SPIRITUAL WEALTH through PHYSICAL HEALTH
Martin Shaffer, Ph.D.
CEO of AboutStress.com
As many individuals go through life they develop a certain sense of wisdom about self, family, economics, the world and most importantly, the purpose of life for the individual. Many individuals find comfort and meaning in religious traditions, belief systems and/or activities, while others discover a sense of spiritual well-being through meaningful activities. It really doesn't matter what is "meaningful" to you, but whatever the process, that meaning is the essence of your life. Without meaning there is no direction, and without direction there are no goals. Consequently you are left feeling empty and lost. This is the central issue why 50% of us die within 18 months of retirement after being in a trade, craft or profession for over 3 decades. We have yet to develop a new sense of meaning through activity to replace those 40+ hours per week devoted to earning a living.
At the same time, if you consider that you have achieved a certain modicum of feeling that your life is meaningful to you and others, a glow of purpose will allow you to moderate and lessen the impact of the stress and strain in everyday life.
On the other hand, what if you are handed the fate of a medical condition for which you seek medical treatment, but the medical treatment creates a new problem compromising your physical well-being or health?
Unfortunately, while there are many alleged medical "cures" or treatments for various life threatening conditions, many of these treatments create new problems. For example, a friend of mine called me for a referral to a physician after having suffered bone fractures secondary to radiation treatment with cancer. Her cancer is being held a bay, but she has had fractures so that her physical capacity is quite limited. This is a dreadful fate and quite scary for someone in their later years.
Unbeknownst to many individuals, there are many medical treatments that may compromise bone density, and trigger osteoporosis, especially with women who are more vulnerable in general. For example, there have been studies published in the Canadian Medical Association journal noting that when people use protein-pump inhibitors (medications to quell gastrointestinal reflux/indigestion) for 7 or more years, there is a significant increase in the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. These same types of medications (e.g., Prilosec, Nexium) are not the only culprits that increase the risk of osteoporosis.
For some time now, doctors have known that taking steroids in pill form contributes to bone loss. There was a study published in 2001 involving 109 women between the ages of 18 and 45. Researchers discovered that subjects who took frequent puffs of asthma inhalers (that often have steroids) increased their rate of bone loss. Therefore, researchers recommended that asthma patients use the lowest effective dose from inhalers, engage in weight-bearing exercise and supplement with calcium and vitamin D.
In a 5 year trial following 8000 women over the age of 65, women who took antidepressant medications were found to be 70% more likely to suffer disabling hip fractures. While it's not clear that there were metabolic issues behind this finding, the researchers suspected that some of these medications reduced alertness, which could be a factor in the higher incidence of fractures. We don't know yet to what extent there are metabolic changes contributing to bone density from antidepressants.
Surprisingly and amazingly, long-term use of bisphosphonates, (e.g. Fosamax which is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in at-risk patients,) may actually increase fracture risk.* There was a Cornell University study involving 15 women who experienced femur fractures. Ten of the women had similar fractures, and these women had used Fosamax for an average of more than 7 years.
There are life lessons abounding all around us.
First, when you are placed on any long-term medication, read the enclosed labels carefully.
Next, talk to your physician at the start of taking the medication about long-term known effects.
When you believe that the medication is actually making your life better, be certain to do body/bone enhancing activities. Supplement your diet with calcium and vitamin D. Without vitamin D your body doesn't absorb and use the calcium effectively. Vitamin D can be obtained through being in the sunshine for 10 to 15 minutes each day, (not necessarily direct sunlight.)
Walking, cycling or working out for 15 to 20 minutes at least 5 days per week aids your body in bone strength through resistance to gravity. This will increase your body’s absorption of calcium.
Prevention is worth a pound of cure, but be careful that the treatment for one disorder which provides some relief and better quality of life does not ultimately end your life or diminish the quality.
Your physical health is the foundation to activity, and meaningful activity is the foundation to spiritual wealth!