How Do I Get My Wife Off Drugs?

Archive for January 10th, 2010

Researchers from Harvard Medical School (Boston’s New England Baptist Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) studied 108 men and women with severe osteoarthritis scheduled for total hip or knee replacement surgery at Boston’s New England Baptist Hospital. We cannot deny it’s prospective in the medical field that can bring revolution in human lives. For discussion of compliance program, see companion article on Medical Billing Compliance.

Whatever treatment is decided upon based on advice from your medical practitioner and adviser, by following a course of treatment that works best on your anxiety you stand a good chance of being in control of your life once more and truly in the end that’s all that matters. Credit cards, medical bills, various service charges, personal loan debts, store credit or charge loans, gas charge accounts and easy instalment interests or EMI’s are all categorized under unsecured debt consolidation loans. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms (especially if there is a prior history of the disease in the family), and seek medical attention when any symptoms present themselves.

Therefore the standard approval timeframes posted on a state medical board’s website don’t apply during this period and expect the process to take longer and act accordingly. Finally, Melaleuca has been re-recognized as an extremely effective cure for a variety of medical conditions. Absenteeism, falling productivity and increase of medical bills, which can come about as a result of occupational nervousness, are predicted to cost the American economy several hundred billion US dollars.

Use a Flex Spending account for your medical expenses a flex spending account is a fund that you can use to pay your planned medical expenses. Florida group medical insurance is much simpler in that generally there is not as much scrutiny towards an applicant’s health history and pre-existing conditions. However, due to its side effects, a medical practitioner should be consulted.

Medical evidence shows that for every 1 gram increase in animal protein ingested the body loses an average of 1. If your medical condition allows you to enjoy alcoholic beverages, then you may choose to do so, but drink in moderation and drink responsibly. Because of his pursuit of this dream and the downfall of the medical sales business Chris’s wife leaves him and he eventually becomes homeless.

As a medical drug, this substance is controlled, due to the ability to be addictive. Just like in most cancers, the medical field has not yet tracked the main cause of colon cancer. Like wise many studies are conducted with the same substance on improving fertility but no proof is established with respect to pregnancy, therefore always seek medical advice before beginning any treatment program.

There could be many reasons for it but the main ones are normally caused by financial emergencies such as car repair, accident or a medical problem. Although this fitness program has not been endorsed by the American Medical Association, the National Health Council nor the World Health Organization, there seems to be a myriad of benefits to exercising with wine and chocolate. India Profile now offers the option of combining your holiday in India with a medical package.

It may even give you the money needed to pay for medical procedures that are required to save your life. ‘Old-school’ thinkers may listen to the medical community words with intense focus, but younger generations have an abundance of resources at our fingertips to educate us better on specifics, when needed. When you need medical help, you have the freedom to choose your doctors, hospitals, medicines, therapies and so on.

Is menopause to be blamed for female sexual dysfunction or frigidity? What role does it play in this common problem?

First of all, it’s important to understand that frigidity is caused by a lot of things that both the woman and the man may not be aware of. To improve their sex lives, the couple should examine themselves both physically and mentally to rule out any underlying problem.

“Many factors of both physical and psychological origin can affect sexual response and performance. Injuries, such ailments as infections, and drugs of abuse are among the physical influences. Certain prescription medications, such as drugs to regulate blood cholesterol levels, may also affect sexual functioning. In addition, there is increasing evidence that chemicals and other environmental pollutants depress sexual function,” according to the Alternative Medicine Encyclopedia.

“As for psychological factors, sexual dysfunction may have roots in traumatic events such as rape or incest, guilt feelings, a poor self-image, depression, chronic fatigue, certain religious beliefs, or marital problems. Dysfunction is often associated with anxiety. If a man operates under the misconception that all sexual activity must lead to intercourse and to orgasm by his partner, he may consider the act a failure if his expectations are not met,” it added.

While it is true that one’s sexual capacity diminishes with age, there is no relation between frigidity and the onset of menopause or the change of life. In fact, a woman’s inability to bear children by that time may even increase her sex urge since there is no fear of pregnancy.

In “The Dictionary of Medical Folklore”, Carol Ann Rinzler said “the shrinkage of vaginal tissue” may make the sexual act “slightly more uncomfortable” but “women actually find sex after menopause more enjoyable.”

Since frigidity is caused by several factors, treatment lies in identifying those factors so they can be corrected. The best advice is given by Drs. Hannah M. Stone and Abraham Stone in their book, “A Marriage Manual”:

“It is especially important that the husband should ac¬quire the knowledge and understanding, the delicacy and the skill, the ability and the art of arousing the sexual impulses of his wife and of finding the means of gratification which are most satisfactory in her individual case.

“As far as the wife is concerned, she must make every effort to obtain an insight into the nature of her disability, to recognize her deficiency, and to appreciate the importance of correcting it. The woman should be made to understand that a mutual sexual response is of paramount importance to marital harmony.”

To beat frigidity, take Fematril, a safe and natural female sexual enhancer that can stimulate your mind and body. For details, go to http://www.fematril.com/.

To address my post-prostatectomy impotence, I used the vacuum system to gain an erection. My engorged penis turned blue and cold. According to the equipment instructions, it can be used for up to thirty minutes. I could, however, answer the question of my urologist, Dr. Ram Rao: “Did you have penetration?” Yes. Not great, but a step forward.

Next came Caverject. There we were in Dr. Rao’s pristine office with wall charts and drawings depicting all things urological in living color. Dr. Rao, a trim, handsome man of about 55, a native of India, stood on my left, orchestrating this show. My wife, Lorraine was on my right, her face asking the question “What am I doing here?” On center stage I stood with my limp penis, extended by my left hand, as I awaited the first act.

Dr. Rao described the Caverject system, a clever product from Sweden, consisting of a relative of Cialis, a diluent, and a thin injection needle. He armed the system by mixing the fluid with the drug, dialed in the dose, and handed it to me.

