Drugs form the mainstay of the modern treatment of asthma. Most other forms of treatment are unproven and have a limited place, if any, in the treatment of asthma in children. While allergens probably have a role in the triggering of asthma attacks, there is very little evidence that desensitisation (a series of injections designed to make the child less allergic to certain substances) makes any difference either to the frequency or the severity of attacks. Physiotherapy may occasionally have a role to play for some children with asthma, but generally the child is better off participating in regular exercise and sporting activities.

Consideration should be given to factors which may trigger attacks of asthma. Cigarette smoke should be avoided. Exposure to animals that cause symptoms (often household pets) should be minimised or avoided, and the child may be better with non-allergenic bedding if he is affected by goose-down or feathers. In some selected cases, carpets may need to be removed to minimise dust, but this is not usually necessary.

These measures should be balanced with the need to minimise drastic changes to the child’s and family’s living conditions. Change in environment of any significant degree may not be indicated in children with mild or minimal symptoms.

Some of these precipitating factors can and should be avoided. However, most trigger factors cannot be identified, let alone avoided. This means that the mainstay of management of asthma is pharmacological — the appropriate use of medications to prevent and treat symptoms.

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We must recognize that our society’s emphasis on the drinking/ sexuality connection is strong. “A few drinks and I can really get it on,” was one wife’s report. She means that she experiences sufficient anxiety and insecurity that a chemical is needed to facilitate sexual interaction. The natural chemicals from our own brains are available to us if we will learn to relax, to share, to give a priority to intimacy so that we do not need “quick drugs” to depress us just enough that we can have sex. There is no human activity that is helped by drinking, and if you doubt that, you may be taking very early steps toward a drinking problem yourself. Drinking is ingesting small doses of a toxic substance that affects our nutrition, judgment, speech, perception, coordination, and ability to be truly intimate. It is one of our society’s most serious problems, and the emphasis on the war against drugs should include alcohol as one of the major enemies.

During the treatment program for the couples, all alcohol was prohibited. Every one of the couples found that sex improved once

they were free of their “habit.” Our brains are preprogrammed to “get high,” but our own bodies and brains provide the natural internal chemicals for that high. We seem to have a natural reflex, a joy response, and this joy response is blocked by alcohol, not enhanced by it. The couples found an immediate improvement in communication without alcohol, although at first some couples were awkward, actually in a type of mutual withdrawal state.

“It was like a first date. We just always used to have a drink or two before sex. It was kind of frightening at first, but we really rediscovered each other.” This wife spoke for other spouses who at first resisted the sanction against drinking and then learned what it was like to respond drug-free in a sexual relationship.

If you have a drinking problem, even if you suspect one, get help now. You will not be able to stop alone later, and the earlier you get the help, the less suffering for all concerned. If you are drinking to change how you feel, you have a drinking problem. If you are fighting this issue as you read this material, you probably have a problem with alcohol.

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The old term for this phase was resolution. One wife referred to it as “restitution.” Prior sexual perspectives saw this phase as essentially a complete reversal of the whole process of the sexual response. Masters and Johnson saw this as “phase-specific ,” a retreat of all prior physiological changes occurring only at the end of the cycle.

The thousand couples did not substantiate this phase. Sometimes the “sex flush,” the reddening of the skin in the facial cheeks and upper chest, would go away quickly and sometimes it would linger on. Instead of a feeling of settling down, some spouses reported a “glowing,” almost a “suspension in time” preceding a readiness for another experience. If we expect “resolution,” a resolving of all of this energy buildup that was talked about so much in the first perspectives, we will probably experience it. If we expect to

“glow,” to enjoy, to share, following a physical or psychological orgasm or at any time in our interaction, then we will be free to do so.

“I never thought of sharing too much after we came. It was a whole new thing. We would lie together and glow. It was like E.T., but the light was not just a heart light. It was all over. We learned to really enjoy this period instead of lying there waiting for it to pass so we could go to sleep,” reported one of the husbands at five-year follow-up. His comments illustrate the importance of not being “phase-specific,” of turning in instead of out for our sexual reference points. Enjoying the full-body response of our partner during intimate relationships does not have to be-preparatory; it can happen at any time.

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So we have a perfect body, capable of automatic self-repair, without even bothering us with any mundane details of its repair jobs. A program embedded in our DNA and the subconscious mind, developed through billions of years of existence of various lifeforms, automatically manages all repairs to optimise our comfort and performance.

However, there is one very important condition.

As we noticed from the example in the previous chapter, the repair is carried out perfectly and effortlessly, only when the extent of the damage to the body is limited

Let us try to explore the limits to the extent of such damage.

The key question is this :

How much abuse can our body withstand, before it fails to function perfectly ?

It is quite difficult to answer this question without additional information and analysis.

Let us start by examining the ways by which we could possibly abuse our mind-body system during our life. A short list of possible means of abuse is presented below. 1 poisoning.

