SLEEP DEPRIVATION CAN SLOW YOUR REACTION

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton

Courtesy of the National Sleep Foundation  November 23, 2009

Sleep deprivation can have an enormous impact on your health and happiness. Apparently, it can also affect your ability to make split-second decisions, according to a recent study in the journal SLEEP. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin split 49 West Point cadets into two groups, 21 of whom were deprived of sleep and 28 of whom were well-rested, and tested them on tasks that require quick decisions. According to the study, participants in each group performed the tasks twice, separated by a 24-hour period. Cadets who were sleep-deprived between testing periods saw their accuracy decline by 2.4 percent, and cadets who were well-rested between testing periods improved by 4.3 percent. W. Todd Maddox, one of the researchers, told HealthDay that the type of thinking tested in this study is “critical in situations when soldiers need to make split-second decisions based about whether a potential target is an enemy soldier, a civilian or one of their own.” While people vary in their need for sleep, experts agree that for most adults the amount needed to feel one’s best is somewhere between seven and nine hours per night.

SLEEP STEALERS

More often than not, you have a pretty good idea of what is keeping you awake at night — from the cat scratching at your bedroom door to the snoring partner next to you. But not all “sleep stealers” are obvious. Here are some big sleep stealers that could be keeping you up at night and you may not know it.

Psychological Factors Stress is considered by most sleep experts to be the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties. You are not going to solve all your problems while sitting in bed at night, so give it a rest and get some rest.

Lifestyle Stressors Without realizing it, you may be doing things during the day or night that can work against getting a good night’s sleep. These include drinking alcohol or beverages containing caffeine in the afternoon or evening, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular morning and night time schedule, and working or doing other mentally intense activities right before or after getting into bed.

Medications In addition, certain medications such as decongestants, steroids and some medicines for high blood pressure, asthma, or depression can cause sleeping difficulties as a side effect.

FATIGUE & EXCESSIVE SLEEPINESS

Do you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning? Do you sometimes feel sleepy while watching television or driving? If so, you may be one of the millions of Americans who suffer from excessive sleepiness, a condition that can significantly reduce quality of life, decrease productivity and interfere with relationships. Most people feel tired occasionally, but excessive sleepiness that persists is neither normal nor healthy.

CAUSES:

One of the primary causes of excessive sleepiness is self-imposed sleep deprivation. In the U.S. and many other parts of the world, sleep loss may occur as a result of economic or societal pressures. People may skimp on sleep in hopes of getting more done, and widespread access to technology makes it possible to stay busy (at the computer, for example) around the clock. By some estimates, people now sleep about 20 percent less than they did a century ago.

Working at night and sleeping during the day can also cause excessive sleepiness. Some people are able to adjust to such a schedule. However, others may never overcome the body’s natural tendency to be awake during the day and asleep at night. A similar phenomenon occurs with jet lag, in which the body is “out of sync” with the natural environment. In general, symptoms of jet lag increase with the number of time zones crossed. That is, someone flying from Beijing to San Francisco is more likely to suffer worse jet lag than someone flying from San Francisco to New York.

Excessive sleepiness is also linked with a number of primary sleep disorders. For example, sleep disordered breathing (SDB), which includes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is often associated with excessive sleepiness. Because SDB may result in frequent interruptions during sleep, it can lead to abnormal sleepiness during waking hours no matter how many hours a person actually spent in bed.

Insomnia is another main cause of perceived daytime sleepiness or fatigue. Insomnia symptoms may include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and/or waking up still tired as well as daytime impairments such as excessive sleepiness, cognitive deficits (e.g., concentration and memory problems), fatigue, and irritability.

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by disabling sleepiness. Most patients begin to experience symptoms in their teens or 20s, but symptoms may appear in younger children or older adults. Narcolepsy is also recognized by insomnia at bedtime, sudden sleep attacks, cataplexy (sudden muscular weakness), hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and a strong urge to move them.  People who suffer from RLS may mistake the problem for insomnia since RLS symptoms are usually worse at night, leading to insomnia at night and excessive sleepiness during the day.

The good news is that these sleep disorders can be easily diagnosed and effectively treated. If you have excessive daytime sleepiness and/or feel you may suffer from a sleep disorder, talk to a healthcare professional about the problem as soon as possible.

Excessive sleepiness may also be caused by a variety of physical and mental illnesses as well as some medications.  If you suffer from a medical condition and you are experiencing excessive sleepiness, talk to your healthcare professional about the problem.  In many cases, properly treating the medical condition may alleviate sleepiness. In other cases, sleepiness must be treated independently.

POLL DATA:

Excessive sleepiness is not just a matter of feeling lousy – it can also affect mood, relationships, work, and quality of life.  According to the results of NSF’s 2008 Sleep in America poll:

36 percent of American drive drowsy or fall asleep while driving

29 percent of Americans fall asleep or become very sleepy at work

20 percent have lost interest in sex because they are too sleepy

14  percent report having to miss family events, work functions, and leisure activities in the past month due to sleepiness.

Each of these consequences can have an enormous impact on an individual’s health and happiness.

One of the most serious risks associated with excessive sleepiness is drowsy driving.  NSF’s 2008 poll revealed that a whopping 36 percent of American adults have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving.  Sleepiness and driving do not mix.  If you feel sleepy, you should not drive. Visit drowsydriving.org. to learn how to prevent a drowsy driving-related crash.

There are several tools used to evaluate a person for excessive sleepiness.  An individual’s personal report of how they feel is also important in characterizing a sleepiness problem.  Interviewing a person’s bed partner or those sleeping nearby is also helpful in identifying things that occur during sleep (e.g., snoring and breathing pauses during sleep).

Special questionnaires developed specifically to provide insight regarding daytime sleepiness (these include the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Stanford Sleepiness Scale). Sleep diaries may also be helpful in assessing and evaluating sleepiness as well as any underlying factors.

Additionally, there are several tests that may be employed when a sleep disorder such as SDB or narcolepsy is suspected.  Such tests may include an overnight sleep study or “polysomnogram,” and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT).

TREATMENT:

Once a cause for excessive sleepiness is determined, there are generally a range of treatment options available to patients, including behavioral and pharmacological (drug) therapies.  For example, if the primary cause of sleepiness is OSA, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or an oral appliance may be prescribed. If excessive sleepiness persists in OSA patients using CPAP or is the result of narcolepsy, approved medications may be appropriate. For sleepiness caused by voluntary sleep deprivation or poor sleep habits, treatment will center on adopting behavioral measures to make getting adequate sleep a top priority.

COPING:

Although everyone should employ all the elements of good sleep hygiene, this is particularly important for anyone with excessive sleepiness.  These are behaviors and habits that can promote healthy sleep, which helps improve alertness during the day.  They include:

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, even on the weekends

Developing a regular, relaxing bedtime routine

Using your bedroom only for sleep and sex; if you do this, you will strengthen the  association between bed and sleep

Create a sleep environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and slightly cool

Removing all work materials, televisions, phones, and other distractions from the bedroom

Avoiding caffeine in the second half of the day

Limiting alcohol – it can disturb sleep

For some people with excessive sleepiness, adopting healthy sleep habits is enough to resolve the problem.

People vary in their need for sleep, but experts agree that for most adults the amount needed to feel one’s best is somewhere between seven and nine hours per night.  Teens and young adults usually need nine hours of sleep or more per night.  If you suffer from excessive sleepiness that persists for more than three weeks despite allowing adequate time for sleep, discuss the problem with your healthcare professional.

GERD AND SLEEP

GERD, also known as acid reflux, is an acronym that stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is a chronic illness that affects 5-7% of the world population and is associated with serious medical complications if untreated. GERD is the 3rd most common gastrointestinal disorder in the U.S. Most patients with GERD also experience nighttime heartburn, which is more bothersome. And according to the 2001 NSF Sleep in America poll, adults in America who experience nighttime heartburn are more likely to report having symptoms of sleep problems/disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness and restless legs syndrome than those who don’t have night time heartburn.

GERD describes a backflow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Most patients with GERD experience an increase in the severity of symptoms (usually heartburn or coughing and choking) while sleeping or attempting to sleep. If the acid backs up as far as the throat and larynx, the sleeper will wake up coughing and choking. If the acid only backs up as far as the esophagus the symptom is usually experienced as heartburn.

Most people refer to GERD as heartburn, although you can have it without heartburn. Sometimes GERD can cause serious complications including inflammation of the esophagus from stomach acid that causes bleeding or ulcers. In a relatively small number of patients, GERD has been reported to result in a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which over time can lead to cancer. Also, studies have shown that asthma, chronic cough, and pulmonary fibrosis may be aggravated or even caused by GERD.

GERD is common and may be frequently overlooked in children. It can cause repeated vomiting, coughing, and other respiratory problems. Talk to your child’s doctor if the problem occurs regularly and causes discomfort.

No one knows why people get GERD but factors that may contribute to it include:

age, diet, alcohol use, obesity, pregnancy, smoking.

Also, certain foods can be associated with reflux events, including:

citrus fruits, chocolate, drinks with caffeine, fatty and fried foods, garlic and onions,

mint flavorings, spicy foods, tomato-based foods, like spaghetti sauce, chili, and pizza.

GERD affects people of all ages, ethnicities and cultures and tends to run in families.

SYMPTOMS:

The most frequently reported symptoms of GERD are:

Heartburn

Acid regurgitation

Inflammation of the gums

Erosion of the enamel of the teeth

Bad breath

Belching

Chronic sore throat

Some patients with GERD experience no symptoms at all. Because of the wide range of symptoms associated with GERD and the need to distinguish it from heart-related problems, the number of medical visits and tests needed to diagnose or rule out the disease tends to be quite high.

