Always have a cold? Chronic Respiratory infections

Causes or triggers chronic respiratory infections can be divided into allergic and non-allergic etiologies. Aeroallergens can include seasonal pollen, mold spores, dust mites, animal allergens, and food (especially in children). Non-allergic causal factors can include smoke, odors, cold air and weather, chemicals, medications (eg, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs)], beta-blockers), exercise, hormonal changes (eg, pregnancy, menstrual cycle), and bisulfite food additives. Genetic differences may alter susceptibility to respiratory medications Significant genetic variation exists between and within racial and ethnic groups, but the issue is confounded by important coexisting economic, cultural, and environmental differences, including geography (place of birth). Breathing difficulties can seriously handicap our ability to function and enjoy life. Air is our most vital source of energy and vitality. When we suffer from, bronchitis, allergies, frequent colds or simply insufficient oxygen intake, we are prone to a lack of energy, vitality and /or mental clarity. Every cell within our body depends on an abundant supply of oxygen for proper metabolism and vitality. Some Causes of Breathing Problems 1. Hereditary weakness may make our lungs or other organs of respiratory apparatus weak points in our system. Thus when tired, overworked, anxious or stressed, these parts of the body will start to malfunction. This does not mean, however, that we must suffer. It is in our hands to live in a certain way so as nurture and protect our bodies and minds. Among such weaknesses we should include the inability of the immune system to effectively protect the body from microbes and viruses. In some cases the immune system may work overtime trying to protect the body from "imagined" dangers. Allergies and asthma are often the result of such over-reactions from the immune system. 2. Environmental factors may also aggravate the condition. Cold and humid weather tend to accentuate breathing problems. Pollen and other particles in the air may cause allergic reactions. Occupational conditions such as working in a dusty area or in a smoke filled room may also aggravate the problem. Pollution irritates our nasal passage and lungs. Smoking cigarettes obviously damages our lungs, cutting off our supply of oxygen. 3. An over production of mucus clogs up the breathing passages, obstructing breathing. Foods, which tend to cause excess mucus, are all dairy products, white flour, white rice and sweets. 4. A lack of sufficient liquid intake causes the mucus to thicken and cling to the lungs and other breathing passages. This creates a favorable environment for microbes to reproduce. 5. Blockages in the spinal vertebrae or tension in the muscles of the upper back may also obstruct the flow of nerve impulses and bioenergy to the lungs. This may inhibit the proper functioning of the lungs. 6. Emotional blockages are directly connected with our breathing. People, who experience anxiety, depression, fear, nervous tension or a poor self-image, tend to subconsciously hold their breath. Thus their breathing is tense, shallow, and sometimes spasmodic. Long-term emotional blockages may also affect the adrenal glands and thus hormonal disorders may also play their part in the problem. Negative emotions also depress or disturb the functioning of the immune system. 1. Environmental & Habitual Factors a. Surround yourself with large green leafed plants, which produce oxygen and absorb pollution. b. Get out of the city frequently. Go the sea or mountains and breathe fresh clean air. c. Use regular deep breathing to clean out and rejuvenate your lungs. d. Deep breathing while walking can clean out a considerable amount of pollution from the lungs. e. If you smoke, then - love yourself - and stop. 2. Dietary Guidelines a. Avoid all diary products, white sugar, sweets, white flour and white rice. When the problem has subsided, then we can start taking small quantities of dairy products while watching the body's reaction. b. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. c. Drink plenty (6 or 8 cups per day) of warm liquid daily. This may be water, herb teas, or water with lemon. Do not drink refrigerated or iced drinks. d. When one has a cold, an onion and garlic soup spiced with pepper, cinnamon ginger and cloves, opens up the nasal passages and allows the congestion to flow out. e. In some cases the use of natural vitamin C tablets can be helpful. 3. Facing emotional factors is essential for healing the cause of the breathing problems. Indoor air pollution can be much worse than air pollution outdoors. In Europe, most children spend 90% of their time indoors. More.. Indoor air quality may be affected by outdoor pollution, but also by indoor pollutants such as those produced by smoking and indoor heating and cooking and those released from building materials and cleaning products. It may be worsened by insufficient air exchange with the outside. More.. Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. The most important source of indoor pollutants is environmental tobacco smoke. Other factors which can contribute to indoor pollution are damp housing, the presence of pets, the use of fuels for cooking and heating, and chemicals released from building materials. There is clear evidence that air pollution is associated with troublesome respiratory symptoms in children, but it is less clear whether specific pollutants are directly responsible. Key air pollutants that can affect health are particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. This pollution is mainly linked to road traffic or industrial processes. More.. Air pollution, worsens respiratory symptoms .Exposure to molds can cause human disease through several well-defined mechanisms. In addition, many new mold-related illnesses have been hypothesized in recent years that remain largely or completely unproven. Concern about mold exposure and its effects are so common that all health care providers are frequently faced with issues regarding these real and asserted mold-related illnesses. Dust mite debris is the major source of allergens in house dust. These microscopic arthropods primarily feed on human skin scales. Mites typically infest objects that contain fabrics; for example, higher concentrations of mites are found in mattresses, pillows, bedding, carpets, throw rugs, stuffed animals, and upholstered furniture. Higher concentrations are usually found in older homes, in regions of high humidity, and in homes with heating units other than forced air. Cold, dry air at high altitudes is not conducive to dust mite growth. Both the mite bodies and fecal pellets are major sources of mite allergens, which become airborne when disturbed. Major Allergen Avoidance Strategies  Impermeable (woven) covers (pillows, mattresses)  Elimination of dust reservoir (carpets, upholstered furniture)  Weekly vacuuming  Weekly washing of bedding in hot water  Reducing indoor humidity Cat, dog  Pet removal  Pet washing  Impermeable covers  High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters An association between cockroach sensitization and more frequent episodes of asthma in patients in the emergency department has been described. Cockroach exposure in persons with asthma who reside in inner-city areas could account for the disproportionately high morbidity in this population, and the association of low socioeconomic status and cockroach allergy appears to be independent of age, sex, and race. Several studies have demonstrated that cockroach allergy is found not only in the inner city but also in any substandard housing conditions or where apartments are infested with cockroaches. Cockroach:  Pesticides  Thorough cleaning  Elimination of food and water supply

