How Not to Die (At Least Too Soon) By Mrs Vera West

     The following link is to an excellent video by Dr Michael Greger, “How Not to Die,” running for 1 hour and about 21 minutes, but well worth your time. The focus is upon how diet, primarily by eating a vegetable-based anti-oxidant rich diet, can aid in reducing, and in many cases reversing, the diseases of civilisation such as cardiovascular disease.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=129&v=7rNY7xKyGCQ

     Dr Greer also has a book on this, that I have not read, but I am sure would be immensely interesting and important, from the section that I could read for free at Amazon.com:
  https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-Scientifically/dp/1250066115

     Here are some items that I was able to obtain without spending a cent: Tooth decay is primarily a product of high sugar diets that have come relatively recently in Western history: P. Stoy, “Dental Disease and Civilisation,” Ulster Med. J, vol. 20, 1951, pp. 144-158:

“Although it has been frequently stated that primitive uncivilised man did not suffer from dental disease, a careful examination of skulls reveals that the condition was not unknown, for in the remains of the primitive Rhodesian man, the age of which is estimated at 250,000 years, there is decay in most of the upper teeth. This, however, was apparently an exception for such remote times, for an extensive survey held in 1919 revealed that European human skulls before the Neolithic period were free from caries. These European skulls all belong to the long-headed type, but with the arrival of the broad-headed races (about 1200 B.C.) dental decay also made its appearance. It must be remembered, when trying to assess the-extent of dental decay from skulls, that many of the teeth become loose and fall out as the soft tissues are lost; the appearance of the bony socket in such 144 cases, however, is quite different from that in which loss took place during life, for, to -mention one point, there is no healing or; filling up with new bone-. At. the same time loss during life may have been, and in some cases probably was, due more to pyorrhaea than to caries. Besides the evidence of bony remains there is also that of literature.

The oldest literature in existence dates back to 3000 B.C. and is Babylonian; it is in the form of bricks on which characters are inscribed, and it is significant that these contain descriptions of dental disease. In those remote days worms were thought to be the cause of many morbid conditions and in one description such a worm is supposed to be speaking. It says “set me amid the teeth and let me dwell in the gums, that I may destroy the- blood of the teeth and of the gums chew the marrow.’” The extensive Egyptian remains, which include large numbers of skulls and mummies, are of the greatest interest in tracing the development of dental troubles, because they cover a period of several thousands of years. Before 3000 B.C. caries was rare; in the age of the Pyramids it became more prevalent, particularly in lower Egypt, while by the time of Anthony and Cleopatra an examination of about one hundred skulls showed by over 40 per cent. to be affected.

In addition, there is evidence of very widespread pyorrhcea which, in spite of some accounts to the contrary, does not appear to have received any proper treatment. The Etruscans, on the other hand, were more advanced-dentally; they not only suffered from pyorrhoea, but also treated it. Specimens have been found (dated 800 B.C.) in which gold wire was twisted round loose teeth binding them to their neighbours, and Dr. Lindsay (to whom I am indebted for many of the historical details) states in her History of Dentistry that no such work or any attempt at treatment of caries is found in any of the thousands of mummies that have been examined. In Ancient Greece there is ample evidence of dental disease. Hippocrates refers to extractions both when the teeth are decayed and when they are loose, while oral hygiene is advocated by Diocles of Carystos, his recommendation being that the gums are massaged daily with the fingers. In Roman literature of the Imperial era there are also many references-to black teeth, loose teeth, and even to artificial teeth.”

     There is also extensive evidence that cardiovascular disease can be reversed in some people, primarily be turning to a plant-based diet: C. B. Esselystyn (et al.),  “A Way to Reverse CAD?” Journal of Family Practice, vol. 63, 2014, pp. 356-364b; M. A. Kadoch, “The Power of Nutrition as Medicine,” Preventive Medicine, vol. 55, 2012.

     A similar story can be told for dealing with cancer as well, and remember, it is better late than never. On a related point, there is a remarkable book by Dr Jill Bolte Taylor, My Stroke of Insight, (Hodder and Stoughton, 2008), which tells the personal story of how Dr Taylor, who had a brilliant career as a brain scientist, but unfortunately suffered a rare type of stroke. This virtually destroyed her brain’s capacity to process information, not only of the higher cognitive functions, but also simple things such as walking. The book describes the events leading up to the stroke on the day it occurred and the warning signs. Apparently, it may be possible to lessen the effects if the coming of the stroke can be detected and urgent neurological treatment sought.

      I do not know; I am not a doctor, but it makes sense to be aware and get medical help fast. I cannot diagnose anything, but common sense suggests that any sorts of weird pains in the head, something unusual could grow into a problem. Of course, we all get headaches, but Dr Taylor describes a sense of dissociation as being the first warning sign. It would make good sense to talk about this with a good doctor and get a set of points to check for. Even though Dr Taylor was a brain scientist, it took some hours before she realised that she was having a stroke. It may be possible, if one lives in stroke-awareness mode, to cut this time down and maybe prevent some damage by getting to hospital quickly. Anyway, the book makes frightening reading, as Dr Taylor, living alone tries to work out how to get help, while her cognitive functions rapidly deteriorate. Older people could begin a stroke awareness strategy, worked out by their doctor.

     The hopeful part of the book is the rehabilitation section, which shows that within limits, the human brain has regenerative capacities, and where it does not, there is redundancy built in that enables other parts to take over functions, within limits. In general, strategies for reducing cardiovascular disease by diet will help in stroke prevention, so long as one does not smoke cigarettes, surely one of the filthiest, most dangerous habits.
  https://strokefoundation.org.au/About-Stroke/Preventing-stroke