Blog for Author Debra Schildhouse

Breathing can be a luxury!

3/2/2019

"Just breathing can be such a luxury sometimes.”
~ Walter Kirn

I don’t have asthma, nor does anyone in my family, but I can’t think of anything that would be more frightening than fighting for my next breath.

Theresa Cannizzaro, a respiratory therapist, was featured in an article on Asthma.net. She had asked some of her patients to describe what it felt like to have asthma. Here are their answers:

“Fish out of water.”
“There is an elephant sitting on my chest.”
“I cough so much that I can’t catch my breath.”
“My chest feels tight and heavy.”
“I feel like there is a pillow being held over my face.”
“I am short of breath and can hear myself wheezing.”

Asthma is a long-term condition that can cause wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing. It often starts in childhood, but it can happen for the first time at any age. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, ranging from very mild, occasional breathlessness and wheezing, to very debilitating symptoms.

Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways —in particular, small tubes called bronchi. The bronchi are more sensitive than normal because of this inflammation. When a trigger of some kind irritates the lungs, the airways become narrow, the muscles around them tighten, and there is an increase in the production of sticky mucus (phlegm). This makes it difficult to breathe and causes wheezing and coughing. It may also make the chest feel tight.

Common Asthma Symptoms

Coughing: can be dry or mucus-filled, often worse at night or early morning
Wheezing: whistling or squeaky sound, especially when exhaling
Chest tightness: feels like something is squeezing or sitting on the chest.
Shortness of breath: hard to catch breath or breathe deeply enough.

Anyone of any age, family background, race, gender, or general health can develop asthma. Researchers think many genetic and environmental factors play a role, especially during the first years of life when the immune system is developing.

These factors include:

Family history: If parents or siblings have asthma, increased chance of developing it.
Exposure to secondhand smoke: Smoking, or exposure to secondhand smoke, especially in early childhood or from mothers who smoked while they were pregnant.
Environmental irritants: Exhaust fumes, air pollution, indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches and mold, chemical irritants or industrial dust.
Premature birth or respiratory illnesses that harm the lungs: Children born prematurely or who suffered from a respiratory illness early on.

Bio-Touch has been shown to alleviate symptoms associated with asthma. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to medical protocols. Family members and friends can learn how to help each other feel better using Bio-Touch, without being concerned about negative side effects.

Will Someone Get That Phone?

2/5/2019

“Tinnitus…the sound that no one else hears.”
~ Author Unknown

About 10 years ago, my husband’s aunt told us about a weird phenomenon she was experiencing. Aunt Dorothy was in her late 80s and laughed as she related hearing what sounded like a radio playing, off and on, in her home. She lived alone and made sure that the radios and TVs were turned off. Yet, she still heard voices, music, and static as if a radio was blaring. She was no longer laughing a month later as she described how the noises were keeping her up at night and driving her nuts.

Tinnitus, from the Latin word meaning ringing, is the perception of sound within the human ear when no external sound is present. It is a fairly common problem, affecting about 1 in 5 adults and children, or nearly 36 million Americans.

Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise. However, in some people it takes the form of a high-pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, “crickets” or beeping. Others hear music and/or voices as if a radio is playing nearby.

Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes. Causes include ear infections, blood vessel disorders such as tumors, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis, foreign objects in the ear, nose allergies that prevent fluid drain and cause wax build-up, and injury from loud noises. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage receptors in the ear, causing hearing loss and ultimately tinnitus.

Tinnitus is also a side effect of some oral medications, such as aspirin and antibiotics, and may also result from an abnormally low level of serotonin activity. Sometimes tinnitus is simply a result of age-related hearing loss. In many cases, however, no underlying physical cause can be identified.

Bio-Touch has been shown to alleviate symptoms associated with tinnitus. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to medical protocols. Family members and friends can learn how to help each other feel better using Bio-Touch, without being concerned about negative side effects.

Obesity: A Growing Health Concern – no pun intended!

