Health News and Information

To understand why, it is necessary to go back a few decades. In the 1950s and 1960s, oestrogen replacement therapy was used by women in the United States in a big way. By replacing their lost oestrogen they discovered they could be, as the phrase went, Teminine forever’. At its peak, up to 50 per cent of middle-class American menopausal women were taking oestrogen, often simply so that they would look and feel 20 years younger. Eternal youth and, of course, no more periods. Goodbye old age! Life could now be one long silver lining.

Until up popped that little black cloud. By the 1970s, doctors in the United States had begun to notice a worrying increase in the number of women on oestrogen replacement therapy who developed – and sometimes died of – cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the womb). Suddenly oestrogen therapy was getting a very bad press, and in a short space of time doctors no longer wanted to prescribe it, and women no longer wanted to take it. It seemed as if this wonderful era of eternal youth was over.

Research quickly got under way, and it was discovered that when a woman took oestrogen on its own the lining of the womb would build up each month and remain there instead being shed as a period in the normal way. Eventually, the lining of the womb would become abnormally thickened, and in some women it became cancerous. The solution was to add a form of the hormone progesterone to the oestrogen therapy every month, so that the lining of the womb did not build up, but was shed each month, as a ‘period’. (After the menopause, it is not a true period as it is not triggered by ovulation, nor does it mean you are fertile and could become pregnant; it is an artificial withdrawal bleed, produced when you stop taking each monthly course of progestogen.)

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When it comes to disorders affecting the uterus, the procedure known as dilatation and curettage (D and C) is grossly overused. There is now ample research indicating it has significant shortcomings, yet it continues to be carried out both to provide samples of tissue for further investigation and as a ‘treatment’ for women with menstrual irregularities. In fact, its ability to provide useful samples for diagnostic purposes is quite limited; and when used for treatment purposes it is very disappointing, reducing menstrual flow for only one cycle in most women. In 1991-92 in New South Wales alone, more than 35 000 D and Cs were performed, suggesting that the annual figure for this procedure in Australia probably exceeds 100000.

The D and C technique is usually carried out under a general anaesthetic in a day hospital or general hospital setting. During dilatation, the cervix is gently stretched open by inserting progressively larger instruments. This is followed by a curette in which the endometrium is gently scraped away using an elongated instrument with a scoop attachment.

An alternative diagnostic procedure that can be used when a detailed patient history, examination and laboratory tests have failed to reveal the cause of abnormal bleeding is hysteroscopy. A hysteroscope is basically a tubular instrument with a light at one end and an optical system for transmitting an image to a display monitor. It is inserted through the vagina and cervix to observe the inside of the uterus. After obtaining ultrasound images of the uterus and introducing gas to separate the pelvic organs, the cervical canal is gently stretched to allow the hysteroscope to pass into it. It is then possible to get a good view of the uterus in about 80% of patients. (In the remaining patients, the view may be obscured by heavy bleeding.) Of women with menstrual irregularities in whom the uterus can be observed, more than 60% have no apparent uterine abnormality. These women are spared a diagnostic curettage. The others may have fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, pre-cancerous changes or endometrial cancer. If any area of abnormality is identified, a sample can be removed, checked by a pathologist and, in many cases, destroyed on the spot by an instrument inserted through the hysteroscope.

Hysteroscopy is thus a useful diagnostic test which can be used as the basis for treatment. It can be carried out without hospital admission or general anaesthesia, a considerable benefit in the eyes of many women (particularly those who are elderly and have multiple medical problems). A study by the University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital suggests that Australia’s health budget could be reduced by at least $30 million a year if outpatient hysteroscopy (also called office hysteroscopy) was adopted instead of performing D and C procedures in day surgery units.9 This 1994 study quoted the cost of a hysteroscopy at about $100, while a D and C cost over $500 when carried out in a day surgery unit and over $1000 if an operating theatre and overnight stay were required.

Serious complications such as bowel perforation occur in less than 1% of patients having a hysteroscopy, but about 70% experience the discomfort of menstrual-type pain, sensations of dizziness, tremor, shoulder tip pain or nausea, which is often followed by vomiting. If doctors explain possible side-effects before the procedure starts, this can help to reduce anxiety in patients when they occur. As increasing numbers of gynaecologists become familiar with the technique of hysteroscopy, it is hoped that D and C will be used more selectively.

