Wednesday, March 20, 2013

What are some of the symptoms, treatment, and life expectancy for someone who suffers from a type of Dementia?

Q. What are some of the symptoms, treatment, and life expectancy for someone who suffers from some a type of Dementia?

A. Definition
Dementia is not a specific disorder or disease. It is a syndrome (group of symptoms) associated with a progressive loss of memory and other intellectual functions that is serious enough to interfere with performing the tasks of daily life. Dementia can occur to anyone at any age from an injury or from oxygen deprivation, although it is most commonly associated with aging. It is the leading cause of institutionalization of older adults.

Description
The definition of dementia has become more inclusive over the past several decades. Whereas earlier descriptions of dementia emphasized memory loss, the last three editions of the professional's diagnostic handbook, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(also known as the DSM) define dementia as an overall decline in intellectual function, including difficulties with language, simple calculations, planning and judgment, and motor (muscular movement) skills as well as loss of memory. Although dementia is not caused by aging itself- most researchers regard it as resulting from injuries, infections, braindiseases, tumors, or other disorders- it is quite common in older people. The prevalence of dementia increases rapidly with age; it doubles every five years after age 60. Dementia affects only 1% of people aged 60- 64 but 30%- 50% of those older than 85. About four to five million persons in the United States are affected by dementia as of 2002. Surveys indicate that dementia is the condition most feared by older adults in the United States.

Causes and symptoms
Causes
Dementia can be caused by nearly forty different diseases and conditions, ranging from dietary deficiencies and metabolic disorders to head injuries and inherited diseases. The possible causes of dementia can be categorized as follows:

Primary dementia. These dementias are characterized by damage to or wasting away of the brain tissue itself. They include Alzheimer's disease(AD), frontal lobe dementia (FLD), and Pick's disease. FLD is dementia caused by a disorder (usually genetic) that affects the front portion of the brain, and Pick's disease is a rare type of primary dementia that is characterized by a progressive loss of social skills, language, and memory, leading to personality changes and sometimes loss of moral judgment.
Multi-infarct dementia (MID). Sometimes called vascular dementia, this type is caused by blood clots in the small blood vessels of the brain. When the clots cut off the blood supply to the brain tissue, the brain cells are damaged and may die. (An infarct is an area of dead tissue caused by obstruction of the circulation.)
Lewy body dementia. Lewy bodies are areas of injury found on damaged nerve cells in certain parts of the brain. They are associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, but researchers do not yet know whether dementia with Lewy bodies is a distinct type of dementia or a variation of Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
Dementia related to alcoholism or exposure to heavy metals (arsenic, antimony, bismuth).
Dementia related to infectious diseases. These infections may be caused by viruses (HIV, viral encephalitis); spirochetes (Lyme disease, syphilis); or prions (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). Spirochetes are certain kinds of bacteria, and prions are protein particles that lack nucleic acid.
Dementia related to abnormalities in the structure of the brain. These may include a buildup of spinal fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus); tumors; or blood collecting beneath the membrane that covers the brain (subdural hematoma).
Dementia may also be associated with depression, low levels of thyroid hormone, or niacin or vitamin B 12deficiency. Dementia related to these conditions is often reversible.

Genetic factors in dementia
Genetic factors play a role in several types of dementia, but the importance of these factors in the development of the dementia varies considerably. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known, for example, to have an autosomal (non-sex-related) dominant pattern in most early-onset cases as well as in some late-onset cases, and to show different degrees of penetrance (frequency of expression) in late-life cases. Moreover, researchers have not yet discovered how the genes associated with dementia interact with other risk factors to produce or trigger the dementia. One non-genetic risk factor presently being investigated is toxic substances in the environment.

EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.In early-onset AD, which accounts for 2%- 7% of cases of AD, the symptoms develop before age 60. It is usually caused by an inherited genetic mutation. Early-onset AD is also associated with Down syndrome, in that persons with trisomy 21 (three forms of human chromosome 21 instead of a pair) often develop early-onset AD.

LATE-ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.Recent research indicates that late-onset Alzheimer's disease is a polygenic disorder; that is, its development is influenced by more than one gene. It has been known since 1993 that a specific form of a gene (the APOE gene) on human chromosome 19 is a genetic risk factor for late-onset AD. In 1998 researchers at the University of Pittsburgh reported on another gene that controls the production of bleomycin hydrolase (BH) as a second genetic risk factor that acts independently of the APOE gene. In December 2000, three separate research studies reported that a gene on chromosome 10 that may affect the processing of a protein (called amyloid-beta protein) is also involved in the development of late-onset AD. When this protein is not properly broken down, a starchy substance builds up in the brains of people with AD to form the plaques that are characteristic of the disease.

MULTI-INFARCT DEMENTIA (MID).While the chief risk factors for MID are high blood pressure, advanced age, and male sex, there is an inherited form of MID called CADASIL, which stands for cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy. CADASIL can cause psychiatric disturbances and severe headaches as well as dementia.

FRONTAL LOBE DEMENTIAS.Researchers think that between 25% and 50% of cases of frontal lobe dementia involve genetic factors. Pick's dementia appears to have a much smaller genetic component than FLD. It is not yet known what other risk factors combine with inherited traits to influence the development of frontal lobe dementias.
Treatments
Reversible and responsive dementias
Some types of dementia are reversible, and a few types respond to specific treatments related to their causes. Dementia related to dietary deficiencies or metabolic disorders is treated with the appropriate vitamins or thyroid medication. Dementia related to HIV infection often responds well to zidovudine (Retrovir), a drug given to prevent the AIDS virus from replicating. Multi-infarct dementia is usually treated by controlling the patient's blood pressure and/or diabetes; while treatments for these disorders cannot undo damage already caused to brain tissue, they can slow the progress of the dementia. Patients with alcohol-related dementia often improve over the long term if they are able to stop drinking. Dementias related to head injuries, hydrocephalus, and tumors are treated by surgery.

It is important to evaluate and treat elderly patients for depression, because the symptoms of depression in older people often mimic dementia. This condition is sometimes called pseudodementia. In addition, patients who suffer from both depression and dementia often show some improvement in intellectual functioning when the depression is treated. The medications most often used for depression related to dementia are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) paroxetineand sertraline. The mental status examination should be repeated after six- 12 weeks of antidepressant medication.

Irreversible dementias
As of 2001, there are no medications or surgical techniques that can cure Alzheimer's disease, the frontal lobe dementias, MID, or dementia with Lewy bodies. There are also no "magic bullets" that can slow or stop the progression of these dementias. There is, however, one medication, Aricept, that is being used to halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, another medication called galantamine(Reminyl) is also being used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Patients may be given medications to ease the depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other behavioral symptoms that accompany dementia, but most physicians prescribe relatively mild dosages in order to minimize the troublesome side effects of these drugs. Dementia with Lewy bodies appears to respond better to treatment with the newer antipsychotic medications than to treatment with such older drugs as haloperidol(Haldol).

Patients in the early stages of dementia can often remain at home with some help from family members or other caregivers, especially if the house or apartment can be fitted with safety features (handrails, good lighting, locks for cabinets containing potentially dangerous products, nonslip treads on stairs, etc.). Patients in the later stages of dementia, however, usually require skilled care in a nursing home or hospital.

Prognosis
The prognosis for reversible dementia related to nutritional or thyroid problems is usually good once the cause has been identified and treated. The prognoses for dementias related to alcoholism or HIV infection depend on the patient's age and the severity of the underlying disorder.


The prognosis for the irreversible dementias is gradual deterioration of the patient's functioning ending in death. The length of time varies somewhat. Patients with Alzheimer's disease may live from two- 20 years with the disease, with an average of seven years. Patients with frontal lobe dementia or Pick's disease live on average between five and 10 years after diagnosis. The course of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is much more rapid, with patients living between five and 12 months after diagnosis.

Prevention
The reversible dementias related to thyroid and nutritional disorders can be prevented in many cases by regular physical checkups and proper attention to diet. Dementias related to toxic substances in the workplace may be prevented by careful monitoring of the work environment and by substituting less hazardous materials or substances in manufacturing processes. Dementias caused by infectious diseases are theoretically preventable by avoiding exposure to the prion, spirochete, or other disease agent. Multi-infarct dementia may be preventable in some patients by attention to diet and monitoring of blood pressure. Dementias caused by abnormalities in the structure of the brain are not preventable as of 2002.

With regard to genetic factors, tests are now available for the APOE gene implicated in late-onset Alzheimer's, but these tests are used primarily in research instead of clinical practice. One reason is that the test results are not conclusive; about 20% of people who eventually develop AD do not carry this gene. Another important reason is the ethical implications of testing for a disease that presently has no cure. These considerations may change, however, if researchers discover better treatments for primary dementia, more effective preventive methods, or more reliable genetic markers.


What is a good over the counter treatment for psoriasis?
Q. I won't be able to see my dermatologist until January, and my psoriasis is spreading. My cream has run out. I'm using T-Gel shampoo for my scalp. I don't have anything for the psoriasis on my skin though. What is a good over the counter treatment that can keep it under control until January?
I've had psoriasis for a couple of years.
I used a topical medication from my dermatologist, but that ran out and she said she has to see me before I get another one prescribed.

