23:45, April 2, 2012

Harutyun Sukiasyan is an active five year-old who wants to be a soldier when he grows up.

The boy also suffers from CF (Cystic fibrosis).  Most kids so diagnosed in Armenia don’t make it past the age of twenty.

It is a genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine. it is characterized by abnormal transport of chloride and sodium across the epithelium tissue, leading to thick, viscous secretions.

In 1959, the median age of survival of children with cystic fibrosis in the U.S. was six months. now, it is 37.4 years. In Canada, median survival increased from 24 years in 1982 to 47.7 in 2007.

Harutyun, his mother Svetlana and sister Srbuhie live with relatives in the #2 Section of Nork, Yerevan. Svetlana is divorced.

Eight people live in a damp one room apartment. Harutyun sleeps on the floor next to his mom.

The little boy’s coughing spells have gotten worse of late and his loss of sensitivity has increased.

Srbuhie is also sick. Svetlana has placed her in the care of a boarding school so that the girl can be properly fed and have a bed to sleep in. Srbuhie visits the family on the weekend.

Svetlana told me that Harutyun first started manifesting symptoms of the disease at the age of six months. at first, doctors couldn’t make a proper diagnosis.

It was only months later that doctors in Armenia diagnosed MS and told the mother that the disease was curable and wasn’t life threatening.

According to Wikipedia – while there are no cures for cystic fibrosis there are several treatment methods. the management of cystic fibrosis has improved significantly over the past 70 years. while infants born with cystic fibrosis 70 years ago would have been unlikely to live beyond their first year, infants today are likely to live well into adulthood. Recent advances in the treatment of cystic fibrosis have meant that an individual with cystic fibrosis can live a fuller life less encumbered by their condition.

Svetlana had to wait another three years before the health authorities registered the boy as “disabled”. (In Armenian – hashmandam. there are various degrees of disability in Armenia with each allowing for various pensions and treatment payments.)

She says that her son was never prescribed any medication for three years. now he receives Creon and some vitamins.

(Creon contains digestive enzymes and is used to improve food digestion in people who cannot digest food properly)

“the last time Harutyun got the drug was in January. But the medication had already expired. I threw it in the garbage. In February, the polyclinic gave us the drug but it was the wrong dosage. I had to cut it up,” says the mother.

If he doesn’t take the drug before eating, he will throw up the food two or three minutes later.

Family physician Marina Gasparyan at the #14 Polyclinic in Yerevan says that the drug hadn’t expired, but does admit that the wrong dosage had been given afterwards.

Gasparyan says that they are doing all they can to assist, allocating drugs and vitamins.

The nebulizer Harutyun was using to take the drugs no longer works. the family can’t afford to purchase a new one.

All eight people survive on the 50,000 AMD ($129) pension of Svetlana’s mother.

Harutyun’s disability pension is only enough to buy some rice and macaroni. the boy has asked for some fruit for the past week, but Svetlana can’t afford any.

“I just don’t know how long my boy can live in these conditions. He’s not getting the nutrition he needs and the apartment makes matters worse. my priority is to get him out of here somehow and to provide sufficient meals,” said Svetlana.

She’s worked in stores and cafes as a clerk and waitress. But the jobs don’t last long.

When her employer finds out that she’s a single mom with a sick child, they fire her. they just don’t want the hassle.

As we were leaving, Harutyun turned and told us to visit him in the hospital.

“we don’t have a home of our own,” the little boy remarked.

This story updated Monday, April 2, to correct the foundation’s web address.

BARSTOW • making their way down Main Street on a breezy Saturday morning, a group of locals held signs and marched for a cause most had never heard of: Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

The Ayden Rae Foundation, made up of Barstow and former Barstow locals, walked the long stretch of Main Street to bring awareness to HG, which causes severe vomiting during pregnancy, causing dehydration and malnutrition, and in severe cases can lead to death of the mother or the unborn baby.

Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez participated in the walk, saying “I just wanted to help them with their cause.” Gomez also issued a proclamation on behalf of the city, recognizing March 31 as Hyperemesis Gravidarum Awareness Day.

For Vanessa Pack, Ayden Rae Foundation’s founder, HG caused her to lose nine of her 11 pregnancies. with each pregnancy she suffered severe weight loss, constant vomiting, fainting and dehydration to the point where she couldn’t swallow her saliva. she was prescribed many medication, IV treatments, and even a feeding tube to keep her nourished, though she was denied some prescriptions by her insurance carrier.

“Many people don’t realize the hell we go through to have a child,” Pack said.

According to medterms.com, HG affects one in 300 women and is usually associated with women who lose more than 5 percent of their pre-pregnancy weight.

Pack said since the foundation has been active in raising awareness, there have been many women, five in Barstow so far, who have sought help as they struggle with HG.

She said one of the greatest difficulties HG affected women face is when family, friends, and even medical professionals don’t take their illness seriously.

“most people who are in the medical profession, they see it as the women are making it up and the signs and symptoms are not real,” Pack said.

