Proteins perform a variety of functions. We need them to repair a cut finger and to stop bleeding. We need them to turbo charge digestion and to transport oxygen to every cell and tissue in the body. We need proteins to provide energy when our diet is inadequate. We need them to stand up and sit down.
“Why do we need proteins?” We need proteins to survive and thrive. They’re a vital part of every cell and are present in every living organism. Unlike fats, the body cannot store proteins for future use. This means we need this indispensible nutrient in our diet every day.
On April 15, 2017 the world’s oldest person at that time died at the age of 117. The life of Emma Morano spanned three centuries. Born November 29, 1899, she was the last person born in the 1800s She died in Verbania, a small town on Lake Maggiore, Italy.
In the 1970’s, much notoriety was given to the “The Boy in the Bubble”. The youngster, David Vetter, lived alone for 12 years in a germ free plastic tent. His mother never held him in her arms. No one was allowed to touch him with their bare hands. The toll on his psyche and the heartache of his parents are immeasurable.
Just as an apartment building uses a doorman and a surveillance system to identify and prevent unwanted visitors from entering the premises, the immune system uses an army of specialized cells, tissues and organs to survey and protect the body against foreign invaders.
Trouble swallowing in the elderly has received keen interest in recent years. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia — “OD” involves difficulty moving food or liquids comfortably from the oral cavity, mouth and throat, to the esophagus (food pipe). Some have proposed to characterize OD as a geriatric syndrome, a clinical disorder especially prevalent in the elderly.
Dysphagia (dys difficulty — phagia eating) is the medical term used to describe difficulty swallowing. Something prevents the comfortable passage of food or liquids from the mouth to the stomach.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) report, “An estimated 1 in 3 Americans have trouble paying their medical bills. They are gradually paying medical bills over time or they have bills they can’t afford to pay at all.”
Peggy is a 69 y/o lady who complained of an upset stomach and diarrhea. At first, she blamed it on what she ate the previous day. However, the diarrhea persisted, became more frequent and more explosive.
James Comey Jr., former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made a “gut wrenching” decision that made him “feel nauseous”. He seemed tense, anxious and probably didn’t get his usual good night’s sleep.