TREATMENT:

GERD is a recurrent and chronic disease that does not resolve itself. If you are diagnosed with GERD, there are several methods of treatment which your doctor will discuss with you including behavioral modifications, medications, surgery, or a combination of methods. Over-the-counter medications may provide temporary relief but will not prevent symptoms from recurring.

The lifestyle changes you can make to minimize GERD include avoiding fats, onions, chocolate and alcohol. Losing weight may also help alleviate GERD symptoms.

Because of the association between GERD and sleep apnea, people with nighttime GERD symptoms should be screening for sleep apnea.

COPING:

These lifestyle modifications should help minimize reflux:

Avoid lying down after a large meal

Eat smaller meals and maintain an upright, relaxed posture

Avoid fats, onions, chocolate and alcohol

Avoid potassium supplements

Always swallow medication in the upright position and wash it down with lots of water.

POLL DATA:

GERD is the 3rd most common gastrointestinal disorder in the US and one of the leading causes of disturbed sleep among people between the ages of 45 and 64, according to the 2002 NSF Sleep in America poll. Reviewed by William C. Orr, Ph.D.

CAFFEINE AND SLEEP

Caffeine has been called the most popular drug in the world. It is found naturally in over 60 plants including the coffee bean, tea leaf, kola nut and cacao pod. All over the world people consume caffeine on a daily basis in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, some soft drinks, and some drugs.

Because caffeine is a stimulant, most people use it after waking up in the morning or to remain alert during the day. While it is important to note that caffeine cannot replace sleep, it can temporarily make us feel more alert by blocking sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and increasing adrenaline production.

There is no nutritional need for caffeine in the diet. Moderate caffeine intake, however, is not associated with any recognized health risk. Three 8 oz. cups of coffee (250 milligrams of caffeine) per day is considered a moderate amount of caffeine. Six or more 8 oz. cups of coffee per day is considered excessive intake of caffeine.

Caffeine enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine and can have a stimulating effect as soon as 15 minutes after it is consumed. Once in the body, caffeine will persist for several hours: it takes about 6 hours for one half of the caffeine to be eliminated. There are numerous studies to support the idea that caffeine causes physical dependence. If you suspect that you or someone you know is dependent on to caffeine, the best test is to eliminate it and look for signs of withdrawal, such as headache, fatigue and muscle pain.

Although caffeine is safe to consume in moderation, it is not recommended for children. It may negatively affect a child’s nutrition by replacing nutrient-dense foods such as milk. A child may also eat less because caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant. Caffeine can be safely eliminated from a child’s diet since there is no nutritional requirement for it.

Although the FDA does not advise against women who are pregnant or nursing to eliminate caffeine from the diet, many experts recommend limiting the amount consumed during that time to one or two 8 oz. servings per day.

SYMPTOMS:

Caffeine is a stimulant. In moderate doses, it can:

Increase alertness

Reduce fine motor coordination

Cause insomnia

Cause headaches, nervousness and dizziness

It has also been known to result in:

Anxiety

Irritability

Rapid heartbeat

Excessive urination

Sleep disturbance

A “caffeine crash” once the effects wear off.

TREATMENT:

If the conditions listed under “symptoms” occur, discontinue the use of caffeine. These effects are more likely to occur if caffeine is consumed in large doses. Children and women who are nursing or pregnant should avoid caffeine. People who are taking any prescription medication should talk to their doctors before consuming caffeine.

Knowing the caffeine content of your food and drinks can help you keep caffeine intake at a healthy level so you can still reap the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

COPING:

In order to sleep better at night and reduce daytime sleepiness, try practicing the following sleep tips:

Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule including weekends

Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as taking a bath or listening to music

Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool

Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows

Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex

Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime

Exercise regularly but avoid it a few hours before bedtime

Avoid caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime

Don’t smoke — not only is it a major health risk it can lead to poor sleep

Avoid alcohol close to bedtime; it can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.

POLL DATA:

According to the 2001 Sleep in America poll, 43% of Americans are “very likely” to use caffeinated beverages to combat daytime sleepiness.

Reviewed by: Greg Belenky, M.D.

DIET, EXERCISE AND SLEEP

For years your doctor, your mom and your friend who goes to the gym multiple times a week have probably been telling you to eat better and exercise more. It is all you hear on television, in the newspapers and on talk radio. New doctors and dieticians usher in new diets, new fads, and so you’ve made some lifestyle changes – cutting back on your fat and sweets intake, and doing some cardiovascular exercise a few days a week. Despite all this, you still feel burned out, can’t drop those extra pounds, and don’t have the energy to greet each day with enthusiasm. What are you missing?

THE THIRD PIECE OF THE PUZZLE: SLEEP

Though the exact mechanisms of how sleep works, how sleep rejuvenates the body and mind is still mysterious, one thing sleep specialists and scientists do know is that adequate sleep is necessary for healthy functioning. Research shows that all mammals need sleep, and that sleep regulates mood and is related to learning and memory functions. Not only will getting your zzzs help you perform on a test, learn a new skill or help you stay on task, but it may also be a critical factor in your health, weight and energy level.

SLEEP PROBLEMS AND OBESITY: INTERACTING EPIDEMICS

An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder that leads individuals to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. Not only does sleep apnea seriously affect one’s quality of sleep, but it can also lead to health risks such as stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea is often associated with people who are overweight – weight gain leads to compromised respiratory function when an individual’s trunk and neck area increase from weight gain.

These interacting problems of weight gain and sleep apnea make it difficult to help oneself off the slippery slope of health problems. From a behavioral perspective, those suffering from sleep apnea may be less motivated to diet or exercise – daytime sleepiness lowers their energy levels and makes it difficult to commit to an exercise and/or diet program which would improve both their weight and sleep apnea.

Unfortunately, losing a significant amount of weight in a healthy manner can be very difficult, so Richard Simon, MD recommends treating sleep apnea first: “Unfortunately, we do not have great treatments for obesity that have long-term success rates of much greater than 5–10%,” Simon says. “Thus I prefer to start therapy with [continue positive airway pressure] (70% success rate) and then add exercise (probably less than a 50% success rate). People feel restored when they are effectively treated for sleep apnea and are more willing to start exercising then.”

Sleep deprivation may also inhibit one’s ability to lose weight – even while exercising and eating well! A 1999 study at the University of Chicago showed that restricting sleep to just 4 hours per night for a week brought healthy young adults to the point that some had the glucose and insulin characteristics of diabetics. Such sleep restriction may have been a bit extreme, but it is also not altogether uncommon in our society and is a pattern deemed the “royal route to obesity” by Eve Van Cauter, PhD, who conducted the Chicago study.

GETTING IN SHAPE: HOW SLEEP AND EXERCISE DO A BODY GOOD

Though research shows that exercise is certainly good for one’s body and health, properly timing exercise is necessary to maximize the beneficial effects. For example, a good workout can make you more alert, speed up your metabolism and energize you for the day ahead, but exercise right before bedtime can lead to a poor night’s sleep.

All the jumping jacks in the world would not make up for a night of tossing and turning! Sleep experts recommend exercising at least three hours before bedtime, and the best time is usually late afternoon. Exercising at this time is beneficial because body temperature is related to sleep. Body temperatures rise during exercise and take as long as 6 hours to begin to drop. Because cooler body temperatures are associated with sleep onset, it’s important to allow the body time to cool off before sleep.

DIET AND SLEEP: A HEALTHY HELPING OF THE RIGHT STUFF

Are you someone who needs a fresh cup of java to coax you out of bed in the morning? Or perhaps you prefer an afternoon jolt from the cola vending machine? Or maybe you are more the candy bar type – in any case, you are not alone. In a 24/7 culture, cups of coffee, cans of soda and candy bars are staples of everyday consumers. For some, the day cannot begin without a cup of Starbucks and for many students today no study break is complete without a can of Coke. How did caffeine become the drug (and food) of choice?

In fact, lack of sleep creates a vicious cycle – the more tired you are, the more caffeine you will consume to stay awake during the day; but the more caffeine you consume, the harder it will be to fall asleep at night. Not only are foods and drinks high in caffeine likely to keep you up at night, but they are also usually replete with sugar or artificial sugar and not much else. When a healthy snack such as a carrot or granola bar is replaced with a can of Mountain Dew, you are at higher risk for putting on weight and it becomes harder to sustain energy for a longer period of time.

Food is also related to sleep by appetite and metabolism. Research by Dr. Van Cauter shows that people who do not get enough sleep are more likely to have bigger appetites due to the fact that their leptin levels (leptin is an appetite regulating hormone) fall, promoting appetite increase. This link between appetite and sleep provides further evidence that sleep and obesity are linked. To top it off, the psychological manifestations of fatigue, sleep and hunger are similar. Thus, when you are feeling sleepy you might feel like you need to head for the fridge instead of bed.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS: HOW DIET, SLEEP AND EXERCISE AFFECT YOU

By now you probably realize that health is complex – if one part of the body system suffers, you are likely to see consequences in other areas of your life. Though diet and exercise are critical components of healthy lifestyles, it is also important to remember that sleep is inherently linked with how we eat (and how much), how we exercise (and whether or not we lose weight), and how we function on a daily basis. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is necessary to face the world with your best foot forward. Sleep will help you on the road to good fitness, good eating and good health.