She said though there are treatments that can help the ease the symptoms of HG, insurance companies will sometimes not approve treatments.

This was the case with Pack’s seventh pregnancy with Ayden Rae, a baby girl who only lived to 23 weeks. During the weeks of that pregnancy, Pack said she was denied treatment after treatment from her insurance company. After grappling with extreme dehydration, constant vomiting, weakness, hunger, infections and denied IV treatment, she noticed at 23 weeks her baby wasn’t moving anymore.

“you hear it over and over again, ‘when you get pregnant, morning sickness is normal,’” Pack said. “there was a point I was thinking this was normal. But when you have HG, you can’t eat, can’t drink, you can’t even stop vomiting. when you have blood flying out of your throat, at a certain point you realize this is not normal.”

Pack has told her story on the medical show, “The Doctors,” and to anyone who will listen. she believes if more people were aware of HG, perhaps they would be more supportive of women who struggle with it.

To raise awareness and funds for HG research, the Ayden Rae Foundation has planned several events, including the motorcycle “Ride for Ayden” April 14, and the Route 66 run and Relay Sept.1-16.

To find out more information or to get involved visit aydenraefoundation.org.

Contact the writer:(760) 256-4123 or

A woman has died 40 years after hugging her asbestos-exposed father. Picture: Angelo Soulas Source: The Daily Telegraph

• Woman dies of mesothelioma after hugging dad
• was breathing in his asbestos-ridden clothes
• Also washed his clothes as mother had lung disease

A MOTHER-of-two who used to welcome home her shipyard worker dad with a hug has died of lung cancer after breathing in his asbestos-ridden clothes.

Annette Bhatti, who was just 49, also helped her ill mother to scrub her father’s work uniform by hand more than 40 years ago.

They did not know at the time that they were breathing in deadly dust particles from his asbestos-ridden clothes.

Mrs Bhatti, a housing officer, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2010. she married her long-term partner Bal Bhatti a month later.

Just 18 months later, in December last year, she lost her battle with the lung disease at her home in Southampton, Hampshire.

Her death has left her surviving father, now a pensioner, devastated and inconsolable.

Mesothelioma is normally associated with people over 50 and more commonly among men who worked at shipyards.

Mrs Bhatti’s father Lawrence Ramplee, now a pensioner, was exposed to asbestos while employed by Hills Construction in Hampshire, England.

He was later further exposed to asbestos during shifts at ship repairers Harland and Wolff at the city’s docks when Annette was just a toddler.

Mr Ramplee’s jobs involved cutting up 10ft corrugated asbestos sheets by hand, coroner Keith Wiseman heard.

His work clothing was worn home where mrs Bhatti was "exposed to the dust fibres in the air" at a very young age. she helped to wash his clothes by hand because her mother was ill with lung disease.

"The clothing worn during the week was taken home to be cleaned at home," Mr Wiseman said.

"Somewhat tragically, Mr Ramplee recalls occasions giving his daughter a hug when he got home before he changed."

He said there was never any warning about working with this particular substance.

"One doesn’t have to be working oneself in industry to die in this way," he said.

"There was significant asbestos exposure during a long period of time."

Speaking after the inquest, her brother Stuart Ramplee said his sister "was so full of life" and travelled extensively the year she died, visiting Hong Kong, new York, Australia, the Seychelles and Dubai.

Recording a verdict of death due to an industrial disease, Mr Wiseman said: "The way in which events happened in this case is not in my experience uncommon, but perhaps it is uncommon for someone quite so young.

Her brother Stuart said despite her condition, mrs Bhatti, whose daughters Luci and Rachel, are both in their 20s, "never complained".

Lawyers are hoping to secure compensation for Annette’s family.

Compensation for relatives of asbestos victims in ‘landmark’ UK ruling

The UK’s Supreme Court decided that liability was "triggered" when employees were exposed to asbestos dust – not when symptoms of mesothelioma emerged sometimes decades later.

Solicitors said the ruling meant that victims were covered by policies in place when asbestos fibres were inhaled – and employers’ insurers would have to meet compensation claims.

Families said they hoped that the decision by a panel of five Supreme Court justices in London would end years of litigation and lead to speedy insurance payouts.

Judges said industrial diseases which could lie dormant for long periods raised "peculiar" legal difficulties – and liability for deaths caused by mesothelioma, a "hideous" and "inevitably fatal" cancer of lung linings, had pre-occupied courts in recent years.

"This is a landmark ruling which will affect thousands of victims of asbestos," said Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union.

UK solicitor Carol Ann Hepworth, whose firm John Pickering and Partners represents hundreds of victims’ families, estimated that some payouts could top $150,000.

Masunda

Lance Guma: Good evening Zimbabwe and thank you for joining me on another exciting edition of Question Time. My guest tonight is the Mayor of Harare, Mr Muchadeyi Masunda and the basis for this interview as has been pointed out in our promos is that despite the formation of a coalition government in 2009, Harare and several other cities still face serious water problems.

So we’ve got the Mayor onto the programme to try and tackle questions around this and many other issues. Let’s start off with the water problems, why do we still have them?

