DiseaseIllness

The first explanation for the cause of this condition is that because of the incompetence of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) acidic contents of the stomach are allowed up into the esophagus
which results in a burning sensation. The LES is a valve that is found at the lower end of the esophagus and separates it from the stomach and its contents but when this valve becomes dysfunctional
it allows the acidic content of the stomach to be regurgitated into the esophagus.

A separate school of thought believes that acidic reflux disease is caused by our eating habits. As it's often said
living in the civilized world entails eating more junk food and packaged and processed food than the stomach can digest. So
when we put so much into the stomach
most of the food ends up undigested. These undigested food materials turn into acidic waste in the stomach. This waste causes stomach spasms or twitching that causes an increase in stomach gas that pops open the LES valve between the esophagus and stomach sending acidic contents up the esophagus.

Yet
acidic reflux disease can be traced to aging in adults. It is believed in some quarters that as we age
the activity of the stomach reduces
so also its ability to produce hydrochloric acid. The reduction in the stomach activity and acid content of the stomach creates a breeding ground for infections which in themselves cause stomach pain and acid production leading to further symptoms of acid reflux.

Whatever the cause of acid reflux disease
what is constant about it
is the fact that it is a chronic disease. Most medicines
which inhibit production of acid in the stomach
only help to relieve the burning effect and other symptoms and not actually cure the condition. As a matter of fact
these drugs help in relieving the symptoms quite effectively
but the other side of the coin is that these drugs also cause several side effects in the body by cutting down the acid production in your stomach. Some of their side effects are that they reduce the ability of the stomach to digest food efficiently
they make you more vulnerable to diseases and microbes transmitted through food
increases the risk of food poisoning and a host of others.

While there are many medications and natural methods to rid yourself of that burning sensation that accompanies each acid reflux bout
the first line of action should be a thorough assessment of the your food and lifestyle. Some food materials are known to aggravate acid reflux
some of the foods include; citrus
caffeine
chocolate
fatty fried foods
garlic
and onions. Cutting down or avoiding these foods as much as possible is a good first attempt at preventing future acid reflux bouts.

Additional lifestyle assessment and modification that can help reduce acid reflux episodes include:

- Losing weight if you are overweight
- Cutting down alcohol to the barest minimum
- Eating just enough food to keep hunger away
- Don't go to bed until at least three hours after eating
- Raise your bed head six to eight inches

These very simple lifestyle improvements can keep you off those acid blockers and other acid reflux medications that cause almost the same amount of damage as the good they do to your body.

Commonly called 'heart burn'
acid reflux disease is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up
or refluxes) into the esophagus.

It's annoying and painful.

But you want to know the truth
the reflux of the stomach's liquid contents into the esophagus occurs in most normal individuals. However
when heartburn becomes acid reflux disease or Gastro esophageal reflux disease
commonly referred to as GERD
it is s real problem. That is because with GERD
the acid is stronger and stays in the esophagus longer causing more discomfort.

Most often
you will experience this during the daytime when you are upright
sitting straight
or standing. You body handles this reflux by the fluid flowing back down into your stomach. You swallow more during the daytime therefore draining the acid back to where it belongs. Your salivary glands produce saliva that also contains bicarbonate that acts to neutralize the acid your stomach has kicked up.

At night though
you may have a greater problem when acid reflux disease occurs that is because while sleeping
gravity does not work as well lying down
your constant swallowing stops
and the production of saliva is reduced.

Certain conditions make a person more prone to acid reflux disease
this GERD. For example
while you are pregnant
this can be a serious problem. Elevated hormone levels of pregnancy probably cause reflux by lowering the pressure in that part of your body known as the lower esophageal sphincter. Also
the growing baby puts more pressure on the abdomen. Both of these effects of pregnancy tend to increase the risk of GERD.

If your acid reflux disease is a minor condition
then you should only experience minor symptoms. These would include primarily heartburn
regurgitation
and nausea. However
if the condition is complicated
then watch out for the following symptoms.

