By Dr. A. Jerry Simon M.D
June 28 2026 | Health
As one who did just about every available Genetics course in my university days, I do not deny the role that inheritance plays in the disease process. However, when it comes to the diseases that kill us most often today, I deny the “myth of the bad gene syndrome”, as does Dr. Ben Lerner. In other words, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, stomach and intestinal ulcers and even most mental illnesses are determined more by our lifestyle rather than the genes we may or may not have inherited.
Let us take a hard look at cancer. The ones that seem to be more prevalent Antigua and Barbuda are cancers of the breast, cervix, prostate, colon, kidney and pancreas (not necessarily in that order). Although genetics does play a role in the development of these diseases, by far the most important factor is the way we live.
Several studies have shown that as countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa adopt a more Western lifestyle the incidences of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, gastric and intestinal ulcers and tooth decay are ever becoming greater. For the first in a very long time, it is projected that the life expectancy in the United States will decrease as the incidences of childhood obesity increases. Japanese American women, who adopt a more typical American lifestyle, have much higher rates of breast cancer than Japanese women living in Japan.
In his study of the so-called Blue Zones, Dan Buettner explored why these people live longer and healthier than the rest of the world. These areas include Ikaria in Greece, Sardinia in Italy, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan and Loma Linda (California).
Even Dominica in the Caribbean has been cited as a longevity haven. On average people living in the Blue Zones reach 100 years of age at rates 10 times greater than the general American population.
Buettner found several principles that were common to the Blues Zone regions. If applied to our lives, they could make a huge difference, not only to how long we live but to the quality of our existence.
He started by saying we need to move naturally: be active without thinking about it. Exercise not for the sake of exercising, but find an activity you enjoy and make it fun. He continues by admonishing us to eat less: follow the principle of “hara hachi bu” of the Okinawans. That is stop eating when the stomach is about 80 percent full. Eat more plant products and less meat and avoid smoking and alcohol abuse. Determine your purpose in life, but don’t kill yourself with work and responsibilities. Find time to relax: even God rested on the Sabbath day. Participate in a spiritual community. Take time to pray, meditate, reflect and, at least once weekly, fellowship. Put loved ones first and spend quality time with your family circle and extended family. Finally, be surrounded by people who share positive values of healthy living.
The quality of your life and health is determined more by the choices that you make rather than the combination of genes you inherited from your parents. I especially like the way Dr. Ben Lerner, who has coached numerous Olympic champions, puts it. He says “By putting nutrition, exercise, stress and time management together with the wisdom and love of God, I put all the necessary pieces of the puzzle together to create wholeness.”
Dr. Jerry Simon can be contacted at the NSA Medical Centre at (268) 462-0631 or (268) 779-2176.