1/4/2019

I’ll admit it…I could try a lot harder to stay on a healthy eating plan all year, let alone during the holidays. Luckily, the New Year brings the promise of new resolutions designed to rein me back in from my culinary over-indulgences. It’s chocolate that I cannot say no to, even if my stomach feels about to burst. Full disclosure: as I’m writing this blog, fudge brownies are baking in my oven, the heavenly smell wafting around me like an aromatic hug.

Despite (or because of) my sweet, chocolaty tooth, I’d like to lose a few pounds. Nothing feels better than having ample room inside my jeans! But when do our extra pounds truly become a health concern?

Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat. A person is considered to be obese if they are more than 20% over their ideal weight, or more precisely defined by the National Institutes of Health as a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 and above. A BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight.

Obesity, one of the most pressing health problems in the United States, has doubled among adults and more than tripled among children since the 1980s. It can reduce life expectancy by an average of 3 to 10 years, depending on how severe it is.

Obesity can cause a number of problems, including difficulties with daily activities.
Day-to-day problems related to obesity include:

breathlessness
increased sweating
snoring
difficulty doing physical activity
low energy
joint and back pain
low confidence and self-esteem
feeling isolated

Being obese can also increase your risk of developing potentially serious health conditions, including:

type 2 diabetes – a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high
high blood pressure
atherosclerosis — fatty deposits narrow arteries which can lead to coronary heart disease and stroke
asthma
metabolic syndrome – a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
several types of cancer, including bowel and breast cancer
gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)– stomach acid leaks out of the stomach and into the esophagus
gallstones – small stones, usually made of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder
reduced fertility
osteoarthritis – a condition involving pain and stiffness in the joints
sleep apnea– a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep, which can lead to daytime sleepiness with an increased risk of traffic accidents, as well as a greater risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
liver and kidney disease
pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes

Bio-Touch has been shown to ease health complications of obesity. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. And there are no negative side effects to worry about. Everyone, even children, can learn Bio-Touch!

Gout - An Ancient Pain

12/2/2018

"Having a gout flareup in your toe is like having your toe catch on fire, and then putting out the fire by slamming it with a hammer."

~ Anonymous

I never knew or thought much about gout, until my best friend was diagnosed with it recently. The way she describes her suffering during an attack has really made me appreciate the challenges gout brings to the sufferer. Her pain becomes so excruciating, even a bed sheet lightly resting on her toe is unbearable.

The misery of gout, the oldest known form of arthritis, was first identified in ancient Egyptian medical texts in 2640 B.C. Historically, gout has been referred to as the disease of kings because people often incorrectly link it to the high intake of food and wine, to which only the rich and powerful had access. We now know that gout can affect anyone and that it has many more risk factors, including genetics, than previously thought.

What is gout?
Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis and can cause the abrupt onset of pain, swelling and warmth in one or more joints. It affects approximately four percent of people in the United States and can occur in those who have high blood concentrations of uric acid. Uric acid is a byproduct of the metabolic breakdown of certain foods. High levels of uric acid can develop due to conditions that cause an overproduction of uric acid or conditions that impair the ability to eliminate uric acid.

What are the symptoms of gout?
Not everyone with an elevated uric acid level has symptoms of gout. But when symptoms do occur, gout typically causes intense swelling, warmth, and pain in one or more joints. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of gout attacks affect a person’s big toe. Acute gout flare ups can occur intermittently with asymptomatic periods in between. Sometimes the flare ups may resolve without intervention. However, in the later stages of untreated gout, flare ups can become more frequent, involve more joints, cause more joint damage, and even lead to deformities such as nodules that develop in the skin around the joints.

What are the causes and risk factors of gout?
The following are risk factors that can increase the chance of developing gout:

Being male
Being obese
Having a family history of gout
Over consuming alcohol, especially beer and hard liquor.
Eating a diet high in purines (certain meats, seafood, high fructose corn syrup)
Having kidney disease
Having heart failure
Having hypertension
Having inherited genetic mutations
Having a malignant disease
Taking certain medications that interfere with uric acid levels (diuretics, laxatives and some immunosuppressives)

Bio-Touch has been shown to ease the symptoms of gout. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. And there are no negative side effects to worry about. Everyone, even children, can learn Bio-Touch!

