Once again, patients have got caught up in the media hype. This time it's not about swine flu, which has been going on for the past few months that I no longer blog about it. But rather the issue lies with some 'exciting' new research on two osteoporosis drugs that show some promising results in fighting viral infections. With the whole H1N1 (swine) flu buzz, patients have been coming with tiny paper cut outs or fowarding emails about this new discovery. Lo and behold, a wonder 'cure' just when we needed it.
For those of you who are still in the dark, a recent study at the University of Hong Kong revealed that two existing drugs used for osteoporosis may be useful in viral infections. These two drugs, pamidronate and zoledronate (not the trade names), has been shown to enhance the immune functioning by allowing the immune cells to identify body cells that are infected with a virus. If the immune system can eradicate those cells that are infected, it can prevent the multiplication of the virus. The best part of this discovery is that the immune cells do not need to identify the individual virus but rather just the infected cell. Irrespective of the type of virus (to a certain degree), the infected body cell will be targeted and this therapy will not be inhibited by viral mutations and new viral diseases that suddenly emerge.
Anyway, this is the way that the media reports it to the lay person. And it all sounds too good to be true. An all-round antiviral.
In all fairness to the researchers at the University of Hong Kong, I commend you on your efforts thus far but it is important to ensure that the media broadcasts the full story. Firstly, animal and human testing will be conducted shortly. Secondly, this is not a 'cure all' like some of the immune boosting 'snake oils' out there. Thirdly, the one thing that this research should validate is that health lies in the hands of the person, their lifestyle and health status rather than in any miracle drug. After all, if the follow up trials confirm the initial findings, we must remember that it is the immune system that is taking the action of 'killing' the infected cells and not the direct pharmacological action of the drug.
The answer was always there, live a healthy life, eat right, exercise, don't practice dangerous sexual behavior and your immune system will take care of you. Even now, when millions are running 'scared', its only due to ignorance. If you are fit, you are unlikely to be another swine flu fatality. However, if you are in poor health, or in a high risk group, or HIV positive, you are unfortunately in the firing line. Take responsibility for your health every day, not only when another pandemic rears its ugly head. Most importantly, don't get carried away by media hype. Consumers are tired about reading of the recession and any hype will sell more papers.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Mind Body Medicine, HIV/AIDS, Cancer & Inner Healing
Over the past 3 years, my interest in mind-body medicine has prompted me to read and research as much as possible on the topic given my first hand experience with what could only be termed "faith healing" in a case of HIV/AIDS. From John Diamond M.D. to Deepak Chopra M.D., I have to admit that mind-body medicine truly fascinates me and as of this year, I have decided to make a concerted effort to work alongside my colleagues in this field to educate readers about mind-body medicine especially for those suffering with conditions like HIV/AIDS and cancer.
Now before you throw away your antiretrovirals (ARV's) or cancel that appointment with your oncologist, just wait a minute and learn more about mind-body medicine before you decide if it is for you.
My first experience with mind-body medicine was probably in my intern years and I very likely dismissed a patient who reported that their recovery was due to some meditation, visualization or faith based practice. But what really sparked my interest in mind-body medicine was a patient I first consulted with some 3 years ago. Mr. P. was 37 years old and diagnosed with HIV in 1996. At the time he came to see me, he had known he was HIV positive for almost 10 years. He was quite a jovial character, full of smiles and I honestly thought his entire demeanor was a bit juvenile initially. He was obviously the clown at the party and the joker among his friends.
Mr.P's girlfriend, a new acquisition from what I was led to believe, was a long time patient of mine and she had urged him to see me due to his HIV status. She was also HIV positive by the way. His girlfriend was "concerned" because his case was a far cry from hers. She was HIV positive for close to 4 years and her CD4 count was already down to 380. This result is not surprising but she was unable to to fathom how her boyfriend who had been positive for close to 10 years was faring so well.
Mr. P. had recently conducted his annual immune monitoring test and his results were somewhat surprising for the scenarios I face on a daily basis. CD count of 632. Viral load 11,413 cp/ml. Further examination revealed moderate swelling of his epitrochlear lymph node, a characteristic sign of HIV if there is no general swelling of lymph nodes throughout the body. The epitrochlear node is located in the elbow and before you become concerned that your swollen lymph node in this area is due to HIV, please consult with your medical practitioner. An epitrochlear lymph node may be enlarged due to other conditions including cat scratch disease.
Remember that I practice in Africa where there is a stark contrast between the well developed cities and the patient's from third world villages and towns that flock to the city seeking medical attention. Over 70% of my patients are HIV positive and seeking alternative therapies to assist with their condition before the reach the point of requiring anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Working with HIV/AIDS on a daily basis, certain signs and symptoms that may not be noted in the textbooks or seen by doctors sitting in their plush offices in first world countries is all that we have to go on to warrant further testing if the patient can afford to do so.
Back to the topic at hand, Mr. P. was doing remarkably well for a patient of his age and socioeconomic status. I asked him if he was using and traditional medicines, herbal concoctions and so on but he denied use of any of these infusions since he was diagnosed HIV positive. Mr. P. then informed me that he will reveal his 'secret' and that it had all to do with his state of mind. According to Mr. P., when he was diagnosed 10 years ago, he sunk into a depression for about 6 months, consuming alcohol excessively, sleeping around recklessly (and possibly infecting some of those partners) and finally he realized that all the wine, women and song was not making any difference to the way he felt.
After some intense soul searching, he came to grips that he was HIV positive and will face whatever may come as a 'man'. If he was meant to live, his ancestors will keep him alive until the time comes and he began praying to his ancestors on a daily basis and performing his annual animal sacrifice to his ancestors. Ancestor worship and animal sacrifice is part of African culture in my neck of the woods. Agree or disagree with his cultural beliefs or practices, the point is that this patient was faring pretty well.
The purpose for relating the story about Mr. P. is that he is a prime example of a success story in "faith based healing". I am totally against any "faith based healing" conducted by persons of any religious institution who convinces you that the speed and extent of the 'cure' is dependent on your financial contribution to their institution. So let's not bring religion into it. But the one thing that I can see from "faith based healing" (note the inverted commas) is that it gives HOPE.
