Some Common Medical Conditions

 

                                         Allergies/Hay Fever

   As the years go by typical “hay fever” allergies have increased. Some jokingly say it’s not possible to live in Chico without this phenomenon happening. Sneezing, sinus discharge, eyes watering, etc. are very common maladies. I have noted some recommended helps under the medications heading. If an obvious difficult day seems to be starting, preemptively using Astelin spray is often very effective in treating the worst days.

 

                                               Acid reflux

   Zantac worked well enough for a long time to keep this at bay, in later years it has not been enough. My gastroenterologist said he could prescribe newer “2 put together” prescription meds, but it really wasn't much different than Zantec morning and evening and Previcid once a day. These medications use different modes of action and are complimentary. This combination has worked very well and can be purchased reasonably in WalMart or Costco as private label OTC generics as the patents have expired. I have found the efficacy of Previcid to be much better than Prilosec.

 

                     Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse Issues

   ADHD, Bi-Polar disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, childhood abuse, and a host of other behavioral disorders.  A plethora of all kinds of substance abuse "diseases".  Nicotine can be classed as substance abuse as well because the health damage it causes and it's highly addictive nature.  Initial causes in many of these situations are entirely not the fault of the individual.  Nevertheless, an incredible amount of destruction in peoples live takes place needlessly because of one simple over-arching truth.  No one gets better until they make the decision on their own that they want to.  Anyone who's family has had an alchoholic in denial among it's members knows all that needs to be known about this concept.  All the wishing, hoping, money spent, and love lost will not change this simple truth.  Maybe it's a 23 year old bi-polar who refuses to comply with his meds because he's hooked on the mania high, or maybe a early 30's gal who knows Ecstasy isn't addictive but "chooses" the expansive "feel good" and keeps using on the weekends and living with the destructive aftermath during the work week, "I can stop anytime I want".  All the medical classification, politically correct labeling, and expensive psycho-babble will not change this immutable and fundamental law.  Is there problem specific help that can work?  Thank God nowadays almost always.  Will the available help be applied in a life changing, efficacious manner?  No less than tragically, in the vast majority of cases, no.

   After the recent passage of marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado the governor of California was asked if he thought it was a good idea for California to follow suit.  This is the Jerry Brown that was dating Linda Rondstat while governor his first time around in the 80's and at the time was nicknamed "Governor Moonbeam".  With all the life he has lived and seen, the liberal 76 year old governor's answer was startlingly accurate.  He said he understood all the personal liberty issues involved.  But then he answered by asking the honest, real life question, "Do we really need a whole bunch more people sitting around stoned all day?"  No governor, your speaking from a life's experience that's seen one heck of a lot, you are indeed correct.  We don't.  And truly, thank you for not just spouting the PC line of bullshit and speaking the truth.

 

                                                Diabetes

    There is no question that America is in the midst of an epidemic of diabetes. Dr. Robert Atkins predicted the continual worsening of this situation decades ago. “Other studies, especially a number carried out on rats from 1964 to 1982, have demonstrated, almost beyond the possibility of contradiction, how the whole process begins with a deterioration of glucose tolerance generally compensated for by hyperinsulinism and continues grimly on toward diabetes.” With the combination of genetic susceptibility and recent glucose level increases, in just the last few years I have followed my father, mother and older brother into type 2 diabetes. (My son became a type 1 diabetic at age 8.) I have followed my beliefs about assisting the pancreas with long-acting insulin rather than whipping the tired, worn-out insulin producing cells into making higher levels of insulin. At a recent annual physical my doctor said had I not been sitting in front of her, she would have said she was looking at lab panels of a healthy 30 yr old. This includes a hemoglobin A1c that was well into a normal range. Note: Due to different mechanisms of action, Levimir is preferable to Lantus.

 

                                                Obesity

   It probably would not be an overstatement to say that obesity is the result of an underlying disorder, rather than the disorder itself. Most obese people stay overweight eating less calories than do people at healthier weights. Since the metabolic disturbance causing this difference has mostly to do with hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance, it follows that by the fifth decade of their lives 85% of Type II diabetics are obese.  Dr. Mark Hyman's 10-Day Detox Diet and his crusade against what he has termed “Diabesity" addresses this exact issue. The strategies for maintaining a healthy weight are spread across most of this health plan. The point of not being obese isn’t looking good in a swimsuit or without one’s shirt, but is good health. If looking good in one’s clothes (or out of them) is a good motivator, then use it or anything else that works to get to the desired result.

                                            Sleep Apnea

   If you are among those afflicted with this problem, the American company Respironics has been manufacturing ventilators and other similar sophisticated hospital equipment for decades. They have applied the technological research of these machines to the manufacture of automatic positive air pressure machines. (APAP instead of CPAP) By having the hardware respond on a dynamic basis to the apnea needs of the individual, both brain levels of oxygen and comfort levels of the user are maintained more effectively. The health care establishment expends huge amounts of effort and cost of the health care support staff in this field in tuning and programming the CPAP machines. The best of the automatic machines can be set to fully automatic mode with a wide open range and the machine's programming is so good it will train itself to best performance for a patient more effectively then customized settings. (see brain health)

 

                   Weakness and Disc Deterioration of the Lower Spine

   This condition is a often a genetic weakness and is made worse by a sedentary lifestyle coupled with obesity. Strength training (core abdominal and back extention exercises), flexibility training, massage, hot tub/spa, and inversion table therapies are all very effective parts of an overall treatment plan. Chiropractic treatment I do not believe to be of much long-term use.  Serious spinal surgery is absolutely to be an avenue of last resort as the results rarely are stellar and more often far from it.  It is essential to use proper technique when lifting heavy items. Large amounts of heavy lifting should be avoided. And of course, so many of the other parts of a healthy lifestyle help this condition.