Fungi  Closing windows and doors  Repairing all leaks  Using air conditioning  Heating all rooms in the winter  Removal of contaminated source  Cleaning contaminated area with bleach solution

Emotional Lability in People with Multiple Sclerosis Scores Another Windfall for Big Pharma

MS is a nasty disease. There are over 50 symptoms associated with the MonSter. An often hidden little secret is the profound emotional toll that often accompanies the diagnosis. Most people newly diagnosed know very little about the disease. The past three years has yielded ample evidence that even the MS “experts” have been on the wrong track for decades. Fear of the unknown and the relapsing remitting nature of symptoms add significantly to emotional issues. Some emotional problems noted in people with MS are: • Major depressive episodes as well as less severe depressive symptoms • Grieving for losses related to the disease • Stress and reactions to stressful situations • Generalized distress and anxiety • Emotional lability or mood swings • Pseudobulbar Affect - uncontrollable laughing and/or crying • Inappropriate behavior such as sexual aggressiveness • Depression Approximately 10 percent of people with MS experience uncontrollable episodes of laughing and/or crying that are unpredictable and seem to have little or no relationship to actual events or the person's emotions. A person may sob uncontrollably without feeling sad, or laugh inappropriately in a situation that isn't funny. Damaged nerve endings in the emotional pathways of the brain are thought to be responsible. It is important for family members and caregivers to know this, and realize that people with MS may not always be able to control their emotions. Emotional lability causes rapid and unpredictable changes in emotions. Loved ones and friends report that the person is often irritable or angry. The stress of the disease often accompanied by some level of disability and changes in the brain itself makes emotional turmoil difficult for both the person with MS and their caregivers. All members of the family are likely to be affected by these mood swings. People with MS never know when and if another exacerbation will occur or how severely they may be affected in the future. They do not even know how they will feel in the afternoon or one day to the next. The loss of function and altered life circumstances cause distress and anxiety. Neurologists have a plethora of drugs to treat this condition. ”The treatment of these problems is complex. The person with MS may require some form of psychiatric medication, perhaps along with psychotherapy. Family members will probably need supportive counseling since these behaviors are often shocking and disruptive. In some cases, the affected individual may require supervision to prevent the manifestation of the behaviors in question.” (Our best buddies at the NMSS) Cognitive dysfunction caused by MS may result in poor judgment and even sexual disinhibition. The behavior is not deliberate or under the person’s control. It is not a sign of lack of control or poor moral character. Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) –( uncontrollable laughing and/or crying). If you have a lesion between your cortex and brainstem then the emotional expression can be entirely separated from the conscious awareness of it. Is commonly treated with amitriptyline, levodopa, desipramine, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine. Nuedexta was approved 2 years ago to treat PBA. It is a combination of 20 mg dextromethorphan and 10 mg quinidine, two existing, generic—or cheap—drugs, and costs from $3000-$5000 per year. The mark up is to cover the costs of clinical testing, marketing, and shareholder profits. A paper in the Annals of Neurology from 2007 shows that a number of medications, including SSRIs like citalopram, and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), are effective in managing the symptoms of PBA, so why the need for a new drug? Avanir manufactures this drug. It was approved for a neurological syndrome whose major manifestation is “affective instability”. The proper diagnosis of PBA requires far more than that, yet doctors are trying to prescribe it off-label for the affective lability seen in many other conditions (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, dementia, childhood irritability, blah, blah, blah. ..) Expect Avanir to try to get Nuedexta approved for all of these conditions. The trials which led to Nuedexta’s approval showed only slight improvement vs. placebo in patients with PBA due to multiple sclerosis and ALS. It was not compared to SSRIs or TCAs. Avanir’s investor materials already state that the company will seek approval for multiple sclerosis-related pain, and for behavioral symptoms in dementia. http://stevebmd.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/nuedexta-april2011.pdf

Once again the drug companies want to take advantage of our ignorance to make a few billion dollars for Phat Pharma.

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Can the Brain Repair Itself?

