Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Chronic Illness – Genetics, Environment, or Both?

The number of multiple sclerosis patients is increasing steadily. It has become commonplace to personally know more than one person suffering with this disease.

What causes Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? What makes some people more susceptible than others to this disease?

A number of resource sites theorize that along with genetics, there are environmental factors involved in the cause of MS. It makes sense that as environmental toxins increase, so will the number of people with MS. The evidence seems to be building: environmental factors play havoc on the autoimmune system; toxins can trigger and/or worsen MS; and even something as simple as where we live can increase our risk factor for developing MS. Let’s look at three sources that will help explain these current theories.

Genetics and the Environment Work Together to Trigger Multiple Sclerosis

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center:
A combination of environmental and genetic factors likely plays a role in causing MS. A current theory is that the disease occurs in people with a genetic susceptibility who are exposed to some environmental assault (a virus or a toxin) that disrupts the blood-brain barrier. Immune factors converge in the nerve cells, triggering inflammation and an autoimmune attack (a self-attack) on myelin and axons.

Cigarette Smoking and Multiple Sclerosis

A study from The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Center sheds light on the dangers of cigarette smoking and MS:

Persons with multiple sclerosis who smoked for a little as six months during their lifetime had more destruction of brain tissue and more brain atrophy than MS patients who never smoked, a study by neuroimaging specialists at the University at Buffalo has shown.

Research published in the Aug. 18, 2009, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, showed that “ever-smokers” had more brain lesions and greater loss of brain volume, as well as higher scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), than MS patients who had no history of smoking.

“Cigarette smoking is one of the most compelling environmental risk factors linked to the development and worsening of MS,” said Robert Zivadinov, M.D., Ph.D., UB professor of neurology, director of the Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC) where the research was conducted and first author on the study.

Climate, Environmental Factors, and Multiple Sclerosis

Research and observations by UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center show climate, diet, and sunlight may play an important role in MS:

The environmental theory proposes that an environmental factor triggers the symptoms of MS. Support for this theory includes the observation that multiple sclerosis is diagnosed more frequently in temperate than tropical or subtropical climates. A map of the United States shows that the prevalence of MS increases with northern latitude. For example, the prevalence of MS in North Dakota is approximately twice that observed in Florida. The prevalence of MS in northern California is 150 cases per 100,000 individuals.

The relationship between latitude and prevalence of MS is also evident in other countries throughout Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Investigators have explored the possibility that exposure to viral or bacterial infections, environmental toxins, duration of sunlight, changes in temperature and humidity, or diet might in some way produce or aggravate MS. To date, no specific environmental factor has been proven to cause MS.

What Conclusions can We Draw About the Causes and Increase of Multiple Sclerosis?

The research mentioned here, whether in fact or theory, points in the same direction: our environment plays a part in our health. The number of people with multiple sclerosis, lupus, chronic fatigue, autism, and a list of other disabling chronic illnesses and disorders is increasing year by year. It’s not difficult to take that logical step and determine there must be an environmental link contributing to this increase.

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis you can visit:
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
http://www.nmss.com

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Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
Author, Ghostwriter, Freelance writer,
Acquisitions Editor Intern for 4RV Publishing

http://KarenCioffi.com
http://DKVWriting4U.com
Karen Cioffi Writing for Children and More

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karencioffiventrice

Toxins in our environment take their toll on our health, especially if you have a chronic illness. Sufferers of chronic illnesses are already in a weakened condition and our bodies are exerting additional energies and functions to fight the illness. Having the added burden of processing toxins is adding stress to an already overstressed system.

According to Natural News from NEEDS:

In the last 50 years, our environment has become increasingly more polluted. This has resulted in a greater human toxic burden than ever before. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of toxic chemicals have been introduced into our environment. So, no matter how careful we are or where we live, we all have some level of exposure.

This problem affects every element of our lives: the air we breath, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

Our livers are the organ that has the major responsibility of filtering toxins from our body. The liver metabolizes and converts toxins into water-soluble molecules. It then eliminates the harmful toxins through stool and urine.

With the bombardment of toxins from all fronts, our livers and other organs that have part in protecting our bodies from toxins are in overdrive. And, as with any system, it can become overloaded.

So, what’s a body to do?

Well, the first course of action is to eliminate as many toxins from your diet as you possibly can. This entails buying organic foods and avoiding processed foods. It may be more expensive and means reading labels, but if you’re suffering from chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, or other, if you can afford it it’s worth the money and effort.

You can also get indoor plants for your home. There are specific plants that help clean indoor airborne pollutants: Lucky Bamboo, African Violet, Cactus, Orchids, Ivy, Kentia Palm, Tillansia, Draceana and Rubber Plants are some that you can put around your house. According to NASA for the best effect, you should use 15 plants throughout your home.

This brings me to a commercial on tv that is currently running on the East Coast of the United States. The scene is a young teenager and his older brother. The older brother is making fun of the the younger boy because he’s eating a cereal that has high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in it. The younger boy questions the older boy as to why he thinks HFCS is so bad. The older boy can’t answer the question, so the younger boy explains that this highly questionable ingredient is the same as eating sugar – it’s fine in moderation.

It’s a shame that companies will blatantly provide misleading and harmful information to the public just to make the almighty dollar.

Our body does not process HFCS the same as it does sugar.

Sorry, I just had to rant a bit.

Until next time,

Karen