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Archive for September, 2011

Major depression will put its heavy hand on one quarter of the U.S. population at some point in their lives. There is a reason for this, and it is not genetic nor is it a Prozac deficiency.

To put it plainly, it is the result of the crazy way Americans, in particular, eat and live. After decades of trying to solve the growing epidemic of depression by years of psychiatric counseling, electro-shock therapy, and many different drugs, one bright doctor of psychology has recognized the “elephant in the room” that is causing the disturbance.

This university professor with a clinical practice is the one who has pointed out for us that “our bodies were never designed for the sleep-deprived, poorly nourished, frenzied pace of twenty-first century life”. He learned this from observing the absence of depression among aboriginal groups like the Kaluli of Papua New Guinea.

He has placed his proven prescription for treating depression in a clearly written, insightful book.

I have noticed the same factors that cause depression reappearing time and again as causes for the many lifestyle diseases that have killed off my immediate family and many contemporaries. And yet, most medical research seems far more fascinated in looking for ways to change the human genome, our internal chemistry, and our behavior to suit the demands of our impossibly frantic, malnourished lifestyle.

Undaunted by the fact of only a twenty-three percent cure rate for depression after taking any of the commonly prescribed drugs for the purpose, the pharmaceutical industry studiously ignores insights like those of those of this doctor. Could it be that there isn’t the massive profit in correcting our toxic diet and lifestyle, compared to selling us a monthly drug regimen for life?

It doesn’t seem to matter to the pharmaceutical industry or the FDA that every company drug study of antidepressants from 1987 through 1999 showed that “in 56% of these studies, depressed patients taking an antidepressant drug fared no better than those who took a placebo”.

In Many Cases, The Side-Effects Can Be Worse Than The Disease

I have occasionally suffered brief periods of depression, but I have always chosen to steer away from the prescription drugs that are offered. (I saw, first-hand, what they did to my mother.) It has been difficult, but instructive, to find my own way out of infrequent and unpredictable bouts with this disorder.

Finding this doctor’s book and its revelation that our diet and sedentary lifestyle are at the root of our problem is a welcome discovery that confirms and greatly adds to what I have learned on my own.

It is ironic how tenaciously most Americans cling to their flawed diet and lifestyle rather than do what they will freely admit they should do. It’s just not convenient, they may say.

That’s true, but neither is it convenient to have a heart attack on the way to work. I have found it easier to do what is necessary to correct the root causes of our problems so we can move on with our lives.

Waking up with a major depressive disorder weighing on your soul is also inconvenient, but the good news is that it is not that hard to make a few simple changes in the way we eat and live to remedy this, without the expense and side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs.

Lymphedema sufferers can find relief with a pneumatic compression device. There are approximately three million people in the United States that suffer from Lymphedema. These devices or compression pumps are used to remove the excess fluid from the limbs, thereby relieving pain and pressure and allowing the person a normal life. Often, because of the swelling caused by this condition, there are a number of tasks normally taken for granted that suddenly become too difficult for someone suffering from Lymphedema. They can be as simple as changing their clothes or taking a shower, going to the grocery store or even walking within their home. The swelling is often so severe that the affected limb will become several times larger than normal.

When a pneumatic compression device or Lymphedema pump is used, typically on the arms or legs, they help the buildup of fluid to be moved away from the area and back to the Lymphatic system. This is the natural way for the body to rid itself of this fluid; however, for those who suffer from Lymphedema, the lymph glands become blocked and the fluid cannot drain. In addition, there are many people who have circulatory problems that may benefit from the use of these pumps.

The cause of Lymphedema is not always known although sometimes it is due to surgery for certain types of cancer. A pneumatic compression device is often used by those who have had surgery or radiation treatment for breast cancer, prostate, uterine and bladder cancer. These are the most common forms of cancer for which treatment resulted in the development of Lymphedema. The pump has a sleeve that is attached and when it is placed on the swollen limb and inflated and deflated, this action helps the fluid to disperse and return to the Lymphatic system.

This treatment may be necessary several times a week and with this handy pump, they may be done within the comfort of your own home. Before the availability of a pneumatic compression device, people with this condition had to go to a specialist regularly for treatment.

The importance of ridding the body of this swelling cannot be stressed enough. Without the proper treatment there are a number of problems that can develop due to the buildup of fluid. The area may develop sores or ulcers that do not heal, resulting in gangrene. This will necessitate amputation of the limb. The swelling also prevents immune cells from being able to get to the part of the body that is swollen and this is where they are needed the most. Incorporated channels in the sleeve of the pneumatic compression device are responsible for moving fluid away from the swollen area. When the pump is used, these channels are inflated and deflated effectively pushing the fluid away from the area.

The benefits are many including a quiet operation that is easily used while enjoying music or the television. Additionally, the cost is typically covered by insurance companies with a statement from a physician affirming that the device is medically necessary.