“You want me to inject this where?” I asked. He pointed to the target areas on both sides of my penis, noting that I should avoid the midline where key structures such as veins, an artery, the urethra, and nerves reside.

“Lorraine, you do it,” I beg her in quiet desperation.

“No, Bernie it’s your job, after all, you are a doctor, and it’s your penis.”

I did it. Peer pressure at the age of 66. It worked. I had an erection. Not a complete one, but certainly adequate for penetration. And it was pink and warm. Unfortunately, Lorraine had an appointment for a flu shot and we had not made arrangements for a nearby room to put my reawakened tool to the test.

Over the next month we increased the dose slowly until one sunny morning in Islamorada in the Florida Keys, I “shot up” and we enjoyed great sex as I cried, tears streaming off my face and on to Lorraine. Elated, I telephoned my mentor, confidant, fellow physician, and a twelve-year survivor of prostate cancer.

“John, I just used Caverject and we enjoyed fifty-five minutes of penetration.”

Lorraine shouted from the background, “Not so, John, there was fifty minutes of penetration and five minutes of Bernie walking around the room admiring his erection.”

I met and married Lorraine, my second wife, twenty-eight years ago. We were both going through divorce. We often drove to Bar Harbor on Mt. Desert Island, slowly savoring the crisp taste of chilled Chardonnay and awaiting its effect. We would talk, cry, share stories, and cry again. Then we laughed, stopped the car to hug and disrobe as much as we dared. Soon we ran off into a favorite woodland glen, ideal for a hobbit house, where we enjoyed passionate love on a flannel blanket over a bed of soft and aromatic spruce and pine needles. During that year there were a number of startled tourists who will probably never forget that trip to Bah Habba.

Lorraine stayed with me over the decades, long enough to teach me how to take the risks involved in truly loving another. She led me by the hand through the trackless land of love. We became proficient with Tantric sex, maximizing the senses, finding new erogenous zones. I enjoyed multiple orgasms without ejaculation, savoring the climactic experience with its primal scream. Fortunately we lived in a rural area

I became addicted to sex. Sex became my demon.

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle noted that the ultimate goal of humankind was for happiness, in Greek,”eudimonia”, which means “good demons”. Was my demon good or bad or both?

For twelve years I had been on a research study, wherein my lack of “free” PSA (prostatic specific antigen) suggested that I would eventually get prostate cancer. In the interim I changed my diet and added a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and other “nutraceuticals” to stave off or minimize cancer, while I chased my demon.

About two years ago my second prostate biopsy showed definite cancer. As a pathologist I had seen the worst cases, the failures, so I opted for aggressive therapy– androgen depravation therapy, prostatectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The treatment plan is almost over and I have no detectable PSA. A possible cure? Only time will tell.

Our new sexuality may lack spontaneity, for it requires me to arm and inject Caverject, but our sessions together last for well over an hour. Close friends ask us what do we do with so much time for loving? We get out our tattered copy of Kama Sutra from college days and try all the positions.

Although you may access funds in your Health Savings Account to pay for tax-qualified medical expenses, not all tax-qualified expenses are covered benefits under your health insurance. (example: dental treatment and dentures, vision screening and eyeglasses, vitamins and non-prescription medication, etc.) While you may receive a tax benefit on these items, they are not covered by the health insurance plan and do not accumulate toward your annual medical plan deductible.

Here are more eligible medical expenses to be considered. –  Acupuncture, Alcoholism treatment, Ambulance, Artificial limbs or prostheses, Artificial teeth, Birth control pills (by prescription), Braces, Breast reconstruction surgery, Car – special hand controls or equipment to accommodate a disabled person, Chiropractor, Christian Science practitioner, Contact lenses and cleaning solutions, Crutches, Dental treatment, Dentures, Dermatologist, Diagnostic devices (blood sugar test kit), Drug addiction treatment, Eyeglasses, Fertility enhancement, Guide dog or assistance animal, Hearing aids and batteries, Home care, Home improvements to accommodate a disabled person, Hospital services, Lab fees, Laser eye surgery, Lead paint removal, Lodging (away from home for prescribed outpatient care), Long-term care premiums (certain limits apply), Long-term care services, Nonprescription medications, Nursing home, Nursing services (including board and meals), Ophthalmologist, Optician, Optometrist, Organ transplant (including donor’s expenses), Osteopath, Oxygen and oxygen equipment, Physician services, Podiatrist, Prescription medications, Psychiatric care, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Special home for the mentally retarded, Special school costs for the handicapped, Sterilization, Surgery, Stop-smoking programs (physician prescribed),Telephone or TV equipment to assist the hearing impaired, Therapy, Transportation (primarily for and essential to medical care), Vasectomy, Weight loss programs to treat an existing disease, Wheelchair, X-rays.

Sometimes with even the best P.P.O plans there will be benefit limitations in certain areas to help avoid run away spending. Think about it, if they don’t put a benefit maximum of say 20 physiotherapy visits per person per year, you will get the occasional therapist who, in an attempt to make as much money as possible, will book a patient for 30 – 40 visits when 15 – 20 would have been sufficient. I understand that folks don’t want to hear that kind of thing but, this is what drives up those health premiums and makes coverage harder to afford. The money has got to come from somewhere. So at least with an H.S.A those visits would be deductible.

For some this is the beauty of an H.S.A over a traditional PPO plan. You have one shared family deductible with an H.S.A, whereas with a P.P.O you would have a “2 person family aggregate maximum,” or put in layman’s terms. Up to 2 people per insured family could encounter a deductible and or a coinsurance maximum depending on their P.P.O plan. Actually some P.P.O plans have 3 deductibles per family, but 2 is the industry norm. With a P.P.O plan you can deduct your premiums but with an H.S.A you can deduct not only the premiums but also any monies put into the optional H.S.A account (which can accumulate each year until age 65) and those monies remain tax deductible if the money taken out once deposited is used for medical expenses. I have an H.S.A currently for my wife and me.