A. HI Sylvie

Here are some ideas on how to heal the issue.

Cause
Psoriasis is metabolic in nature and can be triggered by environmental or stressful conditions, poor diet, flu-like conditions, the administration of penicillin, and nutritional deficiencies. Patients with psoriasis are also a higher risk of rheumatoid diseases.

Psoriasis can be caused by food allergies, essential fatty acid deficiencies, low digestive enzyme and hydrochloric acid levels, vitamin B complex deficiencies, emotional stress, illness, drugs (such as beta-blockers, lithium, and chloroquine), poison ivy or oak, skin damage, and several infections, bacterial or viral in origin.


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Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: The following essential oils are recommended: bergamot (to help heal skin plaques), lavender (to reduce excessive itching), melissa (for irritated skin), jasmine (for dry sensitive skin), geranium (for dry irritating skin), and sandalwood mysore (for dehydrated, inflamed, and sensitive skin).

Diet: Screen for and eliminate all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Eat a varied diet of organic, whole foods, rotating foods as much as possible. Eliminate wheat and wheat products for 1-3 months. Consume seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and each day, on a rotating basis, take one tablespoon of olive or flaxseed oil, and be sure to drink plenty of pure, filtered water. Organic beef, venison, poultry, garlic, onions, parsley, organic plain yogurt, and sauerkraut are also recommended.

Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy Cream® applied topically can soothe symptoms.

Herbs: Combine equal parts of burdock, sarsaparilla, and cleavers tinctures and take one teaspoon three times a day. Silymarin (milk thistle) is also helpful for psoriasis due to its positive effects on liver function.

Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic remedies include Psorinum, Sulfur, Graphites, Cuprum met., and Arsen alb.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.
*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.

Juice Therapy: The following juice combinations can be helpful: apple and carrot; beet, cucumber, and grape; and beet, carrot, burdock, yellowdock and garlic.

Lifestyle: Mild cases of psoriasis may be helped by daily exposure to sunlight. Frequent exercise is also recommended.

Nutritional Supplementation: The following nutrients can be helpful: evening primrose oil, omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin B Complex, vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, folic acid, lecithin, zinc, and a multimineral supplement. Taking hydrochloric acid (HCL) with each meal can also be of use.

In Europe fumaric acid treatment in the form of fumaric acid tablets, ointment, lotion, and scalp lotions is widely used to reverse symptoms of psoriasis

Topical Treatment: Apply seawater to the affected skin several times daily. Linseed or avocado oil, aloe vera gel, and/or capsaicin cream applied topically can reduce the scaling, thickness, redness, and itching.

Best of health to you


How does vitamin B12 help lower my heart rate?
Q. Does it lower homocysteine levels in my blood? I used to have tachycardia. Now since the doctor tested my blood, it was determined that i was low in vitamin b12. So ive been taking vitamin b12 for sometime now, and I don't experience increased heart rate anymore. I feel better.

A. Folic acid (folate) and B12 vitamin help break down homocysteine, an amino acid in your blood.

V B 12 deficiency lead to anemia and anemia lead to tachycardia(increase of heart rate).

So, with usage of V B12 and treatment anemia, heart rate come down, under these circumstance vitamin B12 can decreases a fast heart rate.


What treatments, drugs, or vitamins would you suggest to someone who has iron-deficiency anemia?
Q. What treatments, drugs, or vitamins would you suggest to someone who has iron-deficiency anemia? What would you suggest to someone who has pernicious anemia?

A. I have iron-deficient anemia and the nurse told me to stop drinking so much tea (b/c tea blocks iron absorbtion), eat more greens, fish, eggs, take vitamin B12 or iron.

not sure about the other.





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Can deficiency of vitamin B cause symptoms similar to angina?

Q. Can deficiency of vitamin B cause symptoms similar to angina?
e.g tingling like feeling at the left arm.

A. Yea long term deficiency of vit B1(thiamine) leads to a condition called "wet beri- beri", which in turn is characterized by symptoms similar to angina( breathlesnes, palpitations).


Will all these vitamins for my acne and such be good for me?
Q. I am taking green tea extract 500 mg twice a day and drinking 4 cups of green tea a day to help acne. I also take 3 ALA supplements a day too. will I be okay if I add 2 50mg zinc supplements and vitamin e also? I'm hoping that this will stop breakouts and clear it up.

A. It's so good that you're willing to take supplements to treat your acne instead of going from product to product. I mean your not deficient in Clearasil or Proactive are you? I don't know about the supps your taking now for acne, but I know vitamin A could help your skin A LOT. Zinc also helps the skin and has shown to in many studies but this is because it is involved in vitamin A utilization, retention and metabolism. So taking the two is a good idea just in case you're deficient in one or the other, or both!

"Zinc and vitamin A interact in several ways. Zinc is a component of retinol-binding protein, a protein necessary for transporting vitamin A in the blood. Zinc is also required for the enzyme that converts retinol (vitamin A) to retinal. This latter form of vitamin A is necessary for the synthesis of rhodopsin, a protein in the eye that absorbs light and thus is involved in dark adaptation. Zinc deficiency is associated with decreased release of vitamin A from the liver, which may contribute to symptoms of night blindness that are seen with zinc deficiency (14, 15).

Taking large quantities of zinc (50 mg/day or more) over a period of weeks can interfere with copper bioavailability. High intake of zinc induces the intestinal synthesis of a copper-binding protein called metallothionein. Metallothionein traps copper within intestinal cells and prevents its systemic absorption (see Copper). More typical intakes of zinc do not affect copper absorption and high copper intakes do not affect zinc absorption."

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/

Taking zinc in a multimineral formula would be better than taking it alone because of the above situation. Also you want to be taking the right vitamin A. Only vitamin a from fish oil is as RETINOL and this is the natural vitamin A that only causes toxicity at VERY HIGH doses compared with the synthetic versions that are toxic even in smaller amounts. All vitamin A in multivitamin preparations are SYNTHETIC. According to the study below, doses between 300,000 and 500,000 IU are only effective for acne but also caused a little overdose which only caused dry skin and chapped lips. I would suggest possibly 100,000 IU each day for a few months and look out for hypervitaminosis A (too much vitamin A). But please do your research. Also vitamin C reduces the toxicity and vitamin D should also be taken with vitamin A and is usually found together in fish oil caps. Vitamin E is very important also because it also extends the life of vitamin A in the body. Without enough vitamin E, vitamin A is destroyed by oxygen. See it's complicated every nutrient interacts with another so it's always best to get a bit of everything.

It's very important to get your vitamin D levels checked BEFORE you take supps of it. Hope this helps.

Oh one more thing, you will only absorb vitamins A, D and E if you take them with some sort of fat (butter, crieeam, cheese, oilive oil) otherwise you're just wasting your money. When you eat fat, bile is released which is ESSENTIAL for absorbing these nutrients. If there's no fat they are not absorbed and you will think they aren't working. Good luck


What vitamin's will help my skin look more alive and add some colour?
Q. My face skin is dull, and white. I do weight's everyday, and I'm going to start running and drinking more water. I use a scrub, and benzoyl peroxide for acne, but my face always looks dull and white, especially in pictures, but it never use to.

Can someone recommend a vitamin to help?

A. Your skin reflects not only the effect of your environment but also what s going on inside of your body. Well balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants is essential for radiant skin that look good and feels good.

VITAMINS
Vitamins C, E, A, K, and B complex can all help improve skin health.

Vitamin C can prevent the consequences of prolonged sun exposure. Vitamin E has been noted to reduce photo damage, wrinkles and improve skin texture. Both help to reduce damage caused by free radicals, a harmful side effects of sun exposure, smoking and such. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy greens. Vitamin E is in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, and asparagus; however most people take supplements as the amount they're getting from they diet is not suffcient.

Vitamin A plays major role in the maintenance and repair of skin tissue. Without it your skin can feel dry and flaky. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamin A.

The single most important B vitamin is biotin, a nutrient that forms the basis of skin, nail, and hair cells. Without adequate amounts, you may end up with dermatitis (an itchy, scaly skin reaction) or sometimes even hair loss.

MINERALS
Selenium plays a major role in skin cancer prevention.

Copper tgether with vitamin C and the mineral zinc helps to develop elastin which supports skin structure.

Zinc is especially important if you have acne. In fact, sometimes acne itself is a symptom of a zinc deficiency.


What type of vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to depression?***?
Q. I've had mild depression for a long long long time...(maybe 10 years). I'm just wondering if perhaps certain deficiencies lead to depression and if there is a way I can be tested for deficiencies. For example, I know a lack of vitamin B can have effect on mood. How do they test vitamin b levels?
And what about hormonal imbalances? Can that lead to depression as well?

A. Deficiencies in the following vitamins and minerals can lead to chemical imbalances in the brain that can cause symptoms of depression -

- B Vitamins (e.g. B1, B6, B12, B9)
- Vitamin D
- Selenium

Clinical research shows that a diet and lifestyle contributing to low levels of these vitamins and minerals may contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Unfortunately, many adults do not receive the optimal amount of these vital nutrients.

