FUNDAMENTAL BASIS OF IRISDIAGNOSIS: INTERPRETATION OF THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE ORGANS IN THE THREE MAJOR ZONES
(SIX MINOR ZONES)-1ST MAJOR ZONE—STOMACH AND INTESTINAL ZONE
In considering the topography of the organs we commence with the first minor zone—the stomach zone. The stomach zone has already been indicated as the first zone in the circular division of the iris. It is now necessary to identify the parts of the stomach in the right and left iris.
If the body is divided down the middle by a perpendicular line we have: Pylorus with about one-third of the stomach in the right half of the body. Cardia and two-thirds of the stomach in the left half of the body.
All organs on the right side have their place in the right iris, and all organs on the left side have their place in the left iris, thus:
Pylorus and one-third of the stomach in the right iris. The remaining two-thirds with cardia in
the left iris.
By dividing the stomach horizontally through the middle we obtain an upper and a lower part for each iris. Considering the right upper part of the stomach, this will include an anterior and posterior view of the upper part of the pylorus with the right side of the lesser curvature. Since we have in both upper and lower halves of the iris a representation of the anterior, posterior and lateral views, we may determine precisely the different regions of the stomach from the iris. Similarly, we place the right lower part of the stomach in the right iris, and both upper and lower left regions of the stomach correspondingly in the left iris.
Pylorus is exactly in the middle, lying between the upper and lower halves of the right iris. Thus:
Upper half pylorus—Right iris nasal side—n’-is’—anterolateral aspect. —Right iris temporal side—45′-48′—posterolateral aspect. Lower half pylorus—Right iris temporal—42
‘-45′—anterolateral aspect. —Right iris nasal—15′—18′—posterolateral aspect.
Left iris nasal—45′-50′—antero-lateral aspect.
Left iris temporal—10′-I5′—postero-lateral aspect. In my view we cannot place the cardia in the lower half of the left iris.
The second small zone is designated the Intestinal zone, which includes the duodenum, small intestine, and the large intestine with sigmoid flexure. We shall again require to identify the regions of the right side intestine in the right iris, to show right upper and lower intestine with anterior, posterior and lateral views.
Of especial interest to us here is the duodenum. Since this, and that part of the stomach lying in the right side of the body is more frequently affected, there must be reserved to this area a large part of the iris. We find on considering the indications that the proximal part of the
duodenum lies over the pylorus.
For this part of the duodenum we have shown in the iris the area 10/-15′ and 45′-50′ in the upper half, corresponding to the anterior, posterior and lateral aspects. The part of the duodenum which lies below the pylorus is seen in the lower half of the iris from 15′-20′ and 40 ‘-45′.
The junction of the duodenum with the small intestine lies in the left half of the body, so the area for it is found in the lower half of the left iris from 40′-45′. That part of the small intestine lying in the right half of the body is found in the right iris from 5 ‘-35′ with an intermediate position for a part of the duodenum.
At 35′ in the right iris, the ascending colon commences with the caecum, and extends to 50′, allowing for the insertion of a part of the duodenum. Here the right flexure indicates the commencement of the transverse colon which extends to 5′. Where there is a diseased appendix (it possesses much lymphatic tissue as is well known) the signs are to be seen outside the intestinal zone at 35′.
In the left iris, the area for small intestine extends from 35′-55′, with inclusion of that part of the duodenum which lies on the left side of the body—as already referred to above under Duodenum.
The transverse and descending colon is to be found in the area 55′-25′. The sigmoid and rectum then extend from 25′-35′. The last part of the rectum with ampulla and anus lies at 32-34′ in the muscle, bone and skin zones.