The Bane of Many Women (And Some Men, Too)

10/3/2018

“You wake up in the middle of the night with both hands lying across your chest like a couple of plucked bird carcasses, dead of all sensation.”
~ Lynn Coady

Carpal tunnel syndrome. It affects so many women I know. My mother suffered from it years ago, and my cousin was recently diagnosed with it. It’s one of those afflictions that cruelly demands your attention, especially at night.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow space inside the wrist. It is ringed by bone and a band of tough tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. A major nerve called the median nerve runs from the forearm into the hand through the carpal tunnel. Tendons also run through the carpal tunnel.

With carpal tunnel syndrome, the tendons or nearby tissues within the carpal tunnel may swell or thicken. Or the transverse carpal ligament may harden and shorten. This narrows the space in the carpal tunnel and puts pressure on the median nerve. This pressure leads to tingling and numbness of the hand and wrist.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

Doctors aren’t entirely clear on why the condition occurs. Moving your wrist in the same way over and over can cause swelling in the tunnel. This swelling puts pressure on the median nerve and causes carpal tunnel syndrome.

Other things can put people at greater risk for getting carpal tunnel syndrome. These include:

Being female
Being pregnant
Being overweight
Having diabetes
Suffering a wrist injury
Having arthritis

At first, symptoms may occur mainly at night. Later, they may be noticed during the day as well. They may get worse with activities such as driving, reading, typing, or holding a phone.

Symptoms can include:

Tingling, burning, and/or numbness in the wrist or hand, usually in the thumb, index, and middle fingers
Sharp pain shooting from the wrist up the arm or down to the fingers, usually at night
Hand stiffness or cramping, especially in the morning
Trouble making a fist
Hand weakness and clumsiness
Dull aching pain in the hand, forearm, or upper arm

Bio-Touch has been shown to ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. And there are no negative side effects to worry about. Everyone, even children, can learn Bio-Touch!

Oh My Thyroid!

9/1/2018

“Every sickness has an alien quality, a feeling of invasion and loss of control that is evident in the language we use about it.”
~ Siri Hustvedt

Thyroid disease first impacted my life thirteen years ago. My diagnosis came out of the blue after suffering weird symptoms that weren’t the “typical” ones.

I suddenly had trouble drawing enough oxygen into my lungs, day and night. I’d awaken from sleep gasping for breath. It was so frightening! I became shaky, spacey, and sleep-deprived. Nothing felt normal—especially breathing! Since I’d always been healthy, this really threw me for a loop.

Because of these less well-known symptoms, I had no idea what was going on. I was vaguely familiar with thyroid disease because my mother had been diagnosed with it years before. But her initial symptoms had been more typical—she was tired, cold, her skin became very dry, and she began losing her hair.

It is estimated that over 25 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. And, women are more likely than men to develop it.

The thyroid is a small powerhouse of a gland, butterfly-shaped, and located in the front of the neck. It manufactures hormones that regulate metabolism, heart function, digestion, respiration, body temperature, and more.

The thyroid gland uses iodine from food to make two hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The pituitary gland, in the brain, helps control the thyroid gland. It releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) into the bloodstream which makes the thyroid gland release its hormones.

When the pituitary gland detects that thyroid hormone levels are too low, it releases more TSH. If it detects too much, it releases less TSH.

However, if something goes wrong, and the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, it is called hypothyroidism. If the gland produces too many hormones, it is called hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of hypothyrodism include:

Weakness, exhaustion, and depression
Dry skin, brittle nails, and significant hair loss
Sensitivity to cold
Memory problems
Mental fog
Breathing problems

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

Sudden weight loss
Rapid heart rate, palpitations
Excess perspiration, anxiety, feeling jittery
Moodiness
Insomnia

There are also autoimmune forms of thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto’s disease (hypothyroidism) and Graves’s disease (hyperthyroidism). Hypothyroidism is the most prevalent form of thyroid disease, and is also the most commonly diagnosed thyroid condition. Hashimoto’s disease tends to run in families, and accounts for 90% of all hypothyroidism in the United States. And Hashimoto’s is what my mother had, I have, and now my daughter has.

