Improved Longevity in the 21st Century

The pharmaceutical industry is at a pivotal point in its evolution, particularly in relation to research and development. New hyper-efficient technologies create a greater understanding of underlying biology of the human body and its susceptibility to disease; this provides a visionary perspective for the 21 st Century pharmaceutical engineering-sector to set a “collaborative” model of health care (information sharing to deliver optimal patient care), not only to explore greater opportunities for the development of truly innovative products but also to employ a lean manufacturing approach to eliminate waste , and boost output and cost-effective outlay. In order to best utilize viable opportunities that these strategies embody, today’s pharmaceutical manufacturer must endorse the operational changes needed to improve speed of response for the differing types of innovative treatments, and the impact of migrating from the current linear phase R&D process towards in-life testing and live licensing (cumulative testing of the drug throughout its life cycle) if it is to collaborate more closely with regulators and health care providers about pricing and demonstrate outcome benefits and value for money. There is no doubt that the quality of pharmaceuticals will be improved dramatically.

Corporate Responsibility

The modern pharmaceutical industry, which originated in the mid-nineteenth century, evolved exponentially to the final decades of the 20th Century. Impressive high-tech developments in medicine await us in the 21 st Century that will make contemporary medicine seem relatively primitive. However, it’s apparent that ground-breaking pharmaceuticals will not only have a “high-tech” side but also a “high-natural” side due to a growing popularity in self-care, wellness, alternative remedies, and new understandings of body-mind connections for treating acute and chronic conditions. Self-care practices have grown considerably in the past decade and even faster growth is projected for the next decade. Since health care expenditures are expected to grow faster than national income over the foreseeable future — exacerbated by high unemployment and lower incomes for many South Africans — self-care will not only be important for encouraging better health but also for saving money. Wellness programs initiated by many corporations have also experienced impressive growth in the past five years. An integral part of in-house (corporate) health care is to provide employee’s access to a resident registered nursing sister who is tasked with monitoring routine health checks. Health behaviors or conditions that warrant monitoring include blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS; health programs help employees manage chronic ailments such as arthritis, asthma, back pain, osteoporosis, stress and depression.

Is DIY testing conclusive?

Home testing kits, readily available from chemists or via the Internet, claim to be able to detect the early warning signs for conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to prostate cancer. But should such tests be carried out without proper medical guidance and support? And are the results conclusive? DIY testing kits for potentially life-threatening conditions such as stomach ulcers, prostate problems, bowel cancer and diabetes can be misleading; some test results give false reassurances while others cause unnecessary panic. Consequently, people may be better off going straight to their GP or clinic.

Collaborative Health Care

The anticipated “collaborative model of health care” will demand that high-tech physicians collaborate with various high-touch health practitioners, to convey a holistic prognosis. With technology such as emails, instant messaging, and social networks, there is little doubt that patients might soon be speaking directly to their pharmaceutical manufacturers about product information, instead of their doctors or other medical professionals.

Take Responsibility for your Health

After remaining fairly constant for most of human history, life expectancy has nearly doubled in the past century. The maximum life span has increased spectacularly as well. Scholarly opinion diverges, however, as to whether these increases will continue or whether human longevity is approaching its limit. Improved health care, sanitation, immunizations, access to clean running water and better nutrition are credited with the massive jump. A better understanding of hygiene and the transmission of microbes has contributed substantially to public health. What about Life expectancy in the future? Some researchers predict that HIV/AIDS and lifestyle factors such as obesity will halt, or even reverse, the rise in life expectancy. AIDS-defining causes of death include liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancers and virus-related cancers, while people living with HIV/AIDS increasingly face homelessness and mental health issues, including substance use. Obesity and its complications (including cholesterol, gallbladder disease, and arthritis) could well reduce life expectancy at all ages in the first half of the 21 st Century. Yet, living longer makes us vulnerable to “age-related diseases” such as coronary artery disease, certain cancers, diabetes and dementia. Many of these conditions can be prevented or at least delayed through healthy lifestyle choices like following a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and keeping stress at bay.

Question everything!

It’s important to question and understand your doctor’s advice. Know what medications you are taking; this includes herbal or nutritional supplements. If you are facing a health crisis, seek another opinion. There may be an alternative to prescription drugs, e.g. change in lifestyle. When you’re in the hospital, make sure you know what the nurses are putting in your IV. Watch out for infections; when dealing with health care practitioners, check that they wash their hands and stethoscope before examining you. Verify your prescriptions; ask what the drug is, the dosage, what it does, how to take it, and possible side effects. Write this information down! Listen to your body; if you feel that something isn’t quite right, go back to the doctor or get a second opinion. If you are having surgery, talk to the anesthesiologist the day before. Seek out alternatives; there is often a natural or alternative option. Many people are taking a more active role in their health by carrying out DIY testing and recording the results. Communicating the frequency of asthma attacks or the results of diabetes home testing can allow your doctor to make a more informed decision on your treatment. Embrace opportunities to stay informed about health issues, including malnutrition, malaria, intestinal infections and HIV/AIDS.

Copyright: Leaders in Wellness (magazine)

Words by Theresa Lutge-Smith (ecottage@gmail.com)