Faced with an overwhelming disease, knowing that there is no cure or chance of survival, be it 1 month, 1 year or even ten years, it is not many of us who can actually maintain a sense of optimism or hope beyond just short periods. Yet Mr. P. was able to do just that. He was so convinced that his ancestors were going to take care of him from the time he was diagnosed that he never doubted it. His mental attitude, in my opinion, is the reason for his survival to date without requiring anti-retroviral therapy. It is his "faith" in his ancestors that gives him hope to continue and prevents him from slipping into a depression about his condition.
This is in stark contrast to his girlfriend who is so depressed and despondent that she had to drag him to my clinic so that I could possibly "burst his bubble", I would assume. As the saying goes, misery loves company and she was truly miserable. By the way, Mr. P. is still doing well and not yet on ART according to his girlfriend in 2009.
Tapping the inner healing ability that mind-body medicine is based upon is not a simple task. There is no switch to flip to say "start healing". Similarly we do not know how this innate healing force is switched "off". What we do know is that some people are able to harness it when faced with disease while others go the opposite route and allow their mental and emotional state accelerate the rate of degradation until the disease totally consumes them. "Faith", be it faith in some supernatural entity, your doctor or alternative "airy-fairy" technique has the same effect. It focusses the mind on hope and optimism about the future and this may switch the inner healing process to the "on" position.
I believe that faith and hope is not the only way to harness this innate healing ability. A recent case that I have seen regarding a 73 year old female patient suffering with a terminal form of cancer begs the question as to the purpose that the mind may play in healing. I will not divulge too many details at this point, just in case this positive story takes a turn for the worse as it is still early days but she sought naturopathic treatment for her terminal condition as her doctors has "thrown in the towel". Understandably at the age of 73, succumbing to repeated doses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy is not advisable and she was advised to "go home and make the most of the time left".
By the time she presented to me, I realized there was little, if anything, that could be done for her. Nevertheless, I did not dash her hopes and opted to assist her with some lifestyle changes like a new eating plan, simplex vitamin and mineral prescription and encouraged her to start up some physical activity. I did not prescribe a single herbal remedy or homeopathic medicine. Over the past 2 months, I have seen a marked improvement in her condition at a time when she should be deteriorating rapidly as she enters the last "stretch". What had changed?
Well, her son who had been estranged from the family for close to 20 years due to some irreconcilable differences had pitched up at her door. Divorced and unemployed, he needed her help and as any mother would do, she welcomed him in with open arms. She suddenly has a new will to live as she is talking about getting him "back on his feet" and possibly spending some of her savings on starting him up a small business. She now has a new purpose in life and I am considering sending her back to the radiologist in a few weeks to investigate her tumors.
Call it whatever you wish, there is most definitely a link between the mind and the body and in the forseeable future, I will be dedicating some of my online efforts to an up and coming alternative health website (digitalhealthlive.com) focussing on a range of complementary therapies and mind-body medicine. Many of us wish to delve into this exciting field of wellness (best word to describe it for now) but mind-body medicine lacks any "structure" for implementing changes. Sure some authors and proponents of mind-body medicine swear by their programs but I think this is very much something that can be taught simply and at no charge through a medium like the internet.
In my coming posts, I will touch further on mind-body medicine but for those of you wishing to learn a little more from a world renowned contributor to the field, I would advise that you read Quantum Healing by Dr. Deepak Chopra.
Now before you throw away your antiretrovirals (ARV's) or cancel that appointment with your oncologist, just wait a minute and learn more about mind-body medicine before you decide if it is for you.
My first experience with mind-body medicine was probably in my intern years and I very likely dismissed a patient who reported that their recovery was due to some meditation, visualization or faith based practice. But what really sparked my interest in mind-body medicine was a patient I first consulted with some 3 years ago. Mr. P. was 37 years old and diagnosed with HIV in 1996. At the time he came to see me, he had known he was HIV positive for almost 10 years. He was quite a jovial character, full of smiles and I honestly thought his entire demeanor was a bit juvenile initially. He was obviously the clown at the party and the joker among his friends.
Mr.P's girlfriend, a new acquisition from what I was led to believe, was a long time patient of mine and she had urged him to see me due to his HIV status. She was also HIV positive by the way. His girlfriend was "concerned" because his case was a far cry from hers. She was HIV positive for close to 4 years and her CD4 count was already down to 380. This result is not surprising but she was unable to to fathom how her boyfriend who had been positive for close to 10 years was faring so well.
Mr. P. had recently conducted his annual immune monitoring test and his results were somewhat surprising for the scenarios I face on a daily basis. CD count of 632. Viral load 11,413 cp/ml. Further examination revealed moderate swelling of his epitrochlear lymph node, a characteristic sign of HIV if there is no general swelling of lymph nodes throughout the body. The epitrochlear node is located in the elbow and before you become concerned that your swollen lymph node in this area is due to HIV, please consult with your medical practitioner. An epitrochlear lymph node may be enlarged due to other conditions including cat scratch disease.
Remember that I practice in Africa where there is a stark contrast between the well developed cities and the patient's from third world villages and towns that flock to the city seeking medical attention. Over 70% of my patients are HIV positive and seeking alternative therapies to assist with their condition before the reach the point of requiring anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Working with HIV/AIDS on a daily basis, certain signs and symptoms that may not be noted in the textbooks or seen by doctors sitting in their plush offices in first world countries is all that we have to go on to warrant further testing if the patient can afford to do so.
Back to the topic at hand, Mr. P. was doing remarkably well for a patient of his age and socioeconomic status. I asked him if he was using and traditional medicines, herbal concoctions and so on but he denied use of any of these infusions since he was diagnosed HIV positive. Mr. P. then informed me that he will reveal his 'secret' and that it had all to do with his state of mind. According to Mr. P., when he was diagnosed 10 years ago, he sunk into a depression for about 6 months, consuming alcohol excessively, sleeping around recklessly (and possibly infecting some of those partners) and finally he realized that all the wine, women and song was not making any difference to the way he felt.