The liquid that comes back into the esophagus damages the lining of the esophagus. The body tries to protect itself from the acid reflux disease by 'inflaming' the esophagus. Trying to speed the healing process through the inflammation
the wall of the esophagus may form an ulcer. The ulcer is a break in the lining of the esophagus wall. Then what happens is that there may be bleeding. If the bleeding is very severe
patients might need a blood transfusion or even surgical treatment.

If your heartburn is severe or acute
happening very frequently
you need to see a doctor.

What can you do for yourself to help the condition? Try sleeping a pillow a night that raises your chest up slightly so that gravity can bring the acid back down more easily. Since this condition usually occurs on a full stomach
eat earlier and eat less to keep the stomach from being too full. Ease off on the chocolate
peppermint
alcohol
and caffeinated drinks. Reduce fatty foods and of course
cut down or quit smoking. Other foods may aggravate the conditions. Avoid spicy or acid-containing foods
like citrus juices
carbonated beverages
and tomato juice.

Antacids and Alignates

Antacids are generally available without a doctor's prescription and relieve the symptoms of acid indigestion and heartburn (dyspepsia).

The usual ingredients of antacids are magnesium or aluminium and they work by neutralising the acid produced in the stomach which is the cause of indigestion and acid reflux. This group often contain sodium alginate which forms a protective coating over the lining of the gullet and the stomach.

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton pump Inhibitors are drugs which shut down the system in the stomach called the proton pump. It is this system which produces acid in the stomach
the leaking of which into the oesophagus causes acid reflux.

These drugs are taken in the form of tablets or capsules
as a powder to be diluted in water or as injections and are used to treat stomach ulcers and a rather rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome as well as acid reflux.

Omeprazole and Lansoprazole are well known varieties of this particular type of drug although there are several others.

Side effects are rare although they can include diarrhoea or constipation
stomach pains
wind
drowsiness
dizziness and headaches. In unusual cases
a severe allergic reaction can result. My personal experience with Omeprazole was seriously raised blood pressure and severe head pain. However
replacing Omeprazole with Ranitidine and taking blood pressure reduction medication for a couple of weeks sorted out that problem.

H2-Receptor Antagonists

This group of drugs works by attaching to and blocking the H2 receptor area on stomach cells which
when stimulated by the naturally produced chemical
histamine
generates acid.

Ranitidine is the best known of this drug group
others being Nizatidine
Famotidine and Cimetidine.

Side effects are few but can display as diarrhoea
headaches
dizziness and tiredness. Loss of hair has been reported by takers of Cimetidine and with nizatidine
sweating.

Both proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor antagonists are used together with antibiotics to get rid of Helicobacter pylori infection which can cause stomach ulcers and duodenitis.

Warning: If symptoms of heartburn persist
consult your doctor. They could be indicative of something much more serious than indigestion. Never embark on a course of medication without consulting a doctor. Never take medicines prescribed for somebody else.

It seems that one of the major culprits causing acid reflux is alcohol. Not good news for the drinkers amongst us. Take heart though
it is probably only excessive drinking that's to blame - perceived wisdom is that a couple of glasses of wine with your dinner won't hurt you
although there is some argument as to whether red or white is better. Personally
I find white wine more acidic and therefore assumed that it would be more likely to cause acid reflux. However
as alcohol prevents the oesophageal sphincter from working properly and thus allows stomach acid to reflux into the oesophagus
the acidity of the alcohol may be irrelevant. Notwithstanding that
when drinking alcohol
limit quantities and dilute spirits with water or a mixer. Wine may also be diluted with water or lemonade. Gassy drinks like champagne and beer should be avoided if possible.

Alcohol is not the only culprit - chocolate
peppermint
coffee
tea
caffeinated soft drinks such as colas and citrus fruit juices also inhibit the normal workings of the oesophageal sphincter so keep intake of these to an absolute minimum
if you can't give them up completely.

Chewing gum and eating hard sweets cause excessive air to be swallowed
thus causing wind and reflux.