In a special to CNN, the Mayo Clinic’s mayoclinic.com reported that, “Parkinson’s disease is progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms become worse over time. But although Parkinson’s may eventually be disabling, the disease often progresses gradually, and most people have many years of productive living after a diagnosis.” This would indicate that there may be effective interventions that could perhaps slow the progress of the disease. When we get such a diagnosis, our first reaction might be to withdraw and give up. However, the old adage “use it or lose it” tells us that just the opposite is true. If you have Parkinson’s, you’d likely be best off to use everything your body is, every which way, on a regular basis.

Tai Chi movement’s gentle balance enhancing motions can obviously help the Parkinson’s patient by helping to reduce the gradual loss of balance that Parkinson’s sufferers often experience. However, there may be much more it offers. For example, Tai Chi movements rotate the human body in about 95% of the ways the body can move, when a long form is practiced. This is far beyond what other exercise offers, and in fact the closest would be several swimming strokes, which together would only rotate the body in about 65% of the ways it can move. For Parkinson’s sufferers, or anyone for that matter, this would indicate that by “using” 95% of the body’s possible motion several times a week, the possibility of “losing” the ability to do so diminishes accordingly. This isn’t rocket science, but simple common sense.

Yet, perhaps Parkinson’s patients have even more to gain from Tai Chi. A few years ago I taught several classes at local medical centers. I was continually frustrated because although I’d seen emerging reports that Tai Chi was beneficial to people with Parkinson’s Disease, or arthritis, or chronic hypertension, etc., even though the departments that specialized in those conditions were often just down the hall from my Tai Chi class . . . they might as well have been a million miles away. Because the physicians who ran those departments were either ignorant of or unwilling to refer their patients to the possibilities that Tai Chi offered their lives.

I remember though, that at one medical center a visionary neurologist began to refer patients with balance disorders to my Tai Chi classes and the result was very beneficial for his patients. Another physician actually wrote prescriptions for my Tai Chi classes to treat the chronic hypertension of his patients, who’d seen a significant drop in their blood pressure since beginning the classes weeks before. A clinical psychologist brought me in to teach Qigong (Chi Kung) meditation and Tai Chi to her patient group to enhance their sense of well being and provide effective stress management training. So, even back then some physicians were seeing the potential Tai Chi offered their clients, and even more are now, but the number of physicians who are still not informing their patients of Tai Chi’s direct therapeutic or at the least adjunct therapy benefits to their patient’s efforts to deal with their conditions and life, is increasingly indefensible in this day and age. Given the research that has exposed the many physical, mental, and emotional benefits Tai Chi offers, for physicians to not educate themselves on this and share their knowledge with each and every patient is tantamount to mal-practice. Health educators should likewise be making such therapies part of their medical student education programs as well.

Tai Chi for Parkinson’s is being recommended increasingly by support groups and some progressive medical centers, but until everyone that has Parkinson’s knows about it, then our work at World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is not done, nor is the medical community’s. There are many obvious reasons everyone with Parkinson’s should be doing Tai Chi, but it’s the ones that are not yet obvious that may be the most intriguing. One obvious reason is that Tai Chi is the most powerful balance and coordination enhancing exercise known. In many studies at major universities Tai Chi was found to be TWICE as effective in reducing falls as the other balance enhancing exercises being studied. For people with Parkinson’s, who often see their balance deteriorate as their condition progresses, it is unforgivable for them to not be informed of Tai Chi’s potential benefits at the earliest stage possible while their balance is still good.

Now, regarding the less obvious reasons Tai Chi may benefit Parkinson’s patients. Both my wife and daughter, who co-taught a Tai Chi class together noticed that a young man with severe Parkinson’s tremors . . . completely lost his tremors once he joined the class in flowing through the Tai Chi movements in class. In another class I was teaching an older man with advanced Parkinson’s attended my classes for many months, and he always came in very slow with his walker. Once we began the Tai Chi movements he no longer used his walker, and had learned the entire long form of Tai Chi I taught, which was over 15 minutes of continuous changing forms. His form was unique and tailored for his limitations, but nonetheless a challenging set of exercises he was able to accomplish without the use of his walker. What do these anecdotal experiences portend for others with Parkinson’s? I don’t know, but there should be massive research dollars coming from the National Institutes of Health to find out. Given the promise Tai Chi seems to offer people on so many profound physical, emotional, and mental fronts from preliminary research, the current total research money earmarked for complimentary and alternative medicine’s (CAM) is a mere pittance.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), now in its sixth year, supports more than 300 research projects and has an estimated budget of over $120 million for 2005 (up from $50 million in 1999). Total spending on CAM by all NIH institutes and centers is expanding as well, and is expected to reach $315 million by 2005.

Sounds like a lot? However, $120 million is less than “one half of one percent” of the total NIH FY2005 budget. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges the NIH’s total annual budget for FY 2005 is $28.8 billion (http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/05pch8.htm). Remember, we are talking about only spending much much less than one half of one percent to study an exercise that preliminary research has shown to: n Lower High Blood Pressure (about 1/3 of Americans have hypertension – roughly over 90 million Americans) n Boost Immune Function profoundly (a study sited at drkoop.com indicates that a Tai Chi practicing group was TWICE as resistant to the shingles virus, and researchers believed this would carry over to other viral resistance as well.) n Dramatically reduce falling injuries by about half (complications from falling injuries in older Americans is the 6th leading cause of death for seniors in America)

If Tai Chi only addressed this chronic condition affecting 1/3 of Americans, while boosting the immune system of all practitioners profoundly, and cutting in half the sixth leading cause of death for seniors, without any negative side effects, that would seem to be, for the rational person a reason for pouring massive resources into researching it further. However, Tai Chi’s benefits only begin with the above preliminary findings. We also know that it may very well relieve depression, anxiety, and mood disturbance, as well as reduce ADHD symptoms in teenagers diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. There are indications that Tai Chi may greatly reduce or even eliminate chronic pain conditions, and lessen allergic and asthmatic reactions, and improve overall respiratory function.

