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Effectively Treat Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS) and Fibromyalgia

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Updated 7/8/2020 by Marc Woodard

Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS) is a common problem that presents a major challenge to health-care providers because of its complex natural history, unclear etiology, and poor response to therapy. CPS is a poorly defined condition [Google 2020]. Whereas fibromyalgia has specific physical and hormonal markers that likely confirm the diagnosis and treatment can significantly alleviate chronic pain.

If you have no history of illness, disease or injury and have unexplainable and medically unsubstantiated pain, you may likely be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. What’s the difference between the two? Fibromyalgia is a neurosensory disorder where one feels widespread pain throughout the body, but most specifically; joint and muscle stiffness and pain with fatigue. CPS appears to manifest after ill-health, or injury has been treated and chronic pain continues on for years.

“Researchers believe repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of people with fibromyalgia to change. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters).”…

During the early years of fibromyalgia medical diagnosis, it was thought the pain originated from the brain; and the body’s oversensitivity to pain was somewhat of a mystery between the brain-body connections. Today, there appears to be medical consensus on likely cause of fibromyolgia pain. “Researchers believe repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of people with fibromyalgia to change. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters). In addition, the brain’s pain receptors seem to develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals” [MayoClinic 1998-20].

Ageless MirrorAthlete also covers pain management… through holistic healing mind, body and spirit modalities and principles leading to fit healthy lifestyle change.

It is now understood a cause of fibromyalgia stems from environmental factors, genetics, lifestyle, injury, illness and disease which influence the brain’s neurochemical balance and can become unbalanced. For some, these imbalances appear to be caused by environmental stressors, which triggers anxiety and depression. Mood changes, change brain chemicals… whereas brain chemical imbalances are known to cause bodily pain.

Unlike fibromyalgia which is becoming less of a mystery than it was 10 years ago… i.e., “Doctors don’t know exactly what causes CPS. It often starts with an injury or painful condition such as: Arthritis and other joint problems, Back pain, Headaches, Muscle strains and sprains, Repetitive stress injuries, e.g., when the same movement over and over puts strain on a body part” [Web MD 2005-20].

CPS can also be diagnosed as a like-fibromyalgia condition that causes muscle pain throughout the body [whereas I believe, pain depression can also change brain chemical balance]. Illness and disease and injury are also suspected triggers of CPS, e.g., “Nerve damage, Lyme disease, Broken bones, Cancer, Acid reflux or ulcers, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Endometriosis, when tissue in the uterus grows outside of it, Surgery” [Web MD 2005-20]. For those diagnosed with CPS, it is much harder for medical specialists to explain the long term pain story after symptoms have been adequately treated and physical therapy is complete; and brain chemical(s) are in balance.

“CPS can be hard to treat, but it’s not impossible. A mix of treatments like counseling, physical therapy, and relaxation techniques can help relieve your pain and the other symptoms that come with it … The roots of CPS are both physical and mental. Some experts think that people with the condition have a problem with the system of nerves and glands that the body uses to handle stress. That makes them feel pain differently” [Web MD 2005-20].

The American College of Rheumatology diagnosis criteria has proven that the origin of pain does not solely stem from a brain signal that produces the pain. Instead a physiological chemical shortfall is present in many cases that prevent the patient from completely alleviating pain. Think of it this way… ‘A person whose immune system is down… gets a cold and can never completely get rid of it.’ So you’re always in pain. Whereas it does not take much physical, or mental stress to aggravate and exasperate ‘a weakened immune system’ and cause an acute to chronic pain condition to transpire.

The key differences between fibromyalgia versus CPS diagnosis appears to be based on three fibromyalgia markers: Muscle tenderness, joint ache pain, which produce stiffness and fatigue, often coupled with emotional stress that can last years.

Fortunately there are chemical identifiers that can determine a neurosensory interlink between the brain and spinal cord for those diagnosed with fibromyalgia. “Research has found people with fibromyalgia have abnormally low levels of the hormones serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in their brains. Low levels of these hormones may be a key factor in the cause of fibromyalgia, as they’re important in regulating things like: mood” [Google 2020].

