Life Science: A holistic approach to health and anti-aging
MANILA, Philippines - The years teach much which the days never knew,” said the well-known American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. But while all aspire for the wisdom of age, we would rather forgo the inconvenience of a failing body.
“The irony is that everybody wants to become older, but nobody wants to be old,” says Dr. Michael Klentze, international medical director of the Vitalife Corporation at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. But while aging is inevitable, strategies have been identified so that individuals can age gracefully, allowing them to make the most out of life in their golden years.
Dr. Klentze quotes a statement attributed to Hippocrates, the father of western medicine: “Diseases do not fall from the sky. They accumulate slowly and they break through at once.” He believes that preventing age-related debilities is the way to go.
What should be done to delay aging? Current approaches favor going into the cellular level to promote health. The basic concept is that by averting biochemical alterations, one avoids impaired cellular function; and consequently, prevention of morphological and functional changes that manifest as pathologies or disease. “The main reason for aging is inflamm-aging,” says Dr, Klentze. He cites a paper by researchers Claudio Francheski, Tom Kirkwood, and Calogero Caruso that postulates: “Both the aging process and age-associated diseases are late consequences of inflammatory response mainly selected to resist infections and for a successful response to wound healing in early age.” Simply put, inflammations shorten life spans.
Recognition that free radicals in the body can cause inflammation allows one to appreciate the actions of antioxidants such as vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, and minerals such as selenium, zinc, manganese, and others. “Oxidative stress corresponds with a number of neuro-degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease,” points out Dr. Klentze. “We should start early to prevent it and other ‘old-age’ diseases.”
At the Vitalife clinic in the world-class Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, disease risk assessments can be made through laboratory testing. In addition, genetic testing is available “to help stratify the risk of patients and allow early identification of individuals at risk.” By knowing the diseases that they can be genetically predisposed to, patients can make the necessary lifestyle changes to prevent acquiring the disease. In addition, the clinic formulates medications and supplements that are tailor-made to address each patient’s specific needs. “One should take a holistic approach to health maintenance and anti-aging,” says Dr, Klentze. “By incorporating health pillars such as exercise, diet, supplements, hormones, and medication, as well as good psychological stress management, we can have a good quality of life even in our advanced years.”
The good news for Filipinos is that the holistic approach to wellness medicine advocated by the Vitalife clinic will soon be available locally. The Life Science Center for Wellness is set to open this year in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Maria Victoria Romero Salas, the center’s executive director, is convinced they will “provide a more meaningful approach to health and wellness.” She adds, “A holistic and state-of-the-art anti-aging and preventive healthcare facility would benefit Filipinos tremendously.”
Dr. Ben Valdecanas, an international fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons, and diplomate of the Philippine Board of Orthopedics, will serve as medical director.
The Life Science Center for Wellness will provide services such as health, age & weight management; genomics, hormone therapy, aesthetic beauty, beauty and skin, hyperbaric chamber, and nutraceuticals. “Life Science is about identifying health risks, educating patients, and preventing the onset and progression of disease,” Dr. Valdecanas concludes.
Watch out for the inauguration of the Life Science Center for Wellness at the 8th floor, ACCRA Law Tower, 2nd Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For more information, call 828 LIFE (5433). Or log on to www.lifescience.ph