Hormonal imbalances can also lead to signs and symptoms of depression as well. According to allaboutdepression.com, "The hypothalamus also controls the function of the pituitary gland which in turn regulates key hormones. Other structures within the limbic system that are associated with emotional reaction are the amygdala and hippocampus. The activities of the limbic are so important and complex that disturbances in any part of it, including how neurotransmitters function, could affect your mood and behavior."





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Do you or anyone have experiences with an Asperger boyfriend?

Q. I'd like to know what the positive things are that i should aim at. i have it myself and its damn difficult to understand people, let alone women and girls. they are a complete mystery! you can learn about the male behavior through books and expereince, but not about women they are too complicated! So could anybody share experiences if they have any about this subject?

A. See http://myweb.usf.edu/~begeiger/as-symptoms.html & http://www.aspergers.com & http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/support.html & http://www.aspergerssociety.org/index20cause.htm?gclid=CPCNguvVtJ0CFZMwpAodVX4mkQ & http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/links.html There are courses, where Aspies are taught the interpretation of social cues, and behaviour appropriate to certain circumstances. Google: "asperger's syndrome; training courses (your location)" There are also books on social skills; Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and Social-Communications Problems by Jed Baker, & "People Skills," written by Robert Bolton, Ph.D. The book help will help with communication in all areas. It helps when you have anxiety in "people" situations. Others are: Asperger's From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome by Michael John Carley and Ed.D., Peter F. Gerhardt, & The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood, & The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Completely Revised and Updated: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration by Patricia Romanowski, & Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's, & The ABCs of Life : Lesson One: The Skills We All Need but Were Never Taught, by Jon Oliver and Michael Ryan, & The Social Work Skills Workbook by Barry Cournoyer, & Conversationally Speaking : Tested New Ways to Increase Your Personal and Social Effectiveness by Alan Garner.

Ask at your bookstore, or go to www.amazon.com If you have difficulty looking people in the eye, try focusing on the bridge of their nose, for 2 - 3 seconds only (or you may be thought to be staring, or, at the very least, rude) then look away for 5 - 10 seconds, then repeat. Hypnosis is merely a heightened state of suggestibility, in which you are better able to communicate with your subconscious mind. 85% of people are suggestible, to some degree, so you could either preferably seek professional hypnotherapy. If not an option, hypnosisdownloads.com has ones on: making eye contact & conversation starter, and: overcome shyness and social anxiety & meeting people, etc. Because of their borderline obsessive interests, and lack of social skills, many Aspies stay indoors a great deal, and don't get sufficient daily exposure to sunlight to produce adequate levels of vitamin D3.

A deficiency in this very important vitamin can lead to depression, as can the social exclusion, and sometimes even bullying (see http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/1.html and page B) that they experience. Take at least 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or its FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it! In the winter months, if not getting sufficient daily exposure to strong light, see www.mercola.com SEARCHBAR: enter: "vitamin D3".

Go to a doctor and ask for a 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, blood test. When you get the results, don�t follow the typical �normal� reference range, as these are too low. The OPTIMAL value that you�re looking for is 45-52 ng/ml (115-128 nmol/l)". The company which tests your levels has to be one of those using the correct form of test, and this topic is addressed via the searchbar at Mercola.com - "vitamin D3; testing". See http://drbenkim.com/vitamin-d-facts.htm & http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx


Have you been diagnosed with drug induced Lupus ?
Q. !0 years ago began having problem with elevated blood pressure. Was treated with the usually prescribed meds. Within the past ten years I have had a variety of unusual and often preplexing symptoms that the doctors couldn't find good answers for. Lots of guesses and lots of unsuccessful treatments and increased frustration and misery until recently. The diagnosis is drug induced Lupus and it is believed to be caused by my blood pressure meds. Bingo. The symptoms have developed over the same period I've been on the meds. My question is: Any known effective alternatives for Blood Pressure Control? Anyone else with Lupus have bizarre skin and hair folllicle issues? Any one know a reputable doctor in Kansas City Missouri to advise on alternative treatments? Any one know of a web site to purchase alternative B/P treatments that you or someone you know have had personal experience with? Are there suggestions for a great support website for Lupus?

A. Hi WIngsOfGrace

Here are some ideas to heal the issue. Also learning about detoxifying the blood by doing colon and liver cleanses will change your health forever.

Cause
Food allergies (there is a 100 percent correlation between lupus and food allergies), rheumatoid arthritis, other connective tissue diseases, parasites, candidiasis, bowel problems, and digestive enzyme deficiencies can create symptoms that mimic or exacerbate SLE. Migraines, epilepsy, and psychoses must also be ruled out before a proper course of treatment can be decided upon.

Both forms of lupus primarily strike young women (90% of cases) and young children.

The drugs hydralazine, procainamide, and beta blockers can cause false-positive readings of SLE, and can also produce a lupus-like condition that disappears when the drugs are no longer taken. Birth control pills and environmental stresses can also exacerbate lupus symptoms.


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Natural Cures

Diet: Eat an organic, whole foods diet. Also avoid overeating and limit your intake of dairy, beef products, and polyunsaturated oils. Also screen for food allergies and avoid all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Increase your intake of vegetables, especially green, yellow, and orange, and consume non-farm-raised fish several times a week.

Herbs: Supplementation with Swedish bitters with each meal can increase hydrochloric acid production. Also drink an infusion of nettle twice a day. Other useful herbs include echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, pau d`arco, and red clover

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment.

Hyperthermia: Hyperthermia involves artificially creating fever in the body for the purpose of boosting immune function. Hyperthermia can be a highly effective method of eliminating toxins and heavy metals, as well as infectious bacteria and viruses that cannot survive in elevated body temperatures.

*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy or hyperthermia treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.

Juice Therapy: Drink the juice of carrot, celery, flaxseed oil, black currant oil, and garlic.

Nutritional Supplementation: Hydrochloric acid (HCL) deficiency is common in people with lupus, therefore HCL supplements with each meal is advised. Other useful nutrients include vitamin A with beta carotene, vitamin C and bioflavonoids, vitamin B complex, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, essential fatty acids, proteolytic enzymes taken away from meals, digestive enzymes taken with meals, and the amino acids L-cysteine, L-methionine, and L-cystine.

Topical Treatment: PABA cream applied topically can help ease symptoms.

Best of health to you


help! How can i find relief for fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis?
Q. I am a 23 yr. old female and have been living with fibromyalgia and rheum. arthritis for about 2 1/2 years. It all happened after the birth of my daughter. These conditions affect my every day life so negatively that i have trouble performing the easiest tasks. I'm on multiple medicines for these conditions, but nothing eases my pain. I'm on pain relievers as well, but the barely even take the edge off. anyone else dealing with this? What should i do? pain management doc?

A. I managed my chronic pain from fibromyalgia with guaifenesin for 10 years til I learned about vitamin D3. Guaifenesin is no "cure" but it does manage the pain. My theory is that the lymph fluids thicken & pool. They pool around nerves and create pressure on the nerves. Do you wake up with muscle pain that "drains away" in a few hours if you sit up but the longer you stay in bed the more pain?

Three months ago, I started high levels of vitamin D3 for 3 weeks & became pain free. I knocked the dose down to 2000iu's a day & a week later the pain is back. After restarting high levels, the pain is managed again. I am very hopeful that this may help improve my health.

I personally did 30,000iu per day for a couple of months trying to refill my stores. It is highly recommended that you have your vit.D levels tested but my research shows toxicity only at outrageous, long term levels.

Vitamin D3 deficiency is becoming an epidemic. U.S. RDA are much too low & the prescription vitamin D supplements are the wrong type (ergocalciferol ). Luckily you can buy vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and the upper limits are extremely high. Current recommendations are for 35iu per pound - a 150# person needs minimum of 5250iu per day & the rda is 400iu. This amount is for minimal needs and does not account for depleted stores. March is when our stores are at their lowest. Low Vitamin D levels greatly increases your risk of cancer, diabetes, MS & heart attack.

My current research is leading me to believe that fibromyalgia may actually be a thyroid problem & possibly insufficient iodine (which causes iodine problems) Iodine like guaifenesin thins the mucous membranes. Iodine unlike guaifenesin is a needed nutrient. Testing is showing that 95% of people are iodine deficient.

My thyroid lab tests have always shown as "normal" but I have obvious symptoms of thyroid dysfunction (basal temp of 95F among many others) The basal temperature test is (in my mind) a more accurate testing of thyroid function.

The Barnes Basal temperature test is a simple, do it yourself test, that you can do at home. It is accurate and requires nothing more than an oral thermometer. Here�s what you do. At bedtime shake down a mercury thermometer to 94F and place on the nightstand, within easy reach. DO NOT USE a DIGITAL thermometer for taking the axillary temperature because they are not as accurate. When you wake up in the morning, make sure you stay in bed quietly and take the thermometer and place it securely under your arm in your armpit. Hold it in place for ten minutes and then write down what the thermometer reads. During the ten minutes you�re waiting, take your pulse for one full minute and record what this result is also.