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There are two different kinds of sleep, and they alternate with each other throughout the night. During REM sleep dreams are experienced, and during NREM sleep there are few or no dreams at all. When we fall asleep we go through NREM sleep, then REM sleep; these two combine to form one sleep cycle and we have a few sleep cycles throughout the night In this chapter we are going to study NREM sleep in detail.

In NREM or non-REM sleep there is an absence of rapid eye movement as recorded by the electro-oculogram or EOG. The brain waves are also calmer, in contrast to those of REM sleep. During REM sleep, the brain waves are not much different from those of the awake state. However, during NREM sleep the brain waves are slow and big and are divided into four stages according to their frequency.

During NREM sleep the mind is in complete rest, and is passive, peaceful, and calm. In REM sleep, in contrast, the mind is active and explosive, and the whole brain is working to capacity. Some experts report a 40 per cent increase in the blood flow to the brain during REM sleep.

During NREM sleep, the breathing is slow and regular. The blood pressure is lower than when we are awake, and the heart rate is also slower as if we are in complete rest On the other hand, during REM sleep the breathing is very heavy, and irregular. The blood pressure can be sky-high and the heart rate can be as fast as if we had just finished a 100 m race. It has been observed that if a heart attack or stroke takes place during sleep at night, it occurs during the REM stage. However, the peak incidence of heart attacks is between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the morning and not during sleep. So you can sleep easy.

What about the muscular system during sleep? During NREM sleep, the muscles are active and the muscular system is fully engaged with the brain. There are spontaneous movements in the body during NREM sleep. We turn over many times during the night. This movement is important. People who cannot move because of illness such as quadriplegia suffer from bedsores. They need to be turned by nursing staff continuously throughout the 24 hours. The reason is that if the body is not moving during sleep, the skin which is under pressure from the weight of the body will be blanched and the blood supply to that part of the skin will be insufficient. That area of skin will break down and slough off to form a bedsore. So it is important that the body turns automatically during sleep. Also, this turning and moving of the limbs prevents the stiff neck and joint pain that most people experience the morning after they have been drunk the night before.

During REM sleep the muscular system is disengaged, as if a jamming mechanism is preventing the body from moving. This prevents the physical acting out of dreams. REM sleep is also called ‘paradoxical sleep’; the brain is so active and yet, paradoxically, the body is completely paralyzed.

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This is generally best for asthmatics and for middle-aged subjects. At first it is wise to use an armchair so that your arms can rest comfortably on the sides of the chair. It is best to sit up in the chair rather straight without the body slumped, which could tend to make the position too comfortable. The head can rest on the back of the chair. The legs are bent at the knees, and women find it wise to remove their high-heeled shoes.

When a fair degree of relaxation can be attained in an armchair, try a straight-backed

dining-room chair. The head is now unsupported, and the forearms rest comfortably on the thighs.

The Squatting Posture-In this position we sit on a cushion cross-legged on the floor. Our arms can hang loosely at our sides or rest in our groins. The whole of our head, neck, and back is unsupported.

Try to keep the back and the neck fairly straight so that the muscular effort to maintain the position is reduced to a minimum. The cross-legged position usually makes enough tension on the joints to induce mild discomfort. As a result of these factors, relaxation attained in this posture is usually very effective. The position is very satisfactory for youthful subjects, and those who suffer from asthma, as it makes for easier breathing than lying down.

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The rudimentary biological measure considered fundamental by most clinics successfully applying biological principles in the treatment of arthritis is fasting.

Although fasting is one of the oldest therapeutic methods known to man and has been a dependable curative measure throughout medical history, the present drug-oriented, orthodox medical doctor has little understanding, and even less appreciation, of its remarkable benefits.

Biologically oriented doctors, however, consider fasting to be singularly the most important curative measure in treatment of arthritis. Some of them disagree as to the length of fasting, but all of them, without exception, use fasts in their program of treatments.