After some intense soul searching, he came to grips that he was HIV positive and will face whatever may come as a 'man'. If he was meant to live, his ancestors will keep him alive until the time comes and he began praying to his ancestors on a daily basis and performing his annual animal sacrifice to his ancestors. Ancestor worship and animal sacrifice is part of African culture in my neck of the woods. Agree or disagree with his cultural beliefs or practices, the point is that this patient was faring pretty well.
The purpose for relating the story about Mr. P. is that he is a prime example of a success story in "faith based healing". I am totally against any "faith based healing" conducted by persons of any religious institution who convinces you that the speed and extent of the 'cure' is dependent on your financial contribution to their institution. So let's not bring religion into it. But the one thing that I can see from "faith based healing" (note the inverted commas) is that it gives HOPE.
Faced with an overwhelming disease, knowing that there is no cure or chance of survival, be it 1 month, 1 year or even ten years, it is not many of us who can actually maintain a sense of optimism or hope beyond just short periods. Yet Mr. P. was able to do just that. He was so convinced that his ancestors were going to take care of him from the time he was diagnosed that he never doubted it. His mental attitude, in my opinion, is the reason for his survival to date without requiring anti-retroviral therapy. It is his "faith" in his ancestors that gives him hope to continue and prevents him from slipping into a depression about his condition.
This is in stark contrast to his girlfriend who is so depressed and despondent that she had to drag him to my clinic so that I could possibly "burst his bubble", I would assume. As the saying goes, misery loves company and she was truly miserable. By the way, Mr. P. is still doing well and not yet on ART according to his girlfriend in 2009.
Tapping the inner healing ability that mind-body medicine is based upon is not a simple task. There is no switch to flip to say "start healing". Similarly we do not know how this innate healing force is switched "off". What we do know is that some people are able to harness it when faced with disease while others go the opposite route and allow their mental and emotional state accelerate the rate of degradation until the disease totally consumes them. "Faith", be it faith in some supernatural entity, your doctor or alternative "airy-fairy" technique has the same effect. It focusses the mind on hope and optimism about the future and this may switch the inner healing process to the "on" position.
I believe that faith and hope is not the only way to harness this innate healing ability. A recent case that I have seen regarding a 73 year old female patient suffering with a terminal form of cancer begs the question as to the purpose that the mind may play in healing. I will not divulge too many details at this point, just in case this positive story takes a turn for the worse as it is still early days but she sought naturopathic treatment for her terminal condition as her doctors has "thrown in the towel". Understandably at the age of 73, succumbing to repeated doses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy is not advisable and she was advised to "go home and make the most of the time left".
By the time she presented to me, I realized there was little, if anything, that could be done for her. Nevertheless, I did not dash her hopes and opted to assist her with some lifestyle changes like a new eating plan, simplex vitamin and mineral prescription and encouraged her to start up some physical activity. I did not prescribe a single herbal remedy or homeopathic medicine. Over the past 2 months, I have seen a marked improvement in her condition at a time when she should be deteriorating rapidly as she enters the last "stretch". What had changed?
Well, her son who had been estranged from the family for close to 20 years due to some irreconcilable differences had pitched up at her door. Divorced and unemployed, he needed her help and as any mother would do, she welcomed him in with open arms. She suddenly has a new will to live as she is talking about getting him "back on his feet" and possibly spending some of her savings on starting him up a small business. She now has a new purpose in life and I am considering sending her back to the radiologist in a few weeks to investigate her tumors.
Call it whatever you wish, there is most definitely a link between the mind and the body and in the forseeable future, I will be dedicating some of my online efforts to an up and coming alternative health website (digitalhealthlive.com) focussing on a range of complementary therapies and mind-body medicine. Many of us wish to delve into this exciting field of wellness (best word to describe it for now) but mind-body medicine lacks any "structure" for implementing changes. Sure some authors and proponents of mind-body medicine swear by their programs but I think this is very much something that can be taught simply and at no charge through a medium like the internet.
In my coming posts, I will touch further on mind-body medicine but for those of you wishing to learn a little more from a world renowned contributor to the field, I would advise that you read Quantum Healing by Dr. Deepak Chopra.
Constant Diarrhea after the Gastric (Viral) Flu or IBS
Another bout of gastric flu (viral gastroenteritis, 'tummy bug, 'stomach' flu) is doing its rounds in the city I practice and apart from the 2 days of misery, more patients are now complaining of a persistent watery stool following the infection. Once the symptoms of fever, lethargy, body pains, diarrhea and sometimes vomiting eases, it appears that normal bowel movements and stool consistency does not return to all those that recovered. This is not unusual. I have seen this many times in practice but this is the first year that I have seen so many patients affected by it. Whatever the reason for this sudden increase, over-prescribing of antibiotics by general practitioners or a more virulent strain, the solution is quite simple. Probiotics.
It appears probiotics means different things to different sectors of the health care industry. Coming from a medical background and now practicing naturopathic medicine with a special emphasis on homeopathy, probiotics has always meant the same thing to me - spores of the 'good' intestinal bacteria which can be found in yoghurt or a lesser known yeast that assists with restoring the good intestinal bacteria . But the complementary health product market is bombarded with products that are quick to label themselves as probiotics or even 'prebiotics' thereby leaving patients confused and often out of pocket for a few dollars.
A probiotic replaces the good bacteria in your intestine by contributing millions of bacteria spores (preferably) into your gut. Live culture yoghurt does have some spores but most of the bacteria are in the vegetative (living and reproducing form) that may not survive your gastric acid to reach your intestine. I think most of us know a lot about the benefits of live culture yoghurt which I would not delve into here. But Sacchromyces boulardi, an yeast, is the true hero of the day, should you be suffering with constant diarrhea after the gastric flu or after a bout of antibiotics.
As far as I am aware, Saccharomyces boulardii is available in almost every country in capsule form. Hands down, it gets my vote in most cases of persistent diarrhea from viral causes to traveller's diarrhea or antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Persistent diarrhea can be quite a serious issue. Within a few days you will dehydrate and may require hosptalization. Rehydrating yourself sometimes seems to just aggravate the watery stool and any dairy at this time can causes intestinal cramping.
