LegendaryLife.com Blog

Health.com has written a rather interesting article about odds of dying from any particular disease during any given year to help put into perspective our fears of catching them. I have put next to them, lifetime odds and preventative steps you can do RIGHT NOW to increase your odds for the better. Keep in mind that although there is a strong genetic component to some of these diseases, lifestyle has also has a huge influence not only acquiring them but their overall effect on your body (severity of the condition).

Bird Flu: this year (almost zilch), lifetime (almost zilch)

For all the media hype in the past few years that we will be hit by the next Black Plague or Spanish Plague, nothing has happened (yet again). Governments have been stockpiling medicines and vaccines whose effectiveness is less then promising, big businesses have had to develop contingency plans using high priced consultants and large scale public unrest (stress) has been hashed out. The truth of the matter is that although your chances of dying from Bird Flu should you acquire it are pretty high, it’s the acquiring part that is statistically near zero. So far, it has only spread from bird to human and not human to human. So far, it has killed people rapidly but they where living with their livestock. So far, major outbreaks affecting dozens of people have all been isolated in third world countries where modern medicine isn’t as widespread. Well, now you know how to avoid getting it. One caveat is that if you should be so unfortunate to acquire Bird Flu, it’s still a genetic lottery whether you will pull through or not at this point.

Find out more about Bird Flu @ http://myfoodcount.com/healthylife/whatis/avianinfluenza.html

Breast Cancer: this year (1/680), lifetime (1/8)

Just about every week, there is a new fund raiser to support breast cancer, you can now buy products who send a pittance of their profits towards the fight as well. The truth is, breast cancer only has a 10% mortality rate after five years of diagnosis and out of the 122 000 000 women in the United States, only 178 000 will be diagnosed. Put another way, you have a 0.1% chance of developing breast cancer this year. How to cut your chances? Easy, stop drinking alcohol which increases your risks by 21%, avoid hormone therapies and get regular mammograms. Diet and exercise also play a major role in avoidance, keep in mind that 90% of ALL cancers are completely avoidable by lifestyle choices.

Find out more about Breast Cancer @ http://myfoodcount.com/healthylife/whatis/breastcancer.html

Heart Disease: this year (1/42), lifetime (1/3)

One of the more easily preventable diseases out there, Heart Disease is predominantly a cumulative couch potatoes disease lead by a lifelong avoidance of proper nutrition, exercise and generally taking your body for granted. Alcohol consumption and smoking habits are also big risk factors.

Find out more about Heart Disease @ http://myfoodcount.com/healthylife/whatis/coronaryarterydisease.html

Osteoporosis: this year (1/101), lifetime (½)

More people are diagnosed with an osteoporosis-linked hip fracture every year then the totals of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. Osteoporosis is also one of the more easily preventable diseases out there as well, regular weight training, proper diet and limit alcohol consumption which acts as a leaching agents throughout your body. Remember that bones grow and strengthen based on the stress exerted upon them, this is why one of the larger problems with extended space travel is that astronauts loose their bone density very quickly. Osteoporosis is also treatable with drugs, but if you can avoid them with their associated side effects by hitting the gym, aren’t you worth it?

Ovarian Cancer: this year (1/5440), lifetime (1/69)

Ovarian Cancer is still a silent killer, by the time people go see a doctor and get diagnosed, it’s often too late. As such, Ovarian Cancer has a 50% mortality rate after 5 years of diagnosis. If you feel yourself full more then a third of the month and have abdominal pain with bloating, ask to get a CA-125 blood test to check for Ovarian Cancer, especially if you have a strong genetic predisposition (ei: somebody in your family suffered from Cancer).

Find out more about Ovarian Cancer @ http://myfoodcount.com/healthylife/whatis/ovariancancer.html

Factors outside of our control

The above statistics can all be influenced by environment. If you breath in toxic air, bathe in polluted waters and drink / eat contaminated products then you are best to move because the chances of you acquiring any disease shoots up exponentially. Lifestyle doesn’t only include diet and exercise choices, it also includes where you live choices.

Sobering, the double meaning

The reason why I gave this article the title Sobering Disease Statistics is because, alcohol consumption is a risk factor for not only the diseases listed above but a host of other ones. Sure, there are studies as to the benefits of red wine that come out every year around Christmas time but grape juice has even more of the detoxifying agents in them without the detrimental effects of alcohol leaching. If you can remain sober for the entire year, you are not only saving yourself a small mint but also improving your life. For guys, alcohol also lowers your testosterone level for a few days AFTER consumption, which over time, decreases muscle mass, increases fat stores and leads to mood swings.

The Bottom Line

The good news is that living based on an optimal life plan leads to both longer life and disease avoidance.

References
http://www.health.com/health/article/0,23414,1623415,00.html