Lessons from Walkerton
Sunday, February 22, 2009 03:52 AM
By Dr.Travis Morgan
I was recently surfing the internet and stumbled across an article about the Walkerton water crisis. You may remember back in 2000 they had E. coli bacteria taint their water, this was found to be the result of negligence of two men and tragically seven people died with around 2000 others being affected to a lesser extent.
As disturbing as the numbers are, thankfully, the death was limited to seven. Then something struck me. I went to the Stats Can website and found that there were 4970 residents of Walkerton in 2001. Roughly 50% of people were not affected by the bacteria. They drank the same water, contaminated to the same level, but, did not get sick. How can that be?
We have all been lead to believe that we get sick because of germs and we need something to kill that germ. However, what happened to the 2000 people who didn't get sick. Their own bodies were able to fight of the bacteria so that they did not become ill. Where are the multi-million dollar studies on how to be more like the 2000 who did not get sick?
If we look at every epidemic the majority of the population is not affected. They have similar traits and habits this is what we should be looking into. Then our “health care” system should be devoted to educating and motivating us to incorporate these into our lives. Instead, we continue on a whirlwind of always having to find a new drug to fight a new bug.
An overhaul of our health care system is badly needed, currently it is completely unsustainable. What we have been doing is not working; cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression, ADD and many others are all spiraling out of control. If we are to have any chance of success it must be based on prevention. The first step is to realize that you are not fragile, your genes are not weak, you can be healthy, a long slow death from a chronic illness is not how you are meant to live. Read, listen, learn everything you can, keep an open mind and talk to an alternative health care provider about how to make yourself well, not just less sick. It is up to you no one else will do it for you.
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Posted by: downnotout on February 22 2009 3:14 PM