I just haven't quite figured out as to why Saccharomyces boulardii does not receive more attention from the medical fraternity. Repeat prescriptions of antibiotics often results in diarrhea and yet a course of Saccharomyces boulardii taken concurrently or immediately after the antibiotic prescription would spare many patients a great deal of discomfort. I have found it to be equally beneficial in managing cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)/inflammatory bowel disease when used in conjunction with a fiber supplement. In cases of IBS where frequent, loose stools that are aggravated by eating, stress and stimulants (nicotine and caffeine) are the characteristic symptom, Saccharomyces boulardii works like a charm if taken for 5 days at least every 6 weeks along with the daily intake of a good fiber supplement containing both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Of course, IBS is such a 'strange' condition that there is no set way of treating it and what works for one IBS sufferer, may not work for another. Nevertheless, Saccharomyces boulardii, seems to yield better results than many other products out there. An important point to mention is always be cautious when using anti-diarrheals. You may need to rush off to an important presentation and an anti-diarrheal may be useful at that point but constant use in cases where the bowels are infested with 'bad bacteria' as in food poisoning can be dangerous.
I have found that Wikipedia had a fairly good and simple article on Saccharomyces boulardii and of particular interest was a study conducted on travelers. Here the travelers were given Saccharomyces boulardii for 5 days before departing on their trip and there was a reduced incidence of traveler's diarrhea compared to the placebo group. I have found this to be true in practice. I often advise patient's who are about to travel and concerned with contracting traveler's diarrhea that a course of antibiotics may be useful when struck with traveler's diarrhea along with Saccharomyces boulardii and activated charcoal tablets.
Whatever the cause of your diarrhea, a persistent loose and watery stool needs medical attention. Self management is not effective after a few days and it is best that you consult with your medical practitioner. It is quite surprising how many people are hospitalized every year from dehydration due to persistent diarrhea. A little bit of common sense, the proper knowledge and less stubbornness could spare you a lot of inconvenience and discomfort. Please do not implement any change in your therapy based on the advice given here. It is best to first seek the advice of your doctor.
It appears probiotics means different things to different sectors of the health care industry. Coming from a medical background and now practicing naturopathic medicine with a special emphasis on homeopathy, probiotics has always meant the same thing to me - spores of the 'good' intestinal bacteria which can be found in yoghurt or a lesser known yeast that assists with restoring the good intestinal bacteria . But the complementary health product market is bombarded with products that are quick to label themselves as probiotics or even 'prebiotics' thereby leaving patients confused and often out of pocket for a few dollars.
A probiotic replaces the good bacteria in your intestine by contributing millions of bacteria spores (preferably) into your gut. Live culture yoghurt does have some spores but most of the bacteria are in the vegetative (living and reproducing form) that may not survive your gastric acid to reach your intestine. I think most of us know a lot about the benefits of live culture yoghurt which I would not delve into here. But Sacchromyces boulardi, an yeast, is the true hero of the day, should you be suffering with constant diarrhea after the gastric flu or after a bout of antibiotics.
As far as I am aware, Saccharomyces boulardii is available in almost every country in capsule form. Hands down, it gets my vote in most cases of persistent diarrhea from viral causes to traveller's diarrhea or antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Persistent diarrhea can be quite a serious issue. Within a few days you will dehydrate and may require hosptalization. Rehydrating yourself sometimes seems to just aggravate the watery stool and any dairy at this time can causes intestinal cramping.
I just haven't quite figured out as to why Saccharomyces boulardii does not receive more attention from the medical fraternity. Repeat prescriptions of antibiotics often results in diarrhea and yet a course of Saccharomyces boulardii taken concurrently or immediately after the antibiotic prescription would spare many patients a great deal of discomfort. I have found it to be equally beneficial in managing cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)/inflammatory bowel disease when used in conjunction with a fiber supplement. In cases of IBS where frequent, loose stools that are aggravated by eating, stress and stimulants (nicotine and caffeine) are the characteristic symptom, Saccharomyces boulardii works like a charm if taken for 5 days at least every 6 weeks along with the daily intake of a good fiber supplement containing both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Of course, IBS is such a 'strange' condition that there is no set way of treating it and what works for one IBS sufferer, may not work for another. Nevertheless, Saccharomyces boulardii, seems to yield better results than many other products out there. An important point to mention is always be cautious when using anti-diarrheals. You may need to rush off to an important presentation and an anti-diarrheal may be useful at that point but constant use in cases where the bowels are infested with 'bad bacteria' as in food poisoning can be dangerous.
I have found that Wikipedia had a fairly good and simple article on Saccharomyces boulardii and of particular interest was a study conducted on travelers. Here the travelers were given Saccharomyces boulardii for 5 days before departing on their trip and there was a reduced incidence of traveler's diarrhea compared to the placebo group. I have found this to be true in practice. I often advise patient's who are about to travel and concerned with contracting traveler's diarrhea that a course of antibiotics may be useful when struck with traveler's diarrhea along with Saccharomyces boulardii and activated charcoal tablets.
Whatever the cause of your diarrhea, a persistent loose and watery stool needs medical attention. Self management is not effective after a few days and it is best that you consult with your medical practitioner. It is quite surprising how many people are hospitalized every year from dehydration due to persistent diarrhea. A little bit of common sense, the proper knowledge and less stubbornness could spare you a lot of inconvenience and discomfort. Please do not implement any change in your therapy based on the advice given here. It is best to first seek the advice of your doctor.
Swine Flu (2009 H1N1) Deaths, HIV/AIDS & Immune Support
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the 2009 H1N1 flu (swine flu) outbreak is now plateauing but I still see patients daily with concerns about H1N1 and issues relating to infection, quarantine and vaccination. The recent death of a Canadian woman infected with swine flu has once again created a stir and there has been a surge in emails from patients sharing their concerns about H1N1. As I previously mentioned, swine flu, like any infection can be managed conservatively if you are healthy.