NAPPING

More than 85% of mammalian species are polyphasic sleepers, meaning that they sleep for short periods throughout the day. Humans are part of the minority of monophasic sleepers, meaning that our days are divided into two distinct periods, one for sleep and one for wakefulness. It is not clear that this is the natural sleep pattern of humans. Young children and elderly persons nap, for example, and napping is a very important aspect of many cultures.

As a nation, the United States appears to be becoming more and more sleep deprived. And it may be our busy lifestyle that keeps us from napping. While naps do not necessarily make up for inadequate or poor quality nighttime sleep, a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance. Nappers are in good company: Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Napoleon, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and George W. Bush are known to have valued an afternoon nap.

TYPES:

Naps can be typed in three different ways:

Planned napping (also called preparatory napping) involves taking a nap before you actually get sleepy. You may use this technique when you know that you will be up later than your normal bed time or as a mechanism to ward off getting tired earlier.

Emergency napping occurs when you are suddenly very tired and cannot continue with the activity you were originally engaged in. This type of nap can be used to combat drowsy driving or fatigue while using heavy and dangerous machinery.

Habitual napping is practiced when a person takes a nap at the same time each day. Young children may fall asleep at about the same time each afternoon or an adult might take a short nap after lunch each day.

TIPS:

A short nap is usually recommended (20-30 minutes) for short-term alertness. This type of nap provides significant benefit for improved alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep.

Your surroundings can greatly impact your ability to fall asleep. Make sure that you have a restful place to lie down and that the temperature in the room is comfortable. Try to limit the amount of noise heard and the extent of the light filtering in. While some studies have shown that just spending time in bed can be beneficial, it is better to try to catch some zzz’s.

If you take a nap too late in the day, it might affect your nighttime sleep patterns and make it difficult to fall asleep at your regular bedtime. If you try to take it too early in the day, your body may not be ready for more sleep.

BENEFITS:

Naps can restore alertness, enhance performance, and reduce mistakes and accidents. A study at NASA on sleepy military pilots and astronauts found that a 40-minute nap improved performance by 34% and alertness 100%.

Naps can increase alertness in the period directly following the nap and may extend alertness a few hours later in the day. Scheduled napping has also been prescribed for those who are affected by narcolepsy. Napping has psychological benefits. A nap can be a pleasant luxury, a mini-vacation. It can provide an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvenation.

Most people are aware that driving while sleepy is extremely dangerous. Still, many drivers press on when they feel drowsy in spite of the risks, putting themselves and others in harm’s way. While getting a full night’s sleep before driving is the ideal, taking a short nap before driving can reduce a person’s risk of having a drowsy driving crash. Sleep experts also recommend that if you feel drowsy when driving, you should immediately pull over to a rest area, drink a caffeinated beverage and take a 20-minute nap.

Shift work, which means working a schedule that deviates from the typical “9 to 5″ hours, may cause fatigue and performance impairments, especially for night shift workers. In a 2006 study, researchers at the Sleep Medicine and Research Center affiliated with St. John’s Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital in suburban St. Louis, MO, looked at the effectiveness of taking naps and consuming caffeine to cope with sleepiness during the night shift. They found that both naps and caffeine improved alertness and performance among night shift workers and that the combination of naps and caffeine had the most beneficial effect.

James K. Walsh, PhD, one of the researchers who conducted the study, explains, “Because of the body’s propensity for sleep at night, being alert and productive on the night shift can be challenging, even if you’ve had enough daytime sleep.” “Napping before work combined with consuming caffeine while on the job is an effective strategy for remaining alert on the night shift.”

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

In spite of these benefits, napping is not always the best option for everyone. For example, some people have trouble sleeping any place other than their own bed, making a nap at the office or anywhere else unlikely. Other people simply have trouble sleeping in the daytime; it could be that certain individuals are more sensitive to the midday dip than others – those who are may feel sleepier and have an easier time napping. Here are some other negative effects:

Naps can leave people with sleep inertia, especially when they last more than 10-20 minutes. Sleep inertia is defined as the feeling of grogginess and disorientation that can come with awakening from a deep sleep. While this state usually only lasts for a few minutes to a half-hour, it can be detrimental to those who must perform immediately after waking from a napping period. Post-nap impairment and disorientation is more severe, and can last longer, in people who are sleep deprived or nap for longer periods.

Napping can also have a negative effect on other sleeping periods. A long nap or a nap taken too late in the day may adversely affect the length and quality of night time sleep. If you have trouble sleeping at night, a nap will only amplify problems.

One study has indicated that napping is associated with increased risk of heart failure in people already at risk.

STIGMAS:

While research has shown that napping is a beneficial way to relieve tiredness, it still has stigmas associated with it. Napping indicates laziness, a lack of ambition, and low standards. Napping is only for children, the sick and the elderly. Though the above statements are false, many segments of the public may still need to be educated on the benefits of napping.

A recent study in the research journal Sleep examined the benefits of naps of various lengths and no naps. The results showed that a 10-minute nap produced the most benefit in terms of reduced sleepiness and improved cognitive performance. A nap lasting 30 minutes or longer is more likely to be accompanied by sleep inertia, which is the period of grogginess that sometimes follows sleep.

By now you are probably thinking about ways to incorporate naps into your daily routine. Keep in mind that getting enough sleep on regular basis is the best way to stay alert and feel your best. But when fatigue sets in, a quick nap can do wonders for your mental and physical stamina.

…ends…

Heard Through the Grapevine: Test kit for XMRV to be available from Reno-based VIP Dx

From the  FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton

Courtesy of ProHealth

Copyright © 2009 ProHealth, Inc.

 

 

Rumor on the ProHealth Message Boards has it that Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx) in Reno, Nevada (www.redlabsusa.com), will soon make available a test kit for the XMRV virus – the retrovirus which most of the world knows by now is thought to be a biomarker for a large proportion of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients.

 

According to the buzz, ME/CFS patients and their physicians will be able to order VIP Dx kits as soon as pricing is established – and that was due to be Friday, Oct 16, according to a ProHealth ME/CFS Message Board user who has already arranged to receive a kit when they become available for shipment. According to her, “They send it to you by FedEx and you have to have a Dr. sign off and take it to a lab. [VIP Dx] pays for it to be sent back.”

 

This cannot  be offered in Europe. As of Oct 14, a Co-Cure listserv poster reported that Marguerite Ross, Director of Marketing & Client Relations at VIP Dx, indicated to him “we cannot offer the test in Europe because of the time difference and temperature changes the sample would experience,[which would render it]unsuitable for analysis.” In the same communication, she stated “the test will be available in the USA in about 3-4 weeks as it is undergoing final validation and licensing.”

 

According to the initial news on the VIP Dx test – posted Oct 9 on the CFS Warrior blog (http://cfswarrior.blogspot.com), there is “a PCR test for the XMRV virus itself. Another test kit recommended by Dr. Paul Cheney is the NKCP & LYEA test… If you want to be tested call the lab at 775-351-1890 and they will ship out a kit to you. Your doctor has to sign off, then take it to a local lab to get the test done and then it gets shipped overnight back to VIP Labs. It takes about two weeks to get the results. The woman I spoke to was very nice. They are swamped with calls but expected it.”

 

VIP Dx is the new name of the former REDLABS USA, launched years ago with the assistance of Belgium-based ME/CFS researcher Dr. Kenny De Meirleir, who has no financial interest in the venture. It was named after De Meirleir’s own R.E.D. Laboratories, a biotechnology company in Belgium focused on “developing clinical diagnostic tests and therapies for chronic immune diseases.” VIP Dx is located geographically near the Whittemore-Peterson Institute, which is part of the University of Nevada, Reno. VIP’s medical director – Dr. Vincent Lombardi, PhD – was recently hired from the UN-Reno School of Medicine, and reportedly played a role in the WPI testing.

 

Test Availability from Whittemore-Peterson?

 

Meanwhile, according to the XMRV FAQ at the WPI website, “The WPI has developed a blood test for the detection of XMRV. The test is currently undergoing clinical evaluation and validation. We hope to have a clinical test available to the public within the year.”

 

 

NEWS FROM  http://www.redlabsusa.com/  states:

 

LATEST NEWS: XMRV TESTING

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Dr. Vincent Lombardi, the primary investigator and first author on a paper that appeared in the 8 October 2009 issue of “Science”, is the Director of Operations for the licensing and development of the XAND test assays used by VIP Dx for the detection of XMRV. To read this landmark publication, “Detection of an Infectious Retrovirus, XMRV, in Blood Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome“, please go to (www.sciencemag.org). We are pleased to announce that VIP Dx has licensed this technology allowing us to offer the most accurate and sensitive testing available for XAND (XMRV associated neuro-immune disease).

VIP Dx 5625 Fox Avenue, Suite 369  Reno, NV 89506  Phone: (775) 351-1890  Fax: (775) 682-851 E-mail: info@vipdx.com 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PST)

Press Releases

October 23, 2009, Reno, Nevada

It is with great pleasure that Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx) announces the introduction of its family of diagnostic tests for the Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-like Virus for XMRV associated neurological disease (XAND).

XMRV is a gamma retrovirus and replicates in dividing cells. Low-level latent infections are best detected in activated, dividing cells; to activate a latent virus takes additional cell culture. Productive infections are more easily detected without special treatment of the specimen.

