Commentary
President Joe Biden’s fall at a graduation ceremony for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado on Thursday made headlines around the world. People are rightly concerned for his health—both as a human being and as the president of the United States.
Biden may have been “sandbagged” as he joked, referring to a sandbag used to secure a teleprompter that tripped him up, but his struggle to stand up easily, and the risk a fall presents, are challenges that any 80-year-old well understands.
Every second of every day, an older adult—age 65 and above—suffers a fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury death in this group.
Biden no doubt has a team of experts advising his health—including his daily intake of medications—but is he giving himself the time and attention required to stay well as age raises its toll?
If the president is like many older Americans, he is
on several drugs meant to sustain him but that
bring their own potential risks, falls being one of the most prominent. In order to counteract this risk, it is essential that he be proactive about his mental and physical well-being. He would certainly be aware of this if he was a frequent reader of The Epoch Times’ health section.
He would also know that
vitamin D reduces falls and fractures, and the best ways to supplement if he can’t manage to get enough sunlight. He would know you can
replenish collagen for healthy joints and that you are never too old to
build muscle—and muscle ensures stability and function. And when pain inevitably strikes, he would know there are
relatively risk-free alternatives to
common painkillers.
The president may even be inspired to take action on
certain toxins that are prevalent in everyday
food and products. These substances may also be harmful to bone, muscle, and neurological systems, which may all contribute to falling. This includes
aluminum, a brain toxin found in countless products.
He may be reluctant to acknowledge it, but the president would also know that the
COVID-19 vaccine might also increase his risk of movement problems. He would even find a
simple test to measure his sense of balance and health risk.
At a more fundamental level, the president would recognize that if he is to maintain his health, he will have to be a
proactive and
informed participant in all of his health decisions.
The president would know that his mind has
a powerful physiological effect—that his thoughts can direct his body to readiness or repair through the cascading effects of hormones. He would also know that researchers have begun examining
the powerful impact of meditation and how this can transform the electrical and chemical symphony of a human being.
He would recognize that his physical body is
a miracle of impossible complexity that modern medical science is still unraveling, and that for all our advanced medical technology, we still have
only the most rudimentary understandings of how major elements of the brain and body operate.
And because of that mystery, there are certain key lessons we should take from our ancestors, like that the core of our health is closely tied to our character, and that our impact in this life will reflect the health of our body, mind, and
soul.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
