A Victim of Routine

Many people are victims of circumstances, victims of wind and weather, victims of flood and tornado, victims of war and many other hazards. But, had it occurred to you that you may also become the victim of routine? The definition - "a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program."

What is routine? It's a sort of habit, doing things in a constant way, adopting some regular mode of action in business or pleasure.  By definition - "a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program," and "pursuing a given course with little flexibility."

What is wrong with that? Nothing really, unless the habit becomes static, unproductive, or stale. Good habits aid in accomplishment, they guide you in a regular course, making things come easily and/or quickly - all to the good. Thus, there is more power to such a positive routine.

Of course, there is a chance of becoming a victim of negative routine, constantly doing things the hard way, being unwilling to change, holding fast to an antiquated pattern of life, giving too much attention to time-consuming, unprofitable details. Such routine needs to be modified and brought up-to-date.

In a broader sense, there is also routine in politics, in religion, and in health methods. Voting for the same party regardless of policies, holding fast to one political group or to fixed methods. Religion likewise becomes more or less static with many people. Prayers are sometimes routine - asking the blessing is a good example. People in general follow fixed patterns; even the Lord's Prayer is more or less a matter of rote (a committal to memory), without thought to its true meaning. Had you thought of that?

And, what about health methods? What is your pattern when ill? Do you rely on aspirin, pain killers, tranquilizers, shots, vitamins, and vaccines without thought about the side effects and consequences to your overall general health? Are you a victim of treatment routine?

What is health anyway? Is health something that can be bought and sold, or taken by the dose, or acquired on a doctor's prescription? Have you ever analyzed the question? Can health be injected by a hypodermic or grafted on by surgery? Think about it!

Doctors of chiropractic have a different approach. We look upon the body as God's masterpiece, a unit composed of many elements, all arranged in systems having definite functions, organized and harmonized through the nervous system.

What relationship does the spine hold to health? All functions and activities of the body are directed and controlled through the nervous system. You recognize this, perhaps, but do you realize that shocks and strains on the spine sometimes cause a vertebra to be displaced to a degree resulting in nerve interference that disturbs function, lowers resistance,and results in dis-ease.

Antibacterial Soap Overuse May Help Spread Disease

From an August 1st MSNBC article come news that scrubbing your hands too often with antibacterial soap may actually have the opposite effect and make you and others more susceptible to disease.

Doctors at the summer scientific meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology said that, "When overused, the relatively harsh detergent action of antibacterial soaps leaves you vulnerable to open sores that can attract bacteria, resulting in skin problems such as eczema."

Dr. Marianne O’Donoghue, associate professor of dermatology at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago in referring to over washing with antibacterial soap said,

"This begins a vicious cycle, whereby a person who develops hand eczema or another form of dermatitis touches a surface, leaving microscopic germs behind. Another person comes along, touches that surface and he too can be infected with the bacteria."

Dr. William Baugh, chief of dermatology at the Beaufort Naval Hospital in Beaufort, S.C., agreed. “I’ve seen patients who have developed hand eczema from these [antibacterial] products,” he said. “It certainly can occur [and spread].” Baugh went on to say, “When I ask patients [with eczema] how often they wash their hands, they say 20 to 25 times a day. They think they are being good citizens by washing frequently. But you can over do a good thing.”

Presently it is estimated from a recent survey that nearly half of 1,100 liquid and solid soaps contain antibacterial agents. From a dermatologist’s point of view, antibacterials are among the most worrisome products contributing to skin problems, O’Donoghue said. She continued, “They literally strip away fatty acids, moisture and amino acid from the skin.” Baugh added, "Overuse of antibacterials is worse than frequent use of other soaps as chemicals in the detergents strip away the naturally protective fats and oils on the skin."

Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy Damages the Unborn Brain

Reuters Health news service ran an article dated Feb 10, that stated that researchers now know how drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect the brain of a fetus. This study also published in the February 11, 2000 issue of the Journal of Science, was conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Missouri.

One of the authors, Dr. John Olney, stated that "Its a mechanism that involves interfering with basic transmitter of the systems in the brain, which literally drives the brains nerve cells to commit suicide." The shocking part of the report was that it was reported that just one episode of getting drunk during the third trimester of pregnancy would be enough to damage the brain of a fetus.

Effects alcohol could have on the baby

When you drink, the alcohol quickly travels through your bloodstream, crosses the placenta, and reaches your baby. Your baby breaks down alcohol more slowly than you do, so she may end up with higher levels of blood alcohol than you have.

Drinking endangers your growing baby in a number of ways: It increases the risk of a miscarriage and stillbirth. As little as one drink a day can raise the odds for having a baby with a low birth weight and raise your child's risk for having problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity.

Some research has shown that expectant moms who have as little as one drink a week are more likely than nondrinkers to have children who later exhibit aggressive and delinquent behavior. One study found that girls whose mothers drank during pregnancy are more likely to have mental health problems.

"Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders" (FASD) is the term experts use to describe the range of problems related to alcohol exposure before birth. The most severe result of alcohol use is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a lifelong condition characterized by poor growth (in the womb, after birth, or both), abnormal facial features, and damage to the central nervous system.

Babies with FAS may also have abnormally small heads and brains, as well as heart, spine, and other anatomical defects. The central nervous system damage may include mental retardation, delays in physical development, vision and hearing problems, and a variety of behavioral problems.