Each XAND specimen must have an XAND acceptance code on the test requisition. The XAND acceptance code is assigned by our staff and will arrive on the test requisition in your specimen kit. Specimens sent without the appropriate acceptance code may result in the delay or inability to perform the diagnostic test. The diagnostic tests available for XAND* are as follows:

XAND by PCR for XMRV active infection: Test Code XAND ($400)

XAND1 by virus culture for XMRV latent infection: Test Code XND1 ($500)

XAND2 by PCR for XMRV active infection and virus culture for latent infection: Test Code XND2 ($650)

We are accepting XAND tests on Tuesdays and Fridays only due to the incubation period required for proper analysis. Therefore, you must have your blood drawn on Monday or Thursday and ship immediately back to us by priority overnight FedEx for receipt by us on Tuesday or Friday.

For XAND testing you must use the coded test requisition provided with your kit. Refer to the updated specimen guidelines in the right column of the test requisition for proper blood draw.

No special preparation is required for specimens; ship specimens at ambient (room) temperature. Specimens must be received within 24 hours for proper analysis. Collection and shipping instructions are included in each kit along with all required specimen tubes. The return clinical envelope and overnight airbill are also included.

To order you test kit, please e-mail your full name, address and telephone number toinfo@vipdx.com. There is a 4-6 week back order. VIP Dx is committed to having everyone tested who wants to be tested. Please accept our sincere apology for any delays. We thank you for your support and patience.

Please visit our website at www.vipdx.com for more information on VIP Dx and our tests.

Please visit Whittemore Peterson Institute for FAQ on the XMRV virus at www.wpinstitute.org.  On behalf of the VIP Dx team, we thank you for your continued support.

* The XAND tests were developed and their performance characteristics were determined and validated by VIP Dx. These tests have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for diagnostic purposes. Medical expertise is required for XAND test interpretation.

 

….ends…..

 

 

Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy WebMD.com 

 

How well do they work?

By Jeanie Lerche Davis  Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

 

To get relief from fibromyalgia pain, more and more people are trying alternative treatments. It is often instinctive — putting an icepack on a painful spot or reaching for the heating pad when muscles hurt. Or it feels good – like a massage. Even acupuncture is becoming a mainstream pain treatment, with endorsements from the NIH and the World Health Organisation.

Now, researchers are honing in on how these various home remedies and alternative treatments work.

“In all these therapies, we are stimulating pressure points… we think there may be a similar underlying mechanism in how they work,” says Tiffany Field, PhD, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Pressure applied to the right spot triggers all sorts of changes in the body — in a good way, she explains. The pressure points have nerve connections to major nerves in the body that affects physiological processes.”

This reduces flow of stress hormones and pain-inducing chemicals — and ramps up production of mood-related brain chemicals such as serotonin, she says. The result: The body slows down, you feel calmer, sleep is more restful — and you are able to tolerate the pain of fibromyalgia better.

 

Massage and Fibromyalgia Treatment

 

For the past three decades, Field has conducted more than 80 studies looking at massage’s effects on various conditions. Her research team looks deeply at the underlying physiological processes involved in sleep — especially as it relates to fibromyalgia pain.

Researchers tracked patients’ sleep patterns, also measuring “substance P,” a brain chemical that is central to fibromyalgia pain. People with fibromyalgia pain have higher levels of substance P in the spinal fluid. They also have lower than normal levels of mood-boosting serotonin.

When they get a massage, all that changes. Field’s studies have shown less substance P in patients’ saliva — and they report less pain. They also have fewer painful tender points.

The studies typically involve 20-minute massages — which is only practical if a significant other is trained to do it, she says. One bonus for the family masseuse: People who give massages have lower stress hormone levels, too.

To get the most benefit, it is important to apply moderate pressure. “It does not matter whether you are rubbing, kneading, or stroking — it is the pressure that makes the difference,” Field says. “You have to move the skin, actually see finger indentations in the skin. It does not hurt, but it is more than light stroking. We have found that light stroking does not help.”

Massage also helps relieve depression, Field adds. “Depression is related to low serotonin, low dopamine, and increased cortisol. We can jazz that up with massage. There are a lot of positive benefits from massage.”

 

Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia Treatment

 

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese treatment, also helps ease fibromyalgia symptoms. Acupuncture works on brain chemicals to decrease anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress, and pain.

 

Understanding Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain and tenderness for at least three months. You can take steps to manage fibromyalgia pain and help yourself feel better.

Diagnosis

Currently there are no diagnostic tests, such as x-rays or blood tests, to detect fibromyalgia. The symptoms of fibromyalgia may overlap with the symptoms of some other conditions. That is why fibromyalgia is sometimes difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose.

Some healthcare providers use certain guidelines to help make a diagnosis. According to guidelines set by the American College of Rheumatology, a person may have fibromyalgia if he or she has both:

Chronic widespread pain that affects the right and left sides of the body above and below the waist

Feels pain in at least 11 of 18 possible tender points (nine on one side of the body, nine on the other) when light pressure is applied

Your healthcare provider may use these guidelines or other methods to make a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Discuss all of your symptoms with your healthcare provider. Talk openly with him or her about what you are feeling and how your symptoms are affecting you. You can work together to create a plan that meets your individual needs and helps you manage your symptoms.

 

Fibromyalgia Symptoms & Potential Causes

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

Pain that can change location and intensity from day to day

Many tender places on the body that are painfu

Fibromyalgia can make it hard for you to function. This is not a complete list. You may have other symptoms. You should discuss all of your symptoms with a healthcare provider. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose fibromyalgia.

 

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

No one knows exactly what causes fibromyalgia. Some possible triggers may include:

A physically traumatic or stressful event

An emotionally stressful event

An illness or an immune disorder

Why Do I Hurt?

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. If you have fibromyalgia, you may be more sensitive to pain than people who do not have fibromyalgia.

 

 

 

©2005-2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

(http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-pain-8/alternative?ecd=wnl_day_051609&em=amVhbm5laGFtYmxldG9uQG1hYy5jb20http://www.webmd.com/living-with-fibro/fibro-symptoms-causes   http://www.webmd.com/living-with-fibro/understanding-fibro   )              

FOR MORE  HEALTH STORIES SEE http://fmsglobalnews.wordpress.com 

Fibromyalgia and Stress – Finding the Right Treatment

From FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy of Fibromyalgiaconsultant.com

by Matt Dew

 

The two health problems puzzling many people are fibromyalgia and stress. Fibromyalgia and stress influence each other and often co-exist. Stress is a personalized response to the alterations in the environment that is based on personal perception of feeling in a certain situation. There is an inherent correlation between fibromyalgia and stress though perception differs from one to another.

Relatively, every individual feels some amount of stress throughout fibromyalgia and it surely worsens the condition to a significant amount. Stress generally offers a negative effect on healthy well-being. Furthermore, fibromyalgia is no exception.

Now we will shed light on the potential relationship between fibromyalgia and stress response. Then we will progress further by discussing about few stress management strategies that you can take on particularly when you are experiencing fibromyalgia.

The Relationship

In most of the cases, people with fibromyalgia are identified as having ‘Type A’ personality, the group of people featured as stress-prone as compared to other group of people belonging to ‘Type B’ personality. Astonishing but true, research proposes people with fibromyalgia experience hormonal imbalance that resembles the same disorder occurring during stress response.

Thus, it can be said that there is a biological relationship between fibromyalgia and stress response. However, more research is actually needed to prove the pattern and strength of the relationship.

Warm Bath Technique

You need to take a warm bath mixed with two to three drops of essential oils. Do not depend on anyone else for choosing your essence; rather choose the fragrance of your own preference. Lavender is suggested by many aromatherapists as one of the major fragrances that aids in relaxation. You may apply your own creative instinct to design your bathing environment.

Because you are suffering from fibromyalgia and stress is an inevitable part of it, you need to do something exciting and soothing to your mind too. Try using candlelight bathing or a bubble bath to revive yourself.

Deep Breathing and Guided Imagery

Instead of chest breathing, you have to practice deep abdominal breathing. Deep breathing is a necessary instrument to do an appropriate relaxation. You can simply lie down and breathe deeply. Not more than a few minutes practice of breathing relaxation can offer you a stress-free day.

When you practice deep breathing, do not forget to implement guided imagery to improve your experience of relaxation. In guided imagery, you should visualize beautiful scenes or events with the help of your mental eyes. This will bring an extremely peaceful effect to your mind.

Choose Healthy Diet

Healthy diet is proven to be an effective method to stay away from many illnesses includes fibromyalgia and stress. People with fibromyalgia must avoid broccoli, caffeine, aspartame and alcohol in their diet. Besides, it is suggested to walk for at least 20 to 30 minutes most days of the week as well to quicken the recovery. 

Fibromyalgia and Vitamin D Deficency – Recognising the Relationship

Many researches have been conducted to improve the understanding of relation between fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency. Those researches are connecting the muscular pain and debility which are experienced by fibromyalgia patients, to an insufficient intake or meager absorption of vitamin D in the body. Below is a brief explanation of relation between fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency.

A number of studies on both adult and children subjects have discovered that low levels of vitamin D in the body cause unexplained bone and muscular pain. These results have been accepted by health experts.

If there is a confirmation about relation between fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency, it will be possible to treat the pain and debility of fibromyalgia with sources of vitamin D. Even so, this does not mean that fibromyalgia is merely a deficiency of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D deficiency is only one factor arising or aggravating symptoms of fibromyalgia.

The observed improvement in the overall condition of fibromyalgia patients using vitamin D indicates a strong connection between the disease and the function of vitamin D in maintaining bone and muscular health. The role of vitamin D in contributing to the development of fibromyalgia is thought to be rooted in its metabolic function. Vitamin D helps in the synthesis of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the body.