Do this exact procedure each morning for several weeks. Make sure you do not get up to go to the bathroom or anything else. It must be done before you have any activity. You must be in bed for a minimum of two hours before reading your temperature and the reading will not be accurate if you move around or get up. Do not use an electric blanket or other electrical devices in your bed. Do not sleep on a waterbed to perform this test. A waterbed will elevate your temperature artificially. It has also been found that a woman�s body temperature varies with the different phases of her menstrual cycle. The second and third days of your menstrual cycle are when the most accurate/reliable temperature can be found. Therefore, it is recommended that you make note on your records with red pen on the days you were menstruating and make sure you perform your test during this week.

If you�re basal temperature consistently runs below 97.8 or your pulse runs below 65 you may benefit from a trial period of thyroid medication

From what I've read, people I've talked with natural thyroid hormones are more effective than synthetic.


What are health problems or symptoms that could cause a person with osteoporosis to seek medical care?
Q.

A. There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
Symptoms occurring late in the disease include:--
* Bone pain or tenderness
* Fractures with little or no trauma
* Loss of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
* Low back pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
* Neck pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
* Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a "dowager's hump"
Osteoporotic bone fractures are responsible for considerable pain, decreased quality of life, lost workdays, and disability. Up to 30% of patients suffering a hip fracture will require long-term nursing-home care. Elderly patients can develop pneumonia and blood clots in the leg veins that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) due to prolonged bed rest after the hip fracture. Osteoporosis has even been linked with an increased risk of death. Some 20% of women with a hip fracture will die in the subsequent year as an indirect result of the fracture. In addition, once a person has experienced a spine fracture due to osteoporosis, he or she is at very high risk of suffering another such fracture in the near future (next few years). About 20% of postmenopausal women who experience a vertebral fracture will suffer a new vertebral fracture of bone in the following year.

Osteopenia: Differentiating Osteoporosis and Osteomalacia
Osteopenia is decreased bone mass. Two metabolic bone diseases decrease bone mass: osteoporosis and osteomalacia. In osteoporosis, bone mass decreases, but the ratio of bone mineral to bone matrix is normal. In osteomalacia, the ratio of bone mineral to bone matrix is low.
Osteoporosis results from a combination of low peak bone mass, increased bone resorption, and impaired bone formation. Osteomalacia is due to impaired mineralization, usually because of severe vitamin D deficiency or abnormal vitamin D metabolism (see Vitamin Deficiency, Dependency, and Toxicity: Vitamin D). Osteoporosis is much more common than osteomalacia in the US. The 2 disorders may coexist, and their clinical expression is similar; moreover, mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency can occur in osteoporosis.





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What is the difference between methylmalonic acid and methionine?

Q. The question is about Vitamin B12 deficiency

A. Methionine is an essential amino acids present in humans. Methylmalonic acid is a is a dicarboxylic acid.

The coenzyme A linked form of methylmalonic acid, methylmalonyl-CoA, is converted into succinyl-CoA by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, in a reaction that requires vitamin B12 as a cofactor. In this way, it enters the Krebs cycle, and is thus part of one of the anaplerotic reactions.


If vegans ate meat would they have to take B12 supplements?
Q. Vitamin B12 is found in meat. If vegans ate meat they wouldn't have to take B12 supplements, would they? That proves being vegan is wrong and not natural. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among vegans.
Pet, don't lie. You know that vitamin B12 deficiency is common among vegans.

A. For the most part you are correct. But having a vitamin B 12 deficiency is not just overcome by eating meat one or twice. The B 12 does not stay in the system because it is depleted by so many different things. Everything from smoking, drinking to taking drugs the doctor provides depletes you B 12.


Are food companies required to provide vitamin content on packaging?
Q. I have a Vitamin B12 deficiency and read that Clams have a very high B12 content, however, the package of clams I got from the grocery store did not list B12 among its nutritional content. Does this mean that there isn't any B12 or did they just not list it?

A. A lot of packaged and processed foods are depleted of thier natural vitamins and nutrients.
I saw cheese once with zero protein percent! zero....

that was insane to me.

Most foods do not have to put every detail in them or are not reviewed by the fda.

B12 you can get from cow meat, if you are a vegetarian you can take a B complex supplement in pill form. or b-12 pills. I even need extra b vitamins even though I eat lots of food because I ama bodybuilder.

So to answer you sadly no not requiered, some even lie whats in there and more sodium and preservatives than mentioned.

I bought herring once in a plastic pack and it was so discustingly salty I had to spit it out.

take your multivitamin with food and a b 12 vitamin alone.
hope this helps.

all you can do is find a fresh source of clams at a market and see if it gives you more enrey but you can't live on clams.


Is it safe to take vitamin B12, super B-complex, and a multi vitamin?
Q. I've always had a vitamin B12 deficiency, so I've been taking 2500mgc daily.
Recently I have changed to being a vegetarian and need more B vitamins, so I wanna take a super b-complex vitamin, as well as a multi vitamin to provide calcium.

Is it okay to take too much b-vitamins? Since all 3 vitamins have b vitamins?

A. NO!!!!! Being a gullible sucker & wasting money on scams is NEVER "safe".





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How do I know if have a vitamin D deficiency?

Q. I eat healthy, but I'm lactose intolerant and can't drink milk or eat most dairy products. Also, I don't spend much time in the sun because my skin is extremely pale and I burn almost instantly. Do I need to take a vitamin D supplement? I'm sure that I don't get enough vitamin D, although I don't have symptoms right now.

A. Your doctor can run tests for vitamin D as well. When getting a supplement, do get a good quality one and look for a D3 gelcap or pill instead of a D2 formulation. There are brands out there that list D3 in the ingredients list. Good luck.


How do I know if have a vitamin D deficiency?
Q. I eat healthy, but I'm lactose intolerant and can't drink milk or eat most dairy products. Also, I don't spend much time in the sun because my skin is extremely pale and I burn almost instantly. Do I need to take a vitamin D supplement? I'm sure that I don't get enough vitamin D, although I don't have symptoms right now.

A. The only way to know for sure is to do a blood test to check for the levels of vitamin D.It's very important to get vitamin D and the best way to get is to spend at least 15 min daily in the sun.Lots of people are vitamin D deficiant because they don't go outside enough.


What can go wrong with a diet of a 400 cal a day?
Q. I'm trying to hit ketosis. I take a multivitamin daily and a weekly prescription for a Vitamin D deficiency. I know it puts me in starvation mode, but my diet is fulled of nutrients and I'm going to stick with it. But what are symptoms of I guess a Obese Anorexic ? or my diet gone wrong? Is it really bad for an obese person to starve themselves? Because can't they live of the extra fat?

Thanks

A. I'll share my experience with Vitamin d. I was feeling extremely run down, tired, no energy, depression etc and I had always been a get up and go type person with loads of energy and never depressed. My blood test showed my vitamin D level was almost non existant so I started on Vitamin D3. I took five 1,000 IU pills a day for the first 10 days then I took three pills a day for the next 2 months and now I take 1-2 pills every day. With in the first 4-5 days I felt alot better it felt as though the fog had lifted and I could see clearer. Over the next few months I am back to my old self I feel younger again with more energy and enthusiasum for life. I think my Vitamin D levels had gone down over a few years and I was putting my lack of energy and haziness down to getting older but when I began to feel really run down I went to my doctor for some answers. I had every blood test known to man and the only thing that came back as odd or low was the Vit D. Its amazing what the lack of this one vitamin can do to your life. I also now go outside alot more like I did when I was younger and get the original source of Vitamin D from the sun as much as possible. Side effects: absolutely no side effect, except I now feel one million times better. Highly recommended this vitamin. I purchase Vitamin d through reputable http://www.gofmanpharmacy.com/ they've been very reliable so far. Check this FDA link about Vitamin d http://google2.fda.gov/search?client=FDAgov&site=FDAgov-Recalls-Safety|FDAgov-Consumers|FDAgov-WarningLetters-ICECI|FDAgov-ImportAlerts-Industry|FDAgov-MedWatch-Safety|FDAgov-Section-Drugs&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=FDAgov&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&as_q=vitamin+d&num=20&btnG=Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&restrictBox=FDAgov-Recalls-Safety&restrictBox=FDAgov-Consumers&restrictBox=Medwatch&restrictBox=FDAgov-WarningLetters-ICECI&restrictBox=FDAgov-ImportAlerts-Industry&restrictBox=FDAgov-Section-Drugs&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&sort=date
Hope i helped.


Muscle spasms,twitching,pain and aches after suffering from vitamin D deficiency?
Q. Its been 5 months that i have started the supplements but still get all the above symptoms...With excessive fatigue,
Is it just related to my Vitamin D,Is it fibro or is it anxiety..
How do i differentiate between anxiety and fibro
Thanks in advance

A. You better get your doctor to answer this . Fibro is a multitude of deficiencies and sickness combined .





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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

in what stage of kidney cancer can you physically feel it?

Q. just wondering, at what point in the kidney cancer can the person actually feel a lump or be in pain?
which stage/how bad?

