How advances in modern medicine improve overall health
Modern medicine is the defining characteristic of the modern day, not only lengthening life spans but improving the overall quality of life well into the senior years. Medical ad naves have also eliminated disease such as polio and TB from American society altogether. However, modern medicine and our expanding capabilities have raised moral questions and forced us to look at issues once never thought possible such as stem cell research and the debate on genetic modification practices such as cloning. Modern medicine equips us with the capability of doing things which some fear will disrupt the natural balance of things and others opposes out of religious conviction. These concerns have moved the issue of modern medicine advances to the political arena as well as scientific one. No matter one’s beliefs, we must keep an open dialogue during this age of uncertainty created by rapidly advancing modern medicine capabilities.
Modern medicine, also comes with another dilemma, this one of a more pragmatic nature. Aldous Huxley spoke about modern medicine’s ability to cure disease which would have otherwise killed and to extend life spans for years beyond what would have been naturally occurring, disrupting the order of things and eventually leading to over population and food shortage. However, there is no evidence of heading in this trajectory and most would agree that advances in modern medicine far outweigh any political strife or environmental fears which may occur.
Modern medicine continues to evolve and takes a more holistic approach today than even a few decades ago. Most adults in the United States are aware of the steps towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as proper nutrition and regular exercise. People are more aware of the need to be proactive in things such as controlling cholesterol and blood pressure which leads to increased prevention or at least, earlier detection. So, not only can advances in modern medicine help to treat and hopefully cure us in times of crisis, it has also led to an overall increased awareness of the steps towards achieving and maintaining overall health.
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