If you have an unsolved health problem, get our Personalized Natural Health Plan. Why? Read on to learn about … Kenney Barter from Anchorage, Alaska, asks: My parents have severe difficulties to wake me up in the morning. They blame my prolonged TV watching in the evening for my sleepiness at daybreak. On the other hand, I heard that my morning sleepiness may be a symptom of meningitis. Confusing! What’s that all about, Doc? Dr. Fritz: The first step to understand having a potential health problem is a warning sign (symptom) of your body demonstrating you are not in best shape. If you convey this warning sign (or even more of those) to your healthcare provider, he/she may draw a conclusion based on this usually localized symptom/s, and build a diagnosis on it. While this sounds reasonable at first glance, unfortunately, it is not. Why? THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND Just take, as an example, the aforementioned meningitis which refers to the inflammation of membranes protecting our brain and spinal cord. Right, morning sleepiness is a symptom of meningitis. However, it is by far not the only symptom of meningitis. According to research at, inter alia, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, NY, meningitis comes with more than 20 potential symptoms. Inter alia, * Headache
Not only this. All these symptoms – single or multiple - may well also refer to different other health conditions in fact, with the risk that one or another specific diagnosis may potentially lead in the wrong direction. With severe consequences, since respective symptoms can be the gateway to new and different ailments. A vicious cycle. Let us focus on aforementioned symptom Headache as an example, which may arise not only from meningitis but also from, inter alia, * Stress/emotional distress
Caused * Primary by, e.g., overactivity of certain structure in the head, or * Secondary by, e.g., brain tumor, blood clots, bleeding in or around the brain, dehydration, concussion, glaucoma, flu, overuse of medication, panic attack, stroke or – but not necessarily – as a symptom of meningitis…. Potentially accompanied by other symptoms such as, e.g., confusion, sensory changes, stiffness of neck, etc., etc. In this light we have to see the fact that, according to the U.S. governmental Institutes of Health, 500,000 citizens die each year of so called latrogenic, i.e. ‘doctor made’ diseases because of wrong diagnosis and/or treatment. SECOND OPINION To leave this vicious cycle, you may get at least a Second Opinion (diagnosis) to verify your primary diagnosis about the underlying cause of your symptoms. Especially, as the treatment of symptoms with synthetic drugs creates side effects leading to new ailments and diseases. Perpetuating and even aggravating the vicious cycle. |
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