A. I had a 10.5cm tumor as part of a 15cm mass that had no overt symptoms ie. I could take off my shirt and the RN/Physician could not feel it. There is no blood test that will detect it. Also I had no pain or
blood in my urine. I had some mild fatigue but was very active and worked two jobs. I was being treated for a vitamin D deficiency and I had a very slight increase in my calcium level. My physician was testing me for a possible thyroid problem, and the results of that testing came back normal. A CT scan was done - and that's when the whopper tumor was discovered. It was technically a stage 3,
but within 4mos of my nephrechtomy it had metestazed to my bones, and a few months ago I had to have my right humerus<upper right arm bone>removed and replaced with a plate and cement...
My worst systemic pain was when it had spread to my arm ie. it ate up over half my arm bone and cause microfractures to the bone, and my arm bone was on the verge of snapping. I reacted to the anesthesia then too - and lost 50lbs. in body weight. Sometimes a person will not even discover they have kidney cancer until such an advanced state.


About 3% of all new cancers reported in the USA and the UK are Kidney cancers, so it's somewhat rare. Twice as many men contract it as women. About 1/2 of Kidney cancers involve a defect of the VHL gene. Obesity and Smoking are risk factors<I am not obiese and had quit smoking cigarettes about 5 years before discovering it - and I do have distant ancestors born with Kidney defects> It tends to not respond to traditional chemotherapy, but does respond to immunotherapy drugs like interferon. In early stages it is rather easily curable via surgery, which is what is so frustrating. Finding it an early stage cures it, but it's often tough to find.

Some people have symptoms at an early cureable stage, but quite a few of us don't have any symptoms...so if there's a history in your family and/or you're just concerned, I'd get a CT scan.
I'm now considered terminal, but if I had not been scanned I would have likely died several months ago. I'm still a fighter, and I'm active, and I haven't given up hope. . I would like to see this cancer defeated - and the key is simply early detection and better ways to detect it.


Is taking a bath every night before going to sleep can cause Anemic?
Q. some one told me, so i get conscious cause I take a bath every night. I just want to confirm if what he said is true?
ok genuis, im waiting for your answers.

A. Tell your mate that they're full of shit.

They probably just don't want to have a bath everynight because they don't have the same regard for personal hygiene and comfort that you do.

I love taking baths - it feels so good after a long day.

Anaemia is caused by poor Iron levels in your blood.
It can be caused by hormonal changes, notably an excess of the hormones, such as Prolactin, that causes women's breasts to grow and lactate (but this can be a symptom too... It can cause lumps, which should always be attended to as soon as possible and the excess hormones can also be caused by stress, which can also be a symptom, so it's a tough one...) and certain vitamin deficiencies, notably B vitamins.

Unless it is due to hormones, it is usually linked to diet and is predominantly found in women as they need extra Iron for menstruating and the fact that there are more vegatarian and vegan women than men.

Not enough Spinach...
Bet Popeye wasn't anaemic, but Olive Oil certainly looked like she was.
I wouldn't've wanted to ask Popeye to share his spinach with me, though... He'd probably of...
Anyway.

Anaemia is NOT caused by relaxing and washing in a bath every night.

If you *are* worried about it, you can alter your diet or take the Vitamin B and Iron complex available from most health food shops to top you up. (Though that's never a good substitute for a poor diet)

So now you can keep enjoying your bathing without worrying that you are going to become anaemic and relax into the pleasure of taking a bath.

And have the pleasure of telling your friend that they are very, very wrong.
Genius.


56 year old man unable to lift up left leg. Also has Type Two Diabetes which is under control.?
Q. Unable to lift leg independently but can do so using his hands to lift it up. One doctor diagnosed it as "muscle Dystrophy" or said it might have something to do with degenerating nerves.
Any help on the diagnosis and remedy would be very much appreciated.

A. Muscle weakness has been associated with a vitamin D deficiency. Nerve degeneration is associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency.

"Researchers found that 40% of type 2 diabetes patients using metformin had vitamin B12 deficiency or were in the low-normal range for the essential vitamin. And 77% of metformin users with vitamin B12 deficiency also had peripheral neuropathy, a common form of nerve damage associated with type 2 diabetes."

"Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage most often characterized by pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and feet."

"Because peripheral neuropathy is such a major complication of diabetes, researchers say the results suggest that people using metformin be screened for vitamin B12 deficiency or supplemented with vitamin B12. Also, anyone already diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy who uses metformin should be screened for vitamin B12 deficiency."

I used 30,000 mcg (30mg) per day methylcobalamin for ten days, then 10,000 mcg (10mg) per day. It took a couple of months, but all symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are gone.

"Poor muscle strength and weakness may be associated with vitamin D deficiency, which is common among elderly people".


What causes cramps all over in a man 65, hands,chest, stomock, legs? good health, no medicine, light work?
Q.

A. Provided there are no neurological or neurodegenerative causes such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, or spinal cord injury - extra calcium is usually the solution for muscle spasms or muscle cramps in many nocturnal cases. The extra requirements for calcium may be a result of high protein or phosphate levels (kidney disease, poor diet), hormonal diseases or imbalances, nutritional imbalances
(high Mg/Ca ratio, low pantothenic acid), celiac disease or other intestinal conditions that interfere with calcium absorption, prescribed medications that promote calcium loss, random self-supplementation of the wrong vitamins and minerals,
Consuming foods or beverages containing lactic acid is another acidifying strategy to reduce muscle cramps when working out, despite the buildup of lactic acid in muscle tissue during strenuous exercise being actually a common cause of muscle spasms or cramps. This happens from insufficient oxygen not being able to oxidize lactic acid, which would otherwise get rid of it from muscle. Inosine and
creatin supplements also help to reduce the buildup of lactic acid in muscle.
Vitamin E might be a good choice for its blood-thinning and
vasodilating properties. Gingko biloba also provides a blood-thinning effect and may be considered.
Sodium and/or potassium imbalances tend to become more of a problem during, or after physical activity, but less so during rest, so for exercise-induced leg cramps or muscle spasms, their addition in the form of a sports drink, or through extra Sodium / Potassium supplementation in tablet form may be a consideration. However, sufficient hydration (taking in enough fluid) is equally important before,during, and after a workout!
Since low calcium and/or low magnesium-induced muscle spasms or cramps go hand in hand with
disturbances of bone mineral metabolism, it may be worthwhile to consult a medical practitioner and be evaluated for other possible medical problems such as osteopenia or osteoporosis, whereby additional supplements such as Vitamin D, or other dietary adjustments may be indicated.

Those suffering from leg cramps that are due to insufficient potassium intake should be aware of - or at least use their symptoms as a warning sign - that ongoing low potassium levels increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and/or stroke.
Acute muscle spasms in the back are oftentimes triggered as a result of injuries, but chronic attacks
can also result from curvature of the spine (scoliosis), age-related degenerative disk disease, and/or
spinal alignment problems. Osteopathic / chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy, muscle relaxants,
needle acupuncture, needle-less electro-acupuncture or electro therapy are common treatment options, depending on the type of medical system one is most comfortable with.
Nutritional imbalances, i.e. abnormal Mineral Ratios are also capable of affecting spinal alignment, or they can even lead to scoliosis over time (and subsequent muscle cramps and spasms), in which case drug therapy or frequent visits to a chiropractor, physiotherapist, or acupuncturist can become
frustrating, since the therapy won't last. However, once a nutritional balance is re-established, the spine
is less likely to go out of alignment and trigger muscle spasms, cramps, and/or other health problems.
There are some known medical conditions associated with myoclonus, including brain or spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, Tourette syndrome, multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, drug or chemical poisoning, organ damage, and others, however "sleep starts" is considered to be a type of 'Periodic Limb Movement Disorder' that as of yet lacks a specific medical cause or has a known relationship to a specific medical condition common cause of persistent muscle ache and cramps is mineral deficiency and/or dehydration. Minerals that may be deficient include potassium, sodium (as found in common salt), chlorine (as found in common salt), magnesium or calcium. Of course, over-exercise (or unaccustomed exercise) is a common cause of transient muscle pain and cramping.





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Has anyone had experience with Soma plus Aspirin and codeine and Darvacet or ultram at the same time?

Q. I have been in pain for quite a long time. I am going to a Rheumatoligist a few times a month and getting numerous testing done. So far the only thing he has found is that I have a Vitamin D deficiency. I am currently taking Soma plus Aspirin and Codeine and Darvocet. I have been switched to extended release Ultram but have not gotten the script filled yet. The Soma and Darvocet used to work at keeping my pain away but I am now being awakened by it so thats why the switch to the extended release Ultram. I just wanted to know if anyone has taken this combo of meds for long periods of time and if they are now experiencing adverse effects of doing so. I don't want to have to take these meds but so far they are the only ones that don't make my symptoms worse so I really have no choice and I am afraid of the long term effects. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Oh and if it helps, I only take them at night before bed, I can't take the meds while at work.
I have had three different doctors plus my pharmacist tell me its ok to take these meds together. The amount of pain that I am in by the end of the day is terrible. I am asleep so I don't get a high off of them and I don't take them during the day. A small part of the pain that I have is stabbing pains in my legs, arms, bottoms of my feet, in my ears and on top of my head. I also have other symptoms but tjis is the worst. There are no other medications that take this pain away enough for me to sleep. I have had to choose the lesser of two evils and take these medications. If I don't take these meds I do not sleep at all. I am just worried about the long term effects of these meds. Also if anyone knows of any other treatments for this severe kind of pain. I would love to stop taking them...but thats not possible until a different treatment is found.