Fatty and fried foods also delay the emptying of the stomach so steer clear of any fatty meat
particularly those found on the delicatessen counter
such as salamis
sausages and pat้s. "Fatty" includes full fat milk and other dairy products (cheese
cream
butter
margarine). Tomatoes can aggravate the condition in some people
as can spices such as chillies (powdered
fresh or dried) and any derivatives like Tabasco. Condiments such as Worcestershire and soy sauces and any sort of horseradish or mustard should also be taken with care.

Now for the good news - you can eat
with some freedom
vegetables (not tomatoes)
chicken and turkey (without skin)
fish
apples
peaches
melons
pears and berries. You can eat
in moderation
skimmed or semi-skimmed milk
low fat spreads and cottage cheese. Oh
and you can drink water until you float!

A few other things you can do to avoid or alleviate acid reflux are:

Avoid eating large meals - little and often is better.
Avoid eating too late at night.
Don't lie down or bend over when you've just eaten a meal.
Put blocks of wood under the head of the bed to raise it by six inches or so.
Try not to wear tight clothing around the area of the abdomen and stomach.
Nicotine weakens the lower oesophageal muscle - give it up - it's not good for you anyway!
Lose weight if you need to. Obesity is not only usually caused by eating all the foods that you should be avoiding
but leads to worsened acid reflux.

Ultimately
everyone is different and foods that some people can tolerate cause incredibly painful indigestion for others. Only you can tell
so be sensible and avoid those foods that have an adverse effect.

What is acid reflux though?

It is the liquid in the stomach regurgitating into the oesophagus (gullet). Much of this liquid is acid produced in the stomach which is harmful to the walls of the oesophagus. Reflux happens to most people but because we spend much of our time upright
gravity ensures that the liquid returns to the stomach unnoticed. In addition
we swallow frequently which again returns regurgitated liquid to the stomach and saliva contains bicarbonate which helps to neutralise the acid in the stomach liquid.

It doesn’t do to ignore repeated instances of painful indigestion though
as it could be symptomatic of something much more serious. That refluxing acid can cause lasting damage to the lining of the oesophagus
which
if left untreated
can lead to other conditions.

A friend relates that when she was a child
her father was always chewing on Rennies
a well known antacid in the UK. He used to say that a good belch would cure the indigestion. It later turned out that he had a stomach ulcer. Despite that
when my friend
in turn
started suffering from frequent indigestion
she too chewed on the Rennies and went about her business.

Eventually
she realised that the extent of the indigestion couldn’t be normal so she consulted her doctor who referred her to a specialist for an endoscopy.

An endoscopy is a procedure whereby an endoscope
a thin
lighted tube
is inserted down the throat. The endoscope transmits images of the oesophagus
stomach
and duodenum
enabling the specialist to identify problem areas and
if necessary
obtain biopsies. The endoscope is usually inserted while the patient is under sedation thus avoiding the gagging reflex.

To return to my friend
a hiatus hernia was diagnosed. A hiatus hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through the opening in the diaphragm where the oesophagus connects with the stomach
allowing the acid from the stomach to reflux. Fortunately
this was a small hiatus hernia
which could be easily treated with a course of medication.

A couple of years went by with only minor instances of indigestion
then my friend started to experience occasional bouts of very severe heartburn and sickness which she treated with the usual array of antacid preparations. Suddenly
one day she woke up with a severe pain in her lower stomach which didn’t respond to the usual remedies and in any event
didn’t resemble any of the normal symptoms of acid reflux.

A visit to the doctor and my friend found herself hospitalised for tests which revealed that the original small hiatus hernia was larger and bleeding and had lead to gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) and duodenitis (inflammation of the duodenum)
both caused by an infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. This bacteria is extremely common
thought to infect 70% of the world’s population
although most people do not display any symptoms of the infection.

The moral of this story is “Don’t ignore persistent acid reflux
it may be much more that just indigestion”.

Watch out for my next article on the treatment of acid reflux.

