Biomedicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Biomedicine - Essay Example First, it is necessary to examine the sociocultural values which have lead to our own de-habilitating illnesses. We live in a fast, paced society in which there is little room to stop for a breather. This has been influenced by the internet and the ability to access information at the speed of light. Many jobs are now conducted straight out of the office and usually involve sitting behind a desk at the computer. Due to declining economic conditions around the world, many jobs are requiring longer hours to work as well as increasing layoffs causing stress in the local population. These increasing hours along with the stress associated with the fear of layoff and daily stresses such as traffic, family dynamics and other interpersonal problems has lead to an enhanced sedentary lifestyles as well as poor dieting and use of alcohol/tobacco which has lead to inherent chronic disorders and diseases. Poor dieting has lead to an increase in obesity across most of the western countries. This c an be due to multiple things. First, it is important to recognize that the onset of fast food restaurants has made it easier for the population to have access to high calorie and high fattening foods at a low cost. This is based on the 80/20 principle in human reasoning in that the decision to eat fast food over is influenced by the ease of access and quickness over the fact that it is not nutritionally sound (Gardner, 2006). Another important aspect is that G20 populations have an increased sedentary lifestyle. Due to the stress and fatigue associated with working a job, it is a de-motivational aspect which leads to a lack of physical fitness. It is also seen at the early childhood level as there has been a detrimental increase in childhood obesity. There has been a greater emphasis on academics and children spending more time in the classroom learning which has cut time which has usually been allotted for physical activity (Buckmaster, & Brownell, 1988). This is all a result of ou r progressive lifestyle which has led to obesity. In order to meet the classification for obesity, a person must meet a BMI, body mass index, of 27 which correlates to 120% of the desirable weight in comparison to height. As a result, this excess weight has added physiological and psychological illnesses. Metabolic associated diseases associated with obesity can be insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hyper tension (Dwyer, 1994). In insulin resistance, insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars. Certain cells in muscles and fat become affected due to the disruption of glucose and insulin. The decrease in the amount of insulin being secreted by the pancreas associated with insulin resistance can lead to type II diabetes. Hyperglycemia occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood (Myers, 2004). This can be caused by a lack of exercise, consuming too many daily calories, etc. There are many debilitating factors associated with hyperglycemia such as kid ney, neurological, and cardiovascular conditions. Hyperuricemia is a condition which is associated with an abnormal increase in uric acid. Lastly,

Pope Benedict XVI and Enviromental Concerns Term Paper

Pope Benedict XVI and Enviromental Concerns - Term Paper Example of mankind. Admittedly, the only irony is that still, the leader thinks only about the welfare of the mankind; not about the wellbeing of other species. The spiritual leader thinks that the methods of development adopted by the nations are erroneous and are the reasons behind the present day environmental crises. So, it is claimed by the Pope that there is the need to have a long term review of our ‘models of development’. The situation is warranted due to a number of reasons. Firstly, ‘the ecological health of the planet’ is declining, and secondly, there is severe cultural and moral crisis everywhere in the world2. Another important aspect of the environmental view held by Pope Benedict XVI is the realization of the need to unite irrespective of region and religion. In other words, Pope is calling for the unity of all people, all nations, and all cultures to bring about effective changes in the way we deal with environment. Thus, the spiritual leader claim s that only ‘solidarity’ with new rules and forms of engagement can bring about the desired results. Moral decline is linked to environment Being the spiritual leader, Pope considers the present day crisis as the result of moral crises. In other words, the leader claims that all the issues faced by the present-day world are interconnected. To illustrate, the economic, food-related, environmental, and social issues are all the result of moral crises. That means it is high time for the people to adopt a life of ‘sobriety and solidarity’, to adopt such strategies that are useful and to reject the ones that do not work. According to the pope, the present environmental issues arose because humans understood the meaning of god’s command and exploit God’s creation as he wanted to enjoy absolute command over other things in the world. In order to correct this misunderstanding, the pope interpret God’s original command as seen in Genesis, and sa ys that the command does not mean a ‘conferral of authority’. Instead, the pope points out that the command meant a ‘summons to responsibility’. In order to support this position, Pope gives the example of the wisdom of ancients which had recognized the fact that nature is not a ‘heap of scattered refusal which is at our disposal’. Thus, the point the pope wants to put forward is that as Genesis puts it, nature is a gift given by God to man, and he is allowed to ‘till it and keep it’3. Thus, the entire nature belongs to God, and it has its own inbuilt nature. So, the duty of man is to become co-worker of God, not to become tyrants who provoke rebellion in nature. However, as the speech progresses, one can see pope criticizing the unequal distribution of wealth and resources among nations and peoples. Quoting the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, it is pointed out that ‘God has destined the earth and everything it contains fo r all peoples and nations’4. That means the fruits of the creation are not the property of a few people or nations, but all