Dr Cory Couillard

Image courtesy of  freedigitalphotos.net A new comprehensive study provides alarming statistics for Namibia and beyond.  The published research of more than 480 researchers in 50 countries shows that people may be statistically living longer but the rates of chronic disease are skyrocketing nearly everywhere.  The last comprehensive study of this magnitude was conducted in 1990.  A comparison of these two studies provides us with the unacceptable regional and global health trends of many of the most deadly conditions.  Chronic or long-term diseases associated with personal choices have become the biggest health threats. It may appear that we winning the war on childhood diseases but the statistics show that we are only exchanging them for another far more expensive form – chronic diseases.  "The biggest contributor to the global health burden isn't premature (deaths), but chronic diseases, injuries, mental health conditions and all the bo...

Image courtesy of  freedigitalphotos.net There is no country in the world that does not bear the burden of diabetes, Botswana included. Reports show that there are 96,420 diagnosed and a shocking additional 77,130 undiagnosed cases of diabetes according to the 2012 Diabetes Atlas Update published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Diabetes is estimated to kill 4.8 million adults in 2012 alone – one person every seven seconds. Even more frightening is that it’s estimated that only half of the diagnoses are even known to the sufferer.     “Four out of five of the people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems are struggling to keep pace with the growing burden of non-communicable disease,” says the IDF. Type 2 diabetes was once thought to be a disease of the elderly and was reflectively called adult-onset diabetes. The name was forced to change due to the alarming rates of childhood-induced dia...

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net Over a decade worth of scientific studies have pointed to an association between the consumption of fish and the occurrence of depression.  Science is now showing that psychological health is often directly linked to nutritional deficiencies. In short, food can directly impact the physiology of one’s body which will directly impact one’s psychology or mental health. Numerous studies have shown omega-3 levels to be lower in people with depression than in people without. The rates of depression are much lower in populations that eat larger quantities of fish.  Specifically omega-3 rich fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel. Two recent scientific reviews analyzed data from dozens of studies and they came to a similar conclusion: Omega-3s can help people with severe depression but are unlikely to help those with minor situational depression. Omega-3s deemed safe Fortunately, research has shown that eatin...

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net A deadly new strain of coronavirus has been identified that is similar to the SARS virus.  Coronaviruses are a wide spectrum grouping of viruses that are known to cause illness in animals and humans. The source of this new deadly virus is unknown but has already claimed up to nine lives.  Coronaviruses are known to affect a wide range of animals and can become life threatening when they become transmissible between animals-to-humans.  Further mutation of the virus occurs when there is human-to-human spread.  Reports indicate that there is possible human-to-human spread but it is uncertain if the affected family members were infected by the same source.   Initial reports indicate that the novel coronavirus  does not appear to transmit easily between people while the distant relative SARS virus was much more transmissible. Symptoms of novel coronavirus Novel coronavirus is known to create severe respirato...

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net Dental  cavities  and periodontal diseases are now being linked to much greater health concerns than just poor oral health.  The most prominent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer have been found to share the same risk factors as gum disease and impotence. Research is further supporting the concept of ‘you are what you eat’. Lifestyle factors such as the rapid increase in the consumption of sugar, alcohol and processed foods are expected to cause a major deterioration in the nation’s overall health.  Non-existent or deficient tobacco regulation is found to be compounding the problem.  The use of tobacco has been estimated to account for over 90 percent of cancers in the oral cavity and is associated with inflammation, periodontal breakdown, poor oral hygiene and eventual tooth loss according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The impotence link A new Turki...

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net For many, the upcoming holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year or the most depressing.  Excessive stress is often contagious with the added financial strain of travel, costs of presents, food and/or entertainment.  It is no coincidence that the holidays are the sickest time of the year.  Poor food choices, diminished physical activity levels and excessive levels of stress can be linked to the physical and emotional symptoms of depression.  Highly processed food items are commonly loaded with carbohydrates that are a leading cause of nutritional imbalances.  Nutritional imbalances create deficiencies that interfere with proper brain function and hormone balance that causes poor concentration, feelings of guilt, lack of energy and other symptoms of depression. Sweet desserts and refined carbohydrates cause sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels.  This rapid fluctuation is known to caus...

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net A new era of disease has arisen from the forced mutation of bacteria caused by antibiotic use.  Once common infections are becoming untreatable and deadly according to World Health Organization (WHO) officials. The resistance to antibiotics is one of the greatest public health threats as it leaves one’s body defenseless against even mild infections.  The once cost-effective, ‘safe’ treatments are now creating much more expensive, toxic treatments in intensive care units.  Incurable cures Unnecessary use and abuse of antibiotics has been stated as leading contributors to this microscopic threat.  Improper use for non-life threatening viral conditions such as an ear infection may be preventing future life-saving procedures such as an organ transplant.  A complicating factor is that there are very few new antibiotics in development.  Very few drug makers have invested time and money into a dru...