My point is, “where is the massive attention this would garner on talk shows, and in health newspaper sections, if this were a drug or surgery that could provide such a seemingly massive breakthrough in health treatment?” Peter Chowka, in a brilliant two part series for Natural Health Line, entitled “Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2000,” wrote, “Conflicts of interest are not uncommon in most aspects of life. But in medicine, the biggest business in the U.S. (over $1.5 trillion a year constituting over 14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, according to the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine report issued January 10, 2001), serious conflicts are particularly well entrenched.” Mr. Chowka wrote of physicians like Dr. Marcia Angell voicing concerns of the “troubling” result massive research money from drug and medical-equipment companies was having on the scientific process. In the New England Journal of Medicine’s May 18, 2000 issue, Dr. Angel wrote an editorial entitled, “Is Academic Medicine for Sale?” She wrote, “As we spoke with research psychiatrists about writing an editorial on the treatment of depression . . . we found very few who did not have financial ties to drug companies that make antidepressants. . .The problem is by no means unique to psychiatry. We routinely encounter similar difficulties in finding editorialists in other specialties, particularly those that involve the heavy use of expensive drugs and devices.”

So, who can make a multi-billion dollar fortune teaching Tai Chi to people? No one can. Tai Chi cannot be bottled, or mass marketed. It is a decentralized labor intensive industry that employees many people, but keeps the profits small and local. Yes, there are videos and DVDs that teach Tai Chi effectively, but ultimately even those who utilize videos are drawn to live class like structures. As I mentioned before with the “anecdotal” experiences of my students with Parkinson’s, Tai Chi seems to offer something profoundly beneficial to the quality of life of Parkinson’s sufferers. It needs further study. We are in a catch 22, where many health professionals feel they cannot recommend Tai Chi because too much of the preliminary research is anecdotal. However, when Tai Chi is jockeying for position to get a crumb of the .5% of total NIH money going to ALL complimentary and alternative medical therapies . . . the result will be many long years of millions of people suffering needlessly from conditions or symptoms of those conditions that Tai Chi could likely safely lessen or even eliminate.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT TAI CHI AND PARKINSONS?

Tai Chi is being recommended by some forward thinking medical institutions already. The Cleveland Clinic of Neuroscience Center encourages Parkinson’s Disease patients to seek out a hobby or activity they can enjoy and stick with such as “Tai Chi” and other activities. The Alexian Neurosciences Institute in Illinois offers a course in their The Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center. Also, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association at Stanford University Medical Center, in it’s “Beyond Pills…. Alternative Approaches to Coping with Parkinson’s Disease” program, offered “Tai Chi, The Art for Living with Parkinson’s” by Mwezo & Jane of Kujiweza Healing Arts. (Learn more at: http://parkinsons.stanford.edu/symposium.html). The Parkinson’s Society of Canada recommends Tai Chi for Parkinson’s patients, suggesting “Tai Chi may prevent or at least slow down the onset of degenerative diseases; in the long run, it can reduce need for rehabilitative care.” (http://www.parkinsons.ca/managing.html#taichi)

In the United Kingdom a Parkinson’s Tai Chi study was conducted at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, Cornwall. Their conclusion of the study was such, “Tai Chi training was well tolerated by PD patients in this study, but had no measurable effect on motor performance using UPDRS score or GAG time. There was a non-significant improvement in quality of life scores (PDQ 39). Larger studies would be needed fully to evaluate the value and efficacy of Tai Chi. However our results are encouraging, and provide evidence for its safety and tolerability and would support the feasibility of further study.” (http://www.pdcornwall.org.uk/showarticle.pl?n=30&id=81)

WCHS TV during a news report focusing on Tai Chi’s ability to boost immune system function, also reported that “Tai Chi has also been shown to help illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and arthritis.” (http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/healthyforlife/2177.shtml)

The Neurology Channel reported, “The slow flowing movements of Tai Chi help maintain flexibility, balance, and relaxation. The Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Minneapolis, which teaches a modified form of Tai Chi, consistently reports benefits achieved by patients in all stages of Parkinson’s.” (http://www.neurologychannel.com/parkinsonsdisease/surgery.s html)

Physicians at the Mayo Clinic recommend Tai Chi for Parkinson’s therapy, under their Parkinson’s “self-care” section for avoiding falls, where they suggest you “Ask your doctor or physical therapist about exercises that improve balance, especially tai chi. Originally developed in China more than 1,000 years ago, tai chi uses slow, graceful movements to relax and strengthen muscles and joints. “

At a popular health website called “RemedyFind.com” viewers can vote on therapies they’ve found benefited their condition, or didn’t benefit it. The rating there for Tai Chi as a Parkinson’s therapy received a rating of 9.8 out of a possible 10. (http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=13945)

A Study at the University of Florida in Jacksonville found that patients who attended Tai Chi classes for one hour each week for 12-weeks were less likely than a group of control patients to experience an increase in the severity of their condition and a decrease in motor function. . . ..[of alternative therapies] the most popular therapies being Tai Chi, yoga, and acupuncture. (http://www.worldhealth.net/p/275,1526.html), (SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 13th November 2002)

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported, “Parkinson’s Meets It’s Match in Tai Chi.” In this article they write that Dr. Mark Guttman, director of the Centre for Movement Disorders in Markham, Ontario, recommends people with Parkinson’s do exercises that involve a lot of stretching, similar to the movements of tai chi.

“Tai chi is wonderful; it can help people with disabilities as well as people with Parkinson’s,” he says. He added that studies on animals show exercise induces a change in the brain that prevents the symptom’s of Parkinson’s from emerging.

