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| UK Physician Believes He's Found Proof of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ImmuneSupport.com 08-10-2005 Doctor takes stigma out of 'yuppie flu' By Deborah Haile Dr. Raymond Perrin believes he has proof that chronic fatigue syndrome - once dubbed yuppie flu - has a physical cause. For years sufferers of CFS - which includes ME - have lived under the stigma of being diagnosed with a condition that many dismissed as being in the mind. But Manchester osteopath Dr. Perrin believes he has proved that the debilitating syndrome is the physical result of the way the body deals with toxins. He believes a picture of varicose lymphatic vessels taken during a research project at Salford University shows for the first time the "backflow" of lymphatic drainage that he believes is the cause of toxin build-up. And it is this accumulation of toxins in the central nervous system, which Dr. Perrin believes is the cause of conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and ME. Valves Dr. Perrin, who runs clinics in Prestwich, central Manchester and London, said: "Normally these vessels are the size of the thinnest pencil line and you can't usually see them without a magnifying glass, but the fact they are swollen like this is significant. There is a backflow against the valves. "Very rarely can you see these, but with every person I have seen in the last 16 years with chronic fatigue syndrome you can feel them under the surface. It means this person has had ME for a number of years." Until now experts have believed that valves in the lymphatic vessels only allowed the flow of fluids in one direction. But Dr. Perrin says these varicose lymphatic vessels - which resemble varicose veins but are the same colour of the skin instead of a bluish colour - are the proof that the backflow exists, when vessels are damaged, allowing toxins to concentrate in the central nervous system. He revealed the picture at a seminar at Salford University. He hopes to publish it in a respected medical journal later in the year. Margaret Cannon, who had to give up work because of the condition, said: "After about three months of Raymond's treatment my concentration was restored and the symptoms improved greatly." © Copyright 2005 Manchester Evening News. Online at http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/health/s/168/168143_doctor_takes_stigma_out_of_yuppie_flu.html |
| Health Benefits of a Positive Attitude - Optimists v. Pessimists Studies show that your mental health can influence your physical health. And certain personality traits such as optimism or pessimism can influence how well you live and even how long you live. Individuals who do not have psychiatric problems but score very high on a personality test pessimism scale have a 30 percent increased risk of developing dementia several decades later. The same is true of individuals who score very high on the test's depression scale. The risk is even higher -- 40 percent more -- for individuals who score very high on both anxiety and pessimism scales. Being an optimist may help reduce your risk of dying from heart disease and other causes. A Dutch study found that people who described themselves as being highly optimistic had lower rates of cardiovascular death and less risk of any cause of death than people who said they were highly pessimistic. The study included more than 900 men and women, aged 65 to 85, who filled out a questionnaire on health, self-respect, morale, optimism and relationships. Those who reported high levels of optimism had a 55 percent lower risk of death from all causes and a 23 percent lower risk of cardiovascular death than people who reported high levels of pessimism. The protective effect of being optimistic seemed to offer stronger protection against all-cause death for men than for women. "In conclusion, we found that the trait of optimism was an important long-term determinant of all cause and cardiovascular mortality in elderly subjects, independent of sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors," the study authors wrote. "A predisposition toward optimism seemed to provide a survival benefit in elderly subjects with relatively short life expectancies otherwise," the authors added. The findings appear in the November 2004 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? How you answer that question may reflect your outlook on life and whether you view situations positively or negatively. Negative thoughts 'make you ill' Having negative thoughts really could make you more illness-prone, say scientists. A study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences links "negative" brain activity with a weakened immune system. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison studied people with high levels of brain activity in a region linked to negative thoughts. Those with the highest activity levels responded worse to a flu vaccine. Scientists already knew that pessimists - people rated as more sensitive to negative events - show more activity in a part of the brain called the right pre-frontal cortex. More activity in the left pre-frontal cortex is linked to positive emotional responses. A new study is the first to demonstrate a link between positive feelings, or “positive affect,” and reduced risk of AIDS mortality, said lead author Dr. Judith Tedlie Moskowitz, of San Francisco’s University of California. The study included information on the physical progression of HIV/AIDS and the emotional well being of 407 HIV-positive men from the San Francisco area between 1984 and 1993. More than half of the men died during the study. Dr. Moskowitz found that the men who scored highest on a scale used to measure positive affect had a significantly reduced risk of dying from AIDS at any point during the study. The power of positive feeling remained strong even when other factors were considered, such as high white blood cell counts and the use of antiretroviral medicine, she said. Measurements of negative feeling and interpersonal relationships were not significantly related to the risk of dying from AIDS, indicating that positive affect is the “active ingredient” in the association between emotional well-being and AIDS mortality, Dr. Moskowitz said. Although, it remains unclear how emotional health could affect mortality, she suggests that positive feeling may give a boost to protective elements of the immune system or encourage healthy behaviors among men with HIV. |
| LYMPHLAND |
| Fibromyalgia Is Not a Rheumatologic Disease Anymore
Posted 02/25/2008 George T. Griffing, MD Author Information Think of your last patient with difficult-to-treat fibromyalgia: Aren't they all? Did you refer that person to a rheumatologist? Since the 1950s, when it was first described by Dr. Graham, "fibrositis" or fibromyalgia was thought to be a rheumatologic disorder because it was characterized by musculoskeletal pain similar to other rheumatologic diseases.[1] In 1990, The American College of Rheumatology established diagnostic criteria based on the scoring of 18 potential tender points.[2] It turns out, however, that these tender points have nothing to do with fibromyalgia. Biopsy of the tender points shows no pathologic changes, and numerous studies have not shown any abnormalities in the musculoskeletal tissues that are painful. Current evidence points to a neurologic disorder of central pain processing.[3] Fibromyalgia patients experience pain differently and have lower pain thresholds compared to normals. Research has demonstrated that various pain-related processes in the brain and spinal cord are abnormal in fibromyalgia.[4] But more work remains to be done. Market surveys show the number one class of drugs used to treat fibromyalgia is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.[5] Since fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory disease, it is not surprising we have a lot of treatment failures. The pharmaceutical industry knows this, and they are viewing fibromyalgia as the prototypical central pain state. The 2 main drug classes of interest are the dual receptor reuptake inhibitors, like duloxetine or Cymbalta, and the antiepileptic drugs, like pregabalin or Lyrica. In fact, pregabalin has shown enough efficacy, that it is the first and only drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia.[6] Therefore, in the future, with new insights and therapies on the horizon, we will no longer need to refer our fibromyalgia patients to the rheumatologist. That's my opinion. I'm Dr. George Griffing, Professor of Medicine at St. Louis University and Editor-in-Chief of Internal Medicine for eMedicine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reader Comments on: Fibromyalgia Is Not a Rheumatologic Disease Anymore See reader comments on this article and provide your own. Readers are encouraged to respond to the author at griffigt@slu.edu or to George Lundberg, MD, Editor in Chief of The Medscape Journal of Medicine, for the editor's eyes only or for possible publication as an actual Letter in the Medscape Journal via email: glundberg@medscape.net |
| Fibromyalgia myths: The truth about 9 common myths
Get the facts about these nine common fibromyalgia myths. Learning all you can about fibromyalgia is the first step toward gaining control of your symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a widely misunderstood condition that causes widespread pain and fatigue. If you've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and are trying to learn all you can about the condition, you may come across some of the many common myths and misconceptions about fibromyalgia. Don't let these myths confuse you or discourage you from seeking help for your fibromyalgia symptoms. Here's a look at nine common myths about fibromyalgia and why each is wrong. Myth: Most doctors don't believe fibromyalgia is a real condition. Truth: This myth may come from a misunderstanding. Since fibromyalgia is defined by a list of symptoms, claiming that fibromyalgia isn't real is essentially saying that your symptoms aren't real. That doesn't make sense. Most doctors believe your symptoms are real. The controversy comes when deciding whether fibromyalgia is a disease process that can be reversed or cured. Most