Muchadeyi Masunda: Good evening listeners.

The water situation boils down to simply the inadequate capacity in terms of the water treatment facilities, to treat the raw water and make it available to the consumers.

Now just to give you an example to bring things into sharp focus, the demand for water within Greater Harare and including Chitungwiza, Norton, Ruwa and Epworth, during the winter months it’s 1200 mega litres a day.

During summer months like now, it goes up to 1400 mega litres a day and the installed capacity at the main water treatment plant which is Morton Jaffrey, that is the plant that abstracts water from Lake Chivero and Lake Manyame, the installed capacity and I think you will need to understand this, the raw water is there in those two large reservoirs namely Lake Chivero and Lake Manyame.

What is not there is the capacity to treat that water because the capacities out there now at Morton Jaffrey is 614 mega litres a day.

Guma: so what’s needed to increase this capacity? What’s needed?

Masunda: Well what ought to have happened in the past, say around the mid-seventies was for the capacity that I’m talking about to have been enhanced for that water treatment facility to be able to treat more than it does at the moment.

And the second water treatment facility is a replica of Morton Jaffrey and that is the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant which is more popularly known but its acronym, PE and that plant abstracts water from Harava and Seke dam and the installed capacity there is 90 mega litres.

So we have the combined installed capacity of 614 plus 90 which makes it a total of 704 mega litres. so on a good day, ZESA permitting, we produce between 620 and 640 mega litres which is a far cry from the 1200 that is required during the winter months and the 1400 which is required in summer.

Guma: When you came in as Mayor, you came in on the back of a promise to use your vast experience in business and your contacts in business to be able to source these things and take care of the problems. what has happened?

Masunda: Well I can proudly say that since I came into office the production of potable water has increased from around 300 to the 620, 640 that I’m talking about. so that’s a considerable improvement and what must be borne in mind, is that when we came into office in July 2008, the systems were kaput in more ways than one.

Not only were the systems kaput because of some serious neglect that borders perilously close to criminal negligence but there were huge sums of money which were owed and that situation got worse with the advent of dollarization because at the end of January 2009, we wrote off as a City, all the Zim dollar denominated balances and started from scratch like everyone else and as we speak, we are owed in excess of 200 million dollars by various consumers ranging from individual consumers, corporate consumers and government ministries and government agencies.

Guma: so are you saying if that money was to be paid, you would be able to develop the capacity and supply enough uninterrupted water?

Masunda: yes it would make a huge difference, a huge difference and I’m pleased to say that there’s been an appreciable reduction of the amount that had been owed by government.

For instance, as at the end of January the amount owed by government has come down to around 48 million and yet a couple of months ago it was creeping closer and closer to 100 million; But the amounts owed by the corporate sector and individual consumers are nearer 100 million in this instance and close to 200 million.

Guma: what are the figures here in terms of what you need to supply water uninterruptedly? What’s the figure because a lot of questions from listeners, we have one question from Mina Yetu on Face Book for example, who wants to know who is to blame for this water crisis – the central government or the local government?

Masunda: No I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest to, for us to play the ‘blame game’ because that’s not going to put water on the table. what I think we need to do is to all of us to put our shoulders onto the wheel and honour our obligations and pay the bills as and when they fall due in spite of the fact that in certain instances, many of us would not be receiving the service.

And for instance, there’s work that we are doing to reclaim water for instance from the (inaudible) plant that had been installed a couple of years ago but had been abandoned because there weren’t enough funds and what that we’re doing there is going yield a considerable amount of water, this is reclamation system whilst we work on the longer term projects.

And the other thing that needs to be done and done very quickly like yesterday is for us to replace the piping system which had rotted over the years. You will recall no doubt that around I think 2009 we managed to get 17.1 million dollars, courtesy of the multi-donor trust fund and we used all that money to replace the piping system within the CBD and certain industrial areas. so we need to do more of that so that there’s less water lost, treated water lost and make that water available.

Guma: The issue of people receiving bills when they haven’t received a service – that’s a sore point for a lot of residents and we’ve received several emails on that; people are not happy with that. why should they pay for something they are not receiving?

Masunda: And what is the alternative? only two weeks ago I paid a total of one thousand nine hundred dollars to ZESA; I’d not received a ZESA bill for quite a while and I’d been dutifully paying round about a hundred dollars, two hundred dollars every month waiting for the statement to come and when that statement eventually came it was one thousand, eight hundred and sixty five dollars and I paid it in good faith because it’s a chicken and egg situation.

You know we are in a deep, deep hole as a country and a city and I think what we need to do is to stop looking backwards as to what got us into that deep hole and all look for solutions on the way forward.

Guma: But people will say it’s just impunity on your side as people in authority, you’ll just demand whatever you want, even including making people pay for services they are not receiving. why not provide the service and then expect money in return for it?

Masunda: There’s no, I’ve no qualms at all with that argument but people need to realize that all the services that are, need to be offered have a cost in terms of real money and that money’s got to come from somewhere and a lot of people are labouring under the mistaken belief that the City of Harare and other urban local authorities get something from cabinet. We don‘t.

