Health: Health: The Physical The Physical
ParadigmParadigm
Richard A. Swenson, MDRichard A. Swenson, MD
April 8, 2005April 8, 2005
ThumbnailThumbnail
NeutrinosNeutrinos
Mt. EverestMt. Everest
There are many things There are many things that are true that we that are true that we
don’t know about.don’t know about.
Life here is not the final Life here is not the final realityreality
When God turns off His TV When God turns off His TV ……
Now we see through a Now we see through a glass darkly, but then we glass darkly, but then we
shall see face to face. shall see face to face. Now I know in part, but Now I know in part, but
then I shall know even as then I shall know even as I also am known.I also am known. 1 1 Corinthians 13:12Corinthians 13:12
THE HUMAN BODYTHE HUMAN BODY
The pinnacle of God's creationThe pinnacle of God's creation
Made in His image Made in His image (Genesis 1 & 5)(Genesis 1 & 5)
Created a little lower than the Created a little lower than the angels; crowned with glory and angels; crowned with glory and honor honor (Ps 8; Heb 2)(Ps 8; Heb 2)
Fearfully & wonderfully made Fearfully & wonderfully made (Ps (Ps 139)139)
AtomsAtoms
10102828 90 % turn over every yr90 % turn over every yr 100 % turn over every five yrs100 % turn over every five yrs A trillion atoms every millionth A trillion atoms every millionth
of a secof a sec
By the sweat of your brow By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you will eat your food until you return to the ground, you return to the ground, since from it you were since from it you were taken; taken; for dust you are and for dust you are and to dust you will return.to dust you will return.
Genesis 3:19Genesis 3:19
Where did the atoms go?Where did the atoms go?
We leak, physically and We leak, physically and metaphysicallymetaphysically
Subatomic ParticlesSubatomic Particles
Proton, neutron, electronProton, neutron, electron 200 subatomic particles200 subatomic particles XiXi SuperstringsSuperstrings Infinite in the subatomic Infinite in the subatomic
direction?direction?
CellsCells 100 trillion cells100 trillion cells Each cell has a trillion atomsEach cell has a trillion atoms We turn over a trillion cells a We turn over a trillion cells a
dayday
For by Him all things were For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all rulers or authorities: all things were created by Him things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all and for Him. He is before all things and things and in Him all things in Him all things hold together.hold together. Colossians 1:16-Colossians 1:16-77
On a cellular level, On a cellular level, I really am quite busy.I really am quite busy.
Heart & VesselsHeart & Vessels
Beats 2 ½ billion times in Beats 2 ½ billion times in lifetime lifetime
Sixty thousand miles of blood Sixty thousand miles of blood vesselsvessels
Capillaries diameter of RBCCapillaries diameter of RBC Capillary wall 3000 x more Capillary wall 3000 x more
delicate than toilet tissuedelicate than toilet tissue
RBCsRBCs
Make 2-10 million every secondMake 2-10 million every second Circle earth four timesCircle earth four times
Lungs & OxygenLungs & Oxygen
Every breath contains 150 Every breath contains 150 million molecules breathed million molecules breathed by Jesusby Jesus
Daniel spoke of the God who Daniel spoke of the God who holds in His hand your holds in His hand your breathbreath..
The EyeThe Eye
brightness conditions can brightness conditions can vary by factor of ten billionvary by factor of ten billion
““. . . it would take a minimum . . . it would take a minimum of 100 years of Cray time to of 100 years of Cray time to simulate what takes place in simulate what takes place in your eye many times every your eye many times every second.”second.”
The EarThe Ear
AA million moving parts million moving parts Range of sound intensity can Range of sound intensity can
vary by a factor of one trillionvary by a factor of one trillion The sensitivity of the hearing The sensitivity of the hearing
mechanism >> energy of the mechanism >> energy of the sound sound
Brain, Nervous SystemBrain, Nervous System
3 pounds3 pounds The most complex & orderly The most complex & orderly
arrangement of matter in the arrangement of matter in the universeuniverse. . Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov
10-100 billion neurons10-100 billion neurons 100,000 miles100,000 miles
Brain, Nervous SystemBrain, Nervous System
capacity 25 million bookscapacity 25 million books book shelf 500 miles longbook shelf 500 miles long ten thousand trillion ten thousand trillion
computations/seccomputations/sec
Brain, Nervous SystemBrain, Nervous System
Thinking, intuition, Thinking, intuition, language, learning, memory, language, learning, memory, sleep, consciousnesssleep, consciousness
The brain & humilityThe brain & humility 3 lbs. sitting in Judgment??3 lbs. sitting in Judgment??
The Genome & DNAThe Genome & DNA
The Human GenomeThe Human Genome 20-25,000 genes20-25,000 genes Three billion base pairsThree billion base pairs From one cell DNA is 6 feet longFrom one cell DNA is 6 feet long All our DNA would fit inside ice All our DNA would fit inside ice
cubecube If stretched out ~ 100 billion milesIf stretched out ~ 100 billion miles
The Genome & DNAThe Genome & DNA
Initial single cell DNA Initial single cell DNA weighs .2 of a millionth of a weighs .2 of a millionth of a millionth of an ounce.millionth of an ounce.
The initial single cell DNA The initial single cell DNA from every human alive today from every human alive today would weigh 1/1000would weigh 1/1000thth oz. oz. (0.03 grams)(0.03 grams)
PROGRESSPROGRESS
How Progress helps healthHow Progress helps health
How Progress harms healthHow Progress harms health
How Progress helps How Progress helps healthhealth
Abundant supply of safe, Abundant supply of safe, inexpensive inexpensive foodfood
Efficient food distribution systemEfficient food distribution system Public health: flush toilets, Public health: flush toilets,
immunizations, prenatal care, immunizations, prenatal care, etc.etc.
