Is health really just the absence of disease?

 

It’s similar to saying that if it doesn’t rain then it’s a good day. We want to not just exist; we want to thrive and part of this strategy is rowing upstream and optimising our metabolic health before the diseases such as cardiovascular disease /diabetes start showing their symptoms (which is when typically, patients present to their health care practitioner).

 

At the CWC, we want to help patients upstream as well as downstream.

 

Some upstream symptoms that may indicate you are on the journey to downstream symptoms;

• Abdominal obesity- apple shape.

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• Tired all the time-particularly after meals when sugar levels increase rapidly then drop rapidly (glucose spikes). This can be accompanied by seeking out calorie and sugar dense foods.

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• Inability to focus properly – also known as ‘brain fog’ with irritability.

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• Acanthosis nigricans– browning (hyperpigmentation) of folds of skin such as on the neck, armpits, groin and between the buttocks, can be associated with skin tags.

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• High levels of uric acid in the blood-a by-product of metabolism which can lead to gout in some patients.

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• High blood pressure.

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• High Cholesterol

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• Insulin resistance-one of the first changes which if unchecked will lead on to pre-diabetes and then full-blown Diabetes Type 2. The whole “journey” can take 15 years.