I know the word "healthy" is quite vague but in this context I am referring to good immune functioning. Let us not forget that before the days of vaccines and anti-virals, it was our immune system that did all the work which now profits the pharmaceutical companies. Tens of thousands of years of human existence has depended almost solely on our immune system and today we are the dominant species on the planet. After all, the first recorded use of herbal concoctions as a form of medicine was recorded just a few thousand years ago in ancient texts relating to Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and practices in Egypt, Greece and South America.
So why are those infected by H1N1 dying from this infection? It is an issue of health and immunity. HIV/AIDS would probably be the biggest contributing factor to deaths in sub-Saharan Africa should there be a swine flu outbreak in the region. Countries like South Africa (read swine flu in South Africa), Zimbabwe and Botswana are HIV hot spots but thus far, they seem to have been spared the H1N1 infection rates seen in other nations. Of course, HIV/AIDS is not only restricted to Africa. Before we decide to label the swine flu the 'bubonic plague' of the 21st century, let us bear in mind that there are many people who have contracted this infection and recovered. Those that died from H1N1 may have had other predisposing factors that contributed to immune deficiency.
Let us not go around and label every H1N1 casualty as being HIV positive. That is just irresponsible. Impaired immune functioning is prevalent in most of us who are not HIV positive. Just ask the health product companies - they sell millions of dollars in immune health products to the public who are concerned about their immune functioning. The issue is IMMUNE FUNCTIONING and not HIV/AIDS.
Chronic diseases, poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle and mental-emotional stress are all contributing factors to reducing immune function. I find it quite amusing when patients ask me "what is the best immune support product" yet they shrug when I start dishing out my "healthy living sermon". Yes, listening to myself on a daily basis, I believe that I could have made a good preacher. Point is that we are prepared to pay tens, if not hundreds of dollars on nutritional supplements and herbal remedies to assist us with something so simple.
Don't get me wrong. I am all for good nutritional supplements and herbal supplements - in moderation. I will admit to starting on Echinacea just before the flu season and 'upping' my vitamin C, zinc and calcium-magnesium intake when I am not feeling 'too well'. But there is no replacing healthy living. As the years go by, the media makes us more aware of healthy living and nature reminds us of how insignificant we are in the face of a microscopic virus or bacterium (SARS, bird flu and now swine flu). Yet this only seems to bring out more immune products, anti-virals and antibiotics into the market.
If there is anything we should learn from the 2009 swine flu outbreak, apart from the dominance of microbes over our planet, is that we have to take responsibility for our health in our daily activities. Chronic conditions (most) can be managed conservatively (lifestyle and dietary changes) in the early stages without requiring chronic drugs. We are quick to feed ourselves on fast foods yet never take the time to shop and eat healthy. Drive, taxi, subway vs walk, jog, cycle - need I say more. And our mental-emotional state, well the more advanced mankind gets, the more emotionally unstable he becomes as a species. Maybe it's a move away from traditional practices, family values, business ethics an so on but there is no denying that mankind is not a 'happy' race.
As swine flu seems set to fade away in the background after much media attention (by the way, has anyone evaluated the profit made by media and pharmaceutical companies during the H1N1 hype?), we can rest assured that soon we will once again face the spectre of another 'deadly' disease set to 'wipe out tens of millions of humans.' Rather prepare yourself for the next outbreak and for the rest of your life and practice 'healthy living' and recharge your body's natural anti-microbial agent, your IMMUNE system.
I know the word "healthy" is quite vague but in this context I am referring to good immune functioning. Let us not forget that before the days of vaccines and anti-virals, it was our immune system that did all the work which now profits the pharmaceutical companies. Tens of thousands of years of human existence has depended almost solely on our immune system and today we are the dominant species on the planet. After all, the first recorded use of herbal concoctions as a form of medicine was recorded just a few thousand years ago in ancient texts relating to Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and practices in Egypt, Greece and South America.
So why are those infected by H1N1 dying from this infection? It is an issue of health and immunity. HIV/AIDS would probably be the biggest contributing factor to deaths in sub-Saharan Africa should there be a swine flu outbreak in the region. Countries like South Africa (read swine flu in South Africa), Zimbabwe and Botswana are HIV hot spots but thus far, they seem to have been spared the H1N1 infection rates seen in other nations. Of course, HIV/AIDS is not only restricted to Africa. Before we decide to label the swine flu the 'bubonic plague' of the 21st century, let us bear in mind that there are many people who have contracted this infection and recovered. Those that died from H1N1 may have had other predisposing factors that contributed to immune deficiency.
Let us not go around and label every H1N1 casualty as being HIV positive. That is just irresponsible. Impaired immune functioning is prevalent in most of us who are not HIV positive. Just ask the health product companies - they sell millions of dollars in immune health products to the public who are concerned about their immune functioning. The issue is IMMUNE FUNCTIONING and not HIV/AIDS.
Chronic diseases, poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle and mental-emotional stress are all contributing factors to reducing immune function. I find it quite amusing when patients ask me "what is the best immune support product" yet they shrug when I start dishing out my "healthy living sermon". Yes, listening to myself on a daily basis, I believe that I could have made a good preacher. Point is that we are prepared to pay tens, if not hundreds of dollars on nutritional supplements and herbal remedies to assist us with something so simple.
Don't get me wrong. I am all for good nutritional supplements and herbal supplements - in moderation. I will admit to starting on Echinacea just before the flu season and 'upping' my vitamin C, zinc and calcium-magnesium intake when I am not feeling 'too well'. But there is no replacing healthy living. As the years go by, the media makes us more aware of healthy living and nature reminds us of how insignificant we are in the face of a microscopic virus or bacterium (SARS, bird flu and now swine flu). Yet this only seems to bring out more immune products, anti-virals and antibiotics into the market.