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MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS: HOW TO COPE-IN VARIOUS SITUATIONSC-AT WORK:
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
If you suffer from fatigue at period time, your body will be letting you know how much rest you need and, if you’re extremely tired, insisting that you take it. The trouble is that so many women feel compelled to make the effort to go on working even when they are tired. We shop in the lunch hour, or work through the tea break to oblige somebody. It may seem noble, but it isn’t sensible. I have a sneaking feeling that this willingness to sacrifice ourselves goes right back to the attitudes we imbibed when young. Little boys are usually told to ‘stand up for themselves’ and ‘be a man’. Little girls are usually expected to help with the housework and told not to ‘make a fuss’. Standing up for your rights may seem unfeminine if you have grown up feeling that a woman’s role is to serve and be unselfish. You are lucky if you’ve grown up in a household where boys and girls both help with the housework, because you’ll be more likely to insist on your rights at work. A woman needs her rest breaks just as much as a man does, and at period time she needs them even more. So take all the rest you’re entitled to, sit down whenever you can and make sure you eat a meal in your lunch break. And if you are one of those girls who usually spend the lunch hour window shopping, give it a miss for those few crucial days when you’re low — however tempting the windows maybe.
Lack of balance may make you inaccurate, which can be a great nuisance whether you’re a supervisor, managing director or a typist; indeed in any job that requires detailed and painstaking acuracy. You can help yourself by making sure that you aren’t tense when you’re working and that you deliberately do everything more slowly. Take a few minutes to relax before you begin work and breath in a lower gear. If you feel yourself rushing, check that you haven’t tensed up again. Your neck, shoulders and hands are often the first parts of your body to show stress in this way, particularly if your work involves a lot of writing. And if you notice your mistakes and start to panic because you’re doing so badly, don’t forget what a help relaxation and breathing in a lower gear can be if you’re in a flap. If you are the boss, it’s simpler to do; but if you work for someone else it might be a good idea to let him or her know what you’re doing, and why, so that he or she will realize that you’re not slacking, merely sacrificing speed for efficiency, just for a few days.
Many women find that an approaching period makes them very forgetful. Their minds ‘go woolly’. If that’s your problem, take a fellow sufferer’s advice and get into the habit of writing yourself a list of all the jobs you have to attend to, and pin it up where it will catch your eye.
People like telephonists, actresses or teachers, who use their voices a lot during their work, are more liable to suffer from throat infections or laryngitis during the run up to their periods. Obviously it makes good sense to ensure that you’re eating well and getting enough rest when you’re vulnerable, because that will give you more of a chance to fight off infection. But it also helps if you can pitch your voice a little lower than normal. We tend to speak up, in every sense of the word, when we want to be heard and if you have pitched your voice too high, that will put your throat and vocal chords under unnecessary strain. If your face, neck or throat are tense, that’s another source of strain, so don’t forget to relax them, and to keep checking that they stay relaxed.
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CHILDREN HEALTH: MEDICINE CHEST
Although most of the medications your child will take will be on a doctor’s prescription, there are certain items every parent ought to have on hand at home. Some of these are nonprescription medications that you can buy over the counter at your drugstore. These are usually called OTC medications. Other items, like a thermometer, are basics of a home health care kit. You’ll also need antiseptics, ointments, gauze pads, and bandages in preparation for the inevitable bangs, bruises, scrapes, cuts, and other minor crises of childhood.
When you’re assembling this kit, however, remember a few safety rules:
• Do not buy or administer any but the most basic drugs without the advice of a doctor.
• Only buy medications in containers that have child-proof caps. Keep all medications in their original, clearly-labeled containers.
• Unless your child takes a prescription medication on a regular basis, do not keep leftover medicines. Flush liquids and pills or capsules down the toilet and throw out the containers.
• Keep all medications locked away from children. If you and your young child are visiting friends who do not have children, make sure that no dangerous substances are within reach of the child.
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ANIMAL BITES IN CHILDREN
Animal bites that break the skin are cuts, puncture wounds, or scrapes. However, animal bites may result in serious complications. First, animal bites often become infected by the bacteria in the animal’s mouth. Second, animal bites may cause tetanus (lockjaw) or rabies.
