May we introduce?
Prof. Dr. med. Markus Stoffel is a practicing specialist in internal medicine in Munich and at Tegernsee. He has specialized in preventive medicine and is also involved as medical advisor at some 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 development of medicine, what role he plays as a doctor in it and what that means for us as patients. So take a seat on the fictitious examination table in Prof. Dr. Stoffel's doctor's office and relax - the answers to your burning questions won't be long in coming!
MoleQlar:
Prof. Stoffel, you are a doctor with many years of professional experience in a wide range of areas of medicine. As a broadly trained and experienced internist with a specialization in nephrology, you have specialized primarily in preventive medicine. Health and illness affect everyone. No one is exempt. Could you give us some insight into your thoughts on the importance of modern medicine? Have you noticed a change in this regard during your time as a working physician?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
Several years have passed since my student days and the time of my first professional activity… (laughs)The biochemical processes of our body and the ever-increasing knowledge about them fascinated me from an early age, as did genetics and the increasingly researched epigenetics.
When I say “modern medicine,” I also think of the very positive technical developments, such as high-resolution ultrasound images and metabolism-related examinations using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
The integration of complementary diagnostics and therapy into conventional medicine also plays a very important role. I am pleased to note that our patients are increasingly proactively dealing with health issues and are interested in what new approaches and examination options are available, as well as in possible side effects.
And last but not least Digitalisation, which is much discussed but still little implemented in practice, is helping us to communicate with each other much more easily and quickly; even before Corona, we offered online appointment bookings and video consultations, which were readily used.
MoleQlar:
You yourself describe how the high demands of everyday life, whether at work or at home, place an immense burden on people. These days, this social pressure is particularly noticeable and costs a lot of energy. Added to this are family histories of illness or other pre-existing conditions. What role does preventive medicine play in these social and health challenges? What part can we as humans play in order to clients not for patients become?
Prof. Dr.Stoffel:
It is very important to deal with the issue of health care on a personal level:
What can I do today to avoid being sick tomorrow?
We all know that it is always better to prevent diseases from occurring in the first place than to suffer from them and have to treat them later.
But thinking and acting preventively requires personal responsibility and initiative.
This includes, above all, a balanced lifestyle: healthy diet, plenty of Movement and sufficient Sleep (!) play a very important role. And you have to know what each individual topic means. There is so much – an unmanageable amount – of information on this and the biggest challenge is certainly to find out which correct or continuing is.
But early and thorough health examinations should also be on the agenda, as they can help identify relevant predisposing factors for diseases and treat them in good time.
MoleQlar:
Prevention is known to be a strategic concept in medicine. While curative medicine focuses on curing – but often only alleviating or delaying – diseases, preventive medicine refers to the avoidance and detection of diseases. Do you think we should get to the bottom of health problems as early as possible, before physical complaints and mental suffering force us to take action? As a doctor, how do you practice this type of preventive medicine?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
You suggest exactly the right thing!
The earlier we recognize deficits, the sooner we can compensate for them and thus actively counteract the development of diseases.
Who wouldn't want to be free of physical complaints and mental suffering? In our practices, we first carry out a very thorough anamnesis to determine your health status quo, i.e. an individually focused conversation and usually then an imaging examination and diagnostics. With a targeted blood test, we then look "one level deeper" than the so comprehensive-sounding "size Blood count" - and also analyze minerals, vitamins and trace elements. If there are any imbalances here, they can be balanced in time before diseases develop.
MoleQlar:
In modern medicine, specialists distinguish between lifespan and healthspan. While lifespan is self-explanatory, it is the total number of years we live, healthspan is how many years we spend healthy, free and free from illness. This philosophy is referred to as "Longevity“ subsumed with the following goal: extending the time we live healthy lives. In your opinion, is there an important step in preventive medicine where the focus is not on treating the disease, but rather on maintaining and promoting health? What advice do you give your patients in this regard?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
In order to maintain health span as long as possible, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with the most common diseases in our society – namely diseases of the cardiovascular system, the brain (dementia and Alzheimer’s) and the development of cancer – and to eliminate them as far as possible.
A conscious, healthy lifestyle and regular “check-ups“ can help achieve this goal.
Of course, every illness is determined by individual factors. In our practice, we therefore focus on measurable risks that can ideally also be treated. Let me give you an example of the almost omnipresent stress - your stress hormones are measurable and it can be analyzed at which times of the day they are particularly pronounced. You can successfully counteract your stress with essential substances such as amino acids and, for example, conscious breathing.
MoleQlar:
An epigenetic test like the epiAge test MoleQlar analyzes the biological age of a person using a saliva sample. This epigenetic age can be compared to the chronological age vary 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 carried out such a test yourself or recommended it to your patients?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
Yes, I have already carried out this test myself and I can still remember how excited I was when I waited for the results! I can reveal that I was very pleased that the methods I practiced were also working well for me...
I have already recommended the epiAge test to many of my patients who really appreciate how easy it is to perform and who have also been eagerly awaiting their results.
Some of them then contacted us based on the results to plan possible improvement measures.
On the one hand, we have genetics, which we inherit and which are essentially unchangeable (comparable to the entire hard drive of a computer). On the other hand, there is epigenetics, with the knowledge (analogous to the hard drive sector that is read) that we can positively influence our genes through our lifestyle.
The exciting thing about 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, the biological age lower or, in some cases, even higher than the normal age. Various 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 risk factors that can be influenced, there are dozens of circumstances that are difficult to change and modify. What would you recommend to your patients if an epigenetic age test is much higher than the chronological age? Are there protective factors in addition to the risk factors?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
This is a lot of detective work that needs to be worked out. Of course, we are far from being able to influence all of the risks that could potentially be improved.
But - and this is the good news - we have many opportunities to live more consciously and healthily and, as part of proactive health care, we can contribute to increasing our health span.
Protective factors are definitely a "healthy diet", the right amount of exercise, restful, regenerative sleep, pulse-regulating breathing and balancing micronutrient deficiencies in the blood. I'm saying this very bluntly, but I can give you a scientifically valid definition or recommendation for action in each of these areas of action.
MoleQlar:
Dr. Stoffel, thank you very much for the informative conversation and the exciting interview. We can all learn a lot from it for our health and our lives! One final question to finish: Which MoleQlar product would you most like to have for personal use?
Prof. Dr. Stoffel:
Preferably a substance that influences the mitochondrial energy production of the cell, which enables us to make clinically and laboratory-based improvements to the “cell power plants”. Disturbances in this central element of metabolism are not only common, but also have a strong impact on our longevity. They are currently moving more into the spotlight through topics such as “Long-COVID“. We know these “fatigue symptoms“ but for much longer.
Perhaps you, dear reader, could also write a little longevity wish list so that you can also do something good for your health!