Definition of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a general term describing a group of chronic non-pregressive neurological symptoms which cause impaired control of movement and which are evident in the first few years of life
usually before age 3. The disorders are induced by damage or faulty development of the motor areas in the brain
disrupting the patient's ability to control movement and posture. Symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty with fine motor tasks such as writing
poor balance and walking
and involuntary movements. The exact combination of symptoms differs from patient to patient and may vary over time. Some patients also have seizures and intellectual disability
however
this is not always the case. Babies with cerebral palsy are frequently slower than average in achieving developmental milestones like learning to roll over
sit
crawl
smile
or walk. Cerebral palsy is usually thought of as congenital or perinatal
however
it can also be acquired after birth. Many of the causes of cerebral palsy that have been identified through research are preventable or even treatable: head injury
Rh incompatibility
jaundice and rubella (German measles).

Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy

Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by tests of motor skills and reflexes and by medical history.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) scans are typically ordered when the physician suspects cerebral palsy; howerer
they are not definitive. These tests can provide evidence of physical abnormalities such as hydrocephalus (an accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles of the brain)
and they can be utilized to exclude other brain disorders. These scans do not prove that the patient has cerebral palsy; nor do they predict how well a specific patient will function in the future. Patients with normal scans may have severe symptoms
and while others whose scans are clearly abnormal have only modest physical signs. However
as a group
patients with cerebral palsy are statistically more likely to have brain scars
cysts
and other changes visible on scans. When physical examination suggests cerebral palsy
an abnormal scan helps confirms the clinical diagnosis.

Even though specific symptoms can change as time passes
cerebral palsy by definition isn't progressive
so if a patient shows increasing impairment
the problem is usually another neurological disorder.

Varieties of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is classified by the type of movement problem (such as spastic or even athetoid cerebral palsy) or by he body parts affected (hemiplegia
diplegia
and quadriplegia). Spasticity refers to the inability of a muscle to relax
while athetosis refers to an inability to control its movement. Babies who are initially hypotonic ("floppy") may later develop spasticity. Hemiplegia is cerebral palsy that involves 1 arm and 1 leg on one side of the body
whereas diplegia is the involvement of both legs. Quadriplegia refers to symptoms involving all 4 extremities as well as trunk and neck muscles. Balance and coordination problems are referred to as ataxia.

For instance
a patient with spastic diplegia has mostly spastic muscle problems of the legs
while perhaps also displaying a smaller component of athetosis and balance problems. The patient with athetoid quadriplegia
on the more hand
would have lack of control of the muscles of both arms and legs
however such a patient will usually have smaller problems with ataxia and spasticity as well. Normally a child with quadriplegic cerebral palsy will be unable to walk independently. The degree of impairment can vary from patient to patient and range from mild to severe.

Cerebral Palsy Therapy

There is no standard therapy that benefits all patients. Drugs are useful to control seizures and muscle cramps and braces can compensate for muscle imbalance. Surgery
mechanical aids to help overcome impairments
counseling for emotional and psychological needs
and physical
occupational
speech
and behavioral therapy are all effective.

Prognosis for Cerebral Palsy

Though cerebral palsy is incurable to date
many patients can enjoy near-normal lives if their neurological symptoms are properly managed.

Medical Research

There is evidence which suggests that cerebral palsy results from incorrect cell development early in prenatal life. As an example
a group of researchers has recently observed that approximately one-third of cerebral palsy patients also have missing enamel on certain teeth. Bleeding inside the brain
breathing and circulation problems and seizures can all cause cerebral palsy and each has separate causes and treatment. Researchers are currently conducting trials to determine whether certain drugs can help halt neonatal stroke
and more investigators are examining the causes of low birth-weight. More studies are being done to determine how brain trauma (like brain damage from a shortage of oxygen or blood flow
bleeding in the brain
and seizures) can cause the release of brain chemicals which lead to premanent brain damage.

Organizations Funding Cerebral Palsy Research & Therapy

Easter Seals
Epilepsy Foundation
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
United Cerebral Palsy
National Disability Sports Alliance
Childrens Neurobiological Solutions Foundation
Childrens Hemiplegia and Stroke Foundation.

Plainly put
anorexia is an eating disorder where a person starves him or herself. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls. They have an intense fear of becoming fat. They think they are overweight
but in fact most anorexics weigh a full 15% below their normal body weight. Anorexia strikes about 1% of adolescent females. This is about one in one hundred women.