Dr. Otto Buchinger, Jr., M.D., of Fasten-Sanatorium am Bombey, Bad Pyrmont, Germany, is perhaps the world s foremost authority on fasting. He has experience with over 50,000 fasts which he and his father, Dr. Otto Buchinger, Sr., directed and supervised at their clinics. At present his sanatorium accepts 85 patients ranging from afflictions of arthritis to high blood pressure; cancer; liver, kidney, and bladder diseases; and practically any other kind of known disease. Of these, 90 per cent are treated by fasts, ranging from one week to 60 days.

Similarly, all Swedish clinics use fasts in their programs. Dr. Lars-Erik Essen, M.D. of the Vita Nova Clinic in Molle, Sweden, is one who takes exception to the long fasting for arthritis. He recommends repeated short fasts—three to five days at a time-followed by a special cleansing diet. The other Swedish clinics—Brandals, Bjorkagarden, Dr. Jern Hamberg’s Alfta Clinic, Kiholms, and others—use fasts of One to six weeks’ duration.

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This is often called MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The technique has nothing to do with radiation or X-rays, but records energy given out by atoms as they change their orientation after a brief magnetic pulse. The pictures or images produced have the same general appearance as CT scans, because the information processed by the computer is much the same as. Again it is necessary for the patient to lie still while the images are being taken.

The procedure is noisier than CT scanning and may, in some patients produce a claustrophobic feeling, as the patient is almost entirely enclosed in a tunnel. MRI usually takes about 25-35 minutes, but may take longer. Occasionally some contrast dye is injected into a vein, as in CT scanning, and then the scan repeated to demonstrate some additional details. Children may find the procedure more uncomfortable than having a CT scan and because of this more often need to have a brief general anaesthetic so that they lie still.

MRI gives a much clearer picture of those areas of the brain (the temporal lobes) which are most often responsible for intractable epilepsy, and so patients who are considered possibly to be suitable for surgery will certainly need an MRI. MRI is also useful for children in whom the epilepsy is thought to be due to a congenital malformation of the brain. Because of its greater costs (at present) MRI is unlikely to replace completely CT scanning, but there is no doubt that the level of detail obtained is far superior with MRI.

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This lung disorder also goes by the name of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It reduces the lung’s capacity to assimilate oxygen. The ailment is usually associated with smoking, but it can also be caused by prolonged exposure to smog, vapours, dust, or other contaminants in the air of environmental or work conditions.

The expansion and compression of gasses by persons who are professional scuba or commercial divers can also lead to this disorder. If you’re in it just for the sport, don’t worry. You’re probably not diving frequently enough to develop the problem

It’s not an ailment that receives a lot of attention publicly, but it’s a killer. It ranks fifth in the cause of death in the US, and even higher in countries where smoking is even more common.

She got off oxygen in just five days after needing it 24 hours a day for two years. Then just a week later she was out driving around shopping again. Very dramatic yes, but it’s not unique. Most emphysema victims we encounter are not so severely affected, but we’ve heard of many, many cases and virtually all of them have responded exceptionally well.

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Home care

Keep your baby as dry as possible, changing nappies frequently. For simple nappy rash, apply protective ointments (petroleum jelly; zinc oxide; vitamin A & D ointment; or an ointment combining zinc oxide, cod liver oil, petrolatum, and lanolin). Try changing the brand of soap or the method of washing the nappies.

For rash from ammonia, avoid airtight outer covering over the nappies. Wash the nappy area frequently with clear water.

For allergic rash from foods and drugs, stop giving the child any new foods, beverages, or medicines started in the past month. Then try giving the child only one of these items each week. This may help determine which food is causing the rash.

For rash from infections or contagious diseases, wash the area with soap and water and frequently apply antibiotic ointment (bacitracin, neomycin).

If the rash is spreading or severe, or if the child has a fever, irritability, or loss of appetite, see your doctor.

Precautions

• If the rash gets worse, even after only two days of home treatment, see your doctor.

• Do not use more than one type of ointment at the same time (such as an antibiotic and a fungicide) unless both were prescribed by your doctor.

• If your child has any other symptoms of illness, see your doctor.

Medical treatment

Your doctor may identify the rash by its appearance or may culture or scrape the rash to identify bacteria or funguses. The doctor may ask about methods of laundering nappies and about new foods or drugs being given to the child. The doctor may prescribe a medicated ointment.

