Dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease

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By Jacob Franek
By now, everyone is familiar with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a progressive disease of the brain that causes thinking and memory to become seriously impaired. However, despite the awareness of Alzheimer’s, the disease is still a little misunderstood.

More than just memory loss

In the early stages, the disease manifests as nothing more than mild forgetfulness, a problem that most people shrug off as a natural (and at times almost humorous) consequence of growing old. Soon, however, a person’s ability to understand, think and even communicate is affected. Behaviors may change and so too may emotions and mood. Topping it off, physical coordination and mobility may suffer, affecting an individual’s ability to perform even the simplest of daily tasks. The result can place a ton of pressure on the affected person’s family or caregiver.

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Do You Have Computer Vision Syndrome?

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by Hillary Rubin

Do your eyes every feel really tired? Perhaps they sting? If you experience eye strain and eye fatigue when you are in front of a computer – you may be experiencing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Well over 70 per cent of around 143 million Americans adults are affected by Computer Vision Syndrome and Computer Eye Strain (CES). That number derives from those American adults who work on computers on a daily basis. It has been documented that children can also experience CVS and CES due to prolonged exposure to computers and too much computer usage.

Typically, symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome and Computer Eye Strain are loss of ocular focus (your eyes have a hard time focusing), tired eyes, a burning sensation in your eyes, neck and shoulder pain, headaches that stem from behind your eyes, and blurred vision. What is the cause of the symptoms? CVS and CES are caused by the reaction of the eye and brain to characters on the computer. They react differently to the characters and features on a computer than they do to printed characters. Computers do not have the same degree of contrast and definition that printed characters have as printed characters
are sharp and well-defined.

Pixels are the little points of light that, at the center, are brightest and taper out in intensity towards the outer lines. They cause our eyes to drift involuntarily to the Resting Point of Accommodation (RPA) instead of staying totally focused on the screen as a whole. When our eyes drift, they make attempts at trying to regain focus on the screen – causing the muscles of the eye that constantly flex to become strained and very fatigued.

Do you think you might have Computer Vision Syndrome? Go see your ophthalmologist and get a computer vision eye exam! Getting this exam may detect any vision problems that contribute to and worsen Computer Vision Syndrome. Your doctor might prescribe a pair of computer eyeglasses that includes special prescription just for seeing the computer screen. These help patients see their computer screen more clearly and comfortably. Consumers should also add an anti-glare or antireflective coating to the front and back parts of their lenses to reduce glare from the computer screen – which also helps to prevent eye strain.

Computer prescription eyeglasses are specifically designed to make the computer screen look a lot clearer to you because it gives the muscles that control shifting and refocusing in the eye a rest! Some doctors may also prescribe multi-focal prescription eyeglasses, like those with progressive lenses, to accommodate those who have problems seeing both far and near. Multi-focal eyeglasses like trifocals and progressive lenses allow patients to see their computer screen more comfortably along with the area around their computer – both near and far.

Computer Vision Syndrome is easily treated and has minimal up keep. Visit your optician every two years for a regular eye exam just to ensure your eyes stay healthy.

Defeating Cancer: An advance of paramount importance to health reform

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Julian Lieb, M.D

Cancer cellsProstaglandins are tiny molecules regulating the chemistry of every cell, including those subserving mood, and those subserving immune function. When brain cells produce excessive concentrations of prostaglandins, they depress mood and immunity. In 1973, David Horrobin showed that antidepressants inhibit prostaglandins, and in 1977 that prostaglandins regulate nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Others subsequently showed that prostaglandins regulate the synthesis, inhibition, and expression of genes, and the growth and replication of cells, with cancer the accelerated replication of abnormal cells. Excessive synthesis of prostaglandins induces cancer, with genes determining the variations. Twenty years ago, prostaglandins owned cancer, but evidence often goes only so far, before falling prey to monopolistic medical cartels.

More than fifty studies have shown that antidepressants kill cancer cells, inhibit their replication, convert multidrug resistant cells to sensitive,
protect nonmalignant cells from damage by radiation and chemotherapy, and target the mitochondria of cancer cells while sparing those of healthy ones.  Antidepressants have efficacy in many cancers that are often treatment resistant, such as gliomas, cancers of the lung, kidney, liver, and uterus,
inflammatory breast cancer, and multiple myelomas. Antidepressants are capable of arresting cancer in advanced stages, and even reversing it. That
antidepressants are effective for a multitude of malignancies, decries the myth that cancer is a hundred diseases, when it is one disease with a
hundred variations. Depression predisposes to cancer, and accelerates and increases its mortality. Other inhibitors of prostaglandins, such as
non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-11 inhibitors, also have potential value in cancer therapeutics.

All of the ingredients are in place for a revolution in cancer prevention and treatment. Enter Medline or Pubmed, enter “antidepressants” and
“cancer,” and anyone may see for themselves.

Sincerely,

Julian Lieb, M.D

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome

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by Jane H.

I am merely trying to raise awareness of a misunderstood and often misdiagnosed health condition called, rather grandly, Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS for short) If I may I will explain more.

Basically, with this condition it is an imbalance or rocking sensation that occurs after getting off a boat or “debarking” (debarquement).Other forms of motion are also known to trigger it. Once back on dry land the traveller continues to feel “all at sea”, unable to get their land legs back. Although a lot of travellers can identify with this feeling and do actually experience it temporarily after
disembarking, unfortunately in the case of MdDS sufferers it can persist for many months, even years afterwards. The symptoms are with you constantly, they never leave, nor can they be alleviated by any anti-motion sickness drugs. “Like trying to constantly walk on a mattress
or trampoline” is a good description of the main symptom, the illusion of movement, not to mention the others, nausea, gaze instability/visual disturbance whereby objects jump and
shimmer in front of you, often like looking at things through a heat haze, constant tinnitus, imbalance, I could go on. However I must stress at this point that there is no rotational or “spinning” vertigo with this condition.

More information on and support for sufferers of MdDS can be found at www.mdds.org.uk.