Ayurveda
Ayurveda is all about balance. This includes balance between body, mind, and spirit. Balance within the body is critical for good health. When studying disease, the idea of ayurveda is extremely relevant. Disease occurs when there is disorder and imbalance present within different organs and processes. Meaning that through practicing ayurveda medicine and maintaining bodily balance, we should be able to prevent disease.
Balance within our body is affected by many different factors. Some of these being environment, diet, and emotions, among others. Many of these factors are interconnected and can affect specific processes within the body causing an imbalance. Understanding how these factors affect balance, can help us to understand a disease as well. It is suggested by scientific trials that ayurvedic approaches are effective in helping prevent and treat certain diseases. A clinical trial showed that ayurvedic medicine is effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, studies also show that ayurvedic approaches can also cause harm to the body. Many ayurvedic preparations include metals such as lead and mercury. These metals can be harmful to the body in large amounts, and may cause issues within the body.
Ayurveda classifies disease into three different categories according to origin; physical, psychological, or spiritual. Classification determines the way in which the disease is treated. External factors such as environment, diet, living habits, and weather are very capable of creating disease such as the diseases that arise due to internal factors. Ayurvedic medicine believes that disturbance that is presented in the physical form will later affect the mind. For example, disturbance in the vata dosha is believed to lead to fear, depression, and nervousness.
The idea of ayurvedic medicine is very interesting and can get very complex. I think that ayurvedic medicine can be beneficial when used along with traditional medicine. Balance within the body, or homeostasis, is important for good health and proper bodily function. Disturbance within an environment or diet, can lead to disturbance in homeostasis throughout the body. This is why it makes sense that ayurvedic practices have been suggested to be fairly effective for certain diseases. If balance within the body equals a healthy and properly functioning body,
Diabetes
In order for cells to survive and stay healthy, they are constantly carrying out chemical reactions in pathways that make up the metabolism. The metabolism pathways are extremely complex and must be regulated and maintained. One disease that is caused by an imbalance within our body is diabetes. When the body is not able to correctly balance the pathways that control glucose levels, it can lead to diabetes. Diabetes is said to be an epidemic due to the high number of individuals diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Recently, the CDC has released the 2022 National Diabetes Statistics Report. Within this report, it was estimated that “more than 130 million adults are living with diabetes or prediabetes in the United States.” There are many different factors that increase or decrease the risk of getting diabetes including age, weight, diet, and genetics. Diabetes can affect many different pathways throughout the body including the brain, kidneys, and colon among others. The interruption within ayurveda causes interruptions in many different places in the body.
The cause of each type of diabetes however, is different. The causes for type 1 diabetes includes hereditary predisposition, autoimmune diseases, removal or damage of the pancreas, among a few others. The risk factors of type 2 diabetes include physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and race/ethnicity. Obesity appears to be a large driver in the progression of type 2 diabetes. This is a modifiable risk factor, so why aren’t people doing more to place their health in their own hands?
In 2013, five of the 15 leading causes of death were related to physical inactivity. I have been trying to brainstorm the reasons why so many individuals are watching their own health deteriorate. Within the CDC’s National Statistics Report for Diabetes, there was a link between diabetes and poverty. Having access to an overabundance of unhealthy food with no access to healthy food is directly contributing to the diabetes epidemic.
I think another reason reversing the diabetes epidemic is so hard is because there is a lack of education within the general population. Scientists and physicians are painfully aware of the repercussions that physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet can have on the body. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone in the general public is aware. I think that if education on diabetes and the risk factors was increased, the percentage of the population diagnosed with diabetes would decrease.
Effects on other parts of the body
The imbalance of glucose and hormone levels within the body of someone diagnosed with diabetes interrupts Ayurveda and can lead to other diseases. Hyperglycemia results in oxidative stress through the production of ROS. ROS toxicity leads to damage to all Macromolecules. Diabetes can lead to complications of the microvascular and macrovascular systems. When an individual is diagnosed with diabetes, the risk of stroke increases, the risk of heart disease increases, and slow healing of the extremities due to narrowing of blood vessels can lead to complications.
Biosocial approach to Diabetes
We know that diabetes can be caused due to several different biological factors, but social factors can have just as large an effect on the body’s ayurveda. In order to productivity treat and prevent diabetes, the social determinants must be considered. Social determinants include income, employment level, education level, as well as living conditions. The effects of diabetes can also be expressed mentally. Through research, it has been shown that low levels of glucose increase aggression levels due to the body not having the energy to control impulses. Brad Bushman, et al, did a study on married couples, and the results showed that individuals with lower glucose levels were more likely to express higher levels of aggression towards their spouse.
The effect that diabetes has on the body can cause imbalance within many different areas of the body, as well as life. This is directly linked to and can be explained by Ayurveda. Focusing on the balance within life, such as physical activity, diet, and sleep can help control the effects of diabetes.
Sources
Bushman, Brad J., DeWall, C.Nathan, Pond, Richard S, Hanus, Michael D. (2014, April 14). Low glucose relates to greater aggression in married couples. PNAS Nexus https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1400619111
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2022, March 7). Cost-Effectiveness of Diabetes Interventions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/programs-impact/pop/diabetes.htm
National DPP Customer Service Center. (2022, January 26). CDC 2022 National Diabetes Statistics Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://nationaldppcsc.cdc.gov/s/article/CDC-2022-National-Diabetes-Statistics-Report
Ayurveda is all about balance. This includes balance between body, mind, and spirit. Balance within the body is critical for good health. When studying disease, the idea of ayurveda is extremely relevant. Disease occurs when there is disorder and imbalance present within different organs and processes. Meaning that through practicing ayurveda medicine and maintaining bodily balance, we should be able to prevent disease.