Some psychiatrists think anorexia is not just about being thin or fat. It stems from fear a of growing up and losing control. It's about fear of becoming a women
growing up
building relationships
leaving home.
Her body is changing and growing and she doesn't like it and wants to be child sized again. Some psychiatrists think that eating disorders can also be caused by life experiences such abuse.

Some studies have shown that if a mother has anorexia a child is 12 time more likely to develop it than someone with no family history.

The person who suffers with anorexia cannot help herself. She must be treated by a mental health professional experienced in dealing with anorexia. Some receive long term psychotherapy.

The first thing however is to get this girl's health back as best as you can. This person may need to be coaxed to eat
and
may need a supportive caregiver to actually watch to make sure she eats. There are numerous health concerns with anorexia. Some of these are osteoporosis
irregular heart beat and in the most severe of cases permanent failure of normal growth development. Most women sufferers of anorexia will lose their normal menstrual cycle. If an anorexic woman would conceive a child she would be likely to miscarry or have a baby born prematurely.

Without treatment up to twenty percent of anorexia suffers will die. With treatment 60% can recover and maintain healthy weight. However
even with treatment about 20% of people will continue to have an unhealthy lifetime obsession with weight and food.

If you confront a loved one about anorexia get ready to deal with someone in a true state of denial. They will be angry
and may become more withdrawn and depressed. There is nothing that you can do to change your loved one's perception of him or herself. You can't make your loved one eat. There are many organizations that are available to help anorexia sufferers and their families get the help they need.

Frank Rella was teaching a high school music class when he had a wake-up call that changed his life. Frank felt pain in his chest and left work early.

When the pain got worse at home
he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Frank's greatest fear came true when the doctors said he had a heart attack.

"My heart attack was really a wake-up call
said Rella, a 42-year-old New Jersey resident who became a paramedic after his life-altering heart attack, so he could be on the frontlines of medical care.
I went through a lot of emotions and was worried about having a second attack. So now I make sure to take the right medications and work with my doctor to live a heart-healthy lifestyle."

Frank's story is not uncommon. A new survey of more than 500 heart attack survivors found that survivors see their attack as a wake-up call that gave them a second chance at life. However
most survivors also said their heart attack left them with feelings of depression and hopelessness. In fact
survivors said they feared another heart attack more than death. Even though survivors had these feelings
40
percent said they were not doing everything they could to prevent another attack. This fact is troubling since one in five men and one in three women will have another heart attack within six years.

"I see these survey results come to life in my practice every day. While many of my patients who have suffered a heart attack are very aware and afraid of their increased risk of having another one
they are not doing everything they can to live a heart-healthy life. The good news is that if they take certain steps
they can prevent another attack. I tell my patients to eat healthy
exercise and take their medications. Those medications may include a beta-blocker
ACE inhibitor
statin and aspirin
said Dr. William Abraham, director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

In the survey, 80 percent of heart attack survivors said they needed more information to learn about their heart health. As a result, Mended Hearts, a nationwide heart patient support group affiliated with the American Heart Association, started a program called
Heartfelt Wake-Up Call." This program offers education and support to heart attack survivors and their families. For tips on "Heartfelt Living" and "Heartfelt Support
such as information about local support groups, tip sheets, survivors' stories and heart-healthy recipes, visit www.mendedhearts.org.

GlaxoSmithKline provided funding and assistance in the development of
Heartfelt Wake-Up Call."

"I encourage patients to take their health to heart" said Abraham.

Let me start by introducing myself; my name is Variola. It is a latin name
so most people just call me "Smallpox". I'm not going to lie to you
I am a horrible friend. I tend to keep you all to myself during our time together. I am highly contagious and only like to hang around with humans
as other mammals scare me. I can attack you in 2 forms: Variola major and Variola minor.

Variola major owns my more devilish qualities. In this form i tend to kill about 35% of those i get tied up with. Now
if me and you are to become friends
you should probably request that i give you my brighter side
Variola minor. This way
you only have a 1% chance of our friendship ending in death - to you. In the 20th century
I was responsible for up to 500 million fatalities.