Tetanus (lockjaw) is a serious disease caused by a germ that lives in soil, dust, and the intestines and intestinal wastes of animals and humans. It can easily enter the body through puncture wounds or scratches caused by animal bites and claw wounds. A vaccine to prevent tetanus is available.
Rabies is unknown in Australia. It is a fatal disease of the central nervous system that may affect any mammal. It is caused by a virus that can be identified within the brain of an affected animal. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of the sick animal.
Signs and symptoms
Even in younger children, an animal bite is usually obvious from its appearance. It is sometimes difficult to tell a bite from a claw wound; however, claw wounds should be treated in the same way as bites because a claw wound can also contain bacteria from the animal’s saliva. U the bite has caused a bruise, but there is no break in the skin, you do not need to worry about tetanus.
Home care
Scrub the wound with soap and water for five to ten minutes and flush with water. Apply antiseptic to minor wounds. Report the wound to your doctor immediately for advice concerning tetanus, and repair of the wound. Let your doctor know when your child was most recently vaccinated against tetanus.
The chance of an animal bite becoming infected is very high. If redness begins spreading out from the wound, or if the wound becomes more tender, call your doctor.
Precautions
• Be sure your child has regular tetanus boosters.
• Always contact your doctor about treatment in the case of animal bites.
Medical treatment
Because of the high possibility of infection, your doctor may decide not to stitch the wound. However, if the wound is located where scarring is not desirable (such as on the face), the doctor may choose to stitch the wound. Before stitching, treatment first includes removing the injured tissue and a thorough cleansing. Antibiotics taken by mouth may be prescribed. If necessary, your doctor may give the child a tetanus booster or antitoxin (a substance that counteracts the poisonous effects of the tetanus germ).
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DIABETES: QUESTIONS ASKED BY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Can I join scouts or guides or a youth club?
Certainly there is no reason at all why you should not join any youth club or group. Make sure that the leader knows that you have diabetes and is told what to do if you should have an insulin reaction.
Can I go camping with my youth club?
Yes, as soon as you are able to do your own injections, measure your own insulin dose, do your blood tests, and know how to measure your diet. Most children can do all these things by the time they are 12 or 13 (and some younger) and if you cannot, you should only go if there is some adult with the group who is prepared to take responsibility and can do these things for you. One of the important objectives of learning about diabetes is to make you self-reliant so you can
Who should you tell that you have diabetes?
Your parents of course will tell your close relatives and perhaps your adult friends who have a lot to do with you. They would need to know about your diabetes if you have meals with them or so they could help if you should have a hypo when they are responsible for you. Clearly your schoolteacher ought to know and so should any youth club leader or sports instructor or coach. They will want to know so that they can allow you to have extra sugar to cover extra physical exertion and so that they will know what to do if you should by any chance have a hypo.
The major problem may be to decide which of your own friends and acquaintances should be told and how to tell them. Sometimes this problem is very easily resolved and certainly any boy or girl who is a good friend should be told that you have diabetes.
Perhaps your friends will ask you where you have been when you go back to school after developing diabetes. Then it is easy to say, ‘Well I got sick and had to go to hospital where they found I had diabetes. I have had treatment and I am perfectly all right now.’ Perhaps your friends will want to know a little more about it and you can tell them that you have insulin injections each day and that you have to restrict certain foods. If your friends are interested in a sensible way then, there can be no harm in discussing it with them and giving them as much information as they want.
There is really no need for other people who are not particular friends and who are not responsible for your care to know about your diabetes. You might tell your friends that although you are not ashamed about having diabetes you see no point in having it generally discussed around. In general, it is better to adopt the attitude that diabetes is not particularly important, it is just something you have got; it does not affect you in any way.