The Tai Chi teacher for this program, Ms. Embree, spoke of how people with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and Parkinson’s often attend her classes . . . “Doctors are now sending people here,” adds Ms Embree. (for the entire article, go to: PARKINSON’S MEETING IT’S MATCH IN TAI CHI, April, 13, 2005, http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/0304/lvtaichi7.html )

At the National Parkinson’s Foundation site, Melanie M. Brandabur, MD NPF Center of Excellence, University of Illinois at Chicago and Jill Marjama-Lyons, MD NPF Center of Excellence, Shands Jacksonville, wrote, “Most patients derive a great deal of benefit from today’s medications and surgical therapies for Parkinson’s Disease . . . However, benefits of these therapies can be limited. As time goes by, the medications may not seem as effective as they once were. Side effects or unpredictable response may develop. Surgical therapies are not curative and often treat only selected aspects of Parkinson’s Disease. For these reasons, patients may decide to explore other modalities, such as massage therapy, Tai Chi, yoga, or herbal preparations to augment their Parkinson’s medication . . . Many patients with Parkinson’s Disease have become interested in complementary therapies to supplement medications and other traditional PD treatments. These physicians also suggest that as Tai Chi and other modalities benefits are exposed by clinical research, physicians will advocate their use more widely. (http://www.parkinson.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dJFJLPwB&b=238635)

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day joins a growing number of health professionals specializing in fields like Parkinson’s who believe that much more research needs to be done to illuminate the full spectrum of benefits Tai Chi offers all people as well as those specifically with chronic conditions. This will enable more physicians to make Tai Chi a regular prescription written as therapy or adjunct therapy for a host of maladies many are already enjoying the benefits of for their condition, but paying out of pocket for. Ultimately more and more health insurance plans should and will make Tai Chi classes a deductible medical expense for their clients. The end result of this shift may portend the savings of hundreds of billions of dollars annually in saved health care costs as patients are better trained in self care techniques, training the great visionary Thomas Edison referred to as “the care and maintenance of the human frame,” which Edison envisioned would more and more reduce the need for expensive surgeries and life long dependence on medications as human beings maximized their own self healing abilities. Traditional Chinese Medicine has spent centuries developing and evolving self healing technologies like Tai Chi. Now the west can learn about their results, and physicians can prescribe them to their patients and our entire society will be healthier and more abundant for it.

‘Pills can change your destiny’ is printed in my prescriptions, notice boards and in all vantage points of my clinic. Often patients ask

‘Doctor, how can destiny be changed with mere pills?’ “Suppose I die today in an accident, it is my fate. How pills can change it?” “Doctor, I completely disagree with you” “How can you state so with authority? Can you explain?”

Yes. I admit that my very intention is to provoke such questions. When I answer I can emphasize the significance of the pills.

SHALL WE SEE HOW?

About fifty years ago, TB, Leprosy and such contagious diseases were incurable. An afflicted person will inevitably die in a few years. His family will console itself that “All that is written in his fate” “Everything is in accordance with one’s fate” and such. Since Biblical times Leprosy was considered as ‘God’s wrath’. But today, the phenomenal growth in medical science and technology enables a complete cure for TB and Leprosy. If proper tablets are taken for six months 100% cure is sure. Patients fated’ to face death are entirely curable now. Their life span can even be extended.

So is the case is with Diabetes or Thyroid deficiency.  A century ago insulin was invented to cure Type1 diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). If an eight years old child is infected before its invention, it is condemned to die in a matter of two years.  Wasim Akram is a renowned left arm fast bowler with many records to his credit. He is in fact a diabetes patient taking insulin regularly. Had this very same bowler, a contemporary legend, was born about 200 years ago, imagine what would have been his fate?

Before two hundred years, if a young girl acquired thyroid deficiency, she will suffer from obesity, leathery skin and constipation.  She will become too tired to do any work. Her heart muscles will become weak and she will die. This is due to a condition called cardio-myopathy. But now cardio-myopathy can be prevented with Thyroid tablets like Eltroxin, Thyronorm etc. Regular use of these tablets can cure her. She can live longer without any problems.

Bio-Enzymes like thyroxin, insulin have to be secreted naturally in body. If bio-enzymes are inadequate, they can be substituted by a wheat grain sized tablet invented by science. In my Mind Care Clinic and elsewhere across the world many patients seek cure for Anxiety disorders, Personality disorders and Obsession problems. Ten years ago modern medicine identified low secretion of bio-enzyme called serotonin is the cause of these problems. These problems can be satisfactorily cured by a class of medicines called Serotonin Serum Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI).

A 35 years old male patient, and a top level executive in a MNC with an income of two lakhs per month even in India, took treatment for obsession under me. Three months after treatment he came back with his wife, brothers and parents. He presented a 100 g Gold Ganesha idol as a gift to me. I firmly ‘declined’ to accept the gift as it is against medical ethics and a crime as well. The doctor-patient relationship will be affected by such gifts. But what he said that day touched my soul. His statements are reproduced verbatim.

“Sir, had I not seen you, I would have committed suicide by this time”

“In spite of possessing all things, I felt I had nothing whatsoever Sir”

“For five years, I suffered from restlessness and also I tormented my wife to untold extremes”

“I knew full well that my thought and actions were wrong. I had spent lakhs of rupees for a change through spirituality, yoga and meditation”

“To my knowledge, I have not even fondled my very own child with involvement”

“Daily I had intercourse with my wife more like a maniac with scant respect for her feelings”

“What a great surprise Sir! A wheat grain sized pill completely changed my life upside down. Had I taken this pill about seven years ago I would have owned now a big concern like Infosys or HCL”

“Before seeing you, I had resigned myself to my fate that everything is over for me”

After pondering over his admissions, I recorded the statement in my diary.

“PILLS CAN CHANGE YOUR DESTINY”

I do not say this to blow my own trumpet or to boast and brag. Any good and qualified psychiatrist would have done the same. I have seen hundreds of patients like him cured by these pills. Every day, these pills are prescribed worldwide by psychiatrists.

Science is but empirically proven facts.

Millions of dollars are spent for systematic research for pills. Clinical trials of pills are carried out on lakhs of patients. Invariable cure for the disease without any major side effects is to be demonstrated. Then only governing agencies permit doctors like me to prescribe the pills. This being the case, claims like “I have cured the disease” is infantile and unscientific.

Some claim the following.