If there is anything we should learn from the 2009 swine flu outbreak, apart from the dominance of microbes over our planet, is that we have to take responsibility for our health in our daily activities. Chronic conditions (most) can be managed conservatively (lifestyle and dietary changes) in the early stages without requiring chronic drugs. We are quick to feed ourselves on fast foods yet never take the time to shop and eat healthy. Drive, taxi, subway vs walk, jog, cycle - need I say more. And our mental-emotional state, well the more advanced mankind gets, the more emotionally unstable he becomes as a species. Maybe it's a move away from traditional practices, family values, business ethics an so on but there is no denying that mankind is not a 'happy' race.
As swine flu seems set to fade away in the background after much media attention (by the way, has anyone evaluated the profit made by media and pharmaceutical companies during the H1N1 hype?), we can rest assured that soon we will once again face the spectre of another 'deadly' disease set to 'wipe out tens of millions of humans.' Rather prepare yourself for the next outbreak and for the rest of your life and practice 'healthy living' and recharge your body's natural anti-microbial agent, your IMMUNE system.
Stress May Cause a Clicking Jaw, Back Pain & Headaches
With the recent economic meltdown, job losses and cutbacks, many of us are experiencing a stressful period in our lives. Stress is a broad term for a number of physiological and psychological signs and symptoms that occur as a result of the body's hormonal stress response. From anxiety to insomnia, high blood pressure and irritable bowel syndrome, stress undoubtedly has a huge impact on our health and wellness. Lesser known symptoms associated with stress include a clicking jaw, back and neck pain and headaches which are often ignored. Recognizing these early signs and symptoms of stress can go a long way in managing your condition.
'Clicking jaw' is a crude term for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation that affects the normal articulation (hinge and sliding motion) associated with the opening and closing of the jaw. The 'click' may be audible and is often accompanied by a 'pop' during eating, talking or opening of the mouth. The following article on 'clicking jaw' is a useful resource on the topic.
So why does stress cause a clicking jaw?
When stressed, the body goes through a host of changes triggered by adrenalin and cortisol, the body's two main stress hormones. A lesser known physiological and psychological response to stress is clenching the teeth (bruxism). Many of us do not realize that we are unconciosly clenching or grinding our teeth when stressed but studies have shown that this is a common occurrence in anxious individuals. Clenching may occur during sleep or while awake and prolonged clenching may cause one-sided facial swelling, TMJ inflammation, a clicking or popping jaw, headaches as well as wearing down the enamel of the teeth. Over a period of time this may affect your regular bite.
It is important to note that a clicking jaw may not only be a result of stress and other important causes of a clicking jaw may require medical attention.
Stress and Backache, Neck Pain and Headaches
In cases when a clicking jaw is associated with stress, other stress related symptoms may also be present. Another lesser known stress symptom is contracting the back, shoulder and neck muscles so as to raise our shoulders. It is a common sign of stress, anxiety or fear triggered by our stress hormones. This results in muscle spasm which causes back and neck pain as well as headaches.
If you are experiencing a clicking jaw along with headaches and back or neck pain, chances are that these symptoms are associated with stress. While physical therapies like massage and chiropractic adjustment may be effective for symptomatic treatment of a clicking jaw, back and neck pain as well as headaches, it is important that stress management should be considered before the condition complicates any further.
Unfortunately stress is a regular part of our lives and with the global situations that we are now facing, there is no escaping a potentially stressful situation. Effective stress management does not focus on avoiding stressful situations, as this may not always be possible, but rather teaches a stressed individual how to manage their stress or response to a situation.
'Clicking jaw' is a crude term for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation that affects the normal articulation (hinge and sliding motion) associated with the opening and closing of the jaw. The 'click' may be audible and is often accompanied by a 'pop' during eating, talking or opening of the mouth. The following article on 'clicking jaw' is a useful resource on the topic.
So why does stress cause a clicking jaw?
When stressed, the body goes through a host of changes triggered by adrenalin and cortisol, the body's two main stress hormones. A lesser known physiological and psychological response to stress is clenching the teeth (bruxism). Many of us do not realize that we are unconciosly clenching or grinding our teeth when stressed but studies have shown that this is a common occurrence in anxious individuals. Clenching may occur during sleep or while awake and prolonged clenching may cause one-sided facial swelling, TMJ inflammation, a clicking or popping jaw, headaches as well as wearing down the enamel of the teeth. Over a period of time this may affect your regular bite.
It is important to note that a clicking jaw may not only be a result of stress and other important causes of a clicking jaw may require medical attention.
Stress and Backache, Neck Pain and Headaches
In cases when a clicking jaw is associated with stress, other stress related symptoms may also be present. Another lesser known stress symptom is contracting the back, shoulder and neck muscles so as to raise our shoulders. It is a common sign of stress, anxiety or fear triggered by our stress hormones. This results in muscle spasm which causes back and neck pain as well as headaches.
If you are experiencing a clicking jaw along with headaches and back or neck pain, chances are that these symptoms are associated with stress. While physical therapies like massage and chiropractic adjustment may be effective for symptomatic treatment of a clicking jaw, back and neck pain as well as headaches, it is important that stress management should be considered before the condition complicates any further.
Unfortunately stress is a regular part of our lives and with the global situations that we are now facing, there is no escaping a potentially stressful situation. Effective stress management does not focus on avoiding stressful situations, as this may not always be possible, but rather teaches a stressed individual how to manage their stress or response to a situation.
Swine Flu 2009 H1N1 - Vaccine, Quarantine or Medicine
It is not often that I am alarmed by any gloom or doom forecast relating to some outbreak. International media loves these doomsday scenarios and at a time when there is a lack of public enemies, health scares or miraculous discoveries are the way to go. With that said, I will also admit that I do share the concern about swine flu or as it is now known, the 2009 H1N1 FLU. Surfing through the channels, one is constantly bombarded by the swine flu news, medical perspectives relating swine flu and predictions of spread.
If anybody asked for my opinion, I would for this very once, tend to agree with many out there - swine flu (2009 H1N1 FLU) poses a real and severe threat. But is it a potentially lethal threat to you and me? Anyway the last time I checked, so does global warming but then no pharmaceutical companies will profit from reducing greenhouse emissions.
