The Acute Problem of Chronic Disease?

 

Acute Problem of Chronic Disease

The Acute Problem of Chronic Disease. In medicine and science, the term "pathogenesis" refers to the origin and development of disease. It encompasses the study of how diseases start, progress, and manifest in the body. However, there isn't a widely accepted term to specifically describe the complementary process of healing and recovery. While there are various related concepts and terms used in the field, such as tissue repair, wound healing, or regenerative processes, there isn't a single overarching term that encapsulates the entirety of the healing and recovery process. Researchers and medical professionals often study and investigate the mechanisms and factors involved in healing and recovery, but a universally recognized term to encompass this process has yet to emerge.

Dr. Naviaux's research emphasizes the pivotal role of cellular mitochondria and sheds light on their dysfunctional states, which are believed to be at the core of various chronic conditions ranging from diabetes and autoimmune disorders to long autism spectrum disorder. His paper not only introduces a new term but also presents an extensive exploration of the mechanisms and factors that underlie the healing process, revolutionizing our understanding of these complex phenomena.

Significant advancements

The Acute Problem of Chronic Disease. In the field of medicine following World War II have primarily centered around identifying and addressing the triggers and risk factors associated with diseases," stated Dr. Naviaux. This pathogenesis-oriented approach has proven highly successful in the development of treatments for acute conditions, including those arising from physical injuries, infections, vitamin deficiencies, and toxic exposures. The medical community has made remarkable progress in understanding and combating diseases by focusing on the underlying causes and mechanisms that contribute to their onset. By targeting specific triggers and risk factors, researchers have been able to develop effective interventions to manage and treat acute illnesses resulting from various factors, greatly improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Naviaux emphasized that the primary concern in terms of health threats today lies in the realm of chronic diseases. Startling statistics reveal that six out of every ten adults in the United States are affected by at least one chronic disease, with four out of ten individuals experiencing two or more of these conditions concurrently. Chronic diseases, including but not limited to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and chronic kidney failure. The responsible a staggering 70% of all annual deaths in the United States as reported by (CDC). These figures underscore the urgent need for greater attention and resources to address the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases to alleviate the significant burden they pose on individuals, families, and society as a whole.

Inherent ability to heal itself

Dr. Naviaux highlighted that over the past seven decades, there hasn't been a single chronic illness that can be cured using existing medical approaches unless its root cause can be directly addressed through methods like bypassing, elimination, cauterization, or surgical removal. According to him, when cures are achieved, they often rely on the body's inherent ability to heal itself through spontaneous healing, a vital but still inadequately understood process that operates in the background. While antibiotics can successfully cure pneumococcal pneumonia and a stent can restore blood flow in a blocked coronary artery, active healing processes are necessary after these interventions to repair the damaged lung tissue and restore optimal functioning of the heart. The intricate mechanisms underlying the process of active healing remain a subject of ongoing research and scientific exploration.

According to Dr. Naviaux, the presence of healing processes is crucial for the existence of multicellular life on Earth. Without the ability to heal, an initial injury would make an organism susceptible to further harm, ultimately resulting in disability, chronic illness, accelerated aging, and eventual death. In many instances, medications designed to target the underlying mechanisms of disease, such as insulin for diabetes or statins for dyslipidemia (a condition characterized by imbalanced blood lipids, such as cholesterol, which can contribute to cardiovascular disease), need to be taken indefinitely because the fundamental cause of the chronic symptoms remains unaltered by treatment. These pathogenesis-based drugs primarily manage the symptoms rather than addressing the root cause, necessitating long-term medication to maintain functionality and mitigate associated risks.

In his recent paper

In his recent paper, Dr. Naviaux proposes that the underlying cause of numerous chronic diseases can be attributed to the disruption of the regular sequence of mitochondrial transformations required for the initiation and completion of the healing cycle. He introduces the concept of the "cell danger response" (CDR), which he describes as a universal response to infection, stress, or injury. (CDR) is a highly conserved metabolic mechanism that serves to protect cells and organisms from various forms of damage and threats. It is activated when cells are exposed to chemical, physical, or biological threats and serves as a crucial component of the immune response, prompting cells to undertake protective measures to counteract potential damage. Dr. Naviaux's research sheds light on the importance of understanding the intricacies of the CDR and its role in chronic diseases, providing a new perspective on the connection between cellular responses and the development of long-lasting health conditions.

Recent research presents a fresh perspective on the global surge in chronic diseases, portraying it as a systemic issue arising from a combination of pathogenic triggers and anthropogenic factors—factors originating from human activity, such as pollution—that disrupt the essential mitochondrial functions required for the healing process. Once chronic pain, disability, or disease becomes established, the focus shifts from pathogenesis-based therapies, which primarily target the disease's underlying mechanisms, to salugenesis-based therapies. Salugenesis-based approaches aim to stimulate and facilitate the body's inherent healing capacities, picking up where pathogenesis-based treatments conclude. By recognizing the interconnectedness of various factors contributing to chronic diseases and adopting a comprehensive approach that encompasses both pathogenesis and salugenesis, researchers and healthcare professionals can enhance their understanding and develop more effective interventions for managing and treating chronic conditions.

Research and latest publication

Dr. Naviaux asserts that the quest to cure chronic diseases must consider the fact that these conditions are comprehensive failures within the body's systems, often resulting from a combination of multiple factors. Notably, the same disease can arise from different causes in different individuals, highlighting the complexity of these conditions. Factors such as genetic predisposition, infections, environmental and microbial exposures, lifestyle choices, and more can all play a role in the development of most diseases.

Dr. Naviaux's research and latest publication advocate for the advancement of salugenesis-based research, which aims to unravel the unified biological response to injury, harm, and disease. He emphasizes that while acute illnesses are transient, chronic illnesses arise from the prolonged inability to fully heal after an acute injury has passed. These two states are interconnected, representing two sides of the same coin.

Dr. Naviaux hopes that ongoing research will contribute to a comprehensive body of knowledge, akin to a "second book of medicine," focused on understanding the causes and treatment of complex chronic diseases through the lens of the healing cycle and salugenesis. He believes that if the healing process can be rejuvenated or unblocked after being disrupted, there is potential for curing disorders once considered incurable. This transformative approach holds the promise of revolutionizing our understanding and treatment of chronic diseases, offering hope for effective interventions and potentially groundbreaking cures.