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LIVING LONG: MEN OF AGES
Back in biblical times, longevity wasn’t such a big deal. Heck, Moses lived 120 years without missing a step, according to the Bible. Noah kept trekking 350 years after the flood-living a colossal 950 years. And we hardly need mention Methuselah’s claim to fame. At 969 years of age, he’s credited with being the oldest man in history.
How’d they do it?
With all due respect, they most likely didn’t. Theologians have mulled this question for years. By considering traditions of the time, they have developed very human explanations for what appear to be superhuman life spans.
“No one really has the answer, but there are two very plausible explanations,” says the Reverend Glenn Asquith Jr., Ph.D., professor of pastoral theology at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. “One is that the Israelites counted time differently. Some have theorized that they followed a lunar rather than a solar calendar.”
An even better explanation is that the Israelites loved their heroes much in the way we do-by making them larger than life. It’s like all of the embellishment surrounding George Washington, the Reverend Dr. Asquith says. “Most of these stories were passed down orally. So, with each telling, they likely became embellished. Since longevity was a sign of God’s blessing to the ancient Israelites, it makes sense that they would make their heroes out to be ancient.”
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HOMOCYSTEINE
Homocysteine is an amino acid that forms in our body as a result of breakdown of dietary protein. It is also an intermediate molecule in the synthesis of the amino acid cysteine from methionine, (another amino acid). The main role of methionine in the body is to provide methyl groups for metabolic processes to occur. When methionine loses a methyl group it becomes homocysteine. In order for homocysteine to be converted back into methionine, it must receive a methyl group from either folic acid (vitamin B9), or vitamin B6. Vitamin Â12 is needed as a co-factor for this reaction to occur.
Homocysteine can be measured in our bloodstream; a high reading usually indicates we do not get enough vitamins B6, Â12 or folic acid in our diet. These vitamins are found in high amounts in fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as animal protein such as red meat, eggs and fish. Betaine is another nutrient helpful in keeping homocysteine low; it is found in high amounts in eggs. Diets high in processed foods are often lacking these nutrients. Having high blood levels of homocysteine is thought to be a major risk factor for heart disease, and several other diseases.
The inner lining of our arteries is called the endothelium. In healthy arteries the endothelial cells form a continuous protective layer, regulating which substances can pass from the bloodstream into the deeper artery wall. If our endothelial cells are injured and inflamed, it makes the artery lining more permeable, allowing molecules to enter the artery wall. Homocysteine has an abrasive action; it scrapes the inner lining of our blood vessels. People with high homocysteine levels have greater damage to the lining of their arteries and more atherosclerotic plaques. High levels of homocysteine also seem to activate platelets and increase the tendency for clots to form. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that men with the highest homocysteine levels are three times more likely to have a heart attack, regardless of their cholesterol or triglyceride levels. High blood homocysteine levels have also been strongly linked with the following diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, depression, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and birth defects.
What Causes Elevated Homocysteine?
• Inadequate intake of folic acid, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12 in your diet, or malabsorption of these.
• Genetics. Some people have a genetic defect which affects their ability to absorb and use folic acid. These people need higher amounts of folic acid than a normal diet can provide, and they are best off taking a supplement.
• Stress. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are stress hormones and their metabolism requires methylation. This increases our need for vitamins B6, Â12 and folic acid. If our intake is inadequate, homocysteine will build up.
• Coffee consumption. The more coffee we drink, the higher our homocysteine tends to be.
• Oral contraceptive use. This is because oral contraceptives deplete the body of vitamin B6 and folic acid. This may be one reason why oral contraceptives can increase the risk of heart disease.
• Impaired kidney function.
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ASSESSMENT OF OSA (OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA)
Although a physical examination and detailed medical history can tell a great deal about the likelihood of OSA, confirmation of the syndrome can only be done in properly equipped sleep laboratories which are now established in many large public hospitals and some private institutions. Formal sleep studies (technically referred to as polysomnography) make it possible to observe the patient in a clinical setting under the supervision of trained personnel.