Education, affluenceEducation, affluence
How Progress harms How Progress harms healthhealth
How Progress harms How Progress harms healthhealth
Sleep Sleep NutritionNutrition ExerciseExercise
[Note: Every trend line of [Note: Every trend line of progress is in the opposite progress is in the opposite direction of health in these direction of health in these three categories]three categories]
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY SleepSleep
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY SleepSleep
1. Value Sleep1. Value Sleep
2. Develop Healthy Sleep 2. Develop Healthy Sleep PatternsPatterns
DEVELOP HEALTHY SLEEP DEVELOP HEALTHY SLEEP PATTERNSPATTERNS
Retire and arise at a similar time each day Retire and arise at a similar time each day Have a quiet room and a good mattressHave a quiet room and a good mattress If you suffer from cold feet, prewarm the If you suffer from cold feet, prewarm the
sheets sheets Don't engage in disturbing conversations Don't engage in disturbing conversations
before bedtime before bedtime Give yourself time to unwind from the day Give yourself time to unwind from the day Limit the intake of caffeine in the evening, Limit the intake of caffeine in the evening,
and if necessary, in the afternoon as well and if necessary, in the afternoon as well If you are a clock watcher, turn the clock If you are a clock watcher, turn the clock
toward the walltoward the wall Keep a notebook or tape recorder at Keep a notebook or tape recorder at
bedsidebedside
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY SleepSleep
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY SleepSleep
3. Don’t Catastrophize 3. Don’t Catastrophize InsomniaInsomnia
Don’t Catastrophize Don’t Catastrophize InsomniaInsomnia
Don't stay in bed awake Don't stay in bed awake Get up, sit in a comfortable chair, lie on Get up, sit in a comfortable chair, lie on
the couchthe couch ReadRead Write a letterWrite a letter Have a light snack; Drink some milk Have a light snack; Drink some milk Take a walkTake a walk Soak in the bathtub Soak in the bathtub Play relaxing music Play relaxing music Watch television Watch television DON'T worryDON'T worry
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY
4. Take a Nap 4. Take a Nap
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY NutritionNutrition
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY NutritionNutrition
1-2. Decrease Intake of 1-2. Decrease Intake of CaloriesCalories
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY NutritionNutrition
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY NutritionNutrition
3. Replace Processed Snacks 3. Replace Processed Snacks with Fruitwith Fruit
4. Garden or Buy Direct4. Garden or Buy Direct
5. Drink a Lot of Water5. Drink a Lot of Water
6. McStay at Home6. McStay at Home
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY ExerciseExercise
PHYSICAL ENERGYPHYSICAL ENERGY ExerciseExercise
1. Exercise for the Heart1. Exercise for the Heart
2. Exercise for the Muscles2. Exercise for the Muscles
3. Exercise for Flexibility3. Exercise for Flexibility
4. Exercise for the Mind and 4. Exercise for the Mind and SpiritSpirit
5. Bike or Walk5. Bike or Walk
How Progress harms How Progress harms healthhealth
How Progress harms How Progress harms healthhealth
Sleep Sleep NutritionNutrition ExerciseExercise Every trend line of progress is Every trend line of progress is
in the in the opposite direction of opposite direction of health in health in these three these three categoriescategories
Not true in biblical timesNot true in biblical times
What is needed to make this What is needed to make this work?work?
IntentionalityIntentionality Habit development Habit development (habit disorder)(habit disorder) SimplificationSimplification Structure, communityStructure, community Motivation (positive better than Motivation (positive better than
negative)negative) guilt, condescensionguilt, condescension
Accountability ($1,000 wager)Accountability ($1,000 wager) ConfidenceConfidence
Do you not know that your Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? you have received from God? You are not your own; you You are not your own; you were bought at a price. were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with Therefore honor God with your body.your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-201 Corinthians 6:19-20
Therefore, I urge you, in view Therefore, I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of this is your spiritual act of worship.worship.
Romans 12:1-2Romans 12:1-2
How BeautifulHow BeautifulTwila Paris, Twila Paris, Cry for the Cry for the
DesertDesertHow beautiful the hands that servedHow beautiful the hands that servedThe wine and the bread The wine and the bread
and the sons of the earthand the sons of the earthHow beautiful the feet that walkedHow beautiful the feet that walkedThe long dusty roads and the hill to The long dusty roads and the hill to the crossthe crossHow beautiful, how beautifulHow beautiful, how beautifulHow beautiful is the body of ChristHow beautiful is the body of Christ
How beautiful the heart that bledHow beautiful the heart that bledThat took all my sin and bore it That took all my sin and bore it insteadinsteadHow beautiful the tender eyesHow beautiful the tender eyesThat choose to forgive and never That choose to forgive and never despisedespiseHow beautiful . . .How beautiful . . .
And as He laid down his lifeAnd as He laid down his lifeWe offer this sacrificeWe offer this sacrificeThat we will live just as He died That we will live just as He died Willing to pay the priceWilling to pay the price
How beautiful the radiant brideHow beautiful the radiant brideWho waits for her GroomWho waits for her GroomWith His light in her eyesWith His light in her eyesHow beautiful when humble hearts giveHow beautiful when humble hearts giveThe fruit of pure lives so that others may The fruit of pure lives so that others may liveliveHow beautiful . . . How beautiful . . .
How beautiful the feet that bringHow beautiful the feet that bringThe sound of good news and the love of The sound of good news and the love of the Kingthe KingHow beautiful the hands that serveHow beautiful the hands that serveThe wine and the bread and the sons of the The wine and the bread and the sons of the earthearthHow beautiful, how beautifulHow beautiful, how beautifulHow beautiful is the body of ChristHow beautiful is the body of Christ