“When a physiatrist [pain specialist] substantiates a pain condition through lab tests that identify neurochemical brain imbalances – substantial pain alleviation treatment can be prescribed.”

CPS is often the diagnosis for chronic pain patients for lack of fibromyalgia markers/symptoms and when medical history of illness, disease and/or past injury are a likely cause of increased pain sensitivity after ill-health or injury: E.g., cancer, immune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, herniated disk, sports injury, or car accident with radiating neuropathies, etc… Substantiated by MRI, Cat scan, x-Ray, ultra-sound, blood/urine test, other lab test markers etc.

CPS patients can also have brain chemical imbalances due to chronic pain-depression. When a physiatrist [pain specialist] substantiates a diagnosis through lab tests identifying neurochemical brain imbalances – treatment can be prescribed. However, this does not mean chronic pain can be completely resolved through pain block and elevated mood pharmaceuticals, or other alternative medical treatment regardless of the pain disorder.

Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia today are taken much more serious than a decade ago. In May 2014 when I first wrote this article, approximately 35% of all Americans had experienced, or have had some form of short/long term chronic pain. And some 50 million had experienced partial to full disability due to chronic pain. Science has come a long way to identify and treat fibromyalgia. However, CPS appears now… in many ways become the unexplained chronic pain Phenomenon after completion of therapy and treatment of an illness, disease or injury… much like fibromyalgia was not long ago. To date ~50 million suffer from chronic pain. That’s 20% of our population. “About 20 million of them have “high-impact chronic pain” — pain severe enough that it frequently limits life or work activities” [Google 2020].

Patients diagnosed with CPS also experience the same internalizing and rationalizing effect of fibromyalgia pain patient. If a patient feels overly inhibited by medication, or under medicated to treat a chronic pain condition, that can lead to unhealthy lifestyle habits and behavioral changes: e.g., relational conflict, unhealthy diet, drinking, smoking, illegal drug use, prescription abuse, out-of-control behavior etc., which often lead to other increased health risk.

If you experience chronic pain, and/or pain depression and anxiety and experiencing a complex pain story and need help, be sure to seek medical treatment by your PCP (Primary Care Provider). Request a referral to pain management specialist [physiatrist]. Especially if you’ve not been diagnosed with CPS or Fibromyalgia and suffer from chronic pain. Get the correct diagnosis and pain alleviation treatment from a pain management specialist you need and deserve now.

Referrals,

The Free Dictionary, by Farlex. Fibromyalgia.

Dellwo, Adrienne. About.com. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. July 2, 2012.

Google 2020

WebMD 2020

Wikipedia. Chronic Pain.

Health Encyclopedia. Diseases and Conditions.

Singh, Manish K. Chronic Pain Syndrome. Medscape.

Woodamarc. Pain Depression Origins. Hubpages.com.

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2014-20 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

Sciatica Pain Gone through Military Experience Knowledge

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5 February 2020 by Marc Woodard

[Marc is the soldier in the featured image overlooking Camp San Louis Obispo, CA – during active duty training, 2002]

What is sciatica and what is the best way to manage, alleviate or remove it?

Through my military experience I found a treatment path which led to complete reversal of my sciatic pain problem. A pain problem that afflicted me throughout my 20 year military career. Below under “Sciatica Pain Experience During My Military Career,” I detail my experience and findings and treatment course once I connected all the dots. Possibly these pain alleviation modalities could work to relieve and/or reverse your sciatica problem without surgery.

Sciatica in short, refers to back pain caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve [webmd 2020]. Sciatica (nerve pain) can be caused through numerous factors: incorrect posture, genetic deformities, injury or overuse of back muscles, or when the vertebra discs become defective or inefficient at absorbing vertebrae structural stress, or the bone itself is compromised then impinge upon the sciatic nerve. Sciatica isn’t actually a condition, but instead a medical term used to describe symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, prickly sensation and shooting pain down the leg to foot. The cause of sciatica varies in pathology but can be effectively alleviated without surgery, or non-intrusive surgery in many cases… such as mine was the case.

Skeletal compression, or impingement often occurs at vertebra’s L4-5 (lumbar) to S1-2 (Sacrum).

