THE TOP 10 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH
Howard F. Loomis
Jr., DC
According to government statistics, the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States is diabetes. Here is why you should
Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, and it can be prevented.
You may not be directly involved with the treatment of diseases such as type 2 diabetes. However, it is important for chiropractors to recognize the signs and symptoms of metabolic syndrome that is not a disease, but rather a collection of signs and symptoms that often lead to type 2 diabetes. After all, it has long been in the realm of the practice of chiropractic to restore normal body functions and maintain health.
So let’s start at the beginning of metabolic syndrome and gradually progress toward insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is not a specific diagnosis, but a combination of several separate physiological dysfunctions related to metabolism. In 1977 it was suggested there was a group of factors responsible for the development of cardiovascular disease. It was hypothesized that oxidative stress (energy production) could produce a variety of problems, even sex hormone imbalances.
Here is a list of the most prevalent signs:
• Elevated blood pressure
Systolic =130 mm Hg or higher and Diastolic = 85 mm Hg or higher or patient is receiving treatment for high blood pressure.
• Elevated pulse pressure
Do you take every patient’s blood pressure and check his or her pulse pressure and rate on every visit? You should, because that is often the earliest and easiest indication of metabolic stress you can perform.
The following are blood test levels that you may or may not perform on your patients. However, I’ll bet your patients know what these blood tests are, or at least what
the results were the last time they visited their primary care provider. Are those results part of your case history? They should be if your patients know what they are. Do you know that abnormal levels of the following blood tests cause involuntary muscle contractions that can be related to recurring structural misalignments? Do you have a record of the medications your patient is presently taking?
• Elevated level of triglycerides
150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher or the patient is receiving treatment for high triglycerides.
• Elevated fasting blood glucose
100 mg/dL or higher or the patient is receiving treatment for high blood glucose.
Reduced HDL
Men = less than 40 mg/dL and Women = less than 50 mg/dL or patient is receiving treatment for low HDL.
Related physiology
A leading cause of elevated triglycerides is consumption of excessive simple carbohydrates and continued use leads to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. But this is not an article about diet and nutrition. We want to concern ourselves with recognizing and preventing the development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Here is a quick review of the normal physiological patterns that can result in some of the above conditions. It is what occurs when the normal “fight or flight” response to stress moves from an acute emergency reaction to a chronic stage because of lingering stress, which, of course, can be diet related.
When the blood glucose level falls below normal, the hypothalamus gland strongly stimulates both the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system to elevate blood glucose levels. The cells respond by sending the stored amino acids they would normally use for growth or repair to the liver for conversion to glucose. This is quite normal and happens routinely when needed. However, it cannot continue for very long.
Next, the body begins to pull stored fat and sends it to the liver for conversion to glucose. If this continues unabated, it causes the following specific events to occur and produces the abnormal blood test levels listed above.
1. The triglyceride level rises.
2. Elevated triglyceride levels cause the pancreas to lower insulin production and begin to secrete glucagon instead. In other words, the body wants the cells to convert fat to energy, so the glucose can be saved for the brain.
3. Under continued sympathetic stimulation to increase available energy production, the liver decreases the flow of cholesterol in bile and allows to elevate in the blood. This is what lies at the elevation of pulse pressure, and we need to look at that before moving on to type 2 diabetes.
The importance of determining pulse pressure
Recent work suggests that a high pulse pressure is an important risk factor for heart disease. A study that combined the results of several studies of 8,000 elderly patients found that a 10 mmHg increase in pulse pressure increased the risk of major cardiovascular complications and mortality by nearly 20%.
Several studies have identified that high pulse pressure causes more artery damage compared to high blood pressure with normal pulse pressure. Normally, the resting
pulse pressure in healthy adults, sitting position, is about 40 mmHg. If the usual resting pulse pressure is consistently greater than 40 mmHg, e.g., 60 or 80 mmHg, the most likely basis is stiffness of the major arteries. This may be due to high blood pressure or fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
The greater the difference between your systolic and diastolic numbers, the harder and more damaged the vessels are thought to be. It is often seen in aortic regurgitation and hyperthyroidism. It also tends to accelerate the normal aging of body organs, particularly the heart, the brain, and kidneys.
Aortic Compliance and increased pulse pressure
As the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, the pulse pressure (aortic pressure) increases. In the arterial system, the aorta has a relatively greater proportion of elastin fibers versus smooth muscle and collagen. This allows its walls to expand and dampen the impact of the
heart’s contraction on the left ventricle, thereby reducing the pulse pressure.
If the aorta were a rigid tube, the pulse pressure would be very high. Because the aorta is compliant, as blood is
"We want to concern ourselves with recognizing and preventing the development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes."
ejected into the aorta, the walls of the aorta expand to accommodate the increase in blood volume.
Of course, aortic compliance decreases with age due to structural changes, thereby producing age-dependent increases in pulse pressure. But be aware that a pulse pressure of 60 or above in patients 60 years or older is a poor sign.
Type 2 Diabetes
Unlike with type 1 diabetes, there are numerous ways to reduce the risk of developing type 2. A number of studies have shown that regular physical activity can
significantly reduce the risk, as can maintaining a healthy body weight.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large prevention study of people at high risk for diabetes, showed that lifestyle intervention that resulted in weight loss and increased physical activity in this population can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, and in some cases return blood glucose levels to within the normal range. Other international studies have shown similar results.
Warning signs and symptoms of diabetes
Here are a few of the symptoms that suggest at least the possibility that a patient’s body is no longer capable of maintaining normal blood glucose levels.
• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Very dry skin
• Unexplained weight loss
• Eating when not hungry
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Feeling very tired much of the time
• Sores that are slow to heal
I hope you have found this article to be helpful in recognizing early onset of metabolic syndrome and even type 2 diabetes. My next article will discuss the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, Alzheimer’s disease.
Howard F. Loomis, Jr., DC, has an extensive background in enzymes and enzyme supplements. He is the founder and president of the Food Enzyme Institute. His extensive knowledge of physiology, biochemistry, and enzymology has made him a sought-after speaker and a prolific writer. The Food Enzyme Institute offers seminars to healthcare practitioners around the country.
Dr. Loomis published ENZYMES: The Key to Health in 1999. He also co-authored and published The Enzyme Advantage: For Healthcare Providers and People Who Care About Their Health in 2015, and The Enzyme Advantage for Women in 2016, with respected medical journalist Arnold Mann.
Contact info: 6421 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI53719 customer [email protected], 800-662-2630.