Many of the functional and physiological changes mentioned previously, such as airway obstruction, hypoxaemia and irregularities of heart rate, are monitored during the study, giving investigators enough information to decide on the best course of action for the hapless snorer. Most people are apprehensive about the need for hospital admission and comprehensive testing procedures, and it is important that they be informed and reassured of the non invasive nature of these procedures. A nervous patient is likely to have a poor night’s sleep from which little useful information can be extracted.
Oxygen saturation
Probably the single most important measure of the severity of OSA is the level to which blood oxygen falls. Blood oxygen concentration, or saturation, can be estimated quite accurately by attaching a probe to either a finger or ear lobe. A special light emitted from the probe is able to detect oxygen saturation in the blood supply of the site to which it is attached, which in turn reflects the circulating oxygen level.
Sleep states
Airway obstruction is more pronounced in deep sleep, particularly during REM, and it is therefore important to document sleep stages to confirm that the patient slept soundly, preferably with several episodes of REM. Sleep states are monitored via several electrodes which are glued to various sites on the head which detect electrical activity °f the brain, eye movements and muscle tone, all of which help to define sleep states.
Chest wall movement: Obstructive and Central
The two broad categories of sleep apnoea, central and obstructive, are defined by the type of respiratory efforts made. One way of measuring this is to look at the movement of the chest wall as it expands and contracts with each breath, in conjunction with a detector of airflow at the opening of the nasal passage. When the upper airway collapses in obstructive sleep apnoea, the chest wall continues to move but there will be no detectable airflow through the nose. Falling oxygen levels stimulate the patient to take bigger breaths resulting in ever increasing signals from the monitor of chest wall movement. Eventually, the obstruction is overcome, airflow is again detected and breathing returns to normal until the next obstructive event. With central apnoea, the chest wall shows little or no sign of movement, indicating an absence of respiratory effort. This is also accompanied by a cessation of airflow.
Heart monitoring
The final obligatory assault comes in the form of a heart monitor (or ECG), the electrodes of which are attached to the chest. The ECG records the heart rate and provides information about the electrical impulses which stimulate the heart to beat regularly.
The process of “wiring up” for a sleep study can be an intimidating experience for those with an innate fear of hospitals and high technology. A small percentage of patients never relax enough to get a good night’s sleep, but most adapt quickly to the novel circumstances and sleep soundly enough for the purpose of the investigation. In this respect, patients with advanced OSA have no problems, often falling asleep while being attached to their monitoring equipment.
The capacity to measure oxygen saturation, sleep states, chest wall movement, nasal airflow and heart rate is a minimum requirement for a unit specializing in sleep-related breathing disorders. Some units, however, are capable of measuring other parameters of sleep and breathing and have the resources to screen several patients on the same night.
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PREVENTION: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HEALTH AND ILLNESS BEHAVIOUR
The large differences in health and illness behaviour between groups and cultures suggest that it must be learned. Research shows that Jews and Italians claim that their mothers were over-protective and over-concerned about their children’s health and participation in sports and that they were constantly warned to avoid colds, fights and other threatening situations. Perhaps this kind of upbringing fosters a type of personality which is particularly concerned and even anxious about illness.
First-born and only children are more likely to want the company of another person when they face stress in adult life-probably because they are so much more psychologically dependent than later-born children. This is interesting in the light of studies which show that early-born children use more medical services than do later-borns (in whatever size of family).
We have already seen that psychological manoeuvres that are going on, usually quite unconsciously, are much more complex. Illness behaviour is part of a well-defined social pattern and we all have our views of how doctors (them) and patients (us) behave. I firmly believe, to paraphrase Shakespeare, that, ‘All the world’s a surgery and all the doctors and patients merely role-players.’ It is my view that many of those going to their doctors are quite unconsciously playing a role-the sick role. Studies suggest that only about four out of ten people going to a general practitioner have anything physically wrong with them and that about 80 per cent of all ailments are self-limiting. So what are we all playing at?