If
after my wrath
you survive
i make sure that i have left my mark. You'll be very lucky to forget about our little fling
as in most cases i leave you with scars known as "potmarks". And i'm merciless when it comes to that. i dont mind leaving them anywhere and everywhere on your body
including your face. If you are even luckier
I will simply leave you blind so that you do not have to look at your scarred body in the mirror everyday. I do this through "corneal ulcerations"
which is not in the least bit enjoyable for you.

After telling you this story my message should be clear; STAY AWAY! If you see me coming
pretend as if you didn't notice
and walk slowly in the other direction.

Yours truly


Variola

Hepatitis C is a stealthy virus that mutates while hiding in liver cells and other organ cells like the spleen and gall bladder. The fact that the viral cells "hide" makes it very difficult for the body's immune system to eradicate it. Hepatitis C is a slowly progressing disease sometimes taking many years until symptoms are noticeable. It is at this point that the virus has reached advanced chronic stage and becomes difficult to eradicate. Hepatitis C results in 8
0
to 10
0
deaths annually. Hepatitis C is also the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S.

Hepatitis C infection is caused by blood contact with someone who has the virus infection himself. The transmission of the virus can occur by illicit drug use with needles
sharing toothbrushes or razors with an infected person
by sexual means
by unsanitary tattooing or by exposure to blood at your workplace (like a hospital or blood bank). Some HCV infection may have been caused by receiving blood from a transfusion prior to 1992.

Hepatitis C is diagnosed via a blood test. Usually
the first thing that is noticed is that the liver enzyme levels for ALT and AST are elevated well above normal levels. Further investigation via HCV-RNA testing identifies whether the Hepatitis C virus is in your blood or not. Other tests for HCV include qualitative viral load tests
which measure the RNA particles in your blood. If you are being treated for HCV
your doctor is probably using either a HCV-RNA or viral load test to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

The symptoms of Hepatitis C infection often do not occur in a person until 20 years after he/she had been infected. Since the HCV infects the liver and the liver is the organ in the body that makes all the energy for our daily activities possible
liver function deterioration often results in fatigue. Fatigue is the primary complaint or symptom of HCV infection. Other more severe symptoms are jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes)
bile retention (which can cause jaundice)
portal vein hypertension
skin rashes and itching
and autoimmune problems resulting from your body's immune system attacking normal cells.

Long term HCV infection may result in fibrosis or even cirrhosis of the liver. Fibrosis results from unchecked liver inflammation. As the HCV infection progresses
the damage to the liver results in scarring or hardening of the liver cells (fibrosis). Long term fibrosis may lead to cirrhosis which is when the scarring from fibrosis overtakes the normal liver cell structure causing deformity and loss of function in the liver. About 15%-20% of HCV patients end up with cirrhosis. A liver biopsy is currently the most accurate means of determining the amount of inflammation and fibrosis the liver has sustained.

Hepatitis C progression in the body can take several years or even decades to come to chronic stage or to a stage where severe liver damage is evident. This period of time allows a person to determine how to properly treat the disease and to decide on a course of disease management. Currently
the main treatment for HCV infection to eradicate the virus is combo alpha-interferon and Ribavirin. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe interferon alone. Interferon comes in standard form or in pegylated form. Standard form interferon is administered 3 times per week
while the pegylated form is administered only once per week. Your body makes its own interferon
which is a protein that fights viral infection and viral replication.

Hepatitis C may often be managed by taking herbal and vitamin supplements that help your body fight infection and limit inflammation. These supplements help your liver with the inflammation and give it the nutrients it needs to regenerate healthy new cells. Your doctor can recommend alternative or adjunct solutions you may want to try.

Proper treatment of the disease
a healthy and active lifestyle
a good diet
abstinence from alcohol and stress management are important factors in controlling Hepatitis C progression.

