Dr. Dodge: Passion for Health

Many people in the Western world today fail to get enough exercise to do much good. Our problem is that we have become a sedentary nation.

Our society has changed from being primarily rural one hundred years ago, to being mainly urban today. Work has changed from being labor intensive to being mostly sedentary. Labor saving inventions rule our lives today.

Passive entertainment has become dominant in our society. Millions sit on couches hours on end, choosing from a vast array of entertainment offerings. Computers, the work and play stations for millions of people, are responsible for lower levels of physical activity than ever before. People sit for much of the day using only their eyes, their fingers, and maybe their brains.

We are almost vegetative in our way of life. We move around just a bit more than plants. We park as close to the door as we can. Rather than going up stairs, we take an elevator. As a result of this lifestyle, we get out of shape.

The damage due to a sedentary lifestyle may be subtle for years before it becomes evident. Then diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, arthritis, obesity, or some other chronic disorder may arise. This cascade of eroding health cannot be predicted precisely, and other factors such as diet are certainly involved, but the course I’ve outlined here is fairly typical.

Is it possible to reverse these health problems? Yes, but the deeper one sinks into this sedentary quagmire, the harder it becomes to regain good health. However, if sedentary people commit themselves to an active lifestyle with other good health practices, reversal of many health problems is possible.

It is always possible to begin a healthy lifestyle. Dr. John McDougall, whose personal history is inspiring, has web pages full of case histories of people who achieved remarkable reversal of advanced diseases. He calls them Star McDougallers, and their stories are all compelling. Here is a link to one:

http://www.drmcdougall.com/stars/robert_cross.htm

Prevention is better than cure. It is far better to begin a healthy lifestyle early in life than to wait until it is almost too late. That’s why the seventh secret of exceptional health – to avoid sedentary quicksand – is so important!