Stress predisposes to NCDs, via Low T3. We NEED accurate diagnosis and effective therapy.
PREAMBLE
I wrote a post on this subject a while ago – this is an update – a full-scale “redo”, intended solely for MDs, follows, but will be delayed, so that I can “get it right”.
In my treatise on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), at
https://chooser-beta.creativecommons.org/. I outlined the incontrovertible, accepted facts and statistics in regard to NCDs, compiled by the World Health Organization (the WHO). I took the WHO to task, regarding the matter of background risk factors, the causation of said factors and measures which could be taken to reduce them to manageable proportions, thereby achieving significant reductions in NCD incidence and hopefully, reducing the burden of NCD-related deaths, worldwide.
Background and statistics, from the, WHO
According to the WHO, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute the premier cause of disability and death.
The term “NCDs” refers to a group of conditions, not caused by acute infection, which result in long-term health consequences and which create a need for long-term treatment and care. These conditions include cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung illnesses, thyroid hormone dysfunction, hormone deficiencies, mineral, vitamin or essential amino-acid deficiency, pollution-related toxicities, heavy metal poisoning, depression and other psychological states, congenital abnormalities of form and/or function and physical or functional aberrations due to lifestyle, habit, substance abuse or psychosocial/physical abuse by other humans.
Noncommunicable diseases kill 41 million people each year worldwide (15 million aged 30 to 69 years).
Deaths from NCDs exceed those from all communicable conditions, put together.
Over 85% of NCD-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Globally, four disease groups account for over 80% of all NCD deaths: Cardiovascular disease “leads the pack”, with 17.9 million, followed by cancers (9.0 million), respiratory disease (3.9 million), and diabetes (1.6 million).
The Usual Suspects
A group of “Risk Factors” is blamed for a major proportion of NCDs .……
General risks:
Tobacco use, physical inactivity, excessive intake of alcohol, “unhealthy diet”, air pollution, environmental xenoestrogens, toxic environmental pollutants and heavy metal exposure all increase the risk of dying from a NCD: screening, detection, and palliative care are key components of our response to NCDs and the popular literature exhorts the population to avoid, or minimise them, if they can ……
Age: Risk increases steadily with age.
Genetics & Family History: Family history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia increases risk: some ethnic groups (e.g., Hispanic populations in U.S. data) show higher prevalence of DM, while the “South Asian” group tends to a high prevalence of Dyslipidemia.
History of Gestational Diabetes: Raises long-term risk of metabolic syndrome.
Sleep Disorders Sleep apnea and poor sleep quality worsen insulin resistance and weight gain.
Insulin Resistance: Cells respond poorly to insulin, causing elevated blood sugar and high insulin levels.
Excess Abdominal Fat (Central Obesity): Fat around the waist is metabolically active and inflammatory.
Visceral fat (around organs) is especially associated with insulin resistance.
Physical Inactivity: Lowers insulin sensitivity. Muscles use glucose; inactivity reduces this uptake.
Unhealthy Blood Lipids: High triglycerides & Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol are both risk factors.
High Blood Pressure: Often coexists with insulin resistance and obesity.
Other Medical Conditions: Fatty liver disease, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Certain Medications: Corticosteroids, antihypertensives, psychiatric medications.
Some HIV treatments: can impair insulin sensitivity.
The missing link
I’m sure you are familiar with the above list of “the usual suspects”: but think about it – this well-known risk-factor list does not mention STRESS ………………………..
Why is it, that the continuing (thus far, 6.5-decade long) surge of stress, the most pervasive and arguably the most hazardous of risk factors, is conspicuously absent from the literature?
The DEVIL, Hiding in the DETAILS
Undeniably, modifiable behaviors, such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, alcohol consumption and other unhealthy habits, all increase the risk of NCDs; so it is reasonable to infer that the most effective means of reducing the prevalence of NCDs must be to encourage “quitting” health-threatening activities, or perhaps to legislate against them.
However as the Sheepdog said to the Farmer, “that’s easier said, than done” ……
And while we’re talking about the aetiology of NCDs and the underlying risk factors, why haven’t we mentioned STRESS? …. As the Farmer said to the Farmhand, “You’re hangin’ the feedbag at the wrong end….. The horse ain’t gonna thank you.”
So let’s add “STRESS” to our list of risk factors!
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