Sciatica pain in the lower back and extremities are often caused by injury, over-stressed muscular skeletal system, poor postural alignment and bad genetics; whereas soft tissue and/or skeletal compression, or impingement often occurs at vertebra’s L4-5 (lumbar) to S1-2 (Sacrum). Pain and swelling events can be isolated in the lower back and/or felt anywhere down the lower extremities at various frequency, duration and intensity throughout the day once aggravated by any number of postural load imbalances.

The six most common spinal disorders that cause spinal nerve compression and sciatica lumbar radiculopathy (radiating pain) are

1) Bulging or herniated disc (The gel-like center of the disc mal-forms creating nerve compression and swelling around the sciatica nerve). 2) Spinal stenosis (nerve compression through narrowing or clogged nerve pathway – brought about by standing or walking and relieved by sitting down). 3) Spondylolisthesis (Characterized by slipping and displaced vertebrae – acquired at birth and developed through childhood, trauma or physical stress. 4) Trauma (accident injury, sports, weight lifting, etc.). 5) Piriformis syndrome (named for the low back piriformis muscle impinging and irritating the sciatic nerve. This condition is also very difficult to diagnose and treat due to lack of findings through x-ray and MRI findings). 6) Spinal tumors (although tumors are rare in the lumbar region, benign or cancerous (malignant) tumors can develop creating nerve compression. Fortunately, this is a rare.

Those who suffer from sciatica should also be aware of the term radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is a term often used to describe radiating pain from its origin. In the case of sciatic nerve and radiating pain problems, this pain origin occurs at L5-S1 vertebrae [refer to images above]. When there is a low back nerve impingement, or compression condition on the right side of the lower back for example, and it causes pain and/or numbness down one side of the buttocks and/or thigh-to-foot-to-toe… This is a radiating or radiculopathy neural pain symptom. The pain travels distant from the lower back pain origin. Many patients who experience radiculopathy symptoms absent of low back pain don’t relate the pain stemming from a low back problem. For others the low back symptoms may be a feeling of achenes and stiffness, but not produce radiating pain. At this point in time, the low back is likely stressed and requires early medical diagnosis and treatment to avoid future episodes and worsening a low back condition.

Although symptoms of radiculopathy pain in the low back may occur at the same time as a burning and/or prickly sensation down the leg and toes – patients “at first” rarely associate this pain originating from the low back. Unless pain in the low back occurs simultaneously at the same time it is felt in the lower extremities.

To get treatment for low back sciatica and radiculopathy pain, see your primary care physician and ask to be referred to a physiatrist. This is a medical doctor who specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation [also called PM&R physicians]. A Physiatrist is a pain specialist doctor who diagnoses and treats both acute and chronic pain in a wide variety of nonsurgical treatments for the Neuromusculoskeletal system” (google 2020); and can refer surgical intervention if determined the best treatment course. The sciatic problem can be diagnosed through use of x-rays, CAT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography – 3 dimensional, multiple cross-sectional picture technology) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Magnetism produces images of body structure).

Sciatica Pain Experience During My Military Career

When I was younger, I associated the numbness in my right calf and foot with military issued boots at the beginning of my 20 year military service. Foot discomfort and back pain seemed to go along with the territory. There was much conversation between soldiers regarding military issued boots also suspected of causing knee, hip and lower back pain. Foot pain was a given in the military. Everyone I knew during basic and advanced soldier training had foot problems as a result of wearing those boots.

Military issued boots in the 80’s and 90’s had no posture corrective insoles. And the exterior leather required a lot of wear and tear treatment/ conditioning to make it comfortable to wear around the foot all day long. Although a pre-wear and tear treatment process helped condition to break in the boot… imbalanced pressures on the soul and side of foot and toes often caused painful hot spots, even after the boots were broke in.

Like many other soldiers began limping acutely during basic training… I also continued wearing those basic boots for the first 5 years of service limping at various times. I had no ideal through this time they were the cause of my low back pain. The postural imbalances were further aggravated by intense occupational work load [field training] on my body, which further compromised the lower back alignment and weakened the area – causing swelling around the sciatic nerve. In time, pain was felt from the lower back, buttocks, leg and foot [radiculopathy].