And there you have it. My true intention for writing this post. Not just concern about the impact of the 2009 H1N1 flu but the concern that profits are going to be made at a time when the world is in economic turmoil. Don't get me wrong. Swine flu is a problem. It is a problem to the millions of impoverished people living in squalor and the overpopulated slums. It's a problem to the immune compromised, HIV/AIDS sufferers, malnourished and the elderly.
But is it really a problem to us middle class, well fed (a bit too well fed), first world city dwellers? Swine flu has presented more than once in history. Of course this current strain is a reassortment strain meaning that while it can transfer from pig to human, it can also be transmitted from human to human. With proper care, good medical supervision and sufficient rest, there is no reason why us city slickers should be fearing death. True, the diarrhea and vomitting in this swine flu outbreak is more severe than previously noted but that too is not a cause for concern for those of us with proper sanitation, clean drinking water and access to medical attention.
So before you run out to stock up on those anti-viral drugs, ask yourself if you are really at risk of death. Yes, you can afford to buy anti-virals but do you really need anti-virals. Treatment and prophylaxis they say. You wouldn't want to take your chances you think. Media hype, consumer panic, pharmaceutical profit. What quarantine and vaccine? Why? When we can ensure that more people travel around the globe and spread a non-lethal biological agent.
Please do not get me wrong. Swine flu is a real problem as I stated above. But has the true story been portrayed in the media? Why were we not doing more to quarantine although it is now too late? Did pharmaceutical giants have to be prompted and probably financially stimulated to find a vaccine? Seems like they had no problem developing anti-virals without government prompting.
My fear is that we did not quarantine at the right time because it would negatively impact air travel at a time when the industry is under strain. Us, the well fed, will continue to travel globally, spread this virus until it filters down to the poor. We run no risk of death, they do. My other fear is that no swine flu vaccine would have been "rushed" because antivirals do a fine job of treating and preventing swine flu. But can the poor, those that are most at risk of death, afford antivirals?
My greatest fear is that at a time when the world is recovering from one catastrophe, the economic meltdown, we did not learn from those that engineered the disaster. Profit is not everything. Yet we have to ask ourselves how much of this current outbreak could have been better controlled had profit not been taken into consideration.
Vaccine? For who? The poor? No need because the rich can afford antivirals. Quarantine? And what about the air line industry? MEDICINE. Always better than oil or gold stocks. And how much better for shareholders when there is a health scare.
If swine flu was a disease that killed more than a few farm workers or a handful of slum dwellers, we would see a different response. If it killed people like us, those that can afford these drugs, it would have been a rush to vaccinate. If it was spread primarily by the poor, there would be an immediate clampdown and quarantine of this sector of the population.
With that said, let's not make swine flu all about health care and medicine. Unfortunately it is not. Let us hope that our fellow man who has only a piece of bread on his plate tonight will weather this storm while we partake in '2009 H1N1 Flu' dinner conversation with a glass of wine and a hearty meal.
If anybody asked for my opinion, I would for this very once, tend to agree with many out there - swine flu (2009 H1N1 FLU) poses a real and severe threat. But is it a potentially lethal threat to you and me? Anyway the last time I checked, so does global warming but then no pharmaceutical companies will profit from reducing greenhouse emissions.
And there you have it. My true intention for writing this post. Not just concern about the impact of the 2009 H1N1 flu but the concern that profits are going to be made at a time when the world is in economic turmoil. Don't get me wrong. Swine flu is a problem. It is a problem to the millions of impoverished people living in squalor and the overpopulated slums. It's a problem to the immune compromised, HIV/AIDS sufferers, malnourished and the elderly.
But is it really a problem to us middle class, well fed (a bit too well fed), first world city dwellers? Swine flu has presented more than once in history. Of course this current strain is a reassortment strain meaning that while it can transfer from pig to human, it can also be transmitted from human to human. With proper care, good medical supervision and sufficient rest, there is no reason why us city slickers should be fearing death. True, the diarrhea and vomitting in this swine flu outbreak is more severe than previously noted but that too is not a cause for concern for those of us with proper sanitation, clean drinking water and access to medical attention.
So before you run out to stock up on those anti-viral drugs, ask yourself if you are really at risk of death. Yes, you can afford to buy anti-virals but do you really need anti-virals. Treatment and prophylaxis they say. You wouldn't want to take your chances you think. Media hype, consumer panic, pharmaceutical profit. What quarantine and vaccine? Why? When we can ensure that more people travel around the globe and spread a non-lethal biological agent.
Please do not get me wrong. Swine flu is a real problem as I stated above. But has the true story been portrayed in the media? Why were we not doing more to quarantine although it is now too late? Did pharmaceutical giants have to be prompted and probably financially stimulated to find a vaccine? Seems like they had no problem developing anti-virals without government prompting.
My fear is that we did not quarantine at the right time because it would negatively impact air travel at a time when the industry is under strain. Us, the well fed, will continue to travel globally, spread this virus until it filters down to the poor. We run no risk of death, they do. My other fear is that no swine flu vaccine would have been "rushed" because antivirals do a fine job of treating and preventing swine flu. But can the poor, those that are most at risk of death, afford antivirals?
My greatest fear is that at a time when the world is recovering from one catastrophe, the economic meltdown, we did not learn from those that engineered the disaster. Profit is not everything. Yet we have to ask ourselves how much of this current outbreak could have been better controlled had profit not been taken into consideration.
Vaccine? For who? The poor? No need because the rich can afford antivirals. Quarantine? And what about the air line industry? MEDICINE. Always better than oil or gold stocks. And how much better for shareholders when there is a health scare.
If swine flu was a disease that killed more than a few farm workers or a handful of slum dwellers, we would see a different response. If it killed people like us, those that can afford these drugs, it would have been a rush to vaccinate. If it was spread primarily by the poor, there would be an immediate clampdown and quarantine of this sector of the population.
With that said, let's not make swine flu all about health care and medicine. Unfortunately it is not. Let us hope that our fellow man who has only a piece of bread on his plate tonight will weather this storm while we partake in '2009 H1N1 Flu' dinner conversation with a glass of wine and a hearty meal.
