The immune-system laboratory tests I listed in Chapter Seven, Nutri-Prevention, give your your doctor an idea of how your immune system is functioning. Here’s an explanation of what the tests are, what they measure and what the results may mean. Let me caution you once again not to make a diagnosis on the basis of [...]

The B-complex family of vitamins has been studied extensively. It has been shown that animals and humans who are low in B vitamins have much less resistance to infections. Many of my patients who have suffered from recurrent infections have had low blood levels of some of the B complex vitamins. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Vitamin [...]

COMMON COLD: a virus that attacks the upper respiratory tract, especially the nose and throat. Signs and Symptoms: occur one to three days after exposure if the immune system fails to resist the cold. Generally an ache in the throat; runny nose; sneezing; a feeling of malaise. Adults may or may not have fever, children [...]

Sometimes the delicate systems of checks and balances in our body fail, and our fighting cells do turn against us. When this happens, we call the problem an autoimmune disease. One of these diseases, called systemic lupus erythematosis, is an often-fatal illness that afflicts mostly young women. There’s also idiopathic ulcerative colitis, which may cause, [...]

Ken was in his forties when he was first found to have high blood-pressure. He was given drugs which controlled this well and had no more health problems for the next four years. Then he experienced pains in the chest, faintness, sickness and sweating. Suspecting a mild heart attack, his doctor had him admitted to [...]

Whether you’re having a problem with your arms or your legs, it’s extremely important with any of the Body Signals in this chapter that you determine if the symptom appears equally on both sides of the body or affects only one side. When you’re examining your symptoms, you should always notice the changes in size, [...]

The period of time between premenopause and menopause usually takes a few years. One sign that you’re about to enter your premenopausal stage is that the regularity of your cycle changes. You might experience bleeding more frequently, less frequently, or in unpredictable patterns. Instead of 28 days between periods, for instance, you may have your [...]

As your body ages, your breasts flatten out slightly and start to droop as gravity continues its long-range plans. Since you are probably already aware of these changes, you might not know that other changes in the contour of the breast—such as dimpled or pitted skin—might signal a serious medical problem. Some women might just [...]

I remember one patient recalling her battle with sciatica. Margo was healthy, active, and in her mid-40s. A few years earlier, she had told me that she sometimes felt a slight tingling run down her hamstring, but she had always just shrugged it off. Three years after the tingling first started, Margo and her husband [...]

Everyone has found it difficult to swallow during a particularly emotional time, whether it’s your child taking her first steps or graduating from high school. At those moments, you’d probably find yourself unable to swallow even your favorite food. An ordinary sore throat can also make swallowing hard. However, if you’re having difficulty swallowing and [...]