- West Nile Virus
- Help for Sore Joints
- Letter - Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- SARS Update
- The Politics of Prescription Drugs
- Monroe Street Clinic Same Day Service
West Nile Virus - Should You Be Worried?
Section titled “West Nile Virus - Should You Be Worried?”In 1937, a new virus was identified as the cause of fever in a woman living in the West Nile District of Uganda and given the name West Nile virus. The virus, carried between horses, birds, and humans by mosquitoes, has proven itself capable of causing serious neurologic illness. Researchers believe that infected birds have carried this virus around the world. West Nile virus first appeared in the US in New York in 1999, and has occurred in a Washington State resident who picked it up in Michigan.
West Nile not a nice disease. Originally it was thought only to cause brain inflammation, but we now know it can mimic Parkinson's disease, polio, and many other neurologic syndromes. The good news is that less than 1% of those infected develop these severe symptoms; the bad news is that a few of those people die.
Currently, your risk of contracting West Nile is miniscule. According to mosquito experts, the virus may be devastating for birds but is unlikely to cause much in the way of human illness in Washington State. However if you'd like to learn more about mosquito borne illnesses, check out Mosquito: A Natural History of Our Most Persistent and Deadly Foe by Andrew Spielman Sc.D. and others, available at the Port Townsend library. Find out why a detailed knowledge of mosquitoes, careful use of screens, drainage of ditches and ponds, and other public health measures are our best defense against illnesses such as West Nile virus.
Help for Sore Joints
Section titled “Help for Sore Joints”If you are in your 40s, 50s or beyond, you may have noticed morning soreness, knees that get painful after a game of tennis, or elbows that hurt after you've spent a morning hammering nails. These joint and muscle pains may fluctuate, getting worse or better for no obvious reason. There are too many medical and nutritional causes for chronic pain to cover them all here. The following are some of the most common causes and cures for muscle and joint soreness.
Holiday Aftermath
Section titled “Holiday Aftermath”You may notice increased pain after a holiday that involves eating special treats. An occasional indulgence is part of the joy of life. Unfortunately, many of us overindulge, and holiday fare often includes plenty of chocolate and sugar. Both of these have been associated with musculoskeletal pain. "But doc!" you say, "I've been doing this for years, and it never bothered me before!" Sorry. You were younger then, and tougher. It may be time to pay attention to your body and live more wisely.
Glucosamine May Help
Section titled “Glucosamine May Help”Research has shown glucosamine may help reduce joint pain. Read more about it at Dr. Theo On Line. Jason Theodosakis MD will also tell you which glucosamine brands are good and which are giving you short weight. He calls 'em as he sees 'em and he names names.
Glucosamine supplements often contain additional substances such as chrondroitin sulfate, MSM or SAM-e. Some research suggests chrondroitin may help osteoarthritis. If glucosamine alone doesn't work, it's worth trying a supplement containing glucosamine and chrondroitin. On the other hand, most people are not helped by MSM. Sam-e has been shown to help, but is quite expensive. If you have a severe problem, then you may want to spend the money and see if you are one of those people who get dramatic relief from SAM-e. For more information, drop by the office; we have handouts on most of these supplements.
Fat Absorption and Joint Pain
Section titled “Fat Absorption and Joint Pain”Your joints need omega-3 fatty acids to work. You can't make these fats on your own; that's why they are called "essential fatty acids." Some people do not absorb omega-3 fats well. If you aren't absorbing them, you are eventually going to get sore joints. There are laboratory tests to see if you are absorbing fats. Signs of poor fat absorption include poor night vision, dry skin, and dry hair.
If there is any doubt that you are absorbing essential fats, I usually recommend 3 fish oil tables each morning, taken with a pancreatic enzyme. For more information see our website.
Try a Nightshade Fast
Section titled “Try a Nightshade Fast”Some people are sensitive to a substance in the nightshade family of plants. The nightshade plants are called the Solanaceae, and the substance in these plants is called solanine. To find out if you have this sensitivity, try a month with total (absolute 100%) avoidance of nightshade plants- tobacco, tomatoes, potatoes (sweet potatoes are not in the nightshade family), peppers (bell, hot, etc), and eggplant. About a third of people with chronic joint pain will find considerable relief from this, but you have to give it a good trial. If those Cheetos list nothing bad on the label, but are packaged in potato starch (not listed on the label because not required to), then you blew it.
Physical Therapy - Boring but it Works
Section titled “Physical Therapy - Boring but it Works”When people come to me with chronic joint pain, they have visions of shiny X-ray machines and brilliant orthopedic surgeons in spotless white. Instead, I tell them we need to do what may be less dramatic, but is more likely to work. Physical therapy. Last summer one of my patients did a six-mile run without training. He was very pleased to finish the run in under an hour, but not so pleased when his knee began to hurt, and continued hurting for months.
He had a friend who was a physical therapist and prevailed upon this friend to look at his knee in the waiting room and give him an exercise. No help. Finally, he bit the bullet and did something radical. He made an actual appointment with the physical therapist. The therapist got him up on the exam table, stretched this and palpated that, and told him that despite his better than average strength and conditioning, a portion of one muscle was weak. This was causing the problem. The physical therapist spent about ten minutes going over a single exercise in careful detail. Within a month the pain was gone, not to return even despite long downhill hikes with a backpack.
That one person illustrates a more universal truth. For good health, your muscles have to be strong. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (May 21, 2003 vol. 289, page 2509) showed that women with long-term chronic neck pain improved with strength training for the neck, and that this worked where stretching and other techniques had failed.
Letter to the Doc
Section titled “Letter to the Doc”Vegetarian discovers hidden vitamin B12 deficiency
Section titled “Vegetarian discovers hidden vitamin B12 deficiency”Dear Doctor:
Interestingly (at least to me), I who have been a vegetarian, mostly macrobiotic, for some 30+ years, began recently to eat a limited amount of meat. After battling depression/anxiety for probably 64 years (!), I am emancipated! I'm as sure as I can be that I've had a B12 deficiency, and it's worth even the ethical reasons I've avoided meat and my natural dislike for consuming flesh to feel like a "normal" person!
Sarah M
SARS Update
Section titled “SARS Update”In our last issue, we urged you not to get swept up in the SARS panic. At this time we want to remind you that it's always a good idea to keep your natural defenses robust. SARS may not be a problem in the US currently, but it is still a problem worldwide and it could make another appearance here. Your best defense is not duct tape. Your best defense is a healthy diet, good sleep, and regular exercise, all of which will beef up your immune system.
The Politics of Prescription Drugs
Section titled “The Politics of Prescription Drugs”The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 37 percent of retired employees with employer-sponsored drug coverage will lose it under the Senate's Medicare bill, the "Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003." In other words, if government offers it, insurers will drop it. Responsibility for payment is shifted from private insurance to taxpayers. To learn more check out The Citizen's Council on Healthcare or The Heritage Foundation .
Monroe Street Clinic Same-Day Service
Section titled “Monroe Street Clinic Same-Day Service”If you call by 9:00 a.m., we can usually see you that same day if you require. Usually we make no extra charge. Times do come, however, when we are too busy to meet your need without working and paying overtime. We will let you know in advance if this is the case and you can decide if you need to pay extra for that emergency visit.
If you require attention over the weekend, you may be able to avoid expensive hospital emergency room charges by calling us. I may not be available, but if I am I will do what I can to help you, including making a telephone consultation, house call or seeing you at the office for a visit or laceration repair. Our rates are higher after hours, but less than the ER.
Coming Soon
Section titled “Coming Soon”More about Vitamin A
The Evolution of Sleep
Staying Healthy by Doing Good
Why Mental Illness?