Frequent drinking (seven or more alcoholic drinks per week, including liquor, wine, and beer) or binge drinking (four or more drinks on any one occasion) greatly increases the risk that your baby will suffer from FAS. Even babies whose mothers drink less can also develop this syndrome. Babies exposed to alcohol before birth – even if they don't have the full spectrum of FAS – may still be born with some of these birth defects or later exhibit a number of mental, physical, or behavioral problems.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fetal exposure to alcohol is one of the main preventable causes of birth defects and developmental problems in this country. More than 10 percent of women in the United States drink during pregnancy, and about 1 in 50 pregnant women binge drink. The babies of all these women are at risk for alcohol-related effects.

I personally met and photographed Dr. Hans Selye at Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1974.

"The Stress of Life" is a perennial bestseller by Hans Selye, written in 1956. Selye almost single-handedly introduced the notion of stress into the worldwide consciousness. By doing so, Selye changed the way we think about ourselves, our values, and how we conduct our lives.

As Selye observed, stress is a double-edged sword. Many types of stress are good for people, both physiologically and personally. For example, Wolff's law states that bone will remodel (build more bone) along lines of mechanical stress. In other words, bone becomes stronger when it is subjected to physical loads. The physiological stress of weight-bearing exercise such as walking, running, and strength training helps prevent osteoporosis by making bone denser and more resilient. From a psychological perspective, the great German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, famously stated in "Twilight of the Idols" (1888), "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger." Apparently, Nietzsche (writing in the 19th century) was far ahead of Selye in pointing to the benefits (and dangers) of stress.

Life is filled with "good" stresses. A new love relationship, a new job, or a new baby may all provide great personal happiness and the experience of fulfillment and satisfaction. But each circumstance may also place new demands on us, calling on us to be and do much more than that of which we had previously thought ourselves capable. A person may develop all sorts of adaptive responses in attempts to cope with life's new requirements, but most of these adaptations are themselves stress-producing. Over time the adaptations become habits, stress becomes a day-by-day experience, and a host of physiological and psychological disorders and syndromes may appear.1,2 High blood pressure, diabetes, overweight/obesity, arthritis, insomnia, and depression may all be considered as long-term maladaptive responses to stress.3

Muscular aches and pains, muscle spasms, and headaches are common physiological responses to ongoing stress. A vicious circle develops in which stress leads to muscle tightness, which constricts blood vessels, which leads to headaches, which leads to more muscle tightness, more pain, and even more stress. One's day seems to become filled with stress and stress reactions. The good news is that means of ending these vicious circles of stress are available. Present time consciousness, regular exercise and a healthy diet, sufficient rest, and regular chiropractic care comprise a powerful tool kit for restoring balance in one's life.

1Wu EL, et al: Increased risk of hypertension in patients with major depressive disorder: a population-based study. J Psychosom Res 73(3):169-174, 2012

2Hristova MG: Metabolic syndrome - From the neurotrophic hypothesis to a theory. Med Hypotheses 2013 July 27 [Epub ahead of print]

3Martocchia A, et al: Targets of anti-glucocorticoid therapy for stress-related diseases. Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov 8(1):79-87, 2013

The Different Types of Multiple Sclerosis

In some ways, each person with multiple sclerosis lives with a different illness. Although nerve damage is always involved, the pattern is unique for each individual with MS. Specific experiences with MS may vary widely, but doctors and researchers have identified several major types of MS. The categories are important because they help predict disease severity and response to treatment.

Myths and Facts About Multiple Sclerosis

If you're getting a lot of confusing advice about living with multiple sclerosis, you're not alone. Friends may be quick to offer suggestions, but sometimes they just repeat old myths. Getting the facts straight can help you lead a full life.

Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

In primary progressive multiple sclerosis, symptoms continually worsen from the time of diagnosis. There are no well-defined attacks, and there is little or no recovery. Between 10% and 15% of people with MS have primary progressive MS.

Several aspects of primary progressive MS distinguish it from other types of MS:

• People with primary progressive MS are usually older at the time of diagnosis -- an average age of 40. 
• Roughly equal numbers of men and women develop primary progressive MS. In other types of MS, women outnumber men three to one. 
• Primary progressive MS usually leads to disability earlier than relapsing-remitting MS (see below). 

Perhaps the most upsetting difference in primary progressive MS is its poor response to treatment. So far, no treatments have been shown to help, although studies are ongoing.

Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Most people with multiple sclerosis, around 90%, have the relapsing-remitting type. Most people with this type of MS first experience symptoms in their early 20s. After that, there are periodic attacks (relapses), followed by partial or complete recovery (remissions).

The pattern of nerves affected, severity of attacks, degree of recovery, and time between relapses all vary widely from person to person. Eventually, most people with relapsing-remitting MS will enter a secondary progressive phase of MS.

Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

After living with relapsing-remitting MS for many years, most people will develop secondary progressive MS. In this type of MS, symptoms begin a steady march, without relapses or remissions. (In this way, secondary progressive MS is like primary progressive MS.) The transition typically occurs between 10 and 20 years after the diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS.

It's unclear why the disease makes the transformation from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive MS. A few things are known about the process:

• The older a person is at original diagnosis, the shorter the time for the disease to become secondary progressive. 
• People with incomplete recovery from initial relapses generally convert to secondary progressive MS sooner than those who recover completely. 
• The process of ongoing nerve damage changes. After the transformation, there's less inflammation, and more slow degeneration of nerves.

Secondary progressive MS is challenging to treat -- and to live with. Treatments are moderately effective at best. Progression occurs at a different rate in each person and generally leads to some disability.

Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Progressive relapsing multiple sclerosis is the least common form of the disease. Relapses or attacks occur periodically. However, symptoms continue and are progressive between relapses.

Progressive relapsing MS is rare enough that little is known about it. Probably around 5% of people with multiple sclerosis have this form. Progressive relapsing MS seems similar to primary progressive MS in many ways.