Bio-Touch has been shown to ease the symptoms of thyroid disease. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. And there are no negative side effects to worry about. Everyone, even children, can learn Bio-Touch!

Menopauses's Seven Dwarfs

7/3/2018

Menopause is just Puberty’s evil older sister~ Author unknown

Have you heard this joke? Who are the seven dwarfs of menopause? Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated, Forgetful, and Psycho! Ha-ha. Very funny. Menopause jokes are always good for a few chuckles, but not from women enduring the symptoms! It’s been nearly ten years since I went through this “change of life.” Yet I still must endure, occasionally, the sizzling hot flashes that bloom within my body. I grudgingly call them my “power surges.”

Menopause is the end of a woman’s fertility—the end of her child-bearing years. It’s the transition period when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, and menstruation becomes less frequent, eventually stopping.

Sometimes the menstrual flow comes to a sudden halt. But more often, it slowly stops over time. During this transition, the menstrual periods generally become either more closely or more widely spaced. This irregularity may last for 1 – 3 years. The average age for women at the time of menopause is 51 years (in the United States).

Common symptoms of menopause include:

Heart pounding or racing
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Skin flushing
Sleeping problems

Other symptoms of menopause may include:

Decreased interest in sex
Forgetfulness
Mood swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety
Spotting of blood in between periods
Urine leakage
Vaginal dryness

Bio-Touch alleviates the symptoms of menopause for many women. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medicine. Family members and friends can learn how to help each other feel better using Bio-Touch. And there are no negative side effects to worry about!

Uh Oh...The Room is Spinning

6/1/2018

“Vertigo makes it feel like the floor is pitching up and down. Things seem to be spinning. It’s like standing on the deck of a ship in really high seas.”
~ Laura Hillenbrand

I’ve suffered, a few times, from the all-consuming misery that is dizziness. Completely helpless, I was reduced to a trembling, bed-ridden lump. I held my head and neck in an iron grip, knowing that the slightest movement would bring another stomach-wrenching sensation of falling. Thank heavens this torture was caused by minor ear issues that cleared up within a few days.

Many people who feel dizzy have vertigo, a specific type of dizziness. The most common symptoms of vertigo include false senses of motion, spinning, tilting, swaying, feeling off balance, nausea, headache, sensitivity to light and noise, seeing double, weakness, sweating, shortness of breath and a racing heart. These feelings may be worsened by standing, walking, or moving the head.

Vertigo is often caused by inner ear problems, but may be associated with motion sickness, head or neck injuries, neurological disorders, certain medications, dehydration, brain issues such as strokes or tumors, and migraine headaches.

Some experts believe that more than 40 percent of Americans will experience dizziness/vertigo that is serious enough to go to a doctor. Even dizziness that seems minor, if undiagnosed, may be a signal of underlying disorders. Dizziness/vertigo problems are among the most common reasons that older adults seek help from a doctor. What’s more, older adults are more likely to have medical conditions that cause vertigo, and are more likely to take medications that can lead to dizziness, as well. Unfortunately for those who have suffered past episodes of vertigo, they are more prone to having it in the future.

Bio-Touch has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of vertigo. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. And there are no negative side effects to worry about. Everyone, even children, can learn Bio-Touch and practice it effectively! Click here to learn more about Bio-Touch and vertigo.

ah…choo…allergy help, please!

5/9/2018

“A new study found that a mother’s diet affects her baby’s allergies. Which can only mean one thing: my mom ate cats.”
~ Jimmy Fallon

There’s no doubt that the overwhelming majority of people I’ve met in my lifetime suffer from some kind of allergy. All of these people can relate and commiserate with the wretched symptoms that allergies produce. Whether caused by foods or seasonal plants, the impact of allergies on our well-being has been a hot topic of conversation everywhere I’ve lived from the Ohio Valley and the plains of Illinois, to the deserts of the Southwest.

My allergy to ragweed first reared its ugly head when I was a child living in Cincinnati, Ohio. While playing in my backyard one day, I was suddenly besieged by watery, itchy eyes, explosive sneezing, and an itching in my throat and ears. An angry red rash spread across my body. Many years later, serious skin rashes alerted me to the fact that I’m also allergic to lemongrass and the skin of mangos.

