Why do I really promote wellness?

When I was in high school I worked at a fitness center. I'll never forget Charlie, a 62-year-old man who had lost his wife to cancer and been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. Charlie was told he could expect to suffer slight paralysis and potentially need a wheelchair, but Charlie wouldn't let his diagnosis define him. During the four years I worked at the fitness center, I watched Charlie daily ride the bike and lift weights. After two years, he shared with me his story of the pain he had endured, but most importantly how his daily exercise had suspended his disc degeneration and held off any side-effects of the disease. Not only was Charlie an inspiration to his friends and family, but to me as well. He lived out the truth that we cannot be defined by our circumstances. There will be pain in our lives, but there is also hope.

My wife has been dealing with hyperthyroidism since 2012. Since then, we have exhausted efforts to find a treatment plan that doesn't result in early death, transplant or removal of an organ.

When the process began, Aubrey completed a series of doctor's visits where she would describe the symptoms and then undergo a battery of laboratory tests. For months, we gathered and documented information about her symptoms which included a rapid heart beat, restlessness and the ability to eat enormous portions of food without her weight being affected. For example, we could sit down at Chipotle and she would finish her stuffed burrito and then move on to eat the other half of mine, along with chips and guacamole--her appetite was nearly insatiable! As the symptoms persisted, the doctors finally referred her to an area endocrinologists. We verified the provider was in-network on anthem.com, and we headed off to the next round of tests. Two years later, the specialists arrived at the diagnosis of Grave's disease.

Grave's disease, also known as a version of Hyperthyroidism, is an autoimmune disorder in which the thyroid gland produces excessive hormones.Treatments include a few paths:

1. Start medications. See how the body reacts. Hope all is well.
2. If the first round of medication doesn't work, try a second medication that causes damage to the liver if taken for prolonged periods.
3. If neither medications work well, make the life-changing choice to either surgically remove the thyroid or destroy it with radioactive iodine.
4. Once the thyroid is removed, patients must take thyroid hormone supplements for the rest of their lives along with other medications to handle any side-effects such as depression, weight gain and mood changes.

Aubrey is currently discerning option three.

I am neither the doctor nor the patient, but the options don't really scream happy and well to me. I'd rather try every other path in the world to correct the autoimmune issue then voluntarily give up a piece of my body, let alone the piece that controls your metabolism, growth, body temperature, muscle strength, appetite and health of your heart, brain, kidneys and reproductive system. Unfortunately, we may not have a choice. Our specialist assures us this is the "standard" protocol or path of treatment for Grave's disease. Just as there is a standard procedure for breast cancer, celiac disease, hypertension or diabetes, this is the path for Grave's. We live in the modern world of medicine, and most of the time, medicine works well and saves lives. However, for a few out there, it only masks the symptoms for a short period of time. Many autoimmune diseases are thought to be related to genetics, however, research shows that only 25% are affected by genetics. The remainder of instances are presumed to start with an allergic reaction or intolerance, others with toxins we daily ingest. In other words, most of these specific diseases result from environmental conditions.

All over the world, we see how human existence has impacted the earth. We have polluted the world with toxins and plastics. We have modified plants, animals and food sources to make life easier. Back in 1928 when the first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered to fight bacteria, it quickly overwhelmed the market. Currently, penicillin is prescribed for illnesses that 45% of the time are uneffected by antibiotics. The result is the development of "super bugs" which are resistant to antibiotics. By over prescribing antibiotics or adding them to our foods, livestock or plants, antibiotics become less effective in treatment. 

So what does this all mean? 

I didn't get into wellness because I want everyone to be skinny and walk five miles a day. The danger lies in the world we are creating for ourselves and the generations to follow. I advocate a return to farm fresh food and healthy, active lives so everyone can live a joyful life with family and friends. By passing down the teachings of healthy living to family members, we cultivate an environment where eating well, recycling, growing fresh fruits and vegetables, slowing down and spending time with family once again become the normal American family values.

I want you to be proactive by seeing your doctor annually to help prevent lifestyle diseases from affecting you and your family. I wan't you to stay active to keep your heart healthy and lungs strong to do the things you enjoy. When you take these steps, not only are you helping yourself, but you are modeling a lifestyle for others to follow. 

I promote wellness because wellness meant a life for Charlie that didn't require paralysis or living in a nursing home. Wellness means hope for my wife to control her thyroid and avoid extra medications along with side-effects so she can have the energy to be there for our boys as they grow. Most importantly, it means hope to me for my children to live long, healthy lives. 

What does a healthy life mean to you?

Why it is important to always wash your hands!

It's official, I finally understand why my mom used to make me wash my hands before and after eating, after cleaning, playing and everything else under the sun.

It's called Coxsackievirus A16, also known as Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). More common among kids, and known to be highly contagious, HFMD can remain in your body for weeks even after the symptoms are gone. Let me start off with this note, yes it is as awful as it sounds. Coming up on a full two weeks now, I have been slowly recovering from HFMD. You may hear about it in the news every once in awhile, but it is a virus that attacks the body inducing cold/flu like symptoms along with a sore throat similar to strep and small red blisters that form a rash. HFMD is commonly mistaken in households as strep throat since not everyone gets every symptom. Mine was a full blown case!

I won't go into most of the details, but the most distinctive characteristic of HFMD is the red rash that forms along an individual's hands, feet, mouth or other areas of the body. I've included a mild picture of what my hand looked like mid way just to give you a glimpse. So why does this matter?

 A) Like most men, the reaction we get from anything, even a cold, essentially sends us to our death bed.
 B) HFMD can be prevented by keeping your hands washed and preventing the spread of germs.

When should you be washing your hands?

• Before, during and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste
• After handling pet food or treats
• After touching garbage

You get the point.

How should you wash your hands?

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm is best), turn off the tap and apply soap
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap. Be sure to lather the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them

I know washing your hands can seem like a typical, everyday task that doesn't need a whole blog post to reference it, but trust me, this is worth the mention to help prevent anyone else from being infected with this common and pesky virus.