The parathyroid hormone serves to extract phosphates, especially calcium phosphate, from the bones. Combined with other factors, a failure to extract adequate amounts of phosphates from bones can lead to fibromyalgia. In case of vitamin D deficiency, the body is depleted in parathyroid hormone and hence an abnormal retention of phosphates in the bones may initiate a march toward symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Sunlight, Fibromyalgia and Vitamin D Deficiency

One linking factor of significance in the connection between fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency is a person’s exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D forms in the skin upon exposure to sunlight for about 15 to 30 minutes. Limited exposure to sunlight on account of climatic factors, lifestyle, skin color, or any other reason, can result in vitamin D deficiency in the body, even when a normal course of nutrition is followed.

The connection between fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency lead health experts to bear to believe the small quantities of undefended sun exposure could be useful for health. Since fibromylgia grows slowly but surely in excess of many years, it is reasonable to minimize the use of sunscreen when out on a fairly bright day and change a totally sun-protected lifestyle. If you need more information, please explore links on this Fibromyalgia Consultant site.

 

Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed in this article are those solely of the author/writer  and do not necessarily infer endorsement by the FMS Global News Desk.  Any advice or recommendation of a medical or legal  nature, or regarding exposure to sunlight without sunscreen protection, must always be discussed with a qualified professional.  FMS Global News cannot be held responsible for omissions and/or errors.

MAY 12 – WORLDWIDE FMS AWARENESS DAY

by Jeanne Hambleton Copyright 2009

 May this 12 May blossom into a wonderful year

Somehow I just could not let today pass without making some effort to celebrate International  Fibromyalgia Awareness Day together with others who suffer chronic pain and long term illnesses.

We constantly strive to raise awareness about this chronic condition  but my thanks must go to Tom Hennessy who lives in the States and is now bedridden, for  launching this annual event. Hopefully around the country in the UK and possibly worldwide people with fibromyalgia will be doing their darnest to bring the invisible disability to the attention of the public.  Fibromyalgia has been described as more common that rheumatoid arthritis and often more painful.

While in the States, who proclaim a worldwide epidemic of FMS  is upon us,  there are something like 6 to 7 million folk suffering with fibromyalgia – here in the UK it is said 2.7 million people have  this condition. Has the epidemic started here at home  I wonder? Considering the vast different in the population  our number is very high –  I am told one in 50 people. 

Regardless of this high number let me reassure those who  are feeling down and full of despair, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. A huge army of volunteers are fighting daily battles to raise awareness, shame our government into giving  us funds for research to find a cure and the cause and FMA UK  are spreading the word on a regular basis. 

We are trying hard to move mountains – maybe with a bit more help we might be moving them a bit quicker. 

But we should remember this  May 12 as being a few days after the first ever  historic debate about fibromyalgia  in the House of Commons. There were some fine words spoken by  a few MPs who made the effort  to  be in the House at 9.30am to  back Rob Wilson MP (chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fibromyalgia) who  had secured a debate to consider support for the people who have fibromyalgia.

Rob Wilson’s opening speech was very detailed and covered many issues relating to  this rotten condition. Anne Milton MP, Shadow Minister, Health, and Norman Lamb MP, a member of the APPG for FMS,  provided great support for the call for to help those with fibromyalgia. They had done their homework and certainly knew quite a bit about our condition. 

In spite of the magnificent  backing from a small group of MPs, the Minister, Ann Keen,Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Health Services), Department of Health, gave no firm assurances that she could give her full support the plea for help. She did however point out where information on FMS was available on NHS websites although it was reported earlier that NICE has declined to consider providing guidelines on fibromyalgia finally after almost two years wait. This is the time it took for NICE to reply to a request from FMA UK. 

Although Ann Keen described herself as a  health professional (a former  community nurse) it appeared her hands were tied. On a positive note she did suggest, “Everyone of us wants the best for those suffering from that chronic, distressing, uncomfortable and painful condition,” but she made no commitments. She stated  the debate could be the start of important dialogue with the two  APPGs for FMS and Chronic Pain.

Hansard reported the Minister suggested that  ”…setting NHS must-dos is not easy…The Department of Health must be sparing in setting those priorities centrally because of the criticism that we often receive when we attempt to do so. I know that everyone in this Chamber is here in good heart, but it is important to put it on the record that if we were to keep giving the NHS priorities, my list, let alone those of the rest of the ministerial team, would be long.”

To read a comprehensive report of the debate  log on  http://fmsglobalnews.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/mps-call-for-fibromyalgia-education-for-doctors-in-first-ever-fms-debate-in-uk-parliament/

and listen to the debate (75 minutes approx.)  log on to

http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/content/view/385/1/

You may already know that in March the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health, Sir Liam Donaldson, in his annual report for 2008 highlighted the problems surrounding chronic pain. 

 He pointed out, “Every single day, millions of lives are ruined by long term pain. Chronic pain is common and is getting commoner. People of all ages are affected, from children to older people. Pain left untreated can eventually become untreatable.”

He added,”Chronic pain is devastating for sufferers and their families. Children with pain do worse at school. They have more mental health problems. Half the adults with chronic pain struggle to walk, drive or even sleep. A quarter will lose their jobs. Quite simply, pain ruins lives.  The costs to our economy are enormous. Over half a billion pounds is spent annually by the NHS on pain medication alone.

 ”Pain is too big a problem to ignore. Yet it seems we have not been paying it enough attention. Patients say they are rarely asked about their pain by doctors or nurses. When they are asked, the treatment they receive is often inadequate. Many patients with pain are not getting any medical help whatsoever. Modern pain treatment can allow people with chronic pain to get their lives back. Medication is an important part of this. Other treatments such as electrical stimulation, acupuncture and psychological methods can be important as well. Patients can learn from professionals, and from other patients, how to recover. These services and more should come together in a modern multi-professional pain service. This has been shown to make a big difference to patients’ lives.

“Unfortunately, services are variable around the country – both in primary and hospital care. Only 14% of sufferers have seen a pain specialist. In fact, there is only one full-time pain specialist for every 32, 000 people with pain. Improving the quality and availability of services would benefit the lives of millions of people. In this chapter, I recommend changes to the way we deliver pain services in this country. We must start to routinely ask patients about their pain, record the information, and use it to improve services further.

 ”Wherever pain services have already been reformed, it has made life better for thousands of people. Change on a national scale can make life better for millions.”

I recently heard that   Ann Begg MP,  the lady who fought so valiantly in the House, but sadly unsuccessfully,  to stop  the co-proxamol withdrawal is the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Chronic Pain. I wish her much success.  Let us hope  this APPG might be influential in changing  the listing of co-proxamol to a controlled drug like morphine. Then  GPs could  prescribe  this wonder pain killer that so many of us have relied upon for pain relief,  to named patients without fear of litigation. Let us hope  that talks between the two Groups  might prove beneficial to  all of those who suffer chronic pain including the fibromites. 

Perhaps I should remind you  of the words of Pam Stewart, chairman of the trustees of FMA UK and vice president of the European Networks of Fibromyalgia Association, “We have a fight on our hands.”  So yes there is still work to be done. Keep up the pressure on your MP. The MP is vunerable  right now and should be listening to your requests for support as he will thinking it could win him votes.  Press your MP for funding for research and maybe  May 12 as Fibromyalgia Awareness Flag Day. 

Do remember  when  writing to your MP or sending a reader’s letter to your local newspaper, that  Fibromyalgia IS REAL, it is not a murky illness.  It does relate to our quality of life and it is a huge financial burden on the family. There are 2.7 million people  with FMS in the UK, mainly women and stress is a primary trigger.   With a worldwide epidemic looming, this number could increase dramatically. Action is needed now- not when it is too late.  Take care and think positively – we must have hope. Jeanne

 

Sources include Hansard and theyworkforyou.com

Culinary Medicine: Can Certain Foods Make You Healthier?

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy of WebMD.com

By Elizabeth Lee -Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD - WebMD Feature

A best-selling diet book promises to prevent disease by teaching you to cook like a chef and think like a doctor.

 

Imagine preventing breast cancer by eating broccoli and kalamata olive pizza, avoiding Alzheimer’s by skipping the turnip greens, and holding off heart disease with an ounce of dark chocolate and a handful of almonds every day.

Sounds yummy, yes?

Eating your way to better health is a belief that echoes through the centuries, from the green tea of China to Hippocrates’ advice to “let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food.” Its most recent form comes in best-sellers like ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine by John La Puma, MD.

 

Like La Puma’s other books — he co-wrote Cooking the RealAge Way and The RealAge Diet – culinary medicine promises that eating healthy foods can slow the effects of aging, prevent disease, and boost overall health.

 

Along with the usual super foods — almonds, blueberries, salmon, and the like — La Puma includes such gourmet fare as Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, red wine, and the occasional indulgence of grass-fed beef.

 

Will preparing healthy recipes such as a Warm Beef Tenderloin Salad With Mango and Avocado keep the doctor away?

 

Maybe, nutritionists say. But they caution against focusing on any single ingredient.

 

“I think of food as nourishing and pleasurable, and I like to leave medicine to the pharmaceutical industry,” says Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, a professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University and the author of What to Eat. “But eating a reasonable diet is one of the best things people can do for their health.”

 

Culinary Medicine: Healthy Foods = Healthy You?

La Puma was an internist and medical ethicist before he enrolled in culinary school to learn to prepare healthy foods in an appealing way. He worked for a time in the kitchens of Chicago chef Rick Bayless, known for his embrace of “sustainably” grown food and authentic Mexican food.