Resveratrol : Nature's Fountain of Youth
The popularity of anti-aging medicine as a field of mainstream niche health care has grown significantly over the past few years. From human growth hormone (HGH) to calorie restriction for longevity, anti-aging medicine has finally provided us with scientific evidence and promising lab trials that may yield the desired results in the near future. It is one thing to get a few lab rats to live 20% longer than their average lifespan. It is a real feat of medical science to increase the lifespan of humans considering the polluted enviroments and stressful, unhealthy lives that we lead. However medical science believes that it has once again done itself proud by proving the efficacy of resveratrol to possibly increasing lifespan and delaying the onset of age related conditions.
Resveratrol is a compound found in red wine, grape juice, cocoa beans and chinese green tea. Resveratrol has long been purported to increase your lifespan by the alternative health fraternity but with a lack of scientific evidence, these claims were never taken seriously. Lab trials on mice conducted by Dr. David Sinclair at the Department of Anti-Aging Medicine of the Harvard School of Medicine has proven the beneficial effects of resveratrol in reducing age related chronic conditions and increasing the lifespan of the test subjects.
You may wonder why I am suddenly commending the results of another rodent based lab trial. Well, firstly Dr. Sinclair is a respected member of the medical fraternity and conducted his trials over a three year period. Secondly, Dr. Sinclair has sold his discovery to a leading pharmaceutical giant for over $750 million. Yes, I said SEVEN HUNDRED and FIFTY MILLION. As we know, the pharmaceutical industry is as profit driven as most industries, if not more so. The hefty price tag undoubtedly indicates that Dr. Sinclair's trials have great potential for human anti-aging medicine and clinical trials on human subjects are underway. Dr. Sinclair who has been tight lipped about this deal has mentioned that we could see the first evidence based anti-aging pill hit the shelves within 5 years. Sales in the United States alone are estimated to reach the $40-billion mark per year.
So does this mean that many of us will now live to a 100 years or a 120 years of age? Possibly. But time will tell. What we do know thus far is that two other widely practiced approaches to longevity has gained multi-million dollar popularity. Calorie restriction involves a dietary plan that controls your daily calorie intake. The thinking behind calorie restriction for longevity is that a reduced calorie intake will slow the body's metabolic rate thereby reducing 'wear and tear' on cells. We know that most human cells can repair and eventually reproduce in order to maintain the life processes. However reproduction of human cells is not infinite and eventually when cells cannot reproduce, the body begins to age until a critical point is reached and natural death is the result. Calorie restriction for longevity aims to increase the lifespan of each cell before it needs to reproduce thereby increasing the lifespan of the organism.
I still question the supposed benefits of human growth hormone administration to increase human lifespan. I agree that human growth hormone does delay age defining changes in the body relating to the bones, muscle and mental faculties. Whether delaying these physiological changes will actually increase the human lifespan still remains to be seen. You will find many online resources on the benefits of human growth hormone so I will not discuss this aspect any further.
Mankind has been fascinated with the concept of extending the human lifespan since recorded history. Resveratrol seems set to change the face of anti-aging medicine but I would prefer to adopt a wait and see attitude. It is quite enticing to think that a pill could achieve what seems to be more appropriate for mythology or science fiction. But if resveratrol is the wonder longevity drug of the future, it is quite amusing to think that the answer has been hanging on the humble grapevine for thousands of years.
Resveratrol is a compound found in red wine, grape juice, cocoa beans and chinese green tea. Resveratrol has long been purported to increase your lifespan by the alternative health fraternity but with a lack of scientific evidence, these claims were never taken seriously. Lab trials on mice conducted by Dr. David Sinclair at the Department of Anti-Aging Medicine of the Harvard School of Medicine has proven the beneficial effects of resveratrol in reducing age related chronic conditions and increasing the lifespan of the test subjects.
You may wonder why I am suddenly commending the results of another rodent based lab trial. Well, firstly Dr. Sinclair is a respected member of the medical fraternity and conducted his trials over a three year period. Secondly, Dr. Sinclair has sold his discovery to a leading pharmaceutical giant for over $750 million. Yes, I said SEVEN HUNDRED and FIFTY MILLION. As we know, the pharmaceutical industry is as profit driven as most industries, if not more so. The hefty price tag undoubtedly indicates that Dr. Sinclair's trials have great potential for human anti-aging medicine and clinical trials on human subjects are underway. Dr. Sinclair who has been tight lipped about this deal has mentioned that we could see the first evidence based anti-aging pill hit the shelves within 5 years. Sales in the United States alone are estimated to reach the $40-billion mark per year.
So does this mean that many of us will now live to a 100 years or a 120 years of age? Possibly. But time will tell. What we do know thus far is that two other widely practiced approaches to longevity has gained multi-million dollar popularity. Calorie restriction involves a dietary plan that controls your daily calorie intake. The thinking behind calorie restriction for longevity is that a reduced calorie intake will slow the body's metabolic rate thereby reducing 'wear and tear' on cells. We know that most human cells can repair and eventually reproduce in order to maintain the life processes. However reproduction of human cells is not infinite and eventually when cells cannot reproduce, the body begins to age until a critical point is reached and natural death is the result. Calorie restriction for longevity aims to increase the lifespan of each cell before it needs to reproduce thereby increasing the lifespan of the organism.
I still question the supposed benefits of human growth hormone administration to increase human lifespan. I agree that human growth hormone does delay age defining changes in the body relating to the bones, muscle and mental faculties. Whether delaying these physiological changes will actually increase the human lifespan still remains to be seen. You will find many online resources on the benefits of human growth hormone so I will not discuss this aspect any further.
Mankind has been fascinated with the concept of extending the human lifespan since recorded history. Resveratrol seems set to change the face of anti-aging medicine but I would prefer to adopt a wait and see attitude. It is quite enticing to think that a pill could achieve what seems to be more appropriate for mythology or science fiction. But if resveratrol is the wonder longevity drug of the future, it is quite amusing to think that the answer has been hanging on the humble grapevine for thousands of years.
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