Last fall, the actor Chris Hemsworth, better known as Thor in the Marvel (Comics) Universe, announced that he has an increased probability of developing Alzheimer's Disease based on genetic testing. At present, Hemsworth does not have any symptoms or a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

This immediately reminded me of Angelina Jolie who announced in 2013 she had prophylactic surgery after genetic testing indicated she had a predisposition for a certain type of breast cancer. Similarly, Jolie had no symptoms or any diagnosis of breast cancer.

Hemsworth, sorry, Thor, says he is using his newfound information to his advantage to reevaluate his life and focus on what has deeper meaning and value, namely, his family.

I am not implying Jolie did not use the information of her genetic testing in the same way. I haven't read all of the articles written about her decision. I believe she did what she believed was best for her health and therefore her family. Both Hemsworth and Jolie, made decisions based on their personal beliefs and commonly held medical beliefs about genetics.

Celebrity health announcements are an interesting phenomena. Some announcements are made to simply communicate to their fans what is going on in their life. Other announcements may have an idealistic purpose to create public awareness on certain topics using media and social media platforms.

Curiously, celebrity health announcements are not unlike celebrity endorsements in advertising where celebrity associations are used to not only create awareness, but also to lend a certain type of validation and gravitas to an idea, a product, or the worthiness of a charitable organization.

Many charities have been started by celebrities. I commend their work. Jolie has been very active in a wide range of global humanitarian and environmental organizations. And Jolie may be the only celebrity to have her choice to go public with a health decision with a name, "The Angelina Effect."

After Jolie's announcement there was a marked increase in general interest as well as actual genetic testing for a gene believed to increase one's chances of developing breast cancer. I am guessing advertising agencies tried to find a way to bottle the same beneficial effect for myriad products of their clients.

The bottom line is that celebrity has influence. The other bottom line is that celebrities are humans just like you and me. The third bottom line is that our health is our responsibility. The fourth bottom line is that our beliefs influence our health.

Belief is a curious idea. We can't see, smell, hear, taste, or touch a belief. Yet, beliefs influence all that we see, smell, hear, taste, or touch. We perceive the physical and mental effects of beliefs, but never the belief itself. It is made up.

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word thusly:

• an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. "his belief in the value of hard work"

  • something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction. "we're prepared to fight for our beliefs"

  • a religious conviction. "Christian beliefs"

• trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something. "I've still got belief in myself"

Jolie made her announcement based on genetic testing and statistics about those results. The statistics determined she had an 87% probability of developing breast cancer and a 50% chance of developing ovarian cancer.

After her surgery, the probability of her developing breast cancer dropped to 5%. If we were gambling, we would like those odds. And yet, because the surgery cannot get every single breast tissue cell, a probability still exists. Perhaps more importantly, her beliefs about genetic expression still exist.

The beliefs behind genetic testing and the statistical analysis are diseased-based. The very purpose of the testing is to find disease or the potential for disease. Jolie got tested because her mother died of breast cancer.

I have never heard of anyone getting tested to see how healthy they are. I have never heard of person who feels good and thinks of themselves as healthy, going to the doctor to get proof. (Ironically, health insurance wouldn't cover the cost of the testing. Maybe it shouldn't be called "health" insurance)

The two possibilities for testing I have just described are an application of Yin-Yang Theory.

What is Yin-Yang Theory? It is one of the foundational theories of Chinese culture. It might be described as a "dance of opposites:" in/out; up/down; light/dark; hot/cold; sun/moon/; male/female; happy/sad; good/evil.

The following is from the website www.tcmworld.com: "Everything contains Yin and Yang. They are two opposite yet complementary energies. What does this really mean? Although they are totally different opposite in their individual qualities and nature, they are interdependent. Yin and Yang cannot exist without the other; they are never separate. For example, night and day form a Yin-Yang pair. (Night is Yin and day is Yang.) Night looks and is very different than day, yet it is impossible to have one without the other. Both create a totality, a complete whole."

While we have genes related to specific conditions, the process of those genes becoming illness is very complicated. It is not an issue of one gene being turned on or off for the condition to appear. Cellular activity depends on thousands of proteins to be at a certain place at a certain time for healthy function. If a gene interferes with the process of healthy cell function, disease may appear. The more we focus on the disease outcome, we increase the probability of that outcome.

Applying Yin-Yang to health challenges offers us the opportunity to focus on "The Healing Effect." Where there is disease, there is cure. Yin-Yang offers possibility, hope.

The more we focus our thoughts and beliefs on our healing potential, we increase the possibility of a healthier outcome.

We just have to believe we have the power to heal ourselves. We were given this ability for a reason. Why not use it? What do you have to lose?