One of the marvels of the human body is that it can defend itself against harmful invaders like viruses or bacteria. But sometimes the defenses are too aggressive, and harmless substances such as dust, mold, and pollen are mistakenly identified as dangerous. The immune system then rallies its defenses, launching a host of complex chemical weapons to attack and destroy the supposed enemy. In the process, some unpleasant, and in extreme cases, life-threatening symptoms may be experienced by the allergy-prone individual.

There are hundreds of ordinary substances that can trigger allergic reactions. The most common are plant pollens, molds, household dust (dust mites), animal dander, foods, medicines, feathers, and stings from insects. An allergic reaction can occur anywhere in the body, but usually appears in the skin, eyes, lining of the stomach, nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs – places where special immune system cells are stationed to fight off invaders.

Symptoms vary and may include swelling, rashes, itching and shortness of breath. Drug allergies include hives, rashes, and fevers. Food allergies include digestive problems, hives, or swollen airways, which can be life threatening. Seasonal allergies cause sneezing and runny noses, and may include wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Bio-Touch has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of allergies. Of course, when an allergic attack affects breathing, please call 911 immediately and administer CPR if needed.

While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. You can learn how to help others feel better using Bio-Touch, without being concerned about negative side effects. And everyone, even children, can learn how to practice it effectively!

Please click here for more information on Bio-Touch.

Calming the Symptoms of ADHD

4/1/2018

“Living with ADHD is like being locked in a room with 100 televisions and 100 radios all playing. None of them have power buttons so you can turn them off and the door is locked from the outside.”
~Sarah Young

I remember how some of my friends struggled, years ago, when their children were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They tried valiantly to make sense of it all, and find the best solutions for their children and themselves. Adding to their challenge was the fact that there wasn’t much information or support available back then.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects children and teens, and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of children.

Scientists have still not reached agreement on specific causes of ADHD. Studies reveal that a person’s risk of developing ADHD is higher if a close relative has it, and the disorder is much more common in boys than girls. The scientific community generally agrees that ADHD is biological in nature, possibly resulting from chemical imbalances in the brain.

General signs/symptoms of ADHD in children:

the child is restless, overactive, fidgety
the child is constantly chattering
the child is continuously interrupting people
the child cannot concentrate for long on specific tasks
the child is inattentive
the child finds it hard to wait his/her turn in play, conversations, or when standing in line

The above signs may be frequently observed in children, and usually do not mean the child has ADHD. It is when these signs become significantly more pronounced in one child, compared to other children of the same age, and when his/her behavior undermines his/her school and social life, that the child may have ADHD.

Bio-Touch has been shown to ease the symptoms of ADHD. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. And there are no negative side effects to worry about. Everyone, even children, can learn Bio-Touch! Click here for more information.

Vision is the Art of Seeing

3/2/2018

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others” ~ Jonathan Swift

Did you know that cataracts of the eyes are a very common part of the normal aging process? Even our pets are not immune! My parrot, Monty, developed cataracts at the ripe old age of 14! Yes, as we get older, the lens inside our eyes start to get cloudy.

Most cataracts happen when there is a buildup of protein, making the lens opaque. However, other factors can contribute to cataract development, including diabetes, certain medications such as corticosteroids, smoking, alcohol, and unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Cataracts usually form slowly. You may not know you have them until they start to block light. Then you might notice:

Vision that’s cloudy, blurry, foggy, or filmy
Changes in the way you see color
Problems driving at night (glare from oncoming headlights)
Problems with glare during the day

Glaucoma, on the other hand, is an eye condition that is not related to normal aging. It is a progressive disease of the eye that, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. Glaucoma is commonly associated with increased pressure in the eye due to an imbalance in production and outflow of ocular fluid. In a healthy eye, fluid is produced to help maintain the eye’s shape. Normally, this natural fluid flows and is absorbed into the bloodstream. If the fluid does not drain at the same rate that it is produced, pressure will begin to build in the eye. Over time, this increased pressure can damage the optic nerve.