“Allopathic drugs are prone to give side effects” “ Kidneys will be affected” “Stomach ulcers will ensue” “Herbal medicines cause no side effects” “ “English medicines are not suitable to my body at all. Only Homeopathy, Siddha and Ayurvedha preparations are amenable to me”

These assertions are indicative of ignorance and or sheer gullibility.

In alternate medical systems like Homeopathy, Siddha and Ayurvedha there may really be good therapeutic procedures. Being unlettered in these fields, I should not write about them. They are country and culture based systems. For instance, Siddha medicine was practiced in India by Siddhars hundreds of years ago even before scientific advances have taken place. At that point in time, they would have traveled to Trichy from Chennai, using bullock carts or on horseback. They would have reached their destination in two or three days. Today aircrafts take a mere thirty minutes for the same distance. Can we say that they were foolish then?

Siddha medicine is our own indigenous medical system. It is indeed true that we should preserve its rare treasures for posterity. But instead of empty rhetoric, we need to meticulously research and subject the findings to globally accepted metrics and standards. It is disheartening to see the advertisements of certain fraudsters in the media who care not a bit for any scientific research and objective experimentation. They have a singular motive of fleecing the credulous public. We cannot fault the medical system as is but we must also ensure that the practitioners should refrain from deceitful promises.

Science is common or universal and objective in nature. Contemporary science will continue to grow and evolve further through unceasing research and experimentation. Hence is it not sensible to gladly accept scientific progress of today as such?

In practice we do appreciate the fruits of scientific progress like computers, cell phones, satellites. We relish using them with out any qualms. Yet when it comes to medical science, we strangely we tend to prefer two centuries old anachronisms

Reason

Superstitions, lack of awareness coupled with scheming skills of ‘Artful Dodgers’ namely fraudulent gurus, ‘reputed’ quack doctors, and utterly dishonest self serving politicians keep us ignorant for their personal benefits.

These very same religious heads and unashamed politicians rush to corporate hospitals for treatment at the drop of a hat. Be it for an ordinary fever or for “check up and rest” they choose multi specialty hospitals only. They are not ashamed to sermonize to the general population that “God will cure”

For this ignominious condition to change, young doctors (including alternate medicine doctors who study for five and a half years courses like BSMS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS) should be enlightened. We should aggressively protest against government approval issued to set up private medical colleges. People who secured a meager 35% in higher secondary education but manage to get MBBS seat by paying thirty lakhs donation, must be prevented by stringent rules from getting registration in organizations like IMA.

Is it fair to allow desecration of medical profession by these dupes who procure MBBS with money? Their aim is to bargain a bigger dowry by virtue of this degree. In addition they have a shameless desire to exhibit their procured MBBS in marriage invitation. Is it just and fair for the state and central governments to collaborate with these cheats?

I repeat with a slight modification. “Destinies of most us can be won over by pills”

-Dr. P. Anandhan, M.B.B.S., D.P.M., FIPS

Neuro Psychiatrist- Mind Care Clinic

Phone: 044- 3297 2492, 93810 22113

minu_rs@yahoo.com

I also read yesterday that one in five Americans aged 18-34 is obese! Yes, I have noticed the spread widening on Americans as we sidle up to yet our next buffet or super-sized fast food meal.

I personally was in the Las Vegas audience last week when Karl Rove could hardly contain his chortling as he belittled the obesity epidemic we have in America. His slick one-liners rolled easily off his tongue mocking the attention and funds that President Obama’s stimulus plan allots to addressing one of America’s costliest and most debilitating ills. It surely didn’t surprise me that Karl apparently doesn’t care that this generation is the first that is scheduled to live less years than their parents, principally because of obesity.

I say arrest this obesity epidemic now, and yes, earmark funds for public awareness programs and treatments. We need to lead by example, as adults and as a nation. We do want our bodies to last as long as our hearts keep pumping, and we do hope to remain vibrant in our golden years. We do want to be able to move with, and play with, our grandchildren or nieces and nephews. There is hope! The TV blockbuster, Biggest Losers is key evidence that with personal will power and the support of others we can win the fight against obesity. We Can Do It Women! and men too, of course.

Apparently the State of New York heard me and others calling for a healthy America, in recently instituting an obesity tax on certain sugared soft drinks.

Even the military is weighted down with ineffectiveness these days, rendering our very national security more vulnerable. The number of service people diagnosed as obese has more than doubled since the 2003 invasion of Baghdad, Iraq.

At the end of the day, we are talking about a slippery slope with regard to so much of America’s and the globe’s appetite, greed, addiction and/or depression.

I listened to a reformed, yet once-convicted securities representative give an ethics lecture last Friday. He carefully explained that he went step-by-step deeper into oblivion believing he would give only this one kickback; and then never again. Further, how he never figured he’d get caught. His was an addictive game of greed and egotism.

He admitted that the beloved women in his life-both his mother and his wife-warned him of his errant ways, yet he willfully broke their hearts, as well as that of his young sons, by continuing his slide into the grips of greed, eventually losing his family relationships and his possessions, and being imprisoned.

Time will tell the full story of Bernie Madoff, and the myriad other Ponzi scheme architects, yet I suspect that decisions became more and more laced with optimism about add-water-and-stir wealth.

Little attention was paid to the prospect of getting caught. The aire of being above the law permeates a crook’s decision making, and in Madoff’s case, nary a care about the individual’s and foundation’s throats he stomped on.

For the record, I’ve never been bankrupt, never committed a felony (or even a misdemeanor) never accepted kickbacks, consistently voted in local and national elections, always worked at least one job (often 2-3) have an exceptional FICO score, great employment history, and haven’t cheated employees or family members. Not sure that’ll make headlines, nor could I be a wildly successful public speaker in the opinion of some yet I do know right from wrong, and I attempt to live by the Golden Rule. Boring yet beautiful. Simple and proud of it.

Values still remain, and a majority of American’s still uphold them. The media needs to search out those who would balance out the negative headlines and showcase the many ball players, military, and business people that play by the rules and enjoy a lifestyle befitting them and their labor/contributions.