We have to generate our own revenue and that has been the case even long before independence and that money has got to come from somewhere. Money doesn’t grow on trees, we all know that.

Guma: I’ve been sifting through the 2012 national budget and in terms of resource allocation it seems pretty clear that and it’s feeding a lot of resentment from a lot of people that some things like foreign trips are being prioritized by government, luxury cars being prioritized by government and when people hear you say there’s no money to do a, B, C, D it makes them angry.

Masunda: yes, understandably angry but it’s not for me to speak on behalf of these expensive chariots that are procured for government but what I can do is to speak on behalf of what happens in the City. to give you an idea – if we were to commission this large disposal and water reclamation plant at Morton Jaffrey Waterworks and that’s at a cost of seven million dollars that will immediately avail an additional 40 mega litres of potable water a day.

And if we were to rehabilitate the, some of the clarifiers at Morton Jaffrey and the total cost we estimated will be around eight million, that will increase the water production by another 57 mega litres a day. And then of course, we’ve got to start working on the distribution network and we’re looking at another 60 million dollars and that will make another 100 mega litres of water available because a lot of water, as much as 50, around, over 40%, closer to 50% is being lost through leakages and theft, vandalism and pilferage.

Guma: My next question comes from Mike Davis, I’m sure you know him – a former chairperson of the Combined Harare Residents Association – he says “when he (Masunda) was mayor, we lost 4000 plus citizens to cholera, yet two years later we are facing typhoid. what has he done to address these symptoms of failure?”

Masunda: Well the 4000 poor souls who lost their lives, it wasn’t all in Harare, it was throughout the country and as far as typhoid is concerned, I’ll be the first to admit that the principal drivers of the typhoid outbreak were inadequate supply of potable water, sewerage overflows due to overload, high water table caused by the ongoing wet season and of course the erratic refuse collection which has resulted in a number of illegal dumps.

But touch wood, out of all the suspected cases of typhoid that have gone through our clinics and the two hospitals, we talk as at the 16th of February, we had about 2816 and out of those suspected cases of 2816, there were only 16, one six of confirmed cases and the suspected typhoid deaths are only two; one 15 year old girl who had been treated at the Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital and was discharged and if the parents had religiously followed the treatment regime that had been given and not decided to, that they belong to some religious sect that did not permit medication that poor 15 year old kid should still be alive.

And the only other death was an eight month old baby and then there was another lady, an elderly lady who came in on the verge of death and subsequently died but we established that her death was attributable to other causes that were not remotely connected to typhoid.

Guma: It seems to me pretty much some of these problems are also stemming from the water problems the city is facing. Hearing you giving answers to what the problem is – what’s the long term solution because it seems to be a chicken and egg dilemma?

What starts first – money from the residents paying for a service they’re not getting? do you need a bail out from government? Does government need to change its priorities and get something going because year after year the same problem remains and nothing is changing?

Masunda: Well we’ve never seen a typhoid outbreak on the scale that we’ve seen now but I’m pleased to say that we’ve contained the situation. The average number of suspected typhoid cases has come down from about 72 to 30 a day and we need to keep a beady eye on all these things.

But we also need to get the cooperation of the stakeholders themselves. People must refrain from patronizing all these joints like Kwa Mereki, Kwa Zindoga, Pennywise Liquor Centre, Ku Huku in Hillside, Braeside because those are the epi-centres of water-borne diseases.

And due to chronic unemployment we’ve seen a proliferation of food vending in the city and surrounding areas and I’m very concerned about what may happen now that the Tobacco Auction Floors have opened because some of our new tobacco growers will come in from outside Harare and they’re going to camp either at Boka Tobacco Auction Floors or the other two new ones that have been established, until they get paid.

Guma: But is the solution closing places like Kwa Mereki and others or providing proper facilities for such informal kind of businesses to thrive?

Masunda: That’s a good point. It’s a combination of both. For instance, one of my very, very strong beliefs when I came into office was to work very closely with those enterprising ladies at Kwa Mereki and convert that into some serious cottage industry.

But when I went there and spoke to Mai George and others and I said ladies how do you dispose of the litter that is generated here, they took me to the back of where they were operating – a pit where they were mixing up all sorts of garbage, biodegradable stuff and bottles and cans and plastics.

And courtesy of Delta Beverages we provided them with compartmentalized wire mesh cages, so that they put the bio degradable stuff in the pit and the cans on their own, the plastic bottles and their own and the glass on their own so that the reclamation companies can cart that away.

And I’m pleased with the efforts that have been made following the closure of Mereki in the last week and first week of, last week of January and first week of February, they’ve taken it upon themselves to address some of the issues that ought to have been addressed a long time ago.

Guma: And just quickly on that, several questions on that, maybe final question just for this week – when is Kwa Mereki opening?

Masunda: as soon as I get the nod from the City Health Department that all their concerns from the health perspective have been addressed.