Symptoms:

blurred or narrowed field of vision
severe pain in the eye(s)
haloes (which may appear as rainbows) around lights
nausea
vomiting
headache

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans. Also people over the age of 60, and/or those with a family history of glaucoma are more likely to develop the disease.

Bio-Touch has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of cataracts and glaucoma. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to any mainstream medical protocols.

Everyone can learn Bio-Touch. And there are no negative side effects to worry about with Bio-Touch!

Help With Joint Replacement

2/5/2018

"Your body's ability to heal is greater than anyone has permitted you to believe."
~ Author Unknown

Now that I’m living in an age 55 and up active adult community, I hear more people talking about upcoming knee replacement surgeries or their recoveries from hip replacement surgeries. These folks really enjoy bike riding, hiking, golf, tennis, swimming, and dance classes. They’re not about to stop having fun and resign themselves to rocking chairs on the porch!

There are a variety of reasons people require joint replacement surgery. One of those is degenerative joint disease, commonly referred to as “osteoarthritis”, a condition in which the shock-absorbing cartilage that cushions joints becomes inflamed, breaks down, and is eventually lost.

In active people and athletes, joints can suffer from overuse injuries. When there is a repetitive motion such as a swing, a squat, or a throwing motion, the joints can become inflamed and sore. An injury can begin as a strained or torn muscle and can eventually lead to replacement if the injury is not allowed to properly heal.

Common symptoms include pain and stiffness around the affected area, swelling, redness, tenderness, limited mobility, and a grating sensation when trying to move a joint.

Joint replacement surgery removes a diseased joint and surgically replaces it with a prosthesis made of plastic, metal, or ceramic. The joints that are replaced most often are hips and knees. However more and more shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle joint replacements are being performed.

Bio-Touch helps alleviate joint pain and inflammation. And Bio-Touch also eases pain that can occur after surgery. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols.

What makes Bio-Touch unique is how easily everyone can learn how to use it. Family members and friends can help each other feel better using Bio-Touch, without being concerned about negative side effects.

Click here for more information about Bio-Touch.

Strokes: My Painful and Personal Blog

1/6/2018

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude” ~Scott Hamilton

I knew months ago that my January blog would be about strokes. But I never dreamed that I’d be writing it from a very painful and personal perspective.

Upon waking one morning last month, my husband, Howard, realized he had sudden significant vision loss in his right eye. Let me tell you, few things are as frightening as that. Agonizing days followed while Howard underwent medical tests.

Finally, his diagnosis: A stroke of the optic nerve, the cable that connects the eye to the brain. The medical term is non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAAION).
NAAION is caused by impaired circulation of blood to the front of the optic nerve. It is called “non-arteritic” because although there is reduced blood flow, there is no inflammation of the blood vessels. It is called “anterior” because the reduced blood flow and injury to the optic nerve happen at the front-most part of the nerve, where the nerve meets the eye. It is called “ischemic” because that is the word that describes injury due to reduced blood flow. Finally, it is called “optic neuropathy” because it is an injury to the optic nerve, which disrupts the ability of the eye to send information to the brain.

The exact cause of reduced blood flow to the optic nerve in NAAION has not been proven. But it is known that this condition occurs more often when a patient is over the age of 50, and has conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea. Smoking may also elevate the risk of developing NAAION. Most patients with NAAION have an anatomical variation of the optic nerve, making that area tight and crowded. That anatomy probably contributes to the impaired circulation that causes NAAION. And, although it is controversial, some researchers believe that another risk factor for NAAION may be the use of blood pressure medications at nighttime, contributing to lower blood pressure during sleep.

Howard is over 50, but he has none of the other typical risk factors. An avid bicyclist and hiker, he is physically fit, and has normal blood pressure. He takes no medications whatsoever and has never smoked. But, he does have evidence of the anatomical variation of his optic nerve causing crowding. He also snores. So, he’ll soon be given a sleep study to see if he has sleep apnea as an underlying factor.

Unfortunately, there are no effective treatments for NAAION. But, many patients do regain some vision in their affected eye within 2 to 3 months.