 

Now La Puma is medical director of the Santa Barbara Institute for Medical Nutrition and Healthy Weight. He promotes culinary medicine through appearances on Lifetime Television’s Health Corner and on his web sites, chefmd.com and drjohnlapuma.com.

 

“You have restaurant-quality food that helps to prevent disease,” La Puma says. “This is a fresh approach because of the soundness of the science and the flavorfulness of the food.”

 

By offering healthy food that is also tasty, in recipes that come together in 30 minutes or less with no more than 10 ingredients, La Puma hopes to encourage cooking at home. That will cut down on consumption of highly processed foods and increase the intake of whole foods higher in nutrients.

 

The healthy recipes are also low in calories, to help keep weight in line and reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. That advice follows mainstream medical thinking, as public health workers have increasingly focused on reducing obesity rates to help prevent chronic disease.

 

So far, so good, nutritionists say. But where is the exercise,  equally key to good health and maintaining optimal weight?

 

Culinary medicine focuses on food, not fitness. But it does include an eight-week plan for optimal health that counsels being active at least six days a week, for 30 minutes.

 

“I don’t know anyone who would separate those two,” La Puma says. “If exercise as a regime had a pharmaceutical name, it would be penicillin.”

 

Culinary Medicine: What Nutritionist Say

 

La Puma’s culinary prescriptions are filled with references to studies of nutrition and chronic disease. But nutritionists say some of the connections the book draws between what you consume and long-term health effects are tenuous.

 

“There is no one nutrient, there is no one food that is going to reduce your risk of cancer,” says Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society. “What is important, and it sounds so boring, is the overall dietary pattern.”

 

Mainstream nutritional guidance, including government recommendations, calls for a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, supplemented with lean meats, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. Diets should be low in added sugar, salt, saturated fat, and trans-fatty acids, or trans fats.

 

La Puma echoes that advice, while also recommending tea, wine, and small amounts of dark chocolate.

 

Guidelines are more specific for preventing or easing conditions from acne to ulcerative colitis: Yogurt can help with diarrhea, and migraine sufferers should avoid beer. Coffee can protect men from Parkinson’s disease and in women, may prevent diabetes, as well as colon and breast cancer, according to the book.

 

Not so fast, Doyle says.

 

“The American Cancer Society is not aware of any evidence that coffee impacts colon cancer significantly,” she says. “I think that is a leap from research to practice. We haven’t seen it.”

 

Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, is a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and a lifestyle coach who operates a Florida practice that focuses on food as the first medicine. “My advice is always, if you do not drink coffee, do not start. If you do not drink alcohol, do not start,” Gerbstadt says. “There is no one thing that is absolutely required to be healthy, other than breathing.”

 

La Puma advises avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, choosing organic meats and produce when possible, and using full-fat salad dressings rather than reduced-fat or nonfat, to make sure nutrients in produce can be absorbed by the body.

 

There is no scientific consensus on those topics, nutritionists say. “I personally avoid poultry and meat raised with antibiotics and hormones, but I think there is a lot more emotion about it than there is science,” Gerbstadt says.

 

The same holds true for the claim that high-fructose corn syrup is more unhealthy than white or brown sugar, she says. They are all simple sugars that have the same amount of calories per teaspoon, Gerbstadt says, and affect the metabolism in similar ways.

 

Studies have shown higher nutrient levels in organic produce raised in richer soils, one of the reasons La Puma recommends choosing organic. He emphasizes organic for produce with thinner skin such as apples, berries, peaches, and potatoes, which are more prone to containing chemical pesticides. Nestle agrees, but for the environmental reasons — reduced exposure to pesticides.

 

“Whether the higher nutrient levels make any difference clinically remains to be seen,” she says.

 

The health benefits of dark chocolate are also a tough sell. La Puma points to studies that have shown it can lower blood pressure. But chocolate is high in calories, and weight gain can increase blood pressure. He recommends keeping portions small.

 

“Is there evidence that dark chocolate is going to prevent chronic disease? No,” Doyle says. “But if you like dark chocolate, it has some healthy fats and antioxidants.”

 

Culinary Medicine: Preventing Chronic Disease

 

La Puma advocates eating a variety of healthy foods, saying the combination of certain foods can be especially beneficial: turmeric and onion, and broccoli with tomatoes. Eating a variety of foods is advice most nutrition professionals agree on.

 

But how food affects chronic health conditions is still up for debate. Chronic diseases like cancer take time to develop. That makes studying the impact of a single ingredient difficult. Many studies that do so, including those on dark chocolate and blood pressure, focus on a small number of people, followed for just a few weeks or months.

 

Nestle says she sees hardly any direct connections between consuming a specific food and health benefits. “The only one I can think of is alcohol and the risk for heart disease. People who drink moderately have a lower risk for heart disease.”

 

La Puma allows that specific foods only go so far, but says he wants to motivate people to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

 

La Puma says he believes that at least 70% of heart disease and 80% of cancer is preventable, and that some can be reversed. Before age 50, genes determine much of an individual’s health. After that, it depends on the individual’s choices, he says.

 

“Doctors understand that what I am trying to do is inspire people to make changes, and the science is all sound,” he says.

 

“If I get just one more clinician to say to a patient, ‘Look, I want you to try this eight-week plan, I want you to have better food before we put you on cholesterol medicine or triglyceride medicine or high blood pressure medicine, and here is a reference to start,’ that part of my job is done.”

 

Culinary Medicine: Tips for Improving Health Through Eating

 

1. Learn how to use a knife. Having even basic cooking skills is the secret to putting better food in your diet.
2. Eat breakfast. People who eat breakfast live longer, weigh less, and keep weight off once they have lost it.
3. If you want to make a change, find a structure. That could be Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig, weighing yourself, having a pedometer count, or writing down what you eat daily.
4. Do not worry about being perfect. If you are choosing a baked potato instead of a deep-fried one, you know what? That is progress. If you are ordering fish instead of meat or beef, if you are eating nuts instead of chips, that is progress.
5. Start with easy recipes.

 

 

(http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/culinary-medicine-can-certain-foods-make-you-healthier?ecd=wnl_wmh_051109&em=amVhbm5laGFtYmxldG9uQG1hYy5jb20=)

 

FOR MORE STORIES ON HEALTH SEE  -  http://fmsglobalnews.wordpress.com

FDA Approves Simponi

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy of  Drugs.com

 Simponi (golimumab) Receives FDA Approval as First Once-Monthly Anti-TNF for Treatment of Theumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

HORSHAM, Pa., April 24 /PRNewswire

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Simponi (golimumab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis and active ankylosing spondylitis. Simponi is the first patient-administered anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapy that offers an effective once-monthly treatment option. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are chronic inflammatory diseases that result in pain and inflammation, and in some cases, joint destruction and disability. These diseases affect more than three million Americans combined.

“Simponi has been studied in a broad range of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis who had previously received a wide variety of treatments, including adults with rheumatoid arthritis previously treated with anti-TNF therapies, and has been shown to be significantly effective in reducing the signs and symptoms of each of these diseases,” said Jonathan Kay, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and lead study investigator.

“The approval of Simponi offers rheumatologists an effective new anti-TNF therapy for patients living with rheumatic diseases.”

In the U.S., Simponi is approved as a 50 mg subcutaneous injection once a month and is indicated:

• In combination with methotrexate for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis
• Alone or in combination with methotrexate for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis
• For the treatment of adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis

Simponi is available in two dosage forms. The Simponi SmartJect is a novel autoinjector designed to meet the needs of arthritis patients that has received the Ease-of-Use Commendation by the Arthritis Foundation. Simponi is also available as an easy to use prefilled syringe.

The efficacy and safety of Simponi have been evaluated in one of the most comprehensive clinical development programs for an anti-TNF-alpha therapy, which included simultaneous studies in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The program, which includes more than 2,000 patients across five pivotal Phase 3 trials, served as the primary basis for FDA approval. In rheumatoid arthritis, Simponi has been studied in a broad range of patients, including adults naive to methotrexate, adults responding inadequately to methotrexate and adults previously treated with at least one anti-TNF-alpha agent.

In each of the three trials, significantly more patients receiving Simponi 50 mg plus methotrexate achieved at least a 20 percent improvement in arthritis symptoms (ACR20), compared with patients receiving placebo plus methotrexate and/or other disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Improvements were seen as early as four weeks after the first Simponi injection and continued to improve over time. A proportion of patients also achieved substantial improvements in arthritis symptoms, 50 percent improvement (ACR50) and 70 percent improvement (ACR70), with continued Simponi treatment.

A Phase 3 trial, the largest of its kind, evaluating Simponi in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis showed that Simponi 50 mg significantly improved signs and symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis. Similarly, a Phase 3 study evaluating Simponi in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis showed that Simponi 50 mg significantly improved signs and symptoms of active ankylosing spondylitis. Patients with psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis experienced rapid and sustained improvements with continuous Simponi treatment.

“With the approval of Simponi, we enhance our commitment to delivering effective and innovative treatments to the millions of patients living with chronic inflammatory diseases while expanding our immunology portfolio,” said Kim Taylor, President, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.

“Importantly, as patient safety remains our top priority, we have collaborated with the FDA to develop a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy to help ensure the risks of ant-TNF therapy are appropriately managed by doctors prescribing and patients receiving Simponi.”

“The approval of new and effective treatment options is always good news for the arthritis community, as not all patients respond the same to currently available treatment options,” said Dr. John Hardin, Chief Scientific Officer for the Arthritis Foundation.

“Anti-TNF agents have become an important advancement in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, and each approval offers physicians and patients yet another option within this important class of therapy.”

