We believe our body is the temple of God and as such we have a special responsibility to protect and care for our bodies. The promotion of good health and a healthy lifestyle should be an integral part of health conscious Christians. We as individuals should be committed to pursuing Christ's mission in restoring the image of God in man. “To make man whole” should be the primary objective.

The work of health reform is the Lord’s means for lessening suffering in our world and for purifying His church. - Ellen. G. White

Your Health is your Wealth.

We believe in a “ministry of healing” by which people can be restored to wholeness. Reflecting on the life of Christ, the apostle Luke wrote that “Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Here we see the four dimensions of wholistic health: mental, physical, spiritual, and social. We believe in “whole-person care,” which addresses each of these dimensions.

We emphasize the prevention of disease and relief of suffering through simple lifestyle habits that correspond with the way God created us to live, and at the same time acknowledge the effectiveness of evidence-based therapy when disease has already occurred.

We believe that God is constantly working to heal people on the deepest level, and that His healing power is available to us today, giving us wholeness in our brokenness:

“He [God] is just as willing to heal the sick now as when He was personally on earth. Christ’s servants are His representatives, the channels for His working. He desires through them to exercise His healing power” (Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, p. 823).

The four foundational principles which guide our department’s philosophy and work are:

Inspiration: We believe the Word of God is the very best guide to making wise choices in every area of life and health. Scripture speaks eloquently on a wide variety of health topics and reveals a loving God who wants to give His children life “more abundantly)” (John 10:10). We are also grateful for the amplification of Biblical health principles in the writings of Ellen G. White.
Evidence: We operate under the conviction that God is the author of all true science. Therefore, we respect evidence-based health science which stands up to the rigors of careful examination and analysis according to accepted scientific principles. We believe this is vital in a world filled with misinformation and falsehood.
Balance: Because we are wholistic beings, a balanced approach in life is essential to health. This involves avoiding harmful practices and using wisely and carefully even the best things in life. Even good things can be taken to excess. Therefore, we are deeply committed to physical, mental, social, and spiritual balance to support health, happiness, and healing.
Relationships: Social and spiritual support are essential to health and human flourishing. Cultivating positive relationships with God, family members, friends, and community members will play a significant role in our personal health, productivity, and ability to help others.

In summary, we want to be used by God to share His healing love with others. Jesus put it best when He said:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

We hope this website blesses you in your journey toward abundant life and health.

CORONA VIRUS

Coronavirus

COVID-2019

Peter N. Landless., M.B., B.Ch., M.Med., FCP(SA), FACC, FASNC
Director, General Conference Adventist Health Ministries

In December 2019, a new and aggressive form of respiratory infection was discovered in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and recently been named COVID–19. The virus is a corona virus
and of the same family as the virus that caused the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
epidemic in 2002-3.

Transmission occurs through droplet spread when infected people cough or sneeze and gains
access to the body through the respiratory tract (lungs). The symptoms include fever, cough,
muscle pain, shortness of breath and fatigue; some patients may have diarrhea, and others very
mild to no symptoms at all.Progression of the disease may lead to a severe pneumonia with
lung tissue destruction and death.There has been spread outside of China, and there is no way
of predicting how widespread and severe this outbreak may yet become. Many countries have
placed measures in place to contain the spread including making this a quarantinable disease.
The period when an individual may be infectious is between 2 and 14 days. The time period for
quarantine (isolation from others) is 2 weeks.

There is no vaccine as yet, and the treatment is symptomatic. There arepresentlyno known
COVID-19antiviral medications. The production of a vaccine althoughpriority, may take up to a
year toproveefficacy and safety. Reliable monitoring sources have observed that those who
have not had immunization against influenza seem to have more severe symptoms and worse
outcomes. It is difficult to accurately assess the death rate from COVID-19 as notevery case has
been reported, but is presently estimated at 2%.

Please practice the standard universal precautions as we always should:

* Frequently clean hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub

* Coughing and sneezing etiquette:Sneeze into the folded arm; cover your cough. Take
masks with you when traveling. Should you encounter situations where people cough
and sneeze and are in close proximity, have no hesitation to use your mask (airports,
airplane cabin, lobbies, malls, student classes and other gatherings, etc.)

