Risk Factors

The media is filled with drug ads.  Have you listened to what they are saying?  They throw the term “risk factor” around all over the place.  “PAD increases your risk for heart disease.”  “High cholesterol increases your risk for high blood pressure.”  “Diabetes increases your risk for heart disease.”

According to Collins English Dictionary, a medical risk factor is defined as “a factor, such as a habit or an environmental condition that predisposes an individual to develop a particular disease.”

I believe that the term “risk factor” has been over-used, often incorrectly.  While this may seem like just semantics to some people, I feel that the proper use of this term will shed light on what really needs to be done to regain and maintain health. 

Here are some better uses of the term “risk factor”:

• “Smoking and exposure to smoke increase your risk of developing lung cancer and emphysema.”
• “Taking certain medications will increase your risk of developing some cancers.”
• “Leading a sedentary life increases your risk for many health related issues.”
• “Poor food choices increase your risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.”

Notice that the items listed above are actually habits or environmental issues and not symptoms, which again is a better use of the term “risk factor.”  These examples are not symptoms causing another symptom.  Most of the time, symptoms are not risk factors.

Many so-called “risk factors” should be more correctly thought of as a “check-engine” light.  Just like the check engine light in your car, the body has many symptoms that signal that something is out of balance and needs to be addressed.  If the problem is not addressed it WILL get worse.  Just as a car will break down eventually without proper maintenance, so will the body.  It is just a matter of time. 

Here are some common “check-engine” light symptoms and what will occur with further breakdown:

• Heartburn—signals digestive problems that can result in just about any problem in the future because of reduced nutritional assimilation.
• Obesity—signals that diabetes and heart disease are likely to occur in the future as this is the natural progression of the body breaking down.
• High blood pressure—signals that heart disease and kidney disease are likely to occur in the future.
• Skin tags—signal that the body is having trouble dealing with sugar and diabetes is in the future if something is not changed.

I could add many more to the above list.  The point is that these symptoms are not simply “risk factors” needing a medication.  They are warnings that the body is out of balance and balance needs to be restored.  WHY the body is out of balance is the question that must be answered and then addressed.  Most of the time nutritional requirements are out of balance causing these symptoms.  In other words, there are nutritional deficiencies.  Utilize techniques such as Nutrition Response Testing to find these imbalances in the body and work at restoring normal balance.

There are no quick fixes.  There are only quick patches.  A patch is not a fix.  Medications can patch a problem until the real issue can be addressed.  Too often, however, the real problem is not addressed once the symptom is no longer a nuisance.  This is like covering or even removing the “check-engine” light bulb!  FIX the real issue for your “check-engine” light and you are much more likely to enjoy good health for years to come.  Here’s to regaining and maintaining your health this year!