It only took 5 years of improper foot wear to permanently put me in a hurt locker. Ultimately my back problems became chronic for 3 years during my last years of service.

Around my 6th year of service I purchased boots approved by the military which alleviated the radiculopathy but not my back problems. Regardless I did complete 20 years of combined military service. However the damage was done and that was not the end of my physical pain challenge. My pain challenge is fully covered within Ageless MirrorAthlete “Overweight and Unfit No More” book. The pain challenge is a continuing story at the end of each chapter that connects well with “how to live life to the fullest” regardless of mental, physical or spiritual pain challenges. Click on the link below to read the free preview at Amazon.com and please provide a rating review after you’ve read the book. Thank you for your support.

I’ve written articles on acupuncture and how it helped alleviate my sciatic pain. And ultimately led to complete remission of sciatica pain. Maybe it will work for you like it did for me. Just search under acupuncture in MirrorAthlete archives and you’ll find other articles.

I highly recommend if you are serving in the military or an avid hiker

Invest in a pair of Danner, or Bates boots of good thermal water resistant and good insole quality. Then throw those basic military issued, or over worn boots in the trash.

Basic Issued Military Boots were the the cause of my postural weight bearing load misalignment and cause of acute foot and back and neck pain for years. And thereafter chronic pain problems occurred in the lower back, worsened and radiated downward. I had no ideal in my twenties how important proper foot ware and customized and corrective insoles were to Neuromusculoskeletal health of the feet and the rest of my bodily alignment.

One would think with the science behind many foot related back and neck pain problems – the feet would be of great pain prevention interest and at a minimum the military would invest in proper weight bearing boots with foot analysis that custom fit proper insoles to be place within the boot. This foot pain prevention process would have a return on tax paid investment – i.e., reduced sick call incidents, higher soldier productivity and fewer disability claims that retire trained soldiers early on…, etc. Until any boot or “almost any” shoe is broken in, or has bad insoles, or none at all… this creates hot spots and/or blisters everyone can relate too. And when the feet don’t get relief, limping occurs. If something doesn’t change, pain can be felt in other weight bearing joints. I believe military issued boots should be of the highest postural and corrective weight load bearing quality, Solders work their bodies hard in the field and put their lives on the line and deserve the best gear money can buy and this includes foot wear. They also deserve to end their service commitment without pain and injury caused by inferior foot wear that also causes harm to other parts of the body.

If your feet have little to no arch, it would be wise to invest in good foot insole orthodics to provide a supportive arch and alleviate foot pain and calf cramps. Improper foot ware “when not corrected” will cause further breakdown of the foots mechanical-muscular structural integrity and then work that aggravation upward – putting pressure on other weight bearing joints. The bodies posture works to re-align itself around an articulating joint pain center. Better known as guarding. This is why you see people limping. E.g., the compromised [pain problem] side is guarded by the side not experiencing pain. Therefore it takes on an additional load burden moving the body forward, putting additional stress on the non-compromised side.

I have corrective insole in every shoe I wear. Simply rip out the manufacturers flat insole and replace it with a corrective insole – purchase them in pharmacies with free foot analysis equipment. Stand on the foot analysis machine. It analysis foot pressure points and refers an insole for less than 1/2 price of podiatrist prescribed orthodic.

When limping continues too long without correction the body adapts to compensate and create a new gait norm to alleviate pain. Realignment during guarding puts more stress on other weight bearing joints and causes an imbalanced mechanical disadvantage during the gait. When this is the case the weight bearing joints are susceptible to aggravation and injury because the anatomical posture is imbalanced and eventually becomes compromised.

Dr. Bernard Filner, MD, says, a significant number of people, including many of his patients, contemplate surgery because they hurt so badly – but most of the time, by using a Posture Control Insole can alleviate the pain and avoid surgery. … Your feet play an integral role in maintaining a pain free posture, including proper curvature of the spine. Modest changes in your posture provide the potential for complete relief of low-back pain. If you are in pain, even if you have tried custom orthotics without success, please try Posture Control Insoles before you try surgery, said Dr. Filner.

As previously mentioned – most who suffer acute to chronic sciatic symptoms experience numbness, tingly to prickly sensation to excