Health News Blog. Lots of resources and information

Some mental health professionals—psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, counselors—deal primarily with people affected by HIV infection. Psychiatrists are physicians who have specialized in psychiatry—that is, in disorders of mood and thinking; psychiatrists can prescribe medication. Psychologists have doctoral degrees, either a Ph.D. or an Ed.D., in psychology; psychologists can test and diagnose. Social workers have master’s degrees plus supervised training. Psychiatric nurses have master’s degrees plus supervised training. And counselors can be pastors or others who counsel people. All these professionals should be certified by the certifying boards of their respective professions. The certifying boards for counselors are variable, some good, some not so good, and as a result, counselors are not as tightly monitored as the other mental health professionals.     To overgeneralize, these professionals offer two kinds of therapy—talk therapy and medical therapy. All of them offer talk therapy. They can help you express and understand and resolve painful feelings, analyze and solve problems with other people, gain a sense of who you are as a whole person. They will work with problems that range from the specific and practical to the fundamental and philosophical. You can say anything to them. Psychiatrists alone can also offer medical therapy, drugs that restore sleep, appetite, and mood. Probably the best advice is to begin with talk therapy, but you will want to ask the professional to refer you for medical therapy if necessary. The professional who is unwilling to do this is best avoided.     If you do not know who the mental health professionals are, begin by asking the medical professionals—doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants—you do know. If they cannot help, they will surely refer you to someone who can. Local AIDS-advocacy groups, the gay community, local mental health associations, and state mental health agencies all have lists of qualified, experienced mental health professionals.*235\191\2*

One patient I recommended calcitonin to was a Middle Eastern woman just reaching menopause. A DEXA scan showed Maya’s bone density to already be 15 percent below ideal levels in her spine and 12 percent lower than I would have liked to see at the hip. Her NTX level was still in the normal range, but at the high end of it (41), indicating a risk of fracture mildly higher than her bone density alone would predict. She was an avid exerciser, and was glad to learn how much that contributed to protecting bones. She was determined to go through menopause as “naturally” as possible, and didn’t want HRT for this reason. But she was concerned enough about her bones to consider other prescription treatments if she could avoid side effects and not raise her risk of any other condition. Calcitonin appealed to her since it is “natural” in the sense that the pills are made from salmon; the substance is also produced in the human body and has no known side effects other than nasal irritation in one in ten people who use it (it comes in a nasal spray).To aid and abet calcitonin to the best of her ability, Maya adopted a diet rich in plant estrogens, upping the amount of tofu and other soy products she ate. She started taking the recommended doses of calcium and vitamin D supplements, along with a multivitamin and other supplements similar to those described in Chapter 6. She kept up her regular exercise program, with a renewed focus on strength training.One year later, her bone scan showed her vertebrae to now be 13 percent above expected, though her hip was still 4 percent below ideal levels. She was among the fortunate 90 percent of patients who experience no side effects from calcitonin, so she continues to take it every day. I expect that when she comes back for her next scan in about two years, she’ll have rebuilt all her bones to the level of a healthy 30-year-old woman—or even better*155\228\2*

This recommendation does not mean you must eliminate sweets, desserts, and alcohol from your diet. However, they are a major source of calories (because they usually contain large amounts of fat or sugar) and contribute very few other beneficial nutrients to your over all diet.People who have high levels of tryglycerides (a type of fat in the blood that contributes to atherosclerosis) a usually decrease their triglyceride level by:Losing weight and then maintaining a desirable body weightCutting back significantly on significantly and sugar-containing foods. The sugar in beverages, such as sweetened soft drinks or sweetened coffee or tea, can add up quickly. Even reducing the amount of fruit and fruit juice, because they naturally contain sugar, may help lower triglyceridesDrinking less alcoholIncreasing the amount of exercise *302\252\8*

Dr. Josef Issels, one of the foremost cancer specialist in the world and director of his world famous cancer clinic, says, “Excessive eating of meat and other cholesterol rich foods not only contributes to atherosclerosis and consequently, impaired blood circulation and diminished oxygenation of cells, but also increases the risk of tumour development”. Research studies have shown that limiting the use of meat and animal fats, including butter, will reduce the risk of cancer.
Over-consumption of protein not only causes deficiencies of Vitamin B6, B3 and magnesium, but also a chronic pancreatic enzyme deficiency, which is considered one of the most important causes of cancer in countries with high protein consumption. It has been statistically demonstrated that countries with high animal protein consumption have a greater incidence of cancer and countries where the traditional diet is low in animal protein, even low in any kind of protein, have little or no cancer at all. Americans eat more protein than any other country in the world and they also lead the world in cancer statistics. Most leading cancer researchers and nutritionally-oriented doctors, such as Dr. Max Gerson, Dr. Werner Kollath and Dr. Alan H. Nittler, are convinced that over-indulgence in protein and the body’s inability to properly digest and utilize it, is one of the prime causes of cancer.
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The alcohol problems of women was a topic not much discussed until very recently. Alcoholism, heavy drinking, and problem drinking were long thought to be the province principally of men. Accordingly, a review of the scientific literature found that between 1928 and 1970 only 28 studies of women alcoholics had been published in the English language! For many years the estimates were that only 1 in every 7 alcoholics was a female; then the ratio cited became 1 in 4. More recently some authorities have claimed almost as many female alcoholics as males. Alcoholism and alcohol problems among women have been areas of fast-growing inquiry. Much has and is being written both in the scientific and popular literature about women and alcohol.
Thus, here we wish to touch in very brief and admittedly cursory fashion on only some of the highpoints.
Apparently more women then men can point to a specific trigger for the onset of heavy drinking. This might be a divorce, an illness, death of a spouse, children leaving home, or some other stressful event. If a woman seeks help at such a point, both a careful alcohol use history and education about the potential risks of alcohol use are warranted. The danger of relying upon alcohol or other drugs is that the crisis can take on a long-term life of its own. The challenge to those dealing with a woman in the face of any of the above difficulties is in providing empathy rather than sympathy. Either overtly or covertly, the danger is often to imply that if that had happened to us, we would probably have responded in the same fashion. The current dangerous misuse of alcohol and drugs can become lost in the forest of other problems.
It has been suggested that women’s alcoholism is often “telescoped”; the disease appears later and progresses more rapidly. There is also evidence suggesting that women may be more susceptible to liver disease than men.
Women are prescribed mood-altering drugs much more frequently then men. This suggests the need for a very careful drug use history, with a wary eye for multiple drug use patterns and possible cross-addiction.
In a marriage in which one spouse is alcoholic, if the alcoholic is the woman there is a significantly greater likelihood of divorce. (A ninefold increase in divorce has been reported if the female is alcoholic as opposed to the male being alcoholic.) Therefore, the family and emotional support systems that are an asset in recovery are less likely to be present.
Nonetheless, whatever the woman’s marital situation, it has been found that women entering treatment do not receive the solid support for that decision that men generally receive from family and friends.
If the woman alcoholic is unmarried or a divorced single parent, there are not only additional emotional demands but also economic burdens. Remember that in the aftermath of divorce, almost three quarters of women and their children are economically less well off, if not downright poverty stricken. Entry into treatment may stretch an already difficult financial situation.
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The importance of correct breathing, diet and exercise having been discussed, relaxation and using the mind to heal (creative visualization) are next.
What is Deep Relaxation?
Many people think they are relaxing when they curl up with a book or slump in a chair and watch television. These are enjoyable and restful things to do but do not constitute relaxation deep enough to promote a healing response – this has to be worked at. In order to relax deeply it is essential to:
1 Be in a position where the spine is straight and supported.
2 Allow the joints and muscles to fall into natural positions.
3 Have the room at the right temperature.
4 Be free from distractions like telephones ringing or people talking.
5 Be able to let the mind wander.
6 Have an empty bladder.
7 Have neither an overfull nor an empty stomach.
If you are tense it is quite possible that you do not relax even during sleep; your mind will be churning away and your body will be restless. (People who wake up stiff and sore can confirm how much muscular activity goes on in the night.) A deep relaxation session lasting about half an hour can be worth four hours of sleep.
Busy people should realize that incorporating a relaxation session into your day gives you more time, not less. Tension deprives joints, muscles and organs of normal blood flow and eventually affected areas will show their disapproval by becoming stiff, sore or possibly even diseased. Exercise and relaxation are the only ways you can guarantee that you are releasing the kinks and bottlenecks in the circulatory system and allow each cell to have its full ration of nutrients. If your headaches or your bowel symptoms are caused by tension consider why you are causing yourself this misery; why are you rushing around all the time? Why are you worrying constantly? Try to make the decision to stop.
Tension Release in Seconds
You can do this anywhere. Sit down with your back straight but not stiff, put your hands palm upwards in your lap and place your feet together flat on the floor. Droop your head a little, take one deep breath, and as you let it out let your shoulders drop and allow your thighs and knees to fall outwards. Imagine a beautiful, blue sparkling light about a foot above your head; let it ripple down through your body and out of the soles of your feet into the floor; it will take your tension with it. If you practise this regularly you will be surprised how effective it is. You may also notice it makes your feet tingle.
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Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Functions:
Sources:
Causes of Deficiency:
Deficiency Signs and Symptoms:
Absorption of protein; proper growth; works with niacin and essential fatty acids (EFAs); immune system; skin; digestion and hormone production
Wholegrains, liver, fish, chicken, potatoes, bananas, avocados; made in small amounts in a healthy gut
Dirty colon, colon disorders, stress, dieting, alcoholism
Dizziness, hot, crawling or tingling sensations in the skin, deficiency of antibodies, tendency to allergies, tendency to phlebitis, cracks at the angle of the mouth, swollen taste buds, greasy redness at the sides of the nose, depression, sore breasts, retention of fluid, irritability, anaemia.
Caution: some people have taken B6 in doses over 500 mg daily over a prolonged period for PMT. Resulting damage to the nervous system can cause: unsteadiness, numbness and clumsy movements of the hands.
Vitamin Bl2 (Cyanocobalamin)
Functions:
Health of red blood cells and the functioning of all cells and bone marrow; growth; essential for health of nervous system; necessary for the absorption of folic acid
Sources:   Animal foods, eggs
Causes of Deficiency:
Deficiency Signs and Symptoms:
Lack of substance in the stomach called the intrinsic factor, bowel disorders, strict diet
Sore mouth and tongue, dry scaly skin, bumpy rash on upper arm, tingling of hands and feet, depression, poor memory. Severe deficiency: pernicious anaemia – exhaustion, brain and spinal cord affected.
Biotin (formerly called vitamin H)
Functions:
Sources:
Causes of Deficiency:
Works with enzymes; essential for the utilization of EFA’s and carbohydrates; helps clean up after proteins have been used; suppresses the growth of the invasive form of Candida in the bowel
Liver, nuts, beans, egg yolks, cauliflower; made in healthy gut by bacteria
Dirty colon, disorders of the colon, stress, prolonged consumption of raw eggs (protein called avidin in eggwhite prevents absorption), antibiotics, sulphonamide drugs, genetic defect causing malabsorption
Deficiency Signs   Tiredness, sore lips and tongue, digestive and Symptoms:   problems, difficulty swallowing, scaly dermatitis, depression, hair loss.
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In an ideal world, we would understand the chemistry and the physiologic mechanisms causing epilepsy—how cells interact, fire, and misfire. Then we would design drugs that interact with the brain and prevent the misfiring, the seizures, without affecting the brain’s normal function. As we have previously indicated, we do not know how or why a seizure occurs. While we have many drugs that are effective in treating and preventing seizures, we do not know how they work.
Because epilepsy is a result of complex interactions in the brain, and since these interactions cannot be accurately simulated in a test tube or by a computer, animal experimentation has been necessary for us to understand epilepsy and learn how to control it. Most anticonvulsants were discovered by experimenting with substances to see if they would work in animals that had seizures caused by certain drugs. Such animal seizures, although not the same as epilepsy, have many similarities. Such research has been highly useful, and it must continue.
Although we do not know how the drugs work, we do know a lot about how they are absorbed and metabolized in the body and about their side effects. This knowledge enables us to use them properly, to calculate a dose, and to predict effects and side effects. This knowledge is called the pharmacology of the drugs; your physician will use this knowledge in treating your child and controlling her seizures.
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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a silent killer. It places tremendous stress on the arteries and overworks the heart with each beat. Hypertension may progress for years without symptoms, slowly chipping away at the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. And it eventually takes its toll – high blood pressure is the major underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes. Conventional treatment is sometimes worse than the disease, as patients with hypertension are often overmedicated with prescription drugs that have unpleasant side effects. Even if these drugs do lower blood pressure, they may significantly decrease quality of life and increase the risk of other health problems, while doing little to prevent cardiovascular complications.
Though many doctors still define hypertension as “causeless” or of “unknown origin,” don’t buy it. Extensive medical research makes it perfectly clear that unhealthy living is the primary cause of hypertension. And while it’s true that age, race, and genetic and environmental factors can put you at increased risk, your daily habits do far more to determine whether or not you will develop this condition. This is great news, for it means that preventing and reversing hypertension are within your control.
It is important for you to know that 90 to 95 percent of all hypertension cases can be treated. And an estimated 80 percent of patients with high blood pressure have what is classified as mild to moderate hypertension, which can often be managed through diet, nutritional supplementation, exercise, and stress management. By taking full responsibility for your health and making a few changes in the things you do every day, you can turn you health – and your life – around.
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Unfortunately, not even breast milk is immune from a toxic environment. Low doses of environmental toxins are fat-soluble and are stored in fatty tissue, such as breast tissue. Mother’s milk contains 3 percent fat. The chemicals stored in mother’s fat are not released in significant amounts except during breast-feeding. Breast-feeding lessens the mother’s body burden of toxic chemicals. A six month old breast-fed baby gets more than 10 percent of the cumulative body burden of chemicals up until the age of twenty and receives five times the allowable daily limit of PCBs set by international health standards for a 150 pound adult.7 A woman passes half of her lifetime accumulation of dioxins and PCBs onto her child when she nurses for just six months.
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