Guma: Well Zimbabwe that’s the Mayor of Harare, Mr Muchadeyi Masunda, because of time constraints we’ll probably have to split it again in two and have him again next week so that I can finish all the questions that you the listeners sent in. Many thanks to Mayor Masunda for joining us on part One.

Masunda: thank you and I look forward to taking part in the next segment.

To listen to the programme:

swradioafrica.2bctnd.net/02_12/qt220212.mp3

Feedback can be sent to lance@swradioafrica.com twitter.com/lanceguma or facebook.com/lance.guma

November 07, 2011 Food Allergies: the Hidden Culprit< Back By Henry C. Sobo, M.D.

FOOD ALLERGIES: THE HIDDEN CULPRIT

You may have food allergies and not even know it ! That’s because the typical symptoms that people identify as related to allergies–watery, itchy eyes, or sinus congestion, or a rash- are just the tip of the iceberg. Because there are many more effects that are not as commonly recognized as related to allergies, many people don’t get the help that they need.

 A very important point about food allergies is that the symptom onset may be delayed , making the allergy even more difficult for the doctor to detect. Let’s take the case of  migraine headaches which may be triggered by food sensitivities. the person who suffers from them has never noticed that the headache occurs after any particular type of food is ingested. That’s because the onset of the headache may not necessarily start shortly after the food is ingested. the headache may not even occur on the same day, but may arise the day after.

Other symptoms which may be related to food allergies include anxiety, irritability, , asthma,  joint pain, and irritable bowel.  many times  a variety of medical specialists may be  consulted looking for  a diagnosis related to that body part   where the person has symptoms.

One person may see a neurologist for recurring headaches, while another sees a gastroenterologist for abdominal cramping and diarrhea. another perosn is a  repeat visitor to the dermatologist’s office because of recurring rashes  These people have  very different symptoms which have the same cause-food sensitivities.  Consider yet another scenario  which causes something of  a medical mystery. A person feeling very fatigued is tested by their doctor for ailments typically known to cause fatigue- anemia or thyroid problems, for example. the doctor doesn’t find anything wrong and sometimes concludes "it’s all in the patient’s head". what might  never considered is that food sensitivities themselves may manifest in some people as generalized fatigue, and when they have muscular and joint pains  they may suffer form fibromyalgia -chronic fatigue syndrome.

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing symptoms , some of which have been troublesome for years, relieved when the true underlying cause was discovered and treated. For instance some patients who describe themselves as having a “ sensitive stomach” suffering from abdominal discomfortfor years , find themselves relieved of these symptoms when the offending food sensitivities are identified and avoided. others who see themselves as “headache prone” and assume that stress is responsible, find relief when they know what foods to avoid.

A simple in office testing procedure can be done to properly identify these food sensitivities. It is also important to understand that a program of desensitization can relieve the person of their symptoms so that it is possible to eventually reintroduce the food into the diet without adverse effects.

Henry C. Sobo, M.D. practices Integrative Medicine in Stanford, CT.  For more information see his website at drsobo.com or call the office at 203-348-8805

Address: 111 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT Email: 

if you are experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure, consult your doctor. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

THE risks of high blood pressure are well known. But low blood pressure can be problematic, too. Here?s what to do.

We all know having high blood pressure puts you at risk of a heart attack and stroke, but what if your blood pressure is too low? a growing number of people are seeking treatment for hypotension (low blood pressure), says cardiologist Dr Gautam Vaddadi from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Research Institute in Melbourne. “People assume low blood pressure is good because they won’t have a heart attack,” he says. “But if your blood pressure is too low you can be prone to recurrent fainting, which is disabling.” low blood pressure doesn’t always cause problems, but symptoms can include: + Dizziness+ Blurred vision + Feeling shaky+ Nausea+ Fatigue+ Fainting

>> why it happensSome people have a natural tendency to low blood pressure, but even if you know you have it, symptoms such as dizziness or fainting should be investigated. It can also be a sign of something more serious. “call an ambulance if someone passes out and it’s the first time it’s happened,” Dr Vaddadi says. Some people look as though they are having a seizure and can lose control of their bladder or bowels when they faint. there could be underlying factors including heart disease, brain disease (stroke, epilepsy) or other metabolic or blood disorders.Some drugs, particularly those for high blood pressure, can cause blood pressure to become too low. Diuretics, which increase the amount of urine your kidneys excrete, can cause blood pressure to drop, as can some antibiotics. a Canadian study found people on blood-pressure medication and certain antibiotics were up to six times more likely to be hospitalised for low blood pressure.

>> Diet’s roleIf you drink a lot of caffeine and not enough water, you risk dehydration, which can cause your blood pressure to drop. And if you drink a lot of alcohol and don’t eat enough, your blood pressure can drop so low you pass out, Dr Vaddadi says. “It’s not what you expect to hear from a cardiologist, but sometimes a bit of salt can make dizzy spells go away,” he says. Smaller meals can also help. “when you eat a big meal, blood is diverted to the gut to help digestion, so some people with low blood pressure can pass out.”

