Rx Note

Introduction Western medicine has traditionally focused on an antagonistic approach, where medications target specific mechanisms to address imbalances or fight pathogens. While highly effective, this approach can sometimes lead to side effects due to receptor suppression or saturation. Additionally, some medications may cause rebound effects when discontinued. Coupled with the rising cost of healthcare and growing burden of chronic diseases, Western medicine has increasingly embraced preventive measures like healthy lifestyles, vaccinations and early disease detection. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM, 中医) , on the other hand, has always placed a strong emphasis on nourishing life (养生). TCM prioritizes preventing disease and promoting overall well-being, aiming for a holistic approach to health rather than just simply treating symptoms. The body is viewed as a complex system of interconnected elements, and treatment focuses on restoring balance within that system. A Figurative Fram...

Introduction Subclinical vitamin D deficiency occurs even in developed countries and is associated with osteoporosis and possibly fractures. Vitamin D stores decline with age, especially in the winter. Vitamin D Sufficiency Vitamin D sufficiency is estimated by measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D or calcidiol) concentrations. There are 4 main categories for the vitamin D status in individuals. ≥20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L): Vitamin D sufficiency 12 to <20 ng/ml (30-50 nmol/L): Vitamin D insufficiency <12 ng/ml (30 nmol/L): Vitamin D deficiency >100 ng/ml (>250 nmol/ml): A "risk" of vitamin D toxicity in adults ingesting substantial amounts of calcium. According to UpToDate, the optimal serum 25(OH)D concentration for Maximal suppression of parathyroid hormone - >20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L) Adequate intestinal calcium absorption - approximately 4.4 ng/ml (11 nmol/L) Fracture prevention - 28 to 40 ng/ml (70 to 99 nmol/L) Sources of Vitamin D Sources of vitamin D include Sun...

Introduction Obesity is a growing epidemic , particularly in developed countries, and is largely related to an unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity is generally defined as excessive body fat mass. The medical rationale for weight loss in people with obesity is that obesity is a disease associated with a significant increase in mortality and many health risks including type 2 diabetes mellitus , hypertension , dyslipidaemia, chronic kidney disease , osteoarthritis and coronary heart disease. Body Mass Index (BMI) Body size is typically defined using body mass index (BMI) . Normal weight 18.5-24.00 kg/m 2 Overweight 25-29.99 kg/m 2 Obese class I 30-34.99 kg/m 2 Obese class II 35-39.99 kg/m 2 Obese class III ≥40 kg/m 2 Use caution when applying BMI to individuals with greater muscle mass, women or the elderly. NOTE: Generally, Asians have a higher body fat percentage compared to Caucasians of the same age, sex and BMI. Even below the BMI cut-off of 25 kg/m 2 , a substantial number of Asians d...