It is said that the brain cannot grow new cells and repair itself. This is only partially true. Those of us who have neuro-damaged areas in our brains from lesion activity and hypoxia worry that even if progression is halted, what is lost is gone forever. I decline to buy that line of reasoning anymore than I buy into the autoimmune theory of Multiple Sclerosis/CCSVI. The human body is a self-repairing mechanism, and conventional medicine has for a long time grossly underestimated the ability of the brain to repair itself. When cells in the brain are damaged and die, perhaps from a stroke or in our case, hypoxia and lesion damage brain tissue will undergo necrosis, and a rim of gliosis will form around the damaged area. Gliosis and loss of neurons occur in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Interestingly to us, it is also found in vasculitis, Parkinson's disease, ALS and Huntington's disease. The blood brain barrier (BBB) prevents certain materials in the blood from entering the brain. If there is any damage done to these protective cells, severe brain damage will result. Those who have been on therapy with disease modifying drugs for long periods of time are likely to have breeched the BBB. The greatest factor in functional recovery after brain injury comes from the brain's ability to learn, called Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to learn, or adapt to compensate for the areas of damage. Axons and the peripheral nervous system cannot regenerate in the adult brain. Rehabilitation usually requires professional therapy. The brain can often reorganize itself so that when one part fails, another can often substitute. Under the proper circumstances a person can heal, even from autism, strokes, learning disorders, hypoxia lesion damage and traumas. The most common cognitive effects of brain damage from lesion activity and hypoxia: 1. Problems with paying attention or focusing 2. Memory issues 3. Challenges with planning 4. Organization 5. Decision-making 6. Problem solving 7. Persistent low grade headache 8. Lightheadedness 9. Poor attention and concentration 10. Excessiveness or easy fatigue 11. Intolerance of bright light or difficulty focusing vision 12. Intolerance of loud noises 13. Ringing in the ears 14. Anxiety and depressed mood 15. Irritability and low frustration tolerance 16. Sleeping pattern issues 17. Confusion 18. Slower thinking Brain function is plastic, or reparable, when a sense like touch has been profoundly diminished. Plasticity is an important indicator that the brain is reorganizing to compensate for an injury or deficit. For a decade, neuroscientists have known that the brain can increase its plasticity, or adapt, in response to injury that limits bodily motion. Vision loss, hearing, taste, smell or touch are common side effects of traumatic brain injury hypoxia and stroke. The key word for PWMS/CCSVI is HYPOXIA. Diminished blood flow and reflux cause a significant loss of oxygen to the organ that needs it most. Forced use therapy is already applied in the clinic for patients with motor deficits. For example, a patient who suffers a brain injury is made to use a poorly performing arm with the expectation that the brain may be plastic enough to assist that arm in recovering motion. Plasticity is an important indicator that the brain is reorganizing to compensate for an injury or deficit. The portion of our brain that processes sensory information appear to be very adaptable. Fatty acid phosphatidylserine (PS) is essential for effective neurotransmission. PS deficiency is linked to mental impairment, including Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementia, depression and Multiple Sclerosis. PS supplements help to replace brain cell membranes, boosting nerve chemical activity such as dopamine and serotonin, stimulating nerve cell growth, generating new connections between cells, lowering levels of the stress hormone and stirring activity in all brain centers, especially higher brain centers such as the cortex, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Antioxidants, Vitamins A,E,B's will also help with brain clean and recovery. The brain needs the time during the night to process memories and experiences from the previous day. The brain may also be repairing another type of damage that occurs during the day, a more physical type of damage. A new study in mice has linked a lack of sleep with Alzheimer's disease. A protein called beta amyloid has been found to be present in plaques found in the brains of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers discovered that in mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease, that beta amyloid accumulates during the day and decrease during sleep at night. Sleep deprivation in these mice lead to an acceleration in the formation of beta amyloid plaques in their brain. While halting the progression of MS is a prime goal, gaining back what we though was lost is at least to some degree, quite possible.

Thanks to Shirley for reminding me about the Gilenya- PML connection. PML is an often fatal brain disease caused by Tysabri: a disease modifying drug to treat Multiple Sclerosis. Biogen's brain child was bad enough, then the Swiss company, Novartis felt the need to join the fiasco with a pill that will do the same thing. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/13/patient-on-novartis-multiple-sclerosis-drug-gets-rare-brain-disease/#ixzz1rxU1dZo7

WHAT'S IN A BRAIN?

We know what happens when lesions develop in the brain. Chronic hypoxia as in CCSVI causes damage also. If you know where you have lesions, you might want to know what those areas control. 1. Frontal lobe: is where we do our heavy thinking, and planning our actions. It is responsible for functions such as reasoning, problem solving, judgment and impulse control. It also manages our higher emotions such as empathy 2. Temporal cortex: where we process sounds and form memories 3. Occipital cortex: where we process all the things that we see 4. Parietal cortex: is where we integrate or makes sense of all of the different bits of information that are bombarding our brains. is involved in processing pain and touch sensation . It's also associated with cognition (including calculating location and speed of objects), movement, orientation, recognition and speech. 5. The Temporal Lobe : involved in auditory (sound) sensation, language recognition, emotion, memory and speech. 6. Medulla Oblongata: helps control the body's autonomic functions (things we don't need to think about to perform) like respiration, digestion and heart rate 7. Pons: manages our level of arousal or consciousness and sleep, relays sensory information to/from the brain, also involved in controlling autonomic body functions. 8. Cerebellum: regulates and coordinates movement, posture and balance. It also is involved in how we learn movement. 9. Amygdala: produces our emotions, especially fear. It triggers responses to strong emotion such as sweaty palms, freezing, increased heart-beat/respiration and stress hormone release. 10. Hippocampus: forms our memories, classifies information and long-term memory. It processes and stores new and temporary memory for long term storage. It's also involved in interpreting incoming nerve signals and spatial relationships. 11. Hypothalamus: linked closely with the pituitary gland to control many of the body's functions. It monitors and controls our circadian rhythms (daily sleep/wake cycle), homeostasis (making sure our body is running smoothly), appetite, thirst, other bodily urges and also plays a role in emotions, autonomic functions and motor functions.