Balance within our body is affected by many different factors. Some of these being environment, diet, and emotions, among others. Many of these factors are interconnected and can affect specific processes within the body causing an imbalance. Understanding how these factors affect balance, can help us to understand a disease as well. It is suggested by scientific trials that ayurvedic approaches are effective in helping prevent and treat certain diseases. A clinical trial showed that ayurvedic medicine is effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, studies also show that ayurvedic approaches can also cause harm to the body. Many ayurvedic preparations include metals such as lead and mercury. These metals can be harmful to the body in large amounts, and may cause issues within the body.
Ayurveda classifies disease into three different categories according to origin; physical, psychological, or spiritual. Classification determines the way in which the disease is treated. External factors such as environment, diet, living habits, and weather are very capable of creating disease such as the diseases that arise due to internal factors. Ayurvedic medicine believes that disturbance that is presented in the physical form will later affect the mind. For example, disturbance in the vata dosha is believed to lead to fear, depression, and nervousness.
The idea of ayurvedic medicine is very interesting and can get very complex. I think that ayurvedic medicine can be beneficial when used along with traditional medicine. Balance within the body, or homeostasis, is important for good health and proper bodily function. Disturbance within an environment or diet, can lead to disturbance in homeostasis throughout the body. This is why it makes sense that ayurvedic practices have been suggested to be fairly effective for certain diseases. If balance within the body equals a healthy and properly functioning body,
Diabetes
In order for cells to survive and stay healthy, they are constantly carrying out chemical reactions in pathways that make up the metabolism. The metabolism pathways are extremely complex and must be regulated and maintained. One disease that is caused by an imbalance within our body is diabetes. When the body is not able to correctly balance the pathways that control glucose levels, it can lead to diabetes. Diabetes is said to be an epidemic due to the high number of individuals diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Recently, the CDC has released the 2022 National Diabetes Statistics Report. Within this report, it was estimated that “more than 130 million adults are living with diabetes or prediabetes in the United States.” There are many different factors that increase or decrease the risk of getting diabetes including age, weight, diet, and genetics. Diabetes can affect many different pathways throughout the body including the brain, kidneys, and colon among others. The interruption within ayurveda causes interruptions in many different places in the body.
The cause of each type of diabetes however, is different. The causes for type 1 diabetes includes hereditary predisposition, autoimmune diseases, removal or damage of the pancreas, among a few others. The risk factors of type 2 diabetes include physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and race/ethnicity. Obesity appears to be a large driver in the progression of type 2 diabetes. This is a modifiable risk factor, so why aren’t people doing more to place their health in their own hands?
In 2013, five of the 15 leading causes of death were related to physical inactivity. I have been trying to brainstorm the reasons why so many individuals are watching their own health deteriorate. Within the CDC’s National Statistics Report for Diabetes, there was a link between diabetes and poverty. Having access to an overabundance of unhealthy food with no access to healthy food is directly contributing to the diabetes epidemic.
I think another reason reversing the diabetes epidemic is so hard is because there is a lack of education within the general population. Scientists and physicians are painfully aware of the repercussions that physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet can have on the body. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone in the general public is aware. I think that if education on diabetes and the risk factors was increased, the percentage of the population diagnosed with diabetes would decrease.
Effects on other parts of the body
The imbalance of glucose and hormone levels within the body of someone diagnosed with diabetes interrupts Ayurveda and can lead to other diseases. Hyperglycemia results in oxidative stress through the production of ROS. ROS toxicity leads to damage to all Macromolecules. Diabetes can lead to complications of the microvascular and macrovascular systems. When an individual is diagnosed with diabetes, the risk of stroke increases, the risk of heart disease increases, and slow healing of the extremities due to narrowing of blood vessels can lead to complications.
Biosocial approach to Diabetes
We know that diabetes can be caused due to several different biological factors, but social factors can have just as large an effect on the body’s ayurveda. In order to productivity treat and prevent diabetes, the social determinants must be considered. Social determinants include income, employment level, education level, as well as living conditions. The effects of diabetes can also be expressed mentally. Through research, it has been shown that low levels of glucose increase aggression levels due to the body not having the energy to control impulses. Brad Bushman, et al, did a study on married couples, and the results showed that individuals with lower glucose levels were more likely to express higher levels of aggression towards their spouse.
The effect that diabetes has on the body can cause imbalance within many different areas of the body, as well as life. This is directly linked to and can be explained by Ayurveda. Focusing on the balance within life, such as physical activity, diet, and sleep can help control the effects of diabetes.
Sources
Bushman, Brad J., DeWall, C.Nathan, Pond, Richard S, Hanus, Michael D. (2014, April 14). Low glucose relates to greater aggression in married couples. PNAS Nexus https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1400619111
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2022, March 7). Cost-Effectiveness of Diabetes Interventions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/programs-impact/pop/diabetes.htm
National DPP Customer Service Center. (2022, January 26). CDC 2022 National Diabetes Statistics Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://nationaldppcsc.cdc.gov/s/article/CDC-2022-National-Diabetes-Statistics-Report
I appreciated all the background and depth going into the topic. The biosocial approach to dealing with diabetes is very insightful and one that should be utilized more often. Psyche is a powerful thing and can help us work through the many difficulties in life.
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