Living With Environmental Illness

People who have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) are often disbelieved and misdiagnosed. The interaction of low-level chemicals that are constantly present in our environment cause sufferers of MCS to develop symptoms such as fatigue, depression, headaches, sore throats, asthma, chest pains, and circulation problems. In "Living With Environmental Illness", the authors discuss how the growing numbers of chemicals we're exposed to daily have contributed to the sharp rise of environmental illnesses in recent years. They provide a checklist for determining whether you may be suffering from MCS, describe the ten developmental stages of the disease, tell how to determine who is most at risk for developing symptoms, and detail lifestyle changes that should be made for living with environmental illness. In addition, five patient profiles of actual MCS sufferers reveal the highly individualized nature of the disease, and an extensive resource section lists suppliers of nontoxic products and organizations that can help.

The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Environmental illness: certain health professionals and clinical ecologists claim it impacts and inhibits 15 percent of the population. Its afflicted are led to believe environmental illness (EI) originates with food, chemicals, and other stimuli in their surroundings -as advocates call for drastic measures to remedy the situation. What if relief proves elusive-and the patient is sent on a course of ongoing, costly and ineffective ""treatment""? Several hundred individuals who believed they were suffering from EI have been evaluated or treated by Herman Staudenmayer since the 1970s. Staudenmayer believed the symptoms harming his patients actually had psychophysiological origins-based more in fear of a hostile world than any suspected toxins contained in the environment. Staudenmayer's years of research, clinical work-and successful care-are now summarized in Environmental Illness: Myth & Reality. Dismissing much of the information that has attempted to defend EI and its culture of victimization, Staudenmayer details the alternative diagnoses and treatments that have helped patients recognize their true conditions-and finally overcome them, often after years of prolonged suffering.

Chemical sensitivity (or "multiple chemical sensitivity") describes people with numerous troubling symptoms attributed to environmental factors, from simple housepaint to complex building structures and materials in offices and schools. Many such people are seeking special accommodations, applying for disability benefits, and filing lawsuits claiming that exposure to common foods and chemicals has made them ill. Their efforts are supported by some physicians who refer themselves as clinical ecologists. They use questionable diagnoses and treatment methods, while critics charge that these approaches are bogus and that "chemical sensitivity" is not a valid diagnosis. The complaints associated with chemical sensitivity include depression, irritability, poor memory, fatigue, drowsiness, constipation, sneezing, wheezing, skin rashes, headache, chest pain, pounding heart, swelling, upset stomach, paralysis, AIDS-like illnesses, psychotic experiences, and just about every other symptom noted in medical textbooks. One prominent clinical ecologist even claimed that chemical sensitivity patients may well be human "canaries" on an increasingly poisoned planet, and others have actually labeled chemical sensitivity as a disease. While some people are adversely affected by exposure to some chemicals, there is an overwhelming increase in false claims and reports from misled obsessive patients and opportunistic doctors. Chemical Sensitivity examines this phenomenon in depth and the scientific, legal, ethical, and political issues that surround it. The authors explore the speculations about environmental exposure in the light of scientific knowledge of human physiology, allergy and immunology, pathology, toxicology, and clinical medicine. They evaluate cases of chemical sensitivity relative to controlled tests, and reveal that symptoms were brought on by psychological factors rather than physical ones. Chemical Sensitivity also critically assesses claims related to "sick building syndrome," "mercury-amalgam toxicity," "yeast allergy," and Gulf War syndrome.

Houses have always been one of the centerpieces of American life. Houses are the places where parents raise their children, where family reunions take place, and where people live, work, and play. Americans have always realized that healthy houses can lead to healthier lives. Many of the extraordinary improvements in health that were achieved in the 20th century resulted from improvements in the Nation's homes. Although poorly maintained homes increases the risk for injury and illness, unhealthy and unsafe housing continues to affect the health of millions of people of all income levels, geographic areas, and walks of life in the United States. The Call to Action describes the steps people can take now to protect themselves from disease, disability and injury that may result from health hazards in their houses. These steps have been scientifically proven to reduce health problems that cause or contribute to disease and injuries. And, improving literacy about healthy homes and teaching people about the steps they can take to change unhealthy and unsafe behaviors at home will lead to better health for all Americans. This Call to Action also outlines the next steps of a society-wide, comprehensive and coordinated approach to healthy homes that will result in the greatest possible public health impact and reduce disparities in the availability of healthy, safe, affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly homes.

Healing Environmental Illness from Within is a true story of one woman's journey of healing from chemical and electromagnetic sensitivity, chronic fatigue and allergies. In the book, Marcia describes the development of her illness and the baffling, seemingly unrelated symptoms she experienced for nine years before diagnosis. She shares her experience with physiological treatments which brought temporary relief of symptoms and explains why none were sufficient to bring true healing. In the second half of the book, Marcia shares how she found her way back to wellness by going within her heart to examine the disempowered way she was living her life. She describes her life experiences from childhood to the present day which created disharmony in her mind and spirit, eventually taking the form of serious illness in her body. Most importantly, she tells how she came to understand and let go of the emotional blocks crippling her immune system, and how doing so allowed her to resume a life of quality. The healing path Marcia chose to follow will touch your heart as you recognize familiar life circumstances all of us face at one time or another. You will understand how the choices you make and your responses to people and daily life events can affect the strength of your immune system, and thus your health. Above all, the book offers hope to people suffering from environmental illness, giving them a new perspective to consider in working to regain health. It is a must-read book for anyone suffering from any illness who believes that recovery is impossible.

Over fifty million Americans endure a mysterious environmental illness that renders them allergic to chemicals. Innocuous staples from deodorant to garbage bags wreak havoc on sensitives. No one is born with EI; it often starts with a single toxic exposure. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, brain fog, muscle aches, inability to tolerate certain foods. Broudy investigates this disease, and delves into the intricate, ardent subculture that surrounds it--Adapted from jacket

Includes all the bells and whistles you and your students have come to expect It's hard to imagine a book more innovative and groundbreaking than Living with the Earth: Concepts in Environmental Health Science, Third Edition. The first edition won the CHOICE award for Outstanding Academic Book and both previous editions became bestsellers in their