A. I was on all kinds of stuff after a severe ankle operation. You need to go to a pain manager they are great with combining drugs so they interact with each other if you were in chicago i could tell u who to see


Have you been checked for vitamin D deficiency for depression and other symptoms?
Q. Three Weeks ago I was put on 50,000mg of vitamin D weekly because my D level was extreme. I was so depressed that I couldn't get up. I also started taking cod liver oil (fish oil). It is miraculous. My depression is so much better. Have you had your D level checked?

A. YES, about 9 months ago my doctor did some blood work on me and found my vitamin D was hardly traceable. For a year or os i was having a hard time digesting food. WOW, what a difference,There is a lot of help on Yahoo health,go check it out .I did and learned a lot about vitamin D


How do I know if have a vitamin D deficiency?
Q. I eat healthy, but I'm lactose intolerant and can't drink milk or eat most dairy products. Also, I don't spend much time in the sun because my skin is extremely pale and I burn almost instantly. Do I need to take a vitamin D supplement? I'm sure that I don't get enough vitamin D, although I don't have symptoms right now.

A. Your doctor can run tests for vitamin D as well. When getting a supplement, do get a good quality one and look for a D3 gelcap or pill instead of a D2 formulation. There are brands out there that list D3 in the ingredients list. Good luck.


Can my Vitamin D deficiency be the cause of my tics and uncontrollably movement?
Q. I been going to he doctor sense July which is when my tics started but anyways i've been tested and they said everything was fine with my brain and blood but my vitamin d in tack is low. So i was wondering could that be the problem? Cause i do have uncontrollably movement, tremors and i do have verbal tics. Like yelling or saying something really loud.
No its not tourettes, they said i didnt have those sense it starts when your younger.

A. Calcium cannot absorb without vitamin D. Calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia) symptoms include muscle spasms, tics, tremors. An ionized calcium test is the most accurate to pick up a true deficiency. Calcium - 1000mg a day. Optimal vitamin D levels - 80ng/ml or 200nmol/l. Vitamin D is cruical to activate the immune system, and clinical trials showed vitamin D with calcium reduced cancer rates by 77%. 5000IU of vitamin D a day is recommended. Magnesium is needed for calcium assimulation and a co-factor for vitamin D. Magnesium deficiency also causes tremors and muscle spasms. 500mg of magnesium a day. As your yelling/being more vocal symptoms occured at the same time, it may well be from these deficiencies.

Hypocalcemia>>>
http://www.livestrong.com/article/216472-overall-effects-of-hypocalcemia/

Vitamin D deficiency>>>
http://www.goodhealthwellnessblog.com/194/enough-vitamin-d-3-from-sun-food-think-again/

Magnesium deficiency>>>
http://elektralife.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=68





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Has anyone had experience with Soma plus Aspirin and codeine and Darvacet or ultram at the same time?

Q. I have been in pain for quite a long time. I am going to a Rheumatoligist a few times a month and getting numerous testing done. So far the only thing he has found is that I have a Vitamin D deficiency. I am currently taking Soma plus Aspirin and Codeine and Darvocet. I have been switched to extended release Ultram but have not gotten the script filled yet. The Soma and Darvocet used to work at keeping my pain away but I am now being awakened by it so thats why the switch to the extended release Ultram. I just wanted to know if anyone has taken this combo of meds for long periods of time and if they are now experiencing adverse effects of doing so. I don't want to have to take these meds but so far they are the only ones that don't make my symptoms worse so I really have no choice and I am afraid of the long term effects. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Oh and if it helps, I only take them at night before bed, I can't take the meds while at work.
I have had three different doctors plus my pharmacist tell me its ok to take these meds together. The amount of pain that I am in by the end of the day is terrible. I am asleep so I don't get a high off of them and I don't take them during the day. A small part of the pain that I have is stabbing pains in my legs, arms, bottoms of my feet, in my ears and on top of my head. I also have other symptoms but tjis is the worst. There are no other medications that take this pain away enough for me to sleep. I have had to choose the lesser of two evils and take these medications. If I don't take these meds I do not sleep at all. I am just worried about the long term effects of these meds. Also if anyone knows of any other treatments for this severe kind of pain. I would love to stop taking them...but thats not possible until a different treatment is found.

A. I was on all kinds of stuff after a severe ankle operation. You need to go to a pain manager they are great with combining drugs so they interact with each other if you were in chicago i could tell u who to see


What is the cause for the symptoms I'm having?
Q. My aunt had a heart condition that was hereditary. I keep having these symptoms...

- stand up, get dizzy/black vision.
- shortness of breath just walking, standing, or doing normal things.
- heart palpitations, followed by hard heart beats
- constant headaches
- eye strain
- start shaking whenever I get nervous or upset
& I have a Vitamin D deficiency which can cause heart disease

I want to know what this sounds like to you.

A. It sounds like it could be anemia. I would have a blood test done.


I have vitamin d deficiency. How long till I am better and have no more side effects from taking vitamins?
Q. My symptoms are: pale skin, insomnia, fatigue, depression, weak bones, and circle under eyes. I take 1 tablet of 2000iu vitamin d tablets twice a day. My blood work was average 35-100 and i was a 14. Its been 2 days so far and no change besides a slightly better mood. How long of taking my vitamins will I begin to change completely and all symptoms will be gone?

A. It took you a long time to become vitamin D deficient - getting better will not be an overnite miracle.
When your doctor put you on the vitamin d pills/capsules - what did he tell you?
They usually tell you to take something daily until you come back again for your next checkup to see if there's any improvement. Then, he can determine what avenue you should take from there.
It all depends on how severe your deficiency is & your chemical makeup.


How do I know if have a vitamin D deficiency?
Q. I eat healthy, but I'm lactose intolerant and can't drink milk or eat most dairy products. Also, I don't spend much time in the sun because my skin is extremely pale and I burn almost instantly. Do I need to take a vitamin D supplement? I'm sure that I don't get enough vitamin D, although I don't have symptoms right now.

A. Your doctor can run tests for vitamin D as well. When getting a supplement, do get a good quality one and look for a D3 gelcap or pill instead of a D2 formulation. There are brands out there that list D3 in the ingredients list. Good luck.





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Monday, March 18, 2013

Is it possible to treat vit B12 deficiency without taking suppliments, ie. only through dietary changes?

Q. I have been a vegetarian for last 10 years and an ocassional drinker. Lately i am experiencing many b12 deficiency symptoms - tingling in hands/legs, chapped lips, canker sores, fatigue, drowsiness etc. I have started eating 2 eggs and drinking one litre milk daily. Is it possible to treat it this way or should I get vitamin capsules?

A. Nope...eating foods containing B vitamins only maintains good levels of B12. When you have a defiency it is a lot harder to treat with diet aline, you need to have the supplements....your doctor may even suggest a B12 injection.


What vitamin deficiency causes fatigue?
Q. I had a blood test for anemia to see why i am tired but i do not have anemia. is there any other vitamin deficiency that causes fatigue?

A. Hey James,

Despite what your blood test for anemia showed - you may be feeling lethargic due to a drop in your B12. You do not have to be anemic by Western medicine standards to be deficient in vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 is important to good health. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells, and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells.

Characteristic signs of B12 deficiency include fatigue, weakness, nausea, constipation, flatulence (gas), loss of appetite, and weight loss. Deficiency also can lead to neurological changes such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Additional symptoms of B12 deficiency are difficulty in maintaining balance, depression, confusion, poor memory, and soreness of the mouth or tongue.

You may also want to consider the possibility that your blood sugar may be causing your fatique. If your blood sugars are moving up-and-down too quickly fatique can result. If that's the case - you may want to look into eating foods that are lower glycemic. Don't despair - you do not have diabetes. Eating low-glycemic may give you longer-lasting energy calorie-for-calorie, combatting fatique.

If you need some tips on lower glycemic foods -- please feel free to look me up on http://www.TuDiabetes.com - A Community for People Touched by Diabetes.

Best regards,
Allie

Allison Love Beatty - Founder of "Allies Voice"
Making the World Safer for People with Diabetes
http://www.AlliesVoice.com


Is it possible to treat vit B12 deficiency without taking suppliments, ie. only through dietary changes?
Q. I have been a vegetarian for last 10 years and drink ocassionaly. Lately i am experiencing many b12 deficiency symptoms - tingling in hands/legs, chapped lips, canker sores, fatigue, drowsiness etc. I have started eating 2 eggs and drinking one litre milk daily. Is it possible to treat it this way or should I get vitamin capsules?

A. first get a b12 level done before you self diagnose.. 2nd if you have pernicous anaemia and your b12 is low taking any source but injectable wont work


Is it possible to treat vit B12 deficiency without taking suppliments, ie. only through dietary changes?
Q. I have been a vegetarian for last 10 years and drink ocassionaly. Lately i am experiencing many b12 deficiency symptoms - tingling in hands/legs, chapped lips, canker sores, fatigue, drowsiness etc. I have started eating 2 eggs and drinking one litre milk daily. Is it possible to treat it this way or should I get vitamin capsules?

A.





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Why are vitamin E deficiencies rarely observed in human beings?

Q. A. The vitamin is not essential
B. The vitamin is widespread in foods
C. Most people take vitamin E supplements
D. The vitamin can be synthesized by the body

A. D. vitamin E is synthesized in the body FROM PRECURSOR MOLECULES CALLED STEROIDS


I have warts on my hand, and a dry rough patch on my ankle. What is this a sign of?
Q. if this a sign of a vitamin e deficiency? maybe a virus of some sort? an omega 3 deficiency?

i've had them for YEARS and i'd really like to get rid of them. every time i freeze them off they come back. How can i get rid of them for good?

A. Pray in the name of Jesus.

John 14:14 (New International Version)
14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

I had two heart attacks, about 6 months ago and another about a year ago. I just prayed in the name of Jesus believing and the pain stopped. Now I just got the results last week of the EKG test and it said I did have the heart attack. But, I didn't do one thing but pray in the name of Jesus believing I would be fine. The pain only lasted several seconds, and stopped immediately after I prayed the prayer. I was unable to walk, just stood there and prayed quietly.


Is Vitamin E good for skin? Does it prevent out skin from aging?
Q. I take Vitamin E, and I also rub it on my face sometimes. I just heard it's good for the skin, but what does Vitamin E do actually?

A. Vitamin E is a vitamin because of its antioxidant activity, and I think it is the only vitamin with that characteristic. Vitamin means that you have to get it from the environment (food, usually) because your own body cannot make it and, if you don't get in in enough quantity, the effects of the deficiency will become evident.

Vitamin E deficiency is rare in humans, so you don't have to worry about it, it will be present in the foods you eat. The most active form of Vitamin E is alpha-D-tocopherol, but other chemicals also have vitamin E activity.

Do you need to apply vitamin E to your skin? Yes, eventually. Older skin does not get eneough nutrients and vitamins from the blood supply reaching the dermis, so you will be better off giving your skin some vitamin E, plus other antioxidants. This, by itself, will not prevent your skin from aging, but the antioxidant activity of alpha-D-tocopherol will inactivate free radicals formed in your skin as a response to environmental factors and your own respiratory machinery. Because free radicals are a main factor in skin aging, vitamin E will help, protecting the lipids in the cell membranes and others in your skin.

Don't forget the antioxidants that are water soluble, you need many antioxidants, the more and varied, the better.

Hope I answered your question, if not contact me at www.skinactives.com

Good luck and best wishes

Hannah


Any good vitamin E brands out there you recommend?
Q. I have severely dry cracked skin especially on my feet... not sure if I'm vitamin e deficient but I want to try taking vitamin E supplements to help remedy my skin condition. Do you think this is advisable? If so, what brands can you recommend?

A. If your skin problem was caused by a lack of vitamin E then it wouldn't only affect your feet. It would affect your skin all over.
Vitamin E deficiency symptoms include anemia,caratacts,neurological damage and abnormalities of the liver,brain and bone marrow. These are all quite serious problems. If you do not have them then you are not vitamin E deficient.
The main cause of cracked skin on the feet is excessively dry skin because the feet have no oil glands.
Try E45 cream. I find it very soothing and it is easily available.





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I have had 2 miscarriages! How can I find out if I have a vitamin b or progesterone deficiency or possible?

Q. out of whack blood sugar level? Any ladies who have had miscarriages & than found out why & then went on to conceive? Thanks for those who have responded! Your experiences give me hope!

A. Hi-OK since this one has been sent to me personally-I will give as thorough an answer as I can: Yes progesterone plays a huge role in miscarriage....and in rare cases/a rare condition based on vitamin B deficiency can also cause problems. Let me further explain...1 out of every 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage due to a one time genetic defect in the fetus. It is not necessarily due to your egg being unhealthy or your partner's sperm being unhealthy but ore than likely what occurs when the two are combined to form a fetus.

Addressing the progesterone problem: up until 8-9 weeks your body is producing the vital progesterone it takes to support a healthy pregnancy then it shifts to your placenta producing the progesterone. If at this point there is not enough progesterone being produced - your body will miscarry. Supplementation at this point will not help you to prevent the miscarriage

Progesterone deficiency (is primarily found in those that have 26-27 day cycles). If you are tested and found to have no progesterone deficiency (or a steadily dropping production rate) after the placenta has taken over-it is no guarantee but miscarriages are less likely to happen due to Progesterone Deficiency. But once the decline starts - miscarriage is inevitable and cannot be prevented. The majority of miscarriages that occur could not have been caused or prevented-due to all the factors that play in to normal development. It takes extensive testing to see a lot of things effecting pregnancies and then a lot of them happen simply because lack of health on the fetus.

In regards to Vitamin B deficiency's is a very rare inherited blood disorder caused by the subunit B of Factor XIII-which deals with blood clotting issues and stabilization.

You can be tested for both deficiencies if you can health insurance that covers it or have the means to cover the costs.

If you discover that it is not either factor: I can recommend one website to you:www.Parents.com concerning articles on how to get in your best pre-pregnancy shape.

I also have my all-time favorite book choices (have given it as a gift countless times to my TTC friends). #1) is Beth Kileys, Personal Path To Pregnancy. I consider her to be almost a pro on the subject due to her years of exhausting research that she did in the face of her own fertility issues and the hundreds of testimonies I have read that women have now successfully gone on to have several children after following the means/methods of practice that she suggests (as well as Beth herself now having a couple of children). She talks about everything from preconception factors/influences, nutritional therapies for those TTC, What to do if low sperm count is an issue,alternative treatments to help you conceive faster, which vitamins enable the body to prepare for pregnancy, what to do if you have irregular periods, even a suggested beverage that helps the embryo implant in the uterus....etc. I love her advise because being in my mid 40's now-I have had countless friend from their mid thirties forward have difficulty getting pregnant. All of them had the initial idea to run to a dr. and seek medical intervention in getting pregnant. I told them go have your baseline blood work done-get checked for abnormalities of any kind, BUT before they considered any expensive (and not guaranteed treatments)-first PLEASE read the book that I had given them. I am happy to say that only one of my girlfriends had to go the full route and seek medical intervention via invitro. Beth Kiley's research runs very close in line to what I did on my own as a RN ( who btw - at the time faced fertility issues of my own and very much wanted a child). It didn't happen for me but it became my passion to help anyone else that had a glimmer of hope to conceive...to have the child they so very much wanted.

Another viable nutritional suggestion is a book called Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC. I also recommend it since it is in line with my thinking to try first naturally. It has a plethora of information concerning drug free remedies, vitamin/mineral usage,
-as well as herbs and food supplements that can be used when you have fertility (miscarriage) problems.

The secondary set of books that I recommend and also give as gifts all the time are for after conception: (SEE positive thinking here-think you will probably need these in awhile) What to Expect When You Are Expecting and What to Eat When You are Expecting. They are two books written by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkhoff and Sandee E. Hathaway, RN.

I hope this information has been of some help to you-best of luck in your pursuits and feel free to shoot me a question anytime.


How can my boyfriend seek help for depression without the Marine Corps finding out?
Q. My boyfriend feels that he may be clinically depressed. I feel that this in and of itself is a major stride considering that seeking help for oneself is especially hard when you are suffering from depression. He is in the Marine Corp and he feels that it would be better to keep his problem hidden from the Corps because they can be "kind of sketchy about that kind of thing" as he put it. How can he begin treatment for his illness while not jeopardizing his career?

A. Ask yourself: "Why do I feel depressed, and when did I first start to feel this way: can I associate this with any recent change in my life?" (if so, it is probably reactive [situational] depression: counselling, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may be indicated, but most of life's adverse situations are resolved within 16 weeks, yet the medical criteria for depression, and the prescription of antidepressants is only 2 weeks!). Or, was it a more gradual thing, with no apparent cause? (a nutritional deficiency, hypothyroidism, environmental toxicity, or reactions to some medications, etc., becomes more likely as the cause). Antidepressants work quicker than the following; 2 - 6 weeks, but you may have to adjust dosage, or types. St. John's wort helps most people; tolerance doesn't develop, and the few side effects don't occur often, and even then are normally not severe (neither should be relied on as a sole treatment).

It doesn't cause sleeping problems, or weight change, but usually takes at least 2, and generally 4 - 6 weeks to become effective, but can work quicker than antidepressants, sometimes. A recent, independent German double blind study showed it to be as effective as a commonly prescribed antidepressant, in cases of major depression, with far fewer side effects, and those were generally better tolerated, with a lower rate of discontinuation. Unlike antidepressants, where sexual dysfunction is a common side effect, it happens much more rarely with St. John's wort (I have noticed no effect in this area). A multidimensional approach to treating depression without medication follows. All except for no. (7.) are safe to use with medication, but not St. John's wort, because of interactions, and it's sensible to check out anything else first with your doctor.