~ A Sudden Paralysis ~

It was after a weekend in St. Augustine
Florida that Jim Olbrich had his too-close-for-comfort brush with death. That night a blood clot rushed into his brain and caused a major hemorrhagic stroke. A stroke that has left Jim walking like Frankenstein.

Jim had driven the two hours back to his home in Orlando. Tired
he went to bed ... but
found he had trouble rolling over ... couldn't easily get into position for sleep.

During the night
it felt as if a little girl's hand pulled him out of bed. Jim headed for the bathroom ... not yet aware that his left side was already losing control. He banged off the walls ... stumbled his way ... finally made it. Jim fell off the toilet ... lay on the floor for awhile.

Next thing ... Jim was in a helicopter -- being whisked to the hospital. It happened that quick! And
it happened while he was sleeping.

~ Blood Pushing on the Brain ~

Later
in the ICU
Jim heard his skull crack ... a cracking sound on his right side. Then
his head started hurting. The on-duty nurse offered a simple solution
Well ... I'll get you a couple Tylenol.


But ... this wasn't a simple headache to be solved by a couple of pills. Soon
Jim was in a coma.

In the operating room
his skull was opened ... blood was drained ... the pressure was released. But ... "My brain fell out!"

When Jim woke up the next morning
I got a gazillion staples in my head ... holding everything together.
He'd also died.

~ Waking Up in the Morgue ~

Declared was declared dead and put in the morgue. A body bag was nearby and a nurse was putting a tag on Jim's big toe. Luckily for Jim
the rubber band tangled with the hair on his toe. When the nurse pulled it back ... she ripped out some of Jim's hair. He woke up!

When Jim sat up and spoke ... the startled nurse ran for the door. Instead she ran headlong into the wall. Now ... Jim had to wait for her to come to. Finally
he was wheeled back to his room ... a lot nicer than spending a night in the morgue.

"I would have spent the rest of my life looking at somebody else's feet."

~ What caused the stroke? ~

After years of being checked out constantly ... Jim feels the doctors are still guessing. His cardiologist believes it was an artery on the front of Jim's heart ... it exploded and blew off ... sending the deadly clot on its way to Jim's brain.

The clot caused a "brain bleed" -- a destructive hemorrhagic stroke. Pressure from the pooling blood "crushed" Jim's brain.

~ Jim's Still Paralyzed ~

Now
three years later
how's Jim doing? "Not bad." Jim's not one to complain. His sense of humour is one thing that has gotten him through this ordeal.

Sporting a carbon-fiber plate in his skull ... completely paralyzed on his left side ... suffering from constant headaches ... Jim chuckles at all his problems. "I walk like Frankenstein ... on a cane."

Jim is still on therapy and hopes to one day "become more graceful." If Jim's doctor had been correct ... Jim wouldn't walk at all. But ... Jim is stubborn. He may not walk pretty ... but
with his persistence
he does walk.

It is a source of relief to Jim ... he never lost his ability to talk. Also
his memory is still quite good ... barring a few blank spots. "They're a total mystery to me."

They may be lingering in a small piece of brain ... in a jar. A piece of brain -- "The size of my small finger" -- is still sitting in a jar downtown. Jim hasn't been able to see it yet ... but he'd like to. "I want to see where my memory is."

~ Can Jim's paralysis be treated? ~

"That's forever!"

Or
until more T-cell research is permitted. Jim needs that ... he's on everybody's list to volunteer. What Jim needs now is a new president ... someone who won't be against such research.

Why is the current administration against T-cell research? "That's because they're healthy!"

~ How to Avoid a Stroke ~

Jim's advice? "Keep an eye on your cholesterol. Arteries clog up ... that's the problem."

High levels of LDL cholesterol will lead to atherosclerosis. And
the poor dietary habits that create this problem also bring on high blood pressure
diabetes
and obesity. All put you at a high risk of heart attack and stroke.

Take some time out today ... look at your diet. Could it be healthier? Start eating better
get some exercise
live a healthier
longer life.

Jim doesn't want you to join him. He's quite content being the only one who walks like Frankenstein. If his story can keep you from suffering what he has suffered ... you'll put a bigger smile on his face.