So, hearty congratulations to all my readers who achieve greatness in their fields, in their families in their communities and in this fragile global network It all starts in our heads, you know. If we believe we can do it, we can. With the continued commitment towards personal excellence, and with the support of our loved ones we can achieve massive victories.

Congratulations to all my mature women readers who are pushing past their personal fears to begin to understand money and the role it plays in their lives. I am eager to throw a life preserver to you in the form of education and cheer leading regarding your money. With over 30 years of experience investing client’s money, I can help you sift through the mountains of financial information to cull what’s important to your financial future. Your past accomplishments are fodder for your money successes. We’ll use a combination of common sense, history, and future thinking to forge ahead and ultimately ensure that your money will last your lifetimes.

No, we will not succumb to paralysis about our money any longer. We’ll say no to our Bag Lady fears that otherwise rob us of rich moments of our lives when we could be creating memories with our loved ones. We will face our challenges head on, step by step with a winning plan. We will resort to our resolve and discipline and reap the rich rewards, all without ever needing to cheat.

Congratulations on reintroducing the word NO back into our language, and meaning it. No to unlimited buffets, no to unlimited profits, no to drugs, no to unfair business practices, no to dog-eat-dog greed, no to becoming addicted, and no to staying addicted.

In essence then, once our NO is taken seriously-principally by us-then our YES begins to have much more meaning. Yes to HOPE, yes to continued hard work, yes to pitching in, yes to opportunity, yes to education, yes to studying something new, yes to mastering our money, yes to health, yes to living our lives fully, yes to giving back. Yes, yes, yes, We Can Do It Women!™

It seems to be a fight against destiny, a hope against hope and an effort which would defy any medical argument that its generally not possible for an HIV infected couple to enjoy parenthood of a HIV negative child. On the eve of the World AIDS Day (December 1), Headlines India did come across one such unfortunate HIV positive couple, which is fortunate enough to have progeny – a seven years old sweet daughter, who is HIV negative. Naveen Kumar and his wife has been living with the virus for the past 8 years, but to everyone’s surprise their daughter does not carry the deadly virus. Their daughter might be fortunate enough to overcome the limitations of her parents, but ironically it has never been easy for her to fight the social apathy, such minorities of the society are destined to face. Delhi School refuse to admit Naveen’s daughter- Anjali (name changed), just because her parents were HIV positive.

Naveen,38 and a marketing executive of an NGO, is not afraid to admit that he is HIV positive. But things have never been easy for him too. “Those days the discrimination was at its peak. The only term was AIDS, irrespective of whether one has been tested HIV positive or AIDS,” Naveen says, while sharing his memory of horrific early days when he was detected carrying the disease . His infection falls into exceptional category, wherein a husband caught up with the disease through his wife. “No, not for a moment. Ours was love marriage, which is based on trust and nothing else,” comes prompt reply, when asked whether he did doubt his wife even for a moment. His wife,a Manipuri had to be administered blood for a medical problem. As, there was no blood bank, she took blood from a man who was in the window period of HIV. The virus entered her body through the blood stream.

The memory still haunts him as he continues to elaborate about the inauspicious day of 1999, when during a routine check of pregnancy, his wife was reported HIV+ve. “I was totally shocked, my feet were trembling and the documents fell down from my hands, I just could not believe. I thought I could hide the report for sometime, but she could sense there is something wrong. When I told her, she just could not take it. She locked her self in the bathroom for 9 hours and kept crying. We stopped talking to each other for many days, but later on we accepted it as our destiny.”

Naveen’s elder brother, who at that time was the head of the family, asked him to leave home immediately. His parents kept mum. At present, he is facing some property issue with his brother. “Even then I was not bothered. I just walked out. I didn’t even care before moving out that I had my wife with me too, to take care of,” Naveen recalls the tough decision he had to take in adverse conditions. The immediate concern for him was the unborn child, but to his dismay, he was turned down by the medical fraternity numerous times, denying to treat his wife. “When I consulted gynaecologists at the so called premier medical institute of the country, AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), they called the unborn child, as a ‘ loath of meat’ and advised me to dump it,” says Naveen tearfully.

But, all these adversities did not bog down the couple. They consulted one of the best HIV specialists in Delhi. Both took his prescription seriously and did what ever he advised. The glitter in Naveen’s eye is enough to explain the efforts, which he must have undertaken to ensure that both the child and mother remain healthy. Problem mounted in the eighth month of his wife’s pregnancy when doctors at AIIMS, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital as well as Ram Manohar Lohia refused to entertain his wife. Private hospitals were charging around a lakh of rupees for delivery. “Our last hope was Manipur and we find ourselves fortunate enough that we got such a doctor who assured safe delivery. I was ready with the right dosage of medicine for the infant to protect her(child) against the dreaded virus”, he states.

Naveen, a founder member of the ‘Delhi Network of Positive People’ and a marketing executive with Sahara, an NGO, is too busy in his work these days. He works extra time to meet the medical needs of his wife and to secure better future for his daughter. His wife is in a critical condition. She is on second line of treatment. But all these adversities do not deter the couple from leading a life which is exemplary and worth emulating by a general mortal. There are very few people who are so ‘positive’ about life. “Death for us is a fact of life, which others perhaps are afraid of. I take extra care of myself. In the past seven years, I have not undergone any medication. My CD4 cell count is normal (670). Doctors say that I need no medication for next seven years, I want to live because my daughter needs me, I want to see her grow”, says Naveen with a sense of confidence which can move mountains.

It has been 20 years, since the virus was first detected in the country, so called gigantic efforts are going on at national and international level to curb the virus, and at the same time make people aware of it. Questioning the massive awareness campaign, Naveen says, “ What have we achieved in terms of awareness. 70 per cent of the total fund is used for the purpose. If a person like me living in the Capital of the country is facing so much discrimination for being HIV+ve, what kind of awareness are we talking about.”