 

About Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis affect more than three million Americans collectively. RA is characterized by persistent and progressive joint inflammation, causing pain, stiffness and functional disability. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that approximately 1.3 million people in the United States are affected by RA. For more information visit the Arthritis Foundation.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint pain and swelling and can lead to joint destruction. Psoriatic arthritis is frequently associated with inflamed, scaly, red patches of skin psoriasis and nail psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis. For additional information visit the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a painful and progressive form of spinal arthritis. In severe cases, the disease can result in fusing of the spinal vertebrae and cause structural damage to hips and other joints. An estimated 500,000 people in the U.S. are living with ankylosing spondylitis. For more information visit the Spondylitis Society of America.

 

About Simponi (golimumab)

Simponi is a human monoclonal antibody that targets and neutralizes excess TNF-alpha, a protein that when overproduced in the body due to chronic inflammatory diseases can cause inflammation and damage to bones, cartilage and tissue. The first once-monthly subcutaneous anti-TNF-alpha therapy, Simponi is approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis and active ankylosing spondylitis, and is available either through the Simponi SmartJect autoinjector or a prefilled syringe. Simponi is also being studied as an intravenous infusion therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. For more information about Simponi, visit www.simponi.com.

In March 2008, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation announced that a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) had been submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) requesting the approval of golimumab as a monthly subcutaneous treatment for adults with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. developed and discovered Simponi and has exclusive marketing rights to the product in the United States. Following regulatory approval, Schering-Plough will assume exclusive marketing rights outside the United States except in Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan, where Simponi will be co-marketed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and Janssen Pharmaceutical Kabushiki Kaisha; Hong Kong, where Simponi will be exclusively marketed by Janssen-Cilag; and China, where Simponi will be exclusively marketed by Xian-Janssen.

 

 Important Safety Information

Simponi is a prescription medicine. Simponi can lower your ability to fight infections. There are reports of serious infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that have spread throughout the body, including tuberculosis (TB) and histoplasmosis. Some of these infections have been fatal. Your doctor will test you for TB before starting Simponi and will monitor you for signs of TB during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have been in close contact with people with TB. Tell your doctor if you have been in a region (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys and the Southwest) where certain fungal infections like histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis are common.

You should not start Simponi if you have any kind of infection. Tell your doctor if you are prone to or have a history of infections or have diabetes. You should also tell your doctor if you are currently being treated for an infection or if you have or develop any signs of an infection such as:

• fever, sweat, or chills
• muscle aches
• cough
• shortness of breath
• blood in phlegm
• weight loss
• warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
• diarrhea or stomach pain
• burning when you urinate or urinate more than normal
• feel very tired

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take or if you are scheduled to or recently received a vaccine.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus has been reported in patients who are carriers of this virus and are taking TNF blocker medicines, such as Simponi. Some of these cases have been fatal. Your doctor may do blood tests before and after you start treatment with Simponi. Tell your doctor if you know or think you may be a carrier of hepatitis B virus or if you experience signs of hepatitis B infection, such as:

• feel very tired
• skin or eyes look yellow
• little or no appetite
• vomiting
• muscle aches
• dark urine
• clay-colored bowel movements
• fevers
• chills
• stomach discomfort
• skin rash

If you take Simponi or other TNF blockers, your risk for developing lymphoma or other cancers may increase. You should tell your doctor if you have had or develop lymphoma or other cancers.

Heart failure can occur or get worse in people who use TNF blockers like Simponi. Your doctor will monitor you closely if you have heart failure. Tell your doctor right away if you get new or worsening symptoms of heart failure like shortness of breath or swelling of your lower legs or feet.

Rarely, people using TNF blockers can have nervous system problems such as multiple sclerosis. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms like vision changes, weakness in your arms or legs, or numbness or tingling in any part of your body.

Liver problems can happen in people using TNF blockers. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms such as feeling very tired, skin or eyes look yellow, poor appetite or vomiting, or pain on the right side of your stomach.

Low blood counts have been seen with people using TNF blockers. If this occurs, your body may not make enough blood cells to help fight infections or help stop bleeding. Your doctor will check your blood counts before and during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have signs such as fever, bruising, bleeding easily, or paleness.

Rarely, people using TNF blockers have developed lupus-like symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms such as a rash on your cheeks or other parts of the body, sensitivity to the sun, new joint or muscle pain, becoming very tired, chest pain or shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, ankles, and/or legs.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to rubber or latex. The needle cover contains dry natural rubber.

Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction while taking Simponi such as hives, swollen face, breathing trouble, or chest pain. Common side effects of Simponi include: upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, abnormal liver tests, redness at site of injection, high blood pressure, bronchitis, dizziness, sinus infection, flu, runny nose, fever, cold sores, numbness or tingling.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Simponi will be available at www.simponi.com.

 

About Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. redefines the standard of care in immunology, nephrology and oncology. The company was formed when Centocor, Inc. and Ortho Biotech Inc. were consolidated in late 2008, and was renamed Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. Built upon a pioneering history, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. harnesses innovations in large-molecule and small-molecule research to create important new therapeutic options. Beyond its innovative medicines, Centocor Ortho Biotech is at the forefront of developing education and public policy initiatives to ensure patients and their families, caregivers, advocates and healthcare professionals have access to the latest treatment information, support services and quality care. For more information about Centocor Ortho Biotech, visit www.CentocorOrthoBiotech.com. Centocor Ortho Biotech is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

(This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. and/or Johnson & Johnson’s expectations and projections. Risks and uncertainties include general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2008. Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Neither Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. nor Johnson & Johnson undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Drugs.com provides free, accurate and independent advice on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines & natural products.                                                                                                                  

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Paws-ability: Dogs’ assistance immeasurable

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy StarTribune.com - © 2009 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

Shelley  Hiemer has fibromyalgia

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

Shelly Hiemer and her service dog, Grace demonstrated how a service dog helps with

shopping at a Franklin Ave Coop grocery store.

By KRISTIN TILLOTSON, Star Tribune - April 17, 2009 

 

Seeing-eye dogs have long been used to help their owners around town. But a Minneapolis nonprofit trains loyal canines to do so much more for people with disabilities — such as opening doors, making bank deposits and helping them get dressed.

The job of most family dogs is simple. They are to bark when the doorbell rings, try to resist garbage diving and be really, really happy to see their humans when they get home. Those slacker pooches have it easy. A 4-year-old black Lab named Grace regularly opens and shuts doors, pulls packaged grocery items off shelves, carries handbag essentials in her vest like a sort of living purse, tugs her owner’s socks off at night, and fetches dropped cell phones and TV remotes. She appears to love every minute it.

Grace is no circus act. She was trained for practical purposes at Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota (HSDM), the most helpful little canine-related group you never heard of. Tucked into a semi-industrial area of south Minneapolis, the nonprofit has been quietly matching dogs with disabled people for 20 years.

Alan Peters, executive director of Hearing and Service Dogs, was successful in real estate and insurance sales before deciding at age 35 to “do what I could to put dogs and people together for curative effects,” he said.

Aided by a legion of volunteer puppy raisers and trainers, including many Lions Club members, 70 to 100 dogs are now placed annually. About half are rescued from shelters. They comprise a wide variety of breeds, including some you might not expect.

“We have placed everything from a 6-pound Malty-poo to a 92-pound Doberman,” said HSDM spokeswoman Shelly Hiemer. “A lot of breeds can be trained. It just might take longer with the smarter ones.” (Some terriers, for example, balk at first, but come around eventually.)

At the moment, a plucky, pint-sized Yorkie named Tex was learning to pick up dropped keys at HSDM’s ground zero, a mini-gym outfitted with tugging ropes tied to door and drawer handles, a battered cell phone for retrieval practice and a handicapped-door button on one wall.

“Smaller dogs cannot be guides, act as ballast or open doors,” Hiemer said. “But they can pick up small objects and alert owners who cannot hear ringing phones, doorbells or smoke alarms.”

Clients come from seven states and include people with a wide range of disabilities: autism, hearing impairment, quadriplegia. In a way, the dogs themselves have a say in their placement.

“We figure out what they most love to do, and then find a match on the waiting list,” Hiemer said.

Grace, the black Lab, is Hiemer’s service dog. Hiemer, who was a client of HSDM before getting a job there, has the joint and muscle condition fibromyalgia, which makes it painful for her to do things like carry a purse. She also has diabetes, and Grace can smell the chemical change in Hiemer’s body when her blood sugar is getting low, alerting her before she gets disoriented or loses consciousness.

“She is a dual-service dog,” Hiemer said. “She can pick up something as small as a dime, or drag a laundry basket — even picks up my husband’s dirty socks on occasion.”

On a trip to the Seward Co-op, Grace gamely soft-mouthed bags of brown sugar and snack chips for delivery to Hiemer’s cart. As they turned into the coffee aisle, they ran into two fellow students. Hayley, a smooth-coated collie, and Belle, a golden retriever, were practicing how to stay calm around lots of tempting food smells with trainers Angela Olson and Leslie Flowers.

It can take up to two years and $25,000 to prepare a dog for service, depending on the needs of the client. Trainers include four out in “the field,” within 100 miles of the Twin Cities, and inmates at Faribault Correctional Facility, where the program is one of the most popular jobs.

Only 50 to 60 percent of dogs that begin the program “graduate,” for various reasons, including health and temperament. Only puppies and young-adult dogs are chosen, so that once they are trained they are likely to be able to give many years of service — and, of course, undying love.

The canine traits of unconditional devotion and steadfast loyalty are a special bonus. Human helpers can get exasperated, picking up an object that was just dropped for the 50th time by an arthritic hand.