* Maintain social distancing –at least 3 feet or I meter between yourself and other
people. Avoid close contact with those who cough or are sniveling.

* Avoid touching/rubbing your eyes, nose and mouth.

* If you develop a cough and experience changes in your breathing, seek medical help
early and share your travel history with the health care provider.

* Avoid open markets and direct contact with animals/animal products.

* Careful food safety practices (well-cooked food, clean produce, pasteurized milk).

* Do not avoid the flu vaccine.

* Avoid travel to endemic areas; there is a WHO travel advisory against travel to China.

If you think you have been exposed by travel or contact with an affected individual, SEEK
ADVICE from your primary care physician!Be sure to disclose your travel history.There is global
awareness, and this is not the time to panic –rather to quietly trust in God.

For more information:

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) –https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Advice for the public –https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Travel advice –https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice

Proper handwashing technique –https://www.who.int/gpsc/clean_hands_protection/en/

https://www.who.int/ith/2020-24-01-outbreak-of-Pneumonia-caused-by-new-coronavirus/en/

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Overview

High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure generally develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

Symptoms

Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.

A few people with high blood pressure may have headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs and symptoms aren't specific and usually don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

When to see a doctor

You'll likely have your blood pressure taken as part of a routine doctor's appointment.

Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years starting at age 18. If you're age 40 or older, or you're 18 to 39 with a high risk of high blood pressure, ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading every year.

Blood pressure generally should be checked in both arms to determine if there's a difference. It's important to use an appropriate-sized arm cuff.

Your doctor will likely recommend more frequent readings if you've already been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Children age 3 and older will usually have blood pressure measured as a part of their yearly checkups.

If you don't regularly see your doctor, you may be able to get a free blood pressure screening at a health resource fair or other locations in your community. You can also find machines in some stores that will measure your blood pressure for free.

Public blood pressure machines, such as those found in pharmacies, may provide helpful information about your blood pressure, but they may have some limitations. The accuracy of these machines depends on several factors, such as a correct cuff size and proper use of the machines. Ask your doctor for advice on using public blood pressure machines.

Causes

There are two types of high blood pressure.

Primary (essential) hypertension

For most adults, there's no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure, called primary (essential) hypertension, tends to develop gradually over many years.

Secondary hypertension

Some people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition. This type of high blood pressure, called secondary hypertension, tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension. Various conditions and medications can lead to secondary hypertension, including:

Obstructive sleep apnea
Kidney problems
Adrenal gland tumors
Thyroid problems
Certain defects you're born with (congenital) in blood vessels
Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs
Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines

Risk factors

High blood pressure has many risk factors, including:

Age. The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age. Until about age 64, high blood pressure is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after age 65.
Race. High blood pressure is particularly common among people of African heritage, often developing at an earlier age than it does in whites. Serious complications, such as stroke, heart attack and kidney failure, also are more common in people of African heritage.
Family history. High blood pressure tends to run in families.
Being overweight or obese. The more you weigh the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood circulated through your blood vessels increases, so does the pressure on your artery walls.
Not being physically active. People who are inactive tend to have higher heart rates. The higher your heart rate, the harder your heart must work with each contraction and the stronger the force on your arteries. Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being overweight.
Using tobacco. Not only does smoking or chewing tobacco immediately raise your blood pressure temporarily, but the chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls. This can cause your arteries to narrow and increase your risk of heart disease. Secondhand smoke also can increase your heart disease risk.
Too much salt (sodium) in your diet. Too much sodium in your diet can cause your body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure.
Too little potassium in your diet. Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in your cells. If you don't get enough potassium in your diet or retain enough potassium, you may accumulate too much sodium in your blood.
Drinking too much alcohol. Over time, heavy drinking can damage your heart. Having more than one drink a day for women and more than two drinks a day for men may affect your blood pressure.

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.
Stress. High levels of stress can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure. If you try to relax by eating more, using tobacco or drinking alcohol, you may only increase problems with high blood pressure.
Certain chronic conditions. Certain chronic conditions also may increase your risk of high blood pressure, such as kidney disease, diabetes and sleep apnea.

