Chronic Inflammation and Chronic Illness Statistics
Written by lsmithersWhen we see statistics such as those cited from Medco Health, it’s hardly a leap connecting the dots to chronic inflammation when illnesses cited in the study are depression, diabetes, asthma.
The statistics state that for the first time ever over half the population, 51% of American children and adults were taking one or more prescription drugs for a chronic condition up from 50% the previous four years, and 47% in 2001.
For the past four years, there’s been a near doubling of reported diseases and illnesses. Rather than feeling startled at the rise, perhaps we’ve just grown immune expecting illness now instead of being surprised when statistics are reported year after year.
Science had made the connection to Omega-6s in processed “food products” creating inflammation. These are not “food” but “food products.” When it takes 18 and more ingredients to create a packaged product with names we can’t pronounce, the industry has forgotten we are human beings.
Our bodies were never intended to consume food products laced with ingredients we can’t pronounce processed by methods we don’t want to be near. Could it be the magnitude to health of 50 years of consuming these non-foods has finally reached epidemic proportions? I believe that. I also believe most of us are bewildered by the implications.
Science has made it clear, though, Omega-6s are the culprit and we need to heed the message. Inflammation has led to an epidemic of diseases plaguing a nation of men, women and children. When numbers start climbing in children, it is time to take a step back and look deep for answers.
From obesity, ADD, juvenile diabetes in children to Alzheimer’s in a 21 year old, we are a nation succumbing to inflammation. The study said 1.2 million American children are now taking pills for Type 2 diabetes, sleeping troubles and gastrointestinal problems such as heartburn.
More statistics show medications for chronic problems was seen in all demographic groups:
• Almost two-thirds of women 20 and older
• One in four children and teenagers
• 52% of adult men
• Three out of four people 65 and older
The largest jump in use of chronic medications was in the 20 to 44 year old age group – adults in the prime of life where it rose 20% over six years with more prescriptions being written for depression, diabetes, asthma, attention-deficit disorder and seizures. And most of those diseases cited have established connections to chronic inflammation.
Soybean, cottonseed, corn, safflower and sunflower oils, all inflammatory Omega-6s, have been abundantly added to processed foods for over 50 years. Many labels now display the grams of Omega-6s as if food manufactures are quite proud of letting us know they’ve added Omega-6s. Truth is, they have always been there in great abundance which is the problem.
Making these products appear to meet the new suggested ratio of 4:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3 might be appealing if it wasn’t so disturbingly obvious, we need to eliminate Omega-6s. The labels should carrying warnings rather than proud statements.
The question we might ask is – when did science discover the Omega-6 connection to inflammation? Five years ago – three years ago? It’s hard to pinpoint the first mention but it’s been made quite clearly now.
These statistics beg for our awareness, a wake up call, to begin eliminating processed foods. With just a few small changes, we can get a handle on inflammation by replacing processed foods as often as possible with real, wholesome foods, fish twice a week or an Omega-3 supplement less we end up in the statistic column.
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June 15th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Keep it up, great job!
June 19th, 2009 at 3:20 am
community health network loves your article and would like to work with you on future articles. Great job keep up the great posts.
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:51 am
Our bodies were never intended to consume food products laced with ingredients we can’t pronounce processed by methods we don’t want to be near. Could it be the magnitude to health of 50 years of consuming these non-foods has finally reached epidemic proportions
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:16 am
Yes, Myclen. The magnitude to health of 50 years consuming non-foods has resulted in inflammation now reaching epidemic proportions. All diseases are inflammation based with heart disease soaring year after year from inflammation.
Thanks for pointing that out!
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:14 am
Thanks for the interesting post about chronic inflammation. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Thank you, Hank. Be sure to check out my inflammation blog here http://inflammationawarenessnow.com
October 31st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Acid reflux in children is unfortunately a huge problem in this country. I really enjoyed your article, especially all of the statistics you provided.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Wow, those are some pretty disturbing statistics.
February 14th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Processed foods to correlate to poor health and fresh fruits and vegetables, whole and natural correlate to great health. I’ve started drinking more water, V8 and exercising, feeling much better as I go.
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I am having a constant flair up in my ankles. Your information was very beneficial - I keep forgetting about more Omega 3’s in my diet. Keep up the good work.
March 15th, 2010 at 4:02 am
Thanks for the valuable information. I don’t want to end in the statistic column. I’ll eat healthy from now on.
Shangri
April 4th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
very useful information .. thanks
May 4th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Valuable information. Thanks for sharing. Good health is a result of good diet. It is always better to replace processed food with natural food like fresh fruits and vegetables.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Those statistics are very concerning, especially as this isn’t a one off year and the figures have been rising. For half the country to be on meds is a huge worry. I think it’s difficult, with the size of the country (and food portions) to educate Americans on healthier eating.
June 19th, 2010 at 10:37 am
I havent any word to appreciate this post. Really I am impressed from this post. The person who create this post it was a great human. Thanks for shared this with us.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Great article and very insightful, especially regarding Omega 6. I will make sure to keep my Omega 3 intake up. Thanks and keep up the great work!
August 31st, 2010 at 4:49 am
Thanks for the interesting post about chronic inflammation!
October 14th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Great article. Some of the statistics are a little concerning but I agree our food supply or processed food supply needs to be limited. Or better yet removed from our shelves. Up the omega’s remove the processed food from your diets. Cheers! Jasper Hotels | Kindersley Hotels
October 27th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
51%? Wow, this statistic is alarming not only because it is over half of the population, but also because it keeps growing and growing. It’s scary to think what this statistic will be in 5 years from now!
November 9th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Thanks for this helping post!
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January 11th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
I deal with seizures and sometimes I wonder if it could be the food i eat people nowadays deal with so much, and the things in our food we can’t pronounce. Something seems very wrong with that.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Goodness! I never expected that anything with Omega would actually be bad for you.
I believe that the current food industry is causing to things, easier consumption, and easier death, with the latter being the negative side of technology.
I hope more people would be made aware of this statistical data in terms that is easily understandable.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Reading this really makes me sad because i have seizures,and i’m on 20 pills a day. The medication has more side effect than we can even talk about.The medication does crazy things to me when i try coming off of it.
February 12th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Good post, very informative with some points i would never have considered. Thanks