2. Wrong diet.

3. Overeating.

4. Not enough sleep or rest

5. Accumulation of stress and anxiety

6. Bad hygiene

7. Excessive physical activity

8. Exposure to radiation

9. Exposure to noise

10. Exposure to dust

Note, that in many cases, our limited knowledge does not allow us to predict the extend of the damage and therefore we could easily underestimate the consequences of our actions.

In some cases we can be aware, that we are abusing our body, and I would like to exclude such cases from further consideration. Simply speaking, we should be prepared for facing the consequences of any such abuse, whatever their extent might be.

It is the abuse, which we are not aware of, which is actually the most important. The main reason for such importance is the fact, that without our knowledge and consent such abuse can continue over one’s lifetime. This especially applies to situations, when there is a significant delay in symptoms. As a result we could face problems, without ever realising the reason for them.

Some of the means of abuse listed above are sporadic, while others continue over an entire lifetime. Simple logic dictates that the latter should deserve our special attention, because their source is basically in our ignorance and/or misinformation.

Now, let us go back to our list of possible means of abuse and examine in which areas our ignorance (or pride that we know best) could lead to slow, but more or less continuous damage to our body without our consent.

With respect to radiation the situation is different. We have to use scientific instruments to assess the danger. Japanese had to use Geiger counters to examine their food after World War 2. I have not heard about anyone opposing the view that we should avoid radiation as much as possible, so I will not dispute this either.

The first three items on the list of means of abuse should deserve our special attention.

1.    Poisoning.

2.    Wrong diet.

3.    Overeating.

All three are not clear and objective: it is not clear what exactly is a “poison”, it is questionable just what represents a “wrong” diet and just how much food is actually too much.

As a result, all three forms of abuse may co-exist over an entire lifetime, only because we are misinformed.

Notice, that all three relate closely to our diet (food and beverage consumption).

With regard to exposure to dust and noise, excessive physical activity, bad hygiene, stress and lack of sleep, our conscious mind is notified almost immediately – we feel uncomfortable. It is therefore our responsibility to avoid continuing and repeating such experiences.

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This would appear not to be so in the U.S., where malpractice suits against doctors have reached epidemic proportions, and where judgments of more than $1 million are given against doctors quite frequently.

To protect himself under these circumstances, the doctor has to take out adequate insurance, and in many states in the U.S. the cost of such insurance has become prohibitive, amounting in some instances to a third of the doctor’s income.

Some lawyers specialise in malpractice suits, agreeing to take a specified percentage of any amount awarded.

In losing cases the fee is either very small or non-existent.

It is now reported that many doctors have decided to cope with this problem by not insuring at all and prominently advertising that fact.

Should a patient wish to sue, he has to obtain his judgement from the personal assets of the doctor, which may not be great and not worth the effort of a civil action.

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The lifespan of any drug in modern medicine is short.

What seems like a miracle drug soon becomes “old hat” as others with claims of fewer side-effects come on the market.

One group maintaining their usefulness are the beta blockers, the term applied to those drugs with wide-ranging effects on the body and for which new uses keep appearing.

To understand how these drugs work, it is necessary to have some knowledge of the body’s autonomic nervous system.

This is what governs those functions of our bodies which are not under voluntary control. Our heart beats, we breathe, digest and absorb our food and our kidneys eliminate waste products, all independently of our wills.

These actions are under the control of the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic part of this system, when stimulated, is what makes us get up and go.

The heart beats faster, the blood pressure rises, the breathing becomes deeper and digestion ceases.

The actions of the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system are usually the reverse of those of the sympathetic.

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Symptoms: general weakness and bodily discomfort; sore throat; pus on tonsils; prolonged fever; swelling of lymph glands; prolonged fatigue; mottled red rash.

Home care

Rest, aspirin or paracetamol, and a general diet as tolerated are necessary.

If your doctor finds that the child’s spleen is enlarged, the child’s activities should be restricted.

Precautions

-    If a child who is being treated with antibiotics for a strep throat does not respond to the medication within 24 to 48 hours, inform the doctor; the child may have mono in addition.

-    Do not allow a child who has had mono to return to school or work until weakness and fatigue disappear.

-    Do not allow a child with an enlarged spleen to take part in contact sports or other strenuous activity until the spleen returns to its normal size.

Infectious mononucleosis – often called “mono” – is a fairly common contagious disease. It’s caused by the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus and is transmitted by secretions from the nose and throat -which is why it’s also commonly known as the “kissing disease.” Mono can occur at any age from infancy on, but is most often seen among young people of high school or university age. The disease appears one to six weeks after exposure to the virus, and one attack generally makes a person immune to (able to resist) further bouts.

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Prevention is more difficult than for most of the subjects because so often the drug taking adolescent has become involved as a result of a complex mixture of personality, social and parental factors. Many of these are deeply rooted in the past, even in the pasts of the parents, and most of the problems are inaccessible to all but the most skilled professional. There are, however, a few preventives that are worth trying:

•     Discuss between you as parents what your views on drugs are. Sort out what you both feel so that should a problem arise you will deal with it more sensibly and compassionately and won’t make it worse by panicking.