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When glucose builds up to too high a level in the blood it may be harmful. The kidneys have the job of getting rid of substances in the blood that are not useful.

The kidneys have to make so much urine to clear out the excess glucose that his body tends to get ‘dried out’. This makes him feel thirsty, and he has to drink a lot to make up for all the extra urine he has passed. This illness is due to insufficient insulin. Fortunately we can give insulin to make up for this lack.

Children with diabetes stop being sick from diabetes by having insulin injections

We cannot give insulin by mouth as a pill or as a medicine – it would be destroyed by the stomach juices. We have to give it by injection. Insulin is injected into the fatty layer just beneath the skin and when done properly this should not hurt much. By measuring the correct dose of insulin each day, and balancing this with the food that is eaten, we can replace the insulin that should have been made by the body. This way the body tissues and cells use glucose normally again. Thus the child recovers from the initial illness and keeps healthy.

Children with diabetes keep well by having a diet

Naturally if the child has a certain regular amount of insulin by injection each day, he must also have a regular amount of sugar from food to balance it. If he ate too much sugar or starch foods there would not be enough insulin to balance it. The sugar would build up in the blood, just as it did when diabetes first developed. The diabetes would thus go out of good control. If he did not eat enough sugar or starch foods there would be too much insulin for the sugar. Glucose would be taken out of the blood without being replaced from food. This means he would run out of sugar in the blood because of the action of the insulin – we call this an ‘insulin reaction’ or ‘hypo’ (hypo means low) and the full medical term is ‘hypoglycemia’. This makes him feel and act funnily because he needs some sugar in the blood at all times. He avoids this by keeping the food he eats regular in amount each day, and this is what we mean by ‘being on a diet’.

Being on a diet is not just avoiding certain sorts of food. It also means eating adequate food for good health and having the right foods to make him grow and feel well and active.

The diet is intended to give the child plenty to eat, but not too much. The dietitian and doctor decide on the best diet when they know what foods he likes and how hungry he gets as well as knowing what he needs for good health.

Remember: Diet means the best foods in regular amounts.

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Agnus Castus (Vitex/chasteberry)

This is a popular herb which grows in Mediterranean countries and central Asia. It does not contain any hormones but it stimulates the function of the pituitary gland which controls and balances our hormones by producing luteinising hormone. This increases progesterone production and helps regulate a woman’s cycle. Agnus castus also helps keep prolactin secretion in check. (Excessive prolactin can prevent ovulation.)

This herb has been used by women who had established luteal phase defect (shortened second half of the cycle) and high prolactin levels. In one study 48 women diagnosed with infertility took agnus castus daily for three months. Seven of them became pregnant during that time and 25 of them regained normal progesterone levels.

Agnus castus works to restore hormonal balance and can be used where there are hormone deficits as well as excesses. It:

• regulates periods

• restarts periods which have stopped

• helps with heavy bleeding

• helps with too-frequent periods

• helps with painful periods

• increases the ratio of progesterone to oestrogen by balancing excess oestrogen

I have seen a number of women who needed to have IVF treatment” but could not do so because their levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) were too high. The highest FSH level for most IVF treatments is 10, and rising FSH levels can indicate a pre-menopausal condition. The use of agnus castus, sometimes with a mix of other herbs, brought down the FSH level so that the women could go for IVF treatment.

Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis)

This is an Oriental herb frequently used for menstrual complaints. It is extensively cultivated in Asia for medicinal purposes and in traditional Chinese medicine is well-known as a tonic for the female reproductive system. It:

• tones a weak uterus

• regulates irregular periods

• alleviates period pains

• reduces spotting

• helps with absent periods

False Unicorn Root (Chamaelirium Luteum)

This North American herb is a good tonic and strengthener for the reproductive system and can be used for both men and women, as it has a balancing effect on hormones. Herbalists often give it to women after a miscarriage or an infection in the pelvic area. Mixed with other herbs, it can be given for ovarian cysts or endometriosis. It is also used to try and prevent a threatened miscarriage. It:

• balances the hormones

• regularizes delayed periods

• regularizes absent periods

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Serrulate)

This is one of the best herbs for the male reproductive system. It acts like a tonic for the man and has traditionally been used for centuries to treat enlarged prostate.

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