“Dogs never do,” Hiemer said.

 

 

 

 For more information on Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota,email info@www.hsdm.org or call  Kristin Tillotson

•612-729-5986. Watch video of service dogs in training at startribune.com/video. And they provide these dogs free of charge to their disabled clients! The staff, trainers, and puppy raisers deserve our highest praise.

(http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/43183062.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ)

 

SEE http://fmsglobalnews.wordpress.com for another dog story

Catalan Government Leaves CFS/ME/FMS Patients High and Dry

From the FMS Global New Desk (UK)

by Jeanne Hambleton  Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved

I need your help again please  -  but this time BIG TIME!

In November 2007 I wrote two stories about the people of Catalonian Spain who have CFS/ME/FMS and their efforts to get recognition from their Government for their problems and health.  It was truly a story of courage and dedication. After years of badgering, lobbying, calling in favours  and protesting, they managed to a get Bill before their Catalan Parliament.

To make sure everybody was counted the Catalonians took pictures of faces, pasted to card on sticks to their protests. These faces represented the people who were too ill to leave their beds  to support the cause,so they were there in spirit,  so to speak.

In May 2008 Clara Valdverde declared the first victory with the Catalan  Parlament. After  a year and a half of hard work by the Catalan CFS/ME and FMS associations  a Parlamentary Resolution voted by unanimity to organize health services for people with these illnesses. This unanimous vote was only possible because the associations had gathered in 2007 almost 140,000 signatures as part of a Legislative Initiative (for which only 50,000 signatures were necessary).

Clara said the process has been a very hard one with, not only the signature gathering, but countless meetings with politicians, associations and organizations, writing documents, educating and press work.

The negotiations with the goverment have been very, very rough, nasty and intense until the last minute. They were not going to accept the demands as a law but we managed to get them all accepted as a Resolution. A law would have been more binding but it would never have passed. This Parlamentary Resolution has the advantage of having been voted unanimously by all parlamentarians and with full press coverage (live on television on real time), which will make it harder for the goverment to back down.

Barcelona May 21, 2008, and Clara decided it was an exciting day.  She wrote, “The Legislative Promoting Commission (half a dozen of us from various CFS/ME and FMS associations who were leading this initiative) was in the Parlament and we presented our demands. That was followed by presentations by all the parlamentary groups and then the vote. And a standing ovation. Outside the Parlament Building there were almost a thousand people, mostly women with CFS/ME or FMS  singing, cheering and celebrating.

         These are the main points that the Resolution covers:

-       The setting up 11 CFS/ME-FMS especialized units with three of them being research units also (right now there is one that is operating but it has a 3 year waiting list)

-       These units will have multidisciplinary teams (internal medicine, rheumatology, neurology, etc and even pediatricians)

-       Waiting lists cannot be longer than 90 days to access a unit (a big change from 3 years)

-       Doctors will be trained about CFS/ME-FMS (international specialists will probably have to be invited for this)

-       Medical inspectors will be trained on these illnesses

-       The follow-up of the setting up of these services will be done by a joint committee in which patients’ associations will be represented

 The Catalan Minister of Health, Marina Geli, was not so happy about having to carry this out and she said so on the goverment’s home page the same day it was voted in Parlament (this would require a long explanation about Catalonia, Spain, and many anthropological concepts…).

 So, the associations are not taking a break or taking the time to celebrate this victory because we know we cannot afford to slack. We have to keep a good watch on what the goverment is doing and not doing. So, we are back at work doing the following:

-       Educating patients and their associations to all be watch-dogs and to report on the implementation of this resolution in their area: we are teaching people how to file proper complaints that can be used in a legal case if need be.

-       Making sure that all patients know the content of the Resolution. To make this easier, we have written a song with all the main points to the tune of “Yes We Can” (thank you, Obama), so that people can remember it.

-       Working with a law firm, Collectiu Ronda, to do a proper and constant follow-up and to gather evidence in case the resolution is not carried out properly. In that case, the law firm will do a colective law suit against the goverment.

-       Going back to the press about how we are still on the “war path” until we make sure this Resolution is respected and carried out.

This last year and a half has been decisive for the CFS/ME-FMS movement in Catalonia:

-       The associations have joined forces

-       140,000 people have been educated one by one, by our 150 signature gatherers

-       Parlament has spent much time talking and arguing about the issue of services for CFS/ME-FMS (one parlamentarian told us that they had never talked so much about any issue before)

-       The Catalan Health Deparment has been challenged like never before by civil society and they now know that we are a force to be reckoned with

-       There has been an enormous rise in consciousness amongst people with CFS/ME-FMS in Catalonia

-       We are a lot less invisible now!

-       And we are on our way to getting proper health care services (although much work is still to be done).

 

We have had a lot of help and support from people, associations and experts in other countries and so to all of you we want to say a big GRACIAS!

 

AND THEN…..

Of course we were all delighted with the success of Clara and her team of supporters. We held the Catalan Parlament up as a shining example to the world.  We said if Catalan can do this for these patients who live with pain 24/7, through not fault of their own,  then the rest of the world should be able to do the same.

HOW WRONG WE ALL WERE!

It would seem the Catalan  Parlament has welched  ( big time) on its deal with  the CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia Associations.

BAD NEWS

This week I  had  bad news from Clara who was the driving force behind all this activity in Catalonia.   She wrote

“Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Just one month before the Catalan government (Spain) is supposed to have accomplished the setting up of new CFS\ME and FMS units as it was voted unanimously by the Catalan Parliament a year ago, we have found out that they plan a counter attack which consists of making CFS\ME\FMS units disappear. They have stopped all doctor’s training on CFS/ME and FMS, and have ordered CFS/ME specialists to not give disability status to any patients. They also have other ideas up their sleeve, including joining CFS/ME with certain psychiatric conditions and medicating them so.

This is a major set back.

We need help from all of you all over the world.

Please write to the four people in the government who are responsible for this:

The minister of health of Catalonia, Consellera Geli  <consellera.salut@gencat.cat>

The member of parliament of the ruling party in charge of health, Dr Caterina Mieras <caterina.mieras@parlament.cat>

The two adminstrators in charge of the plan:

Dr Josep Argimon <jargimon@catsalut.net>

Dr Maria Luisa de la Puente <mlpuente@catsalut.net>

With a copy to us: <info@ligasfc.org>

We will keep you informed and thank you for your help,

Clara Valverde - President, Liga SFC (Spain)

 EPILOGUE

If you think the Catalonian people with FMS and CFS/ME have been badly let down by this u turn, please help these unfortunate  people and write emails of support to the four addresses Clara lists.

I must say if the situation was reversed and we had been promised all these changes ( yes I know and pigs might fly) I would be asking Clara and her members to support us.  We should accept that we are  all part of the  Fibromyalgia Family  (it is us and the normals) and as such, we must stick together if we are to raise awareness and hope to get any funding for research to find a cure. Have you written to your MP urging him to press on your behalf for funding for research for a cure? I supposed you do want to be cured?

 

Who is your MP? Log on  to http://www.theyworkforyou.com/  put in your post code and hey presto – you can even write from that site – you do not even have to find a stamp or walk to the post box.

If you are looking for more background on this story look at the original stories

Nov.5 2007

http://fmsglobalnews.wordpress.com/2007/11/05/historic-magic-moment-for-catalan-fms-cfs-patients/

Nov.17.2007

http://fmsglobalnews.wordpress.com/2007/11/17/united-we-stand…-divided-we-fall…/

 

 

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Baroness Young: ‘Tell patients what their GP care costs’

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy PulseToday.com

By Gareth Iacobucci -16 Apr 09

The chair of the Government’s new health and social care regulator has re-ignited the debate over whether patients should be told the cost of their healthcare, by calling for them to be given ‘indicative bills’ showing how much was spent on treating them.

Speaking at a King’s Fund debate, Care Quality Commission chair Baroness Barbara Young said giving patients an idea of how much their treatment had cost would allow them to fully appreciate the value of the NHS.

Her call comes despite the Government recently rejecting calls to print the cost of medicines on labels, on the grounds that it would be unlikely to reduce wastage and may discourage patients from using medicines.

Although Baroness Young stressed that the proposal was a personal view, she said the move would be ‘the one thing we could do that would really help the public understand the quality of the NHS.

‘I know we would have to reassure people who did not quite understand what we are doing, but I do believe that if we gave people indicative bills whenever they got a service, it would start to turn the corner on the fact that this is a really good service,’ she said.

A public accounts committee report recently called on the Government to do more to make patients aware of the costs of drugs, by, for example, displaying costing information on the labels of dispensed drugs.

But a treasury response rejected the advice, claiming that research had shown that printing the cost of a medicine on the label would be ‘unlikely to reduce medicine wastage and could have a negative effect, such as discouraging use of the medicine.’

However, Baroness Young compared the plan to receiving a vet’s bill, which she said immediately allowed people to appreciate the costs involved.

‘It costs a shed-load of money, and everybody gets it free at the point of use. It’s a bargain,’ she said.

The new chair of the Government’s ‘super-regulator’ also rejected concerns that the recession would derail the drive towards quality, claiming that good providers would be able to provide cost-effective yet quality care.

‘Good quality care actually costs less, or at least certainly does not cost more,’ she said.

‘Good performers grapple with financial problems and deliver quality, poor performers fail on both.’

READERS COMMENTS:

Pulse, CMP Medica. All rights reserved. (http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=23&storycode=4122458&c=2&cid=young042209#)

 

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