(1.) Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it. In the winter months, if not getting sufficient daily exposure to strong light, see http://www.mercola.com/ SEARCHBAR: enter: "vitamin D3", & Go to a doctor and ask for a 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, blood test. When you get the results, don�t follow the typical �normal� reference range, as these are too low. The OPTIMAL value that you�re looking for is 45-52 ng/ml (115-128 nmol/l)". The company which tests your levels has to be one of those using the correct form of test, and this topic is addressed via the searchbar at mercola.com - "vitamin D3; testing". Also take a vitamin B complex which is certified as being 100% of natural origin; a deficiency in vitamin B9 (folic acid, or folate) is known to cause depression. Around 30% - 40% of depressed people have low vitamin B12 levels. Depressed females using the contraceptive pill may benefit from vitamin B6 supplements.

(2.) Work up slowly to at least 20 minutes minutes of exercise, daily, or 30 - 60 mns, 5 times weekly. Too much exercise can cause stress, which isn't wanted when dealing with depression. (3.) Occupational therapy (keeping busy allows little time for unproductive introspection, and keeps mental activity out of less desirable areas of the brain). (4.) Use daily, a relaxation method* and/or yoga*, and/or Tai Chi*. (5.) Initially, at least, some form of counselling, preferably either Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy. (6.) Maintain a mood chart, and daily activities schedule**. (7.) As options, if desired, either a known, effective herbal remedy, such as St. John's wort, (get a German variety, if possible; local ones may vary in effectiveness. Take with a meal) or supplements, such as SAMe, or Inositol (from vitamin and health food stores, some supermarkets, or mail order: view section 55).

If 5HTP is used to boost serotonin levels, (which are low in depressed people) it is best taken with a high carbohydrate, minimal protein meal, like pasta, with tomato & basil, and avoid protein for 90 minutes, before, and after, to maximise the amount crossing the blood/brain barrier. 80% of people in the Western world have low magnesium levels, and these are known to cause depression & anxiety. Try pharmacies & supermarkets for the magnesium supplement types shown in http://www.real-depression-help.com/ or magnesium chloride. Low levels of calcium, and potassium can also cause depression. Have your blood tested, and correct any deficiencies, preferably through improved nutrition. An improvement can be noticed in as little as a week, if a deficiency is the cause. Use iodised salt, as many people are deficient, affecting thyroid function (one of the treatments in books on depression is iodine drops). View section 2, on the first 3 pages*, and also pages R, C, I, and section 11, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris


How do I make my hair grow quicker in 1 year? And how to convince my Mom to grow my hair REALLY LONG?
Q. Please NO vitamins and have to go buy a shampoo and no extensions! I also know that the average persons hair grows 6 inches in a year. My hair is up to my shoulders, all of my families hair is short (I have the longest) how do I convince my Mom to grow it for a LONG time? Oh, and I already got a trim like 3 weeks ago an I NEVER EVER use heat in my hair!Thanks for all of the answers! :) p.s. I do ballet for 5 and a half hours a week :)

A. *** I do this and has been working for 2 years +***


Step 1: Assess YOUR hair type because this will allow you to realize what works for YOU and what doesn't. Also Assess your products that are working and actually not healthy. Think of this as cleaning house because you will be replacing and adding new products to help with your hair growth.

Stick to organic products. Products containing: SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL, SODIUM LAURETH, AMMONIUM, DIETHANOLAMINE, ETHANOL & ISOPROPYL. ALCOHOL are really bad for your hair.

Heat and Styling are the biggest two problems that stop hair growth. You are doing good with no heat regimen. Wash your hair every other week and co-wash the other. When you wash your hair too much, you wash the natural oils in your hair.

If you did wash your hair too much use an avocado mask treatment (instructions listed below). Co-wash would be washing your hair with a conditioner and no shampoo. Avocado mask you would do once a month. If you do it too much, your hair will have too much essential oils which wont allow the hair to breath (suffocating the growth).

FOODS AND OILS TO MIX FOR HAIR GROWTH TREATMENT:- (Apply in your hair, not eat)
(Avocado Hair Mask includes just avocado or you can use the other foods listed below. Instructions are after these ingredients)

FOODS:
1. Avocado
2. Honey
3. Banana
4. Milk
5. Egg
6. Yogurt

OILS:
1. Jojoba Oil
2. Wheat Germ/Aloe Vera/Coconut Milk
3. Peppermint
4. Lavender
5. Burdock
6. Saw Palmetto
7. Stinging Nettle
8. Rosemary
9. Castor oil
10. Almond oil
11. Coconut oil
12. Cinnamon oil

Mix the foods and or the oil listed above. Apply the mask to your hair for approximately 45 minutes. Take a hand towel (bc it will fit in the pot) and close it up in a twisty with a rubber bands or hair band. Put it a pot to boil. The purpose of this is to generate warmth to your hair so your hair will soak up your concoction. Do this once every month or every other month.


SOME BRIEF DEFINITIONS ON WHAT EACH DOES AND SOME MORE INSTRUCTION ON HAIR REMEDIES.

Eggs contain vitamin A, E and B vitamins for scalp repair and moisture balance as well as vitamin D. A deficiency in vitamin D is directly related to hair loss. Eggs are also rich in protein to strengthen and protect the hair. Protein thickens each strand while the other vitamins encourage and support new hair growth.

Rosemary is a natural stimulant that boosts circulation and encourages growth. Make rosemary oil by combining 3 tablespoons of dried rosemary leaves with 1 cup of olive oil. Heat in microwave and apply with heated towel.

Avocados and bananas aid in hair growth and nourish brittle hair. Bananas strengthen hair because they contain vitamin A and potassium. Vitamin A regulates sebum production in the scalp. This creates a healthy moisture balance that encourages healthy hair growth.

Hope this helps and Good luck

Visit and stay tuned every Tuesday for new postings http://turquoiseknows.blogspot.com/


What are the causes of iron loss?
Q. I've researched a little about iron deficiency due to blood loss, sweat, and impact while running, but I want to know more specific causes. Could someone be iron deficient because they lost a lot of blood through donating it? What about people who cut themselves? Are they more at risk because they lose blood on a daily basis? And why are alcoholics more at risk for iron deficiency?

A. The standard minimum hemoglobin requirements would keep somebody with borderline anemia from being able to be a donor in the first place, and somebody who had anemia certainly wouldn't be allowed to donate. The unit of blood that is taken doesn't seriously impact on the donor, the loss is primarily fluid and the cells get replaced fairly quickly. If they even suspected donation would put you at risk, they would turn you down as a donor. Additionally, you can't just donate and donate, day after day. In fact, you can't repeat donate until after 8 weeks after a previous donation. 16 weeks if it was a double red cell donation. People who cut themselves, even on a daily basis, usually don't lose significant amounts of blood for the most part, but I suppose they would have other risk factors which would probably contribute to their overall health and counted together with the minor bleeding might cause them to become anemic. I couldn't say if the cutting behavior alone would be enough. Alcoholics are often anemic because the disease affects liver function, and the fact that most are in a nutritionally challenged state because they drink rather than eat properly. They may develop anemia due to gastric bleeding or a vitamin B deficiency as well. It's rather complicated to explain anemia causes in alcoholics because there are lots of contributing factors related to how the body deals with the metabolism of alcohol and the damages which can be done by it, all of which or any of which can lead to anemia. It also depends on if the person in question is an active drinker or not. Those still active alcoholics are at higher risk than one in long term recovery. The alcoholic in recover may be at higher risk from the physical damage done to the liver. The alcoholic still drinking heavily is at risk because of damage that is ongoing, as well as the nutritional deficit created by the drinking vs. proper diet.
The big trouble with specifically citing a specific cause is that the populations you mention have other factors which can pose a higher risk. Cutters are typically young females, stressed and usually not eating well. Just being female means a certain loss through the monthly cycle, and stress also affects iron levels. And because they usually don't eat well, they may simply not be taking in a sufficient amount of iron to begin with. So while cutting certainly isn't helping matters, it is not the cause in and of itself. The alcoholic may be eating enough dietary iron, but due to a compromised liver function can't utilize it properly. And of course, they may just as easily not be eating enough to begin with. This is the same problem you run into with the athletes. Anemia due to the excess sweating or running is more due to the abuse of the workout, and compounded by the fact that such an athlete probably doesn't eat iron rich foods out of health concerns or a desire to control weight. And a person who experiences anemia due to blood loss from an injury hasn't suffered from a disease process- the anemia is an incidental problem which can be recovered from and not a long term problem. In fact, if a person suffers an injury that causes that much blood loss, they would typically recieve whole blood products and the hemoglobin would be replaced in the process. They would also be given iron as a supplement during the recovery process, just to prevent blood loss anemia from becoming an issue. In your studies, you will want to separate anemia into several categories- that caused by injury, disease- including inherited diseases,and diet/nutritional deficits. Anemia is a symptom of something, not necessarily a disease in and of itself. The treatment is not just to provide exta iron, but also to treat or eliminate the underlying cause.





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