•     Give up smoking and drinking yourselves. Research shows that a youngster whose parents are addicted to legal drugs is much more likely to use illegal ones. This also goes for medications from your doctor. Keep all medicines out of the reach of children and youngsters.

•     Make time to create a relationship with your children, from very early on. Give them confidence in the future and show that you care. If they feel that they can turn to you when things get tough you will have done the very best for them. The alternative is that they turn elsewhere and that could involve drugs. Youngsters who can trust their parents and like them as human beings will also be less likely to turn to drugs.

•     Try, when discussing the subject with your children, to steer a course (however difficult it is) between making drug-taking seem acceptable and creating a ‘no-go’ area. When talking about drugs it is best not to talk about it in too dramatic or horror-inspiring terms because if the child knows people who take drugs and enjoy them they simply will not believe you. This will reduce your credibility all round which will be a loss. This is somewhat parallel to scare stories about VD when discussing sex with youngsters.

•     Don’t be suspicious of your children, because if they are not taking drugs this could drive them to do so.

•     Calmly tell your youngsters of the legal problems with drugs. Possession of heroin, cocaine and LSD can lead to prison sentences of up to seven years and trafficking in drugs can put someone in gaol for up to fourteen years. Even possessing fairly ‘harmless’ drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines and barbiturates can result in a five-year sentence.

•     There is no guarantee that any of these preventive measures will in fact stop a youngster from taking drugs-the only sure preventive is a loving, caring, non-judgmental family in which the parents treat their youngsters with respect. This is a way of behaving that cannot just be started in the child’s early teens when you think you might begin having problems with sex and drugs-this is almost certainly too late. Preparation for this kind of relationship starts in the cradle with prolonged breastfeeding whenever the baby or mother wants to feed. The closeness this kind of behaviour produces is a sure foundation for good parent-child relationships and is likely to help the children withstand the certain knocks that life will bring.

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IRON

Functions: vital for a healthy immune system • part of the hemoglobin molecule that binds oxygen in the red blood cells. Deficiency signs and symptoms: weakness and fatigue. Iron’s enemies: lack of stomach acid • extreme diets in which only or mostly green vegetables are eaten • intestinal diseases which speed transit of food through intestines • poor absorption of dietary fat (leading to excess fat in intestine interfering with iron absorption).

MAGNESIUM

Functions: vital for a healthy immune system • involved with energy formation and transfer, carbohydrate metabolism, manufacture of protein, proper nutrition of the heart and neuromuscular transmission.

Deficiency signs and symptoms: personality changes • fatigue

• muscle weakness • heart irregularities • muscle spasms. Magnesium’s enemies: prolonged fasting • persistent vomiting

• chronic diarrhea • surgery • severe burns • alcohol • high-protein diets.

MANGANESE

Functions: vital for a healthy immune system • important for formation of the main thyroid hormone • necessary for proper utilization of vitamins C, Bj and biotin, and for production of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter.

Deficiency signs and symptoms: a deficiency in animals results in sterility in both sexes, skeletal abnormalities. Manganese’s enemies: refining of foods.

PHOSPHORUS

Functions: necessary for good bone and teeth structure and a healthy nervous system • helps stimulate muscle contractions

• plays a role in extracting energy from food. Deficiency signs-and symptoms: loss of appetite • nausea • fatigue • weakness • vague and persistent bone pains. Phosphorus’s enemies: excessive injestion of antacids.

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When your mind receives a piece of information, it responds by sending a chemical message to the appropriate part of your body. For example, when your eyes see that the traffic light is turning red, the brain interprets that fact and sends a “hit the brake” message to your right foot.

The red light was only a fact. It didn’t “make” you step on the brake. It was your interpretation of the red light, combined with the knowledge that you were driving a car, and the light was so far away, and you were going so fast, etc., that persuaded you to brake. The red light was only one fact among many.

Remember that time, late at night, when you walked down a dark street in a not-so-nice part of town? As you looked into the shadows, and turned your head to see if anyone was behind you, your heart began to pound. You could feel your breath coming in short gasps as your muscles tensed and you began to sweat. Chemical fireworks were exploding inside of you, dilating your pupils for better vision, shutting down temporarily unnecessary actions like digestion, and rushing blood to your muscles, for example, to help you fight or run.

It took only a split second to turn you from a calm stroller into a frightened, highly charged person, ready to fight or run for his or her life. And what triggered this “fight or flight” response? Nothing but your thoughts. Nobody pulled a gun on you; nobody mugged you, nobody shouted at you or ran after you or made a threatening gesture. As a matter of fact, you never saw or heard anybody at all, because the street was deserted. You turned on the chemical fireworks with your thoughts.

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