>> How to avoid fainting“when someone faints, people often feel they should prop them up or support them,” Dr Vaddadi says. “however, lying down gets blood to the brain more quickly. sometimes you can prevent a fainting spell by crossing your legs in a standing position and clenching your buttocks and thighs for 10 to 15 seconds.” this squeezes the blood vessels in the legs and allows more blood to reach the brain.

“I was worried I’d faint at the altar”Laura Greaves, 30, has had low blood pressure for most of her life. “the first time I fainted I was about 12, but it didn’t occur to me it might be blood pressure-related. For about 10 years, from the age of 15 or so, I’d faint a handful of times a year. I passed out in some pretty strange places! I was eventually diagnosed with low blood pressure.“I rarely feel the actual fall and I don’t seem to lose consciousness - as soon as I’m on the ground I come good. “the fainting always starts the same way: the edges of my vision go dark and everything goes black pretty quickly. if I’m talking to someone, their voice will recede into the distance. “I’ve fainted in several queues. Standing still for an extended period is a trigger, especially if it’s hot or stuffy. “I was so worried I’d faint at the altar during my wedding that my now-husband and I worked out a signalling system in case I suddenly felt I was going to pass out. Luckily, the ceremony was uneventful. “I avoid long queues or other circumstances where I have to stand up for a long time. I don’t skip meals and I try to stay hydrated. Earlier this year I nearly fainted while driving, which was a bit scary, but I managed to pull over and it quickly passed.”

November 07, 2011 Food Allergies: The Hidden Culprit< Back by Henry C. Sobo, M.D.

FOOD ALLERGIES: THE HIDDEN CULPRIT

You may have food allergies and not even know it ! That’s because the typical symptoms that people identify as related to allergies–watery, itchy eyes, or sinus congestion, or a rash- are just the tip of the iceberg. Because there are many more effects that are not as commonly recognized as related to allergies, many people don’t get the help that they need.

 a very important point about food allergies is that the symptom onset may be delayed , making the allergy even more difficult for the doctor to detect. Let’s take the case of  migraine headaches which may be triggered by food sensitivities. The person who suffers from them has never noticed that the headache occurs after any particular type of food is ingested. That’s because the onset of the headache may not necessarily start shortly after the food is ingested. The headache may not even occur on the same day, but may arise the day after.

Other symptoms which may be related to food allergies include anxiety, irritability, , asthma,  joint pain, and irritable bowel.  many times  a variety of medical specialists may be  consulted looking for  a diagnosis related to that body part   where the person has symptoms.

One person may see a neurologist for recurring headaches, while another sees a gastroenterologist for abdominal cramping and diarrhea. another perosn is a  repeat visitor to the dermatologist’s office because of recurring rashes  These people have  very different symptoms which have the same cause-food sensitivities.  consider yet another scenario  which causes something of  a medical mystery. a person feeling very fatigued is tested by their doctor for ailments typically known to cause fatigue- anemia or thyroid problems, for example. The doctor doesn’t find anything wrong and sometimes concludes "it’s all in the patient’s head". What might  never considered is that food sensitivities themselves may manifest in some people as generalized fatigue, and when they have muscular and joint pains  they may suffer form fibromyalgia -chronic fatigue syndrome.

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing symptoms , some of which have been troublesome for years, relieved when the true underlying cause was discovered and treated. for instance some patients who describe themselves as having a “ sensitive stomach” suffering from abdominal discomfortfor years , find themselves relieved of these symptoms when the offending food sensitivities are identified and avoided. Others who see themselves as “headache prone” and assume that stress is responsible, find relief when they know what foods to avoid.

A simple in office testing procedure can be done to properly identify these food sensitivities. It is also important to understand that a program of desensitization can relieve the person of their symptoms so that it is possible to eventually reintroduce the food into the diet without adverse effects.

Henry C. Sobo, M.D. practices Integrative Medicine in Stanford, CT.  for more information see his website at drsobo.com or call the office at 203-348-8805

Address: 111 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT Email: 

It’s not just “bad” food that causes problems with digestion and absorption. any food, including “good” foods have the potential to be an allergen in the body. Food allergies are very common and very often overlooked. In fact, many medical professionals don’t look for food allergies because they fundamentally don’t believe in them. However, the evidence for food allergies is overwhelming and most private labs offer food allergy testing.

There are 4 main categories of food allergies to become aware of so you can identify them. When most people, including many medical professionals hear the word “allergy” they think of the typical symptoms like skin rash, hives, swollen throat, itchy watery eyes, and nasal discharge. However, this really only reflects one type of allergy, the IgE-mediated Immediate Sensitivity reaction. The chart below describes the differences between the 4 categories of food allergies you should distinguish between.

