Why do we age?
Just like machines and engines, our bodies age because of the cumulative damages to our cells, tissues and organs (resulting from daily “wear and tear” and the self-abuse humans are well known for) that exceed our bodies’ ability to repair them. These damages lead to obvious signs of aging: sagging, bulges, wrinkles, gray hair, loss of muscle, bone and nerve integrity, impairment of hearing and vision, the incompetence of various sphincters (bladder and anal), lowered immunity and resistance, and increased susceptibility to diseases and infections. The arteries all over the body undergo severe arteriosclerosis (hardening), which leads to circulatory deficits in various organs (brain, heart, glands, legs, etc) causing a stroke, heart attack, reduced libido and other hormonal deficits.
Can we delay or reverse the aging process?
There have been so many claims made, especially by unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors of “food supplements,” that their products can delay or reverse aging, make people 5, 10 or more years younger. Unfortunately, although we are all looking for that “fountain of youth,” the potion or lotion (or, in whatsoever form), medical science still has nothing to offer us in this department. Fifty-one top scientists in the world recently refuted claims of this “miracle treatment” ad advertised all over the globe and warned the public against this fraud. All the infomercials currently flooding the market and media are aimed at deceiving the unsuspecting public for a fast buck. Aging is like a natural ticking clock — nothing can delay it and only death can stop it. But there are measures we can take to delay or minimize the effects of aging.
My book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (which can be viewed at www.philipSchua.com), discusses the practical tips and pointers in our hands on how to minimize those adverse effects and make us feel and look much younger — 10 to 20 years younger than our chronological age. The strategy I advocate in my book, which is drug-free, safer and healthier, with no added expense, will also reduce your risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer’s too.
What is the danger of trying some “anti-aging” drugs?
Some of these drugs have adverse side effects that could lead to illnesses. Some may not have bad effects but are simply worthless, useless and ineffective in what they are purported to do. Taking them is like taking an empty capsule or a capsule filled with water from the faucet. And they are invariably very expensive. So, if you wish to give away your hard-earned money, it is best to stay away from these fraudulent vendors of deception. Instead, you can donate that money to your favorite charitable organization to aid our underprivileged fellowmen. This will definitely give you genuine joy and sense of fulfillment and inner peace, which could make you feel great and younger, without being deceived and cheated.
How about herbal anti-aging medications?
The same is true with herbs and “natural products” being marketed out there as anti-aging agents. They are worthless. The multi-billion dollar “anti-aging miracle” industry is so effective in their marketing schemes that gullible people all over the globe are duped into buying their products, only for the defenseless victims to realize a bit too late that have simply wasted their money. I would like to underscore the fact that to date, there is absolutely nothing, that will slow down or reverse the aging process. Simply modifying your lifestyle to a healthier one, which will not entail added expenses (and in many instances even save you money), can make you look and feel younger, safely and wisely.
What about growth hormones?
The levels of growth hormones (HGH), like other hormones naturally produced by our body, drop with age. Infomercials mislead the uninformed public into thinking that ingestion of the commercially available HGH will “normalize” the levels, slow down or reverse aging, and restore vigor, sex drive, muscle tone, and a youthful appearance. This is not so. Taking HGH may make someone feel better, but it is downright dangerous. Anyone who claims they can reverse the aging process is lying, according to S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Chicago.
Can these drugs cause cancer?
“Youth-enhancing” hormones, like DHEA, estrogen and testosterone, which are massively promoted as a miracle cure that will reverse aging and make people years younger, have been found to raise the risk of cancer of the breast and prostate.
When are growth hormones used?
Growth hormones are medically prescribed as a part of the treatment regimen for some growth disorders in children, but some use them to reduce body fat and improve muscle tone. These hormones can “stimulate” the growth of tumors in the body. Additional bad side effects include excess bone growth, kidney problems, diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, lung and heart failure, and possibly premature death.
Do antioxidants have an anti-aging effect?
Unfortunately, they do not. Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, E, and A (beta carotene), are widely advertised to reverse aging and prolong life to 120 years. Scientists are astounded and angry about the claims made by marketers of “food supplement” products because they are unfounded and medically baseless. However, scientists the world over recognize that anti-oxidant rich foods such as fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of illnesses like heart disease, cataracts and macular degeneration, and cancer. Megadoses of vitamin E and selenium can cause bleeding that could be fatal, and that of beta-carotene may increase the risk of cancer. Beware: some food supplements on the market may have serious, sometimes even life-threatening, side effects.
Our good health is life itself. Let us protect, cherish, and enjoy all the potential that optimal health would allow us to achieve with greater longevity.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: [email protected]
