We often hear and use the word “wellness” without necessarily considering its meaning.
By Ramon A. Gil, M.D., Medical Director, Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center of SWFL
Simply put: wellness is the opposite of illness. As parents, it is logical to assume that we all want our children to be healthy. We are therefore very involved in caring for their wellness. We pay attention to what they eat. We make sure that they play and exercise. We make sure they go to bed and sleep for an adequate amount of time. We make sure that they interact with other children and develop proper social skills. We strive to ensure that they receive an education that is second to none. We include religion in their lives. We instill confidence in the fact that working hard to stay healthy pays off.
Yet, today we are an obese country. Why have we forgotten about wellness? Why are children becoming more sedentary? Why are we all becoming less social, more isolated? Why have we allowed the quality of education in our nation to decline to levels never seen before? Why have we neglected spirituality and religion? In this absent-mindedness, we now find ourselves obese, ill and depressed. As per February of 2021, United States was the world’s 10th most obese country and the most obese country in North America with 36.2% of its population having a body mass index of over 30.0.
Only Covid was able to stop the steady rise in the number of bariatric surgeries in this country from 2011 to 2019. Six out of the ten most prescribed drugs in the USA last year were to treat diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, all associated with obesity. Sadly, 15% of adults aged 18-39 are taking antidepressant drugs, and that number increases to 20% for those aged 60 and over. In 2022, 42% of adults and 20% of children in this country are obese. Scientists and health professionals have worked hard to determine the cause. It really isn’t that hard: Americans eat more calories than they burn, and the excess energy is stored as fat.
How is this connected to Parkinson’s Disease (PD)? Very simple, obesity is known to be the main risk factor to developing type II diabetes, and diabetes has a markedly negative effect in PD patients. In a study published in 2022, researchers demonstrated that type II diabetes is associated with faster disease progression in Parkinson’s (“The Impact of Type 2 Diabetes in Parkinson’s Disease”. Athauda, Evan, Wernick et al. Movement Disorders, Vol. 37, No. 8, 2022). Furthermore, according to the American Heart Association, obesity is the most important risk factor to developing sleep apnea. Significant sleep apnea is present in 40% of obese individuals, and 70% of sleep apnea patients are obese. Last year, the NIH reported (once again) that sleep apnea is associated with a significantly increased risk of dementia, particularly for Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease patients. Several studies have previously demonstrated sleep apnea as a high risk factor for dementia.
During the days of Covid, we had more PD patients in our center dying from PD complications than because of actually contracting Covid. Some of the most critical factors were social isolation, physical deconditioning, loss of appetite with limited nutrition, and worsening of depression and psychosis, leading to the downward spiral that eventually took their lives.
Wellness should therefore be a central priority for all of us. As healthcare professionals, we should be promoting wellness more than any other intervention in the treatment of PD. You, as patients and care partners, must acknowledge your responsibility in caring for yourselves. You must direct your energies and efforts to achieving physical, mental, social, spiritual, and emotional wellness. The good news is that this treatment does not cost much, there are no negative side effects, and you don’t need a doctor’s prescription or insurance authorization.
We care deeply about all of you. To that end, we dedicate this program, not to medications or surgical treatments for PD, but to the daily practice of healthy habits in attaining better physical and mental health outcomes. Instead of just surviving, our aim is to see you thriving. Consider it an even better way to define “wellness”.
Welcome to our 2023 Parkinson’s Disease Spring Symposium.
2023 SWFL Parkinson’s Disease Spring Symposium: WELLNESS
Friday, April 21, 2023
9:00 am to 4:00 pm • Kings Gate Golf Club
24000 Rampart Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL
Presentations:
For more info or to register contact Jennifer at Dr. Gil’s Office:
Phone (941) 743-4987 | Fax (941) 743-4486
office@parkinsonsfl.com
Parkinson’s Disease Center
4235 Kings Hwy Unit 102, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
415 Commercial Ct., Suite E, Venice, FL 34292
5272 Summerlin Commons Way, Suite 603, Fort Myers, FL 33907