12. Thalamus: relays sensory signals, auditory (sound), Visual, Somatosensory (from your skin and internal organs), all go through the Thalamus organ on their way to other parts of the brain for processing. It also plays a function in motor control.

Hughes Syndrome diagnosed by a simple blood test remains dangerously under-diagnosed

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune condition (APS or APLS ) or Hughes syndrome, also known as “Sticky blood” is commonly misdiagnosed as MS. The person's immune system produces antibodies which attack proteins and fats in the blood. Some people with Hughes develop a syndrome which is very similar to multiple sclerosis where they have numbness or pins and needles, double vision or loss of part of the field of vision, and have difficulty walking. One of the main alternative diagnoses in patients with Hughes syndrome is multiple sclerosis. People with it have an increased tendency to form clots in blood vessels; any blood vessel can be affected including the veins and the arteries. Deep Vein Thrombosis like “economy class syndrome” is obvious. It is common in people who sit for long periods of time in one position .Sitting in front of the computer or taking long flights are two good examples. Clots which occur in internal organs, the condition is more difficult to diagnose. It is possible to have the antibody (the sticky blood ‘tendency’) without any noticeable symptoms. Headaches or migraines sometimes start in teenagers .The headaches may disappear in the 20’s and return and start again 10 or 20 years later. This is a most important feature of Hughes Syndrome, and a symptom which sometimes improves dramatically when treatment is started. Flashing lights is common in these headaches. The brain is sensitive to "sticky blood" which can affect oxygen supply which causes balnce problems. Many patients feel giddy or slightly drunk. Memory loss or cog fog occurs with hypoxia (oxygen deprivation). It can feel like Alzheimer’s disease. The person may forget the names of family members, friends, appointments, etc. Speech can sound slurred. Blood thinning can dramatically resolve the cognitive problems of Hughes syndrome. In addition to the flashing lights and zigzag patterns which can accompany headaches and migraines, the person with Hughes Syndrome can experience double vision or sudden visual loss. This can be caused by the brain reacting to disturbances in its supply of blood or by the veins and arteries in the eye being affected. Poor circulation can make the skin cold to the touch and cause ulcers and “corned beef” looking discoloration.DVT’s can occur anywhere in the body at any time. Birth control pills can exacerbate the problem. Hughes Syndrome can lead to heart attacks and heart valve problems that can mimic bacterial endocarditis, and can create clots in the upper chambers of the heart. Up to 20% of young people (under 45) who have a heart attack have antiphospholipid antibodies. 1 in 5 “young” strokes under the age of 45 are associated with Hughes Syndrome. These are preventable with a simple blood test to confirm Hughes Syndrome. Hughes Syndrome can affect the blood supply to the intestines, causing abdominal pain, fever and blood in the stool. Antiphospholipid antibodies can also cause Budd-Chiari syndrome, in which a blood clot prevents blood from flowing out of the liver and the person may then experience nausea, vomiting, jaundice dark urine and the swelling of the abdomen. 1 in 5 miscarriages are caused by Hughes Syndrome. Late pregnancy loss is very strongly associated with Hughes Syndrome as is pre-eclampsia, placental abruption and intra-uterine growth restriction. The sad part is that it is preventable with low dose aspirin or heparin. The main symptoms of Hughes Syndrome can include any of the following: Multiple Sclerosis-like symptoms Headache or migraine Giddiness Memory loss Visual disturbance Skin disorders Thrombosis – DVTs Heart attack Stroke Pulmonary embolism Gastrointestinal disorders Pregnancy problems Fatigue Aches and pains low platelets counts raised blood pressure Dry eyes (Sjogrens’s Syndrome) shortness of breath pulmonary hypertension terrible cramps of the stomach that develop about an hour after eating Sticky Blood