doctors believe fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms that aren't caused by an underlying disease. Most doctors believe that fibromyalgia symptoms can be managed, but there is no underlying disease to "cure." In some cases, a doctor may not be familiar with fibromyalgia. He or she can refer you to someone who knows more about the condition. Finding a compassionate doctor can be a frustrating part of living with fibromyalgia. But don't give up if you haven't found the perfect doctor. Focus on finding a doctor who is willing to listen to you and take you seriously. Finding a doctor who's an expert on fibromyalgia may not be practical, for instance, if there aren't many specialists in your area. But a doctor who's willing to learn more about fibromyalgia and listen to your concerns can be an invaluable ally. Myth: Fibromyalgia damages your joints. Truth: Though fibromyalgia pain can be severe at times, it doesn't damage your bones, joints or muscles. Some people worry that when pain worsens, it means that fibromyalgia is progressing. But that isn't the case. While increasing fibromyalgia pain can make it difficult to go about your daily activities, it isn't damaging your body. Myth: You look fine, so there's nothing wrong with you. Truth: You know this is a myth, but friends, family and co-workers who don't understand fibromyalgia may sometimes hold this belief. It can cause tension when others wonder if you're faking your pain because they think you don't look sick. Resist the urge to get angry and withdraw rather than explain how you're feeling. Open and honest communication can help others better understand fibromyalgia. Be honest about how you feel and let others know that if they have questions, you're willing to listen and explain. Myth: You were diagnosed with fibromyalgia because your doctor couldn't find anything wrong with you. Truth: Fibromyalgia is a specific diagnosis based on your symptoms, not a diagnosis you're given when there's nothing wrong with you. The American College of Rheumatology developed a set of criteria to help doctors diagnose fibromyalgia. Diagnosing fibromyalgia often takes time. Since there's no single test that can confirm you have fibromyalgia, your doctor will often run tests and procedures to rule out other conditions. Enduring repeated tests can be frustrating, but it's an important part of determining whether your symptoms are caused by fibromyalgia or something else. The results will guide your treatment. Myth: Fibromyalgia causes pain. Those other symptoms you're experiencing must be caused by something else. Truth: Fibromyalgia can cause symptoms in addition to pain. Many people with fibromyalgia also experience fatigue and difficulty sleeping. Other fibromyalgia symptoms may include headaches, sensitivity to light, dizziness, memory problems, and numbness and tingling in your arms and legs. A number of other conditions commonly accompany fibromyalgia, including irritable bowel syndrome, bladder control problems and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Myth: No treatments for fibromyalgia exist, so it's no use going to the doctor. Truth: There's no standard treatment for fibromyalgia, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved just one drug for treating fibromyalgia. But you have many options for controlling fibromyalgia pain, including medications, lifestyle changes, and complementary and alternative treatments. Often you'll need to try a few treatments in different combinations to determine what works best. Myth: On days when you're feeling good, you should try to do as much as you can since you may be unable to accomplish everything you want on other days. Truth: Overdoing it on the good days may catch up with you. You may feel exhausted the next day and your fibromyalgia symptoms could worsen. But that doesn't mean you should keep your activity to a minimum. Doing very little could weaken your muscles and increase your pain. Cope with the good days and the not-so-good days by finding a balance. Pace yourself. Set goals for each day. Your goals should be reasonable. And they should include daily exercise and time for yourself, such as time to relax or listen to music. Myth: Fibromyalgia is a life-threatening disease. Truth: Fibromyalgia isn't fatal and it doesn't damage your body. Fibromyalgia symptoms fluctuate over time, sometimes getting worse and sometimes becoming milder. Fibromyalgia pain rarely disappears completely, but you can learn to gain some control over it. Myth: You can't have a productive life with fibromyalgia. Truth: Learning to control your fibromyalgia pain takes time. It's likely that the pain will never completely go away and you'll have to accept that your life might never be the same. But that doesn't mean your life can't be satisfying and productive. Work with your doctor to adapt your daily activities so that you can have time and energy for what's important to you. Your strategy may include a number of approaches, such as setting goals, for instance, making time for relaxation exercises every day, or making lifestyle changes, such as walking most days of the week. |