The most important weapon against this deadly disease as posed by the awareness campaigns, is use of condom. “Many, rather I should say that most of Indians do not know how to wear it properly. They use nails to wear it, without pondering on it that it might puncture it. There is a proper procedure , which people must be made aware of, ” advices Naveen.

Denying the new report released by NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation), published in July 2007, as per which the number of HIV / AIDS cases in India currently stands at 2.5 million, less than half of 5.7 million cases as estimated earlier, he says, “ The government does not want to create panic. That’s all.” Naveen is not at all happy with the approach and policies of the government as well as NGO’s- whom he calls as hypocrites.

Nevertheless, he is still hopeful that the government comes out with ‘second line of treatment’, which includes treatment with around 18 drugs. This mode of medication costs around Rs 8000 a month. Last, but not the least, he urges the authorities to give special attention to the HIV+ children, widows, elders because according to him , and quite rightly so, these are the most vulnerable section of the society.

For more news and articles from India visit www.headlinesindia.com

Kinds of depression are different, like different kinds of diabetic or high blood pressure problems. And you may find that you or someone you love sort of fits in more than one category. This is OK. You are not training to become a psychologist. You simply want to understand that depression comes in different forms.

Major Depression

A major depression can come from a single horrible event in your life, or may develop slowly as a result of several personal disappointments and life problems. Some people develop symptoms of a major depression without an obvious life crisis.  In a major depression the combination of symptoms interferes with your ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy pleasure feelings. This could happen only once but often happens several times during your life.  It is major because it stops your ability to function normally. It is severe and keeps you from living your life. If you suffer from this you feel you just cannot fix things in your life. You want to sleep because when you are awake there is no joy. Its effects can be so great that things like eating, sleeping, or just getting out of bed become almost impossible. You cannot just ‘snap out of it’ and every day you feel worse. If you get no treatment for this it can last from six to 10 months. It seems to run its course.  But why in the world would you want to live in this horror for one minute longer than you have to?

Symptoms:

-Feeling hopeless and helpless

-Thinking of death or suicide

-No energy, feeling tired all the time

-Irritable and angry outbursts

-Constant worry about physical health

-Drug and/or alcohol abuse

-Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much

-Waking up very early, not able to get back to sleep

-Feeling guilty about past actions

-Big appetite changes

-Memory problems

-Having problems at work or school

-Sudden emotional outbursts, crying

-Unable to concentrate

-Brooding and going back over problems

-Lack of concern for physical appearance

-Slowness doing any tasks

Remember, these symptoms must be severe and cause real problems for you and eventually cause you to be unable to function at work or home.

Major Depression can be a one time happening a third of the time, but generally two thirds of the people who have this will have a repeat or maybe several. Many times the symptoms disappear for a while and then come back full force.

Here’s an example of a woman experiencing a Major Depression:

Susan is 37 and just ended a 5 year relationship. She wonders what has happened to her. She thinks she is just sleep walking through her life.  She cannot sleep well, wakes up at 4:00a.m., and is wide awake, thinking about is wrong with her. When she gets up she feels like she got no sleep at all and is foggy and can’t think.  She used to enjoy fixing nice meals and considered herself a good cook. Now she doesn’t even like the taste of food and is losing weight fast. She isn’t dieting but people ask what plan she is using. There is a man at work who has shown some interest in her but she could care less. She feels she can’t concentrate and do her job as a computer input operator and she is making plenty of mistakes. Her boss has been watching her and she knows the group is carrying her. This can last just so long. When she leaves work she just goes home and lies on the couch. On the weekend she sleeps and takes the phone off the hook. She doesn’t want to hear from well meaning relatives and friends. They keep telling her to get a grip on herself but she can’t.  When she wakes up early in the morning, she thinks about ways she could kill herself. There is no longer anything to live for. She thinks of things she might have done differently when she noticed her partner was showing less interest in her. Maybe she wasn’t sexy enough or attractive enough. Maybe she should have suggested some kinky sex. Her partner found a woman who was ten years younger and very beautiful. He said he felt like a young guy around her.  He had told Susan she was getting old looking and needed a total makeover. At the time she laughed it off but now she thinks she made a terrible mistake.  And now there is no going back. She has nothing.

And when you meet Bill, you will hope that you never suffer like this.

Bill was 58 when he lost his job due to a reduction in force after a large bank merger.  He could not believe this had happened because he was always the loyal company man who followed the rules and always did more than he was asked to do. When he was given the news he did not act like it was so horrible because he didn’t want to have anyone see him break down. But when he went home and told his wife he began crying and couldn’t seem to stop. He found that he could not sleep. He went to see his family doctor who told him it was natural to be upset over losing his job and gave Bill a prescription for sleeping pills.  They seemed to work at first, but when he woke up he felt sluggish and groggy and unable to start searching for another job.  He would sit in his favorite chair with the TV turned on, thinking about how could this have happened to him. He started to wonder why he had ever worked so hard for a company which could so easily throw him out. He had enough years in to get a pension and had made good investments.  They wouldn’t starve or be unable to live decently. But to Bill, his job was a very important part of his life.  It was who he was. When his wife wanted to get him out of the house and visit with friends he told her to leave him alone. He didn’t need anybody to come around feeling sorry for him.  Within a month Bill had gotten so much worse that he was not taking care of himself, staying in his pajamas all day, and refusing to talk to his wife.  He was continuing to get his prescription for sleeping pills refilled but he wasn’t taking them.  He was hoarding them and getting ready to take all of them when he had enough.  There was no way he was going to continue living and feeling that he had been thrown away like garbage. When his wife found the pills he had saved up, she called their doctor.  They arranged for Bill to be admitted to a mental health ward at the hospital.  He was there for three weeks before he turned the corner.

If you or someone you care for is suffering from a Major Depression, you need to know it is something you cannot just ‘shake off’. Depression is one of the most easily treatable illnesses in this country and there is no reason to deny or avoid dealing with the problem. Medications and treatment are available and will be discussed later in the book.