993). Airborne carcinogens. Pharmacology & Toxicology, 72 Suppl 1, 55–63.
6. Ghorani-Azam, A., Riahi-Zanjani, B., & Balali-Mood, M. (2016). Effects of air pollution on human health and practical measures for prevention in Iran. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 21, 65.