IgE-Mediated Immediate Sensitivity

IgG-Mediated Delayed Sensitivity

Within minutes after exposure

2-48 hours after exposure

Most likely 30min to 2 hours after exposure

Most likely within minutes after exposure

Blood draw for IgG levels

Electrodermal testing

IgE and histamine release from mast cells

IgG released from white blood cells

Deficiency of an enzyme to break down the food

IgE-mediated immediate sensitivity allergies occur when a protein triggers the release of histamine from de-granulated mast cells. The symptoms usually occur within minutes and are usually relatively severe and sometimes cause anaphylaxis. This type of allergy is most commonly induced by nuts, peanuts, shellfish, citrus, and environmental allergens like pollen, dander, and mold. IgE-mediated allergies are relatively uncommon for most other foods. The best way to test for IgE-mediated allergies is through skin prick testing. Anti-histamines provide relief for this type of allergy.

IgG-mediated delayed sensitivity allergies occur when a protein triggers the release of immunoglobulin G (IgG), an inflammatory product from white blood cells in the digestive tract. The symptoms usually occur anywhere from 2 to 48 hours after exposure and are of a more chronic and inflammatory nature. Common signs and symptoms include indigestion, gas, bloating, cramping, eczema, psoriasis, headaches, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and edema. Anti-histamines do not improve these symptoms because histamine production is not involved. The best way to test for IgG-mediated allergies is to examine a blood sample for immunoglobulin G production from the white blood cell population.

Food intolerances are not a true allergy because they do not involve an immune-mediated response. Food intolerances occur when the body lacks an enzyme to break down certain food molecules. The most well known example is lactose intolerance where the body is deficient the enzyme lactose. therefore, whenever dairy products are consumed lactose is not broken down and causes digestive upset. Enzyme deficiencies can occur for almost any food and are not actually a true allergy but nonetheless cause digestive symptoms.

like food intolerances, food sensitivities are technically not a true allergy because there is no known measurable immune system response. In fact, we understand very little about the causes and mechanisms of food sensitivities. The best way to test for food sensitivity is through an elimination diet and ruling out IgE allergy, IgG allergy, and food intolerance. The treatment for food sensitivity is elimination or rotation diet.

In next week’s column we will investigate the physical causes of poor digestion. To learn more about natural treatments for digestion or to schedule a consultation contact Dr. Barlow at 250-860-8855.

How important is good digestion?good digestion is (at least) as important as good food. If one’s food is perfect but ferments in the stomach and decays in the intestine, it enters the blood stream as what? – a poison.  Spoiled food is deadly, and that which spoils in the body is as poisonous as that which spoils outside the body. a poor diet well digested will do the body more good than good food if it is not well digested.Does your dietary intake of food supply you with the necessary nutrients to maintain superb health?  many of us that have made sweeping reforms in our diets will, unhesitatingly, reply yes.  then, why are we and our families falling sick, symptoms of ill health?

Basis of good digestion – enzyme powerHow can we be free of disease, the condition of ill-health, as God intends? Apparently, the answer lies in the proper digestion and absorption of foods you eat.  No matter how high the quality of your foods, no matter how carefully, painstakingly prepared, you still run the risk of declining health if your food does not feed you.  That’s right – your food must feed your system all of its nutrients and this is accomplished by proper digestion by enzymes.  If you lack digestive enzymes, then digestion works against your health by failing to extract vital life-giving vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates – essential to human life & health.

How do we rebuild enzyme power?If good digestion and absorption requires good enzyme power to actually do the work of digesting food material; then we must understand how to obtain the maximum power from our digestive enzymes. (Good digestion begins in your mouth!).  This means you must chew more if you expect enzymes to do a good job. the first enzyme in the digestive tract is found in the saliva of the mouth.  to be completely digested, all starches should be thoroughly chewed.We can indeed enter into the realm of an enzyme’s experience.  If we chew a dry piece of bread or toast, or any other starchy food thoroughly, the flavour will change to a distinct sweetness.  This increased sweetness is actually the digesting of the starches to simpler sugars.

Hasty eatingSeeing how important the process of chewing is to the proper digestion and absorption of nutrients, we will soon realise one outstanding reason why our Divine Dietician instructs his pupils in Proverbs 14:29 “But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly”, for folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom.   Hasty eating is said to be the folly of our lives, we were born knowing the way to chew. 

The effect of hasty eatingThe food should be prepared for the stomach by thorough chewing to enable saliva enzymes to work on starchy foods.  since many people bolt in 10 minutes of chewing, digestion that should begin in the mouth is given no time to begin there, and the work that is not completed here must be done, if done at all, further down.  This is a very common cause of indigestion.If starches are bolted or washed down with liquids, the food passes by so quickly.  There is then added a burden on the starch-splitting enzymes in the small intestine, and often the starch digestion is incomplete, therefore, as is the case of all undigested food that passes from the body, they become lost nutrition that could have aided the body and are now useless waste to be removed.Unfortunately, before the neglected food leaves the body, it takes its toil.  Improperly chewed food requires more stomach muscle action, causing a strain in the digestive system because your stomach must work harder to accomplish what your flaws should have done.  This bears out the truth that as you gulp down your foods without vital chewing, you run the risk of cramps and stomach pains because of the vigorous activity of the stomach.  these are only some of the curses of hasty eating, with time, the curses become more pronounced.

Enjoy your well chewed meals from today and feel the difference!!