In my book, “Bio-Touch: Healing With The Power In Our Fingertips” I relate the story of Curtis, a man left blind from a genetic condition. Bio-Touch helped him to see again! And that’s why I have started giving Howard Bio-Touch every day. There are no medical treatments to help Howard’s condition, but we know the amazing thing Bio-Touch did for Curtis, and that gives us precious hope! And, sharing Bio-Touch with him gives me something I can do to help Howard through this very difficult time. And that helps both of us feel better!

Reasons for Optimism About Parkinson's Disease

12/2/2017

“I often say, I don’t have a choice whether or not I have Parkinson’s, but surrounding that non-choice is a million other choices I can make.”
~ Michael J. Fox

I think there’s something so special about December. Yes, it’s colder and darker outside, but every year at this time, a pleasant nostalgia moves through my soul, settling over me like a toasty blanket. I try to ignore annoying stresses and focus on good memories, faith, and the pleasures of holiday gatherings with family and friends.

And, December is also Parkinson’s Awareness Month. The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research website states that “2017 marks the 200th anniversary of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Michael J. Fox Foundation started with one urgent goal — find a cure and go out of business. While 200 years is far too long for patients and their loved ones to wait, there has been significant scientific progress in the last few decades alone and there is tremendous cause for optimism.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder of the brain that occurs as the result of insufficient quantities of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra.

The distinctive symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

Tremors
Many people with Parkinson’s disease develop tremors that are most prominent in the hands and fingers. These tend to occur when the limbs are relaxed, disappearing when performing tasks such as drinking or eating. About 30% of people with Parkinson’s disease never develop a tremor.

Stiffness
This is a common early sign of Parkinson’s disease and is most obvious in the arms, shoulder or neck, although it can occur in all muscle groups. People may have difficulty getting out of a chair, turning or rolling over in bed, or walking. Fine finger movements such as tying a shoelace may also be difficult. Pain or a deep aching sensation in the muscles may also be felt.

Bradykinesia
This means slowness of movement and is a disabling and frustrating symptom of Parkinson’s disease. People have difficulty initiating movement and movement may be slow. There may also be a lack of coordination when moving.

Loss of Balance
This is a symptom that tends to develop later in Parkinson’s disease. Because of impaired balance and co-ordination, a person with Parkinson’s disease can develop a forward or backward lean. They may start to walk with small steps. Falls are common.

Bio-Touch has been shown to ease symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective touch-healing technique that complements mainstream medical protocols. Everyone can learn how to use Bio-Touch, without being concerned about negative side effects.

Gratefulness

11/2/2017

“Gratitude doesn’t change the scenery. It merely washes clean the glass you look through so you can clearly see the colors.”
~Richelle E. Goodrich

As another Thanksgiving approaches, my mind starts tallying up all I have to be grateful for. I pause to reflect on the past year, uttering a silent “thank you” as memories, like photographs, come together to create my inner collage.

Of course, some years don’t have as many “thank-you” memories as others. But this has been a boon year for me in the gratitude department. First of all, our kids are healthy and enjoying their lives—enough said. Next, I’m thankful that my husband, Howard, was finally able to retire. We sold our large home in Tucson quickly, finding a smaller home in an active adult community outside of Phoenix that is just perfect for us. We moved in April and couldn’t be happier. I’m also grateful that hubby and I are able to travel fairly often. In fact, we just came home from three weeks in Europe seeing incredible sights in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France.

However, I didn’t have to look too far beyond those wonders to see how many people, tourists as well as locals, were limping with a cane or walker, their faces lined with pain. Some, among the throngs of sightseers, were wincing with what appeared to be back pain, their groans commanding their stiffened bodies to obey. Their plight was made more difficult due to the multitude of stairs, hills, and narrow, winding cobblestone streets. And, I couldn’t even count the number of people on the airplanes, buses, and cruise ship who were wheezing, coughing, sneezing, and blowing their noses. Ah, the human condition!

All I could think about was how those people needed to discover Bio-Touch, and how grateful I was to have embraced this simple, loving, touch-healing technique for myself and my family! The Bio-Touch organization’s mission is to teach more and more people, around the world, about Bio-Touch. They’ve worked hard for many years to make that happen. Their continued dedication to that goal is something we should all be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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