Preventive medicine specialist Prof. Dr. Stoffel in conversation
Allow us to introduce?
Prof. Dr. med. Markus Stoffelis a practicing specialist in internal medicine in Munich and at Tegernsee. He has specialized in preventive medicine and is also engaged as amedical advisorfor several companies, including MoleQlar.
So we would like to take a look behind the scenes here and now and find out what a doctor, armed with a stethoscope and white coat, thinks about the current developments in medicine, what role he plays as a doctor in it, and what this means for us as patients. So take a seat on the fictional examination table in Prof. Dr. Stoffel's practice and relax – the answers to the burning questions won't be long in coming!
MoleQlar:
Prof.Dr. Stoffel, you are a doctor with years of professional experience in various fields of medicine. You have specialized as a broadly trained and experienced internist with a specialization in nephrology, particularly in preventive medicine.Healthand illness affect every person. No one is exempt from it.Could you provide us with insight into your thoughts on the importance of modern medicine? Have you noticed any changes in this regard during your time as a practicing physician?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
Since my student days and the time of my first professional activity, several years have passed …(laughs).The biochemical processes of our body and the ever-increasing insights into them have fascinated me from an early age, as well as genetics and the increasingly researched Epigenetics over the past decade.
When I think of "modern medicine," I also think of the very encouraging technical advancements, such as high-resolution ultrasound images and metabolism-related examinations using functional magnetic resonance imaging or MRI.
Furthermore, the integration of complementary diagnostics and therapy into conventional medicine plays a very important role. I am pleased to note that our patients are increasingly engaging proactively with health topics and are interested in what new approaches and examination options are available, as well as potential side effects.
Andlast but not leastthe much-discussed and still little implemented digitalization contributes to being able to communicate much more easily and quickly; we already offer online appointment bookings and video consultations before Corona, which are gladly used.
MoleQlar:
You describe yourself that the everyday high demands, whether on a professional or private level, represent an immense burden for people. Nowadays, this societal pressure is particularly noticeable and costs a lot of energy. In addition, there are family health histories or other pre-existing conditions.What role does preventive medicine play in these social and health challenges? What part can we as individuals contribute to ensure that we do not becomeclientsinstead ofpatients?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
It is very important to personally engage with the topic of health prevention:
What can I do today to avoid being sick tomorrow?
We all know it is always better to prevent diseases from occurring in the first place than to suffer and treat them later.
However, thinking and acting preventively requires personal responsibility and initiative.
This includes, above all, a balanced lifestyle: healthy nutrition, plenty ofexerciseand sufficientsleep(!) play a very large role. And first, one must know what each individual topic means. There is so much – overwhelmingly much – information on this, and the biggest challenge is certainly to find the one thatis correctorfurthering.
But early and thorough health examinations should also be on the agenda. Because through them, relevant predisposition factors for diseases can be recognized and treated in time.
Prof.Dr. Stoffel, internist and preventive medicine specialist, provides advice for our health and longevity as a medical consultant.
MoleQlar:
Prevention is known to be a strategic concept in medicine. While curative medicine focuses on healing – often it is merely alleviation or delay – preventive medicine refers to the avoidance and detection of diseases.Should one, according to you, get to the bottom of health issues as early as possible, before physical complaints and mental suffering force us to take action? How do you practice this type of preventive medicine as a doctor?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
You are suggesting exactly the right thing!
The sooner we recognize deficiencies, the sooner we can compensate for them and actively counteract the development of diseases.
Who wouldn't want to be free from physical complaints and mental suffering? In our practices, we first conduct a very thorough medical history, which is an individually focused conversation, and usually follow it with imaging examinations and diagnostics. With a targeted blood test, we then look "one level deeper" than the so comprehensively sounding "largeblood count" – and additionally analyze minerals, vitamins, and trace elements. If there are imbalances here, they can be compensated in time before diseases develop.