Illness behaviour (adopting the sick role) is a very effective way of being relieved from social expectations, and is an excuse for failure, a way of obtaining privileges and sympathy, and so on. For those who have few social ties, poor support and feel isolated, the medical system is a well-recognized and comfortable way of obtaining at least some of these. Thirty or more years ago perceptive doctors realized that what their patients came to them for was often quite unimportant but what it did was to establish a relationship with the doctor who would then confirm them in the sickness role. Doctors need people like this to make them feel wanted so that they, the doctors, can live out their role as health-givers. Unfortunately, many doctors do not understand this role-playing and as a result go along with their patients’ endless demands for medical care. This results in numerous return visits, many if not most of which would be unnecessary if the patient’s real problems and motivations had been perceived and adequately dealt with by the doctor at the first consultation.
Just as certain people unconsciously retreat into the sickness role because it is a release from unpleasant or unacceptable situations, others sacrifice their health to ambition, expediency or the good of others. Young parents overwork in the full knowledge of what they are doing, sometimes also going without things ‘because of the children’ and so on. The health of general practitioners is perhaps a good example. British GPs have alarmingly high rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, broken marriages, coronary artery disease and suicide, yet they presumably know all the answers. To some extent at least, they are choosing to sacrifice their own health in favour of that of their patients.
But closely allied to all this illness and sickness behaviour is society’s concept of what is normal, and how it defines ill health. Mental illness for example, has been seen, at different times over the centuries, as demonic power, witchcraft and madness. The labels, the treatments and the social attitudes are all different and yet the ‘reality’ of the illness in question may well have been the same. Alcoholism is another example. When does social drinking become an illness? Sexual deviations and hypochondriasis or malingering are especially difficult to define yet somewhere along the line is a point beyond which sufferers could be said to be ‘ill’. Certainly fashions and fads are all-important when trying to define behaviour of any kind, let alone illness behaviour. Forty years ago oral sex was a ‘perversion’-today it is a fashionable pursuit that raises few eyebrows. Today we accept the fact that 30 per cent of the population has backache-it is ‘nor-mal’-and that thousands are killed on the roads every year. In developing countries parasitic diseases, infectious diseases, civil war or poverty may be similarly accepted as ‘normal’.
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS: GET MOVING
An active lifestyle is extremely important for everyone, regardless of whether they want to lose weight. Time and again, studies have shown that those who exercise regularly tend to live longer and feel more satisfied with themselves than those who never get off the couch. Just think of the people that you know. Chances are that those who get out and move around regularly are more energetic and vital than those who don’t.
If you’re just launching an exercise program, the important thing is to start slowly. Five minutes of something as simple as walking is enough at first, especially if you’ve been inactive. Just increase the length of your walks by about 5 minutes a week, until you’re getting 45 to 60 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week.
This doesn’t mean that you need to spend all of that time on a treadmill or stairclimber. There are dozens of activities that can provide an aerobic workout. The choice is up to you. Dust off your old 10-speed bike and go for a ride. Play a couple of sets of tennis, or sign up for an aqua-aerobics class at the local YMCA. Find an activity that you enjoy. That way, you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
Also, try varying your exercise routine so that it doesn’t become tedious. If you ride a stationary bike for 45 minutes on Monday, go for a walk in the woods on Tuesday. Or take your bike outside on the patio for a change of scenery. Once in a while, throw in an activity that you’ve never done before, like rock climbing or inline skating or tai chi.
And don’t overlook the little things that you can do to enhance your health and fitness—and burn a few extra calories. Instead of driving around the supermarket parking lot three times, looking for the space closest to the door, leave your car out in the hinterlands. Clean out the garage, rake up the leaves in the yard, or hang the laundry outside rather than using the dryer.
Over time, activity and exercise will become a natural, even en¬joyable part of your life. Have faith and give it a try.
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