Sometimes pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure, as well.

Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children may be at risk, too. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidneys or heart. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise, contribute to high blood pressure.

Complications

The excessive pressure on your artery walls caused by high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels, as well as organs in your body. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to complications including:

Heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure can cause hardening and thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other complications.
Aneurysm. Increased blood pressure can cause your blood vessels to weaken and bulge, forming an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can be life-threatening.
Heart failure. To pump blood against the higher pressure in your vessels, the heart has to work harder. This causes the walls of the heart's pumping chamber to thicken (left ventricular hypertrophy). Eventually, the thickened muscle may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet your body's needs, which can lead to heart failure.
Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in your kidneys. This can prevent these organs from functioning normally.
Thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes. This can result in vision loss.
Metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is a cluster of disorders of your body's metabolism, including increased waist circumference; high triglycerides; low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol; high blood pressure and high insulin levels. These conditions make you more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Trouble with memory or understanding. Uncontrolled high blood pressure may also affect your ability to think, remember and learn. Trouble with memory or understanding concepts is more common in people with high blood pressure.
Dementia. Narrowed or blocked arteries can limit blood flow to the brain, leading to a certain type of dementia (vascular dementia). A stroke that interrupts blood flow to the brain also can cause vascular dementia.

DIABETES

Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, otherwise known as blood sugar.

Without ongoing, careful management, diabetes can lead to a buildup of sugars in the blood, which can increase the risk of dangerous complications, including stroke and heart disease.

Different kinds of diabetes can occur, and managing the condition depends on the type. Not all forms of diabetes stem from a person being overweight or leading an inactive lifestyle. In fact, some are present from childhood.

TYPES

There are several types of diabetes.

Three major diabetes types can develop: Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type I diabetes: Also known as juvenile diabetes, this type occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. People with type I diabetes are insulin-dependent, which means they must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses insulin. While the body still makes insulin, unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond to it as effectively as they once did. This is the most common type of diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and it has strong links with obesity.

Gestational diabetes: This type occurs in women during pregnancy when the body can become less sensitive to insulin. Gestational diabetes does not occur in all women and usually resolves after giving birth.

Less common types of diabetes include monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.

Prediabetes

Doctors refer to some people as having prediabetes or borderline diabetes when blood sugar is usually in the range of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Normal blood sugar levels sit between 70 and 99 mg/dL, whereas a person with diabetes will have a fasting blood sugar higher than 126 mg/dL.

The prediabetes level means that blood glucose is higher than usual but not so high as to constitute diabetes.

People with prediabetes are, however, at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, although they do not usually experience the symptoms of full diabetes.

The risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are similar. They include:

being overweight
a family history of diabetes
having a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level lower than 40 mg/dL or 50 mg/dL
a history of high blood pressure
having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a child with a birth weight of more than 9 pounds
a history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
being of African-American, Native American, Latin American, or Asian-Pacific Islander descent
being more than 45 years of age
having a sedentary lifestyle

If a doctor identifies that a person has prediabetes, they will recommend that the individual makes healthful changes that can ideally stop the progression to type 2 diabetes. Losing weight and having a more healthful diet can often help prevent the disease.

HOW INSULIN PROBLEMS DEVELOP

Doctors do not know the exact causes of type I diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin resistance, has clearer causes.

Insulin allows the glucose from a person’s food to access the cells in their body to supply energy. Insulin resistance is usually a result of the following cycle:

A person has genes or an environment that make it more likely that they are unable to make enough insulin to cover how much glucose they eat.
The body tries to make extra insulin to process the excess blood glucose.
The pancreas cannot keep up with the increased demands, and the excess blood sugar starts to circulate in the blood, causing damage.
Over time, insulin becomes less effective at introducing glucose to cells, and blood sugar levels continue to rise.

_______________

“Health is a treasure. Of all temporal possessions it is the most precious.”

_______________________

“To keep the body in a healthy condition, in order that all parts of the living machinery may act harmoniously, should be a study of our life. The children of God cannot glorify Him with sickly bodies or dwarfed minds.”

________

“Animals are becoming more and more diseased, and it will not be long until animal food will be discarded by many.”