MoleQlar:
In modern medicine, specialists distinguish between lifespan and healthspan. While lifespan self-explanatorily reflects the total number of years we live, healthspan refers to how many of those years we spend healthy, free, and away from illness. This philosophy is summarized under the term„Longevity“ with the following goal: to extend the time we live healthily.Do you believe there is an important step in preventive medicine where the treatment of disease is not the focus, but rather the maintenance and promotion of health? What do you advise your patients in this regard?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
To keep the health span as long as possible, it is important to know the risks that lead to the most common diseases in our society – namely cardiovascular diseases, brain diseases (dementia and Alzheimer’s), as well as the development of cancer – and to eliminate them as much as possible.
A conscious, healthy lifestyle and regular “check-ups” can help achieve this goal.
Of course, every disease is determined by individual factors. Therefore, our main focus in our practice is on measurable risks that can ideally also be treated. Let me mention the almost ubiquitous stress as an example – your stress hormones are measurable and it can be analyzed at what times of the day they are particularly pronounced. Through essential substances such as amino acids and z.B.conscious breathing can successfully counteract your stress.
MoleQlar:
An epigenetic test like the Molecular Profile Testfrom MoleQlar analyzes a person's biological age based on a saliva sample. This epigenetic age can vary compared to the chronological age and thus allows conclusions to be drawn about a person's lifestyle.Can you imagine that such an epigenetic test will find a place in future preventive medicine? Have you already conducted such a test yourself or recommended it to your patients?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
Yes, I have already conducted this test myself, and I can still remember the excitement with which I awaited the result! I can reveal that I was very pleased that the methods I practiced apparently also show good effects for me…
I have already recommended the epigenetic age test to many of my patients, who greatly appreciate how easy it is to perform, and who were also very eager to see their results.
Some of them then got in touch with us based on the results to plan possible improvement measures.
On one hand, we have the genetics that we inherit, which is generally considered unchangeable (comparable to the entire hard drive of a computer).On the other hand, epigenetics is based on the understanding (similar to the hard disk sector being read) that we can positively influence our genes through our lifestyle.
The exciting aspect of the epigenetic concept is that it involves biochemical changes (often in the form of so-called methyl groups) that allow the "hard drive" (= genetics) to be read in different areas. This means that the activation or deactivation of genes is the relevant, epigenetically measurable factor.
Ideally, the targeted improvement of risks over a period of 1-2 years and thus a positive influence on biological age is possible.
MoleQlar:
As already mentioned, thebiological age can be lower or, in some cases, even higher than the chronological age. Different lifestyle factors such as unhealthy eating, no or too little or the wrong exercise, smoking, alcohol, and negative stress can contribute to this. In addition to these modifiable risk factors, there are dozens of circumstances that are difficult to change and modify.What would you recommend to your patients if an epigenetic age test shows a much higher result than the chronological age? Are there protective factors in contrast to the risk factors?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
This is detective work that needs to be elaborated. Of course, we cannot yet influence all potentially improvable risks.
But – and this is the good news – we have many opportunities to live more consciously and healthily, and within the framework of proactive health care, we can contribute to increasing our health span.
Protective factors are definitely "healthy nutrition," the right amount of exercise, restorative, regenerative sleep, heart-regulating breathing, and the balance of micronutrient deficiencies in the blood. I say this quite plainly, but I can provide you with a scientifically valid definition or recommendation for action in each of these areas.
MoleQlar:
Dr. Stoffel, we sincerely thank you for the informative conversation and the exciting interview. We can all take a lot from it for our health and our lives! One last question to conclude: Which product from MoleQlar would you wish for personal use the most?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
I would prefer a substance that influences mitochondrial energy production in the cell, allowing us clinically and chemically verifiable improvements in the "cell power plants." Because disturbances in this central element of metabolism are not only common but also significantly affect our longevity. They are currently coming more into focus due to topics like "Long-COVID." However, we have known this "fatigue symptomatology" for a significantly longer time.
Perhaps you, dear reader, will also write a small longevity wish list so that you can do something good for your health as well!