National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTBCP)HIV weakens the immune system and increases the chances of developing other infections. these infections are called opportunistic infections’ because they take opportunity of your weakened immune system. TB is one of these opportunistic infections.Yes TB is curable even when you are living with HIV. the medicines that fight TB work just as well in people living with HIV as they do in people who are not living with HIV. the benefits of good nutrition when on TB treatment and living with HIV cannot be over emphasised. It will improve one’s quality of life; make you stay alive. Move and work efficiently. your doctor will decide which combination of medicines will work best for you. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is for life while TB treatment is taken for at least six months. It is important  that people who have TB get tested for HIV as soon as possible so that they can receive treatment for HIV and other HIV-related infections if found to be positive. NTBCP contact details: 24042431

Integrated Diabetes Prevention and Care Programme (IDIAP) SwazilandDiabetes is a lifetime disease which develops as a result of failure of insulin production, insulin action or both since insulin regulates the use of sugar in the body these will result in a chronic rise of blood sugar, causing damages in the brain, kidneys, heart, eyes and nerves.Insulin is a chemical or hormone which is made by the pancreas. It enables body cells to take in sugar from the blood and use it for energy. the warning sins of diabetes include: frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased hunger, blurred vision, weight loss, tiredness, lack of concentration and frequent infections. Individuals who experience these symptoms should consult the nearest health facility immediately. Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented in individual at high risk of developing it by using cost-effective interventions: healthy diet and physical exercise to maintain an ideal body weight. you need to visit health centre to know your body mass Index (BMI).unfortunately, diabetes is ‘not curable’ as yet but it is ‘controllable’ in order to prevent its chronic complications which lead to high death rates. Complications of diabetes include poor erection in men, diabetic ulcers, stroke and heart disease, among others.IDIAP Office contacts: Tel 7713 1727 Hatzin Centre Room F2 new Satellite Bus Rank Manzini

The Swaziland Breast Cancer Network (SBCN)The vision of the Swaziland Breast Cancer Network is to be an efficient and effective provider of breast cancer services in Swaziland. the vision is attained through collaboration with strategic partners and working close with the medical community to make cancer treatments accessible and affordable for the people. its mission is to assist in improving the survival rates of people directly affected by breast cancer in Swaziland through awareness creation, counselling and advocacy.Breast cancer occurs when unhealthy cells grow in the breast. Breast cancer is affecting a growing number of women in Swaziland. To date breast cancer includes women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and above. a small percentage of men are seen with breast cancer too. When breast cancer is found and treated in its early stages there is a greater chance of long-term survival.To reduce your risk of breast cancer: early detection is the key. By doing breast self-examination (BSE) every month you will get to know your breasts; their shape, size and feel. most breast changes are not cancerous, but if you find one you should be checked by a doctor immediately. all women and men should do a BSE every month. Young women should do a BSE one week after their monthly period. After menopause, pick the same day each month to do a BSE; same for men. To reduce your chances of breast take a walk or join in fitness activities and exercise regularly; eat a LOWFAT diet rich in fruits and vegetables; don’t become over weight and do not smoke cigarettes. Remember if you have a family history of breast cancer the risk is higher.Contact days: Tuesday Manzini City Council & Thursday Room4 Mbabane Government Hospital

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation SwazilandThe Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation began supporting the government of the Kingdom of eSwatini in 2004 to prevent HIV infections and reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality among women, children and families. the Foundation’s strategic support mirrors the comprehensive prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) approach adopted by the ministry of Health and is part of the national PMTCT and HIV care and treatment programmes.since 2008, the Foundation has realigned its approach in Swaziland to focus on the integration of comprehensive, quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services into maternal and child health settings for pregnant women, their children and their spouses. Approximately 180 000 people are living with HIV in Swaziland. of those 14 000 are children under the age of 15 (UNAIDS, Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2010). the Foundation currently supports 59 sites providing PMTCT services and six sites supplying care and treatment (C & T) support to women, children and families living with or affected by HIV and AIDS.EGPAF Office contact details: 240408081, new Mall building Mbabane.

SokaUncobe – Medical Male Circumcision National CampaignCircumcision is a minor surgical procedure for removing the fold of skin (foreskin) that covers the head of the penis. To support your son throughout the process of counselling; operation, rest; and check. if your son is younger than 18 years you as a parent or guardian are requested to give informed consent for the procedure to be done by signing a consent form. This can be done in the following ways. the parent or guardian can independently bring the youngster to the clinic to give consent. the school will send you consent forms to sign and all necessary information will be provided to you by the guidance and counselling officer or at any, SokaUncobe site. a clinical counselor may be requested to come to the community to talk to parents and their consent.in the days and weeks following the operation you will be a great support to your son. Encourage him to go for a check-up on the 2nd and 7th day after the operation. Ensure he follows the clinic’s instruction. Sex and masturbation are not allowed for six weeks after circumcision and the longer your son abstains the greater the benefit. if he experiences severe pain, swelling, bleeding or any signs of infection, call the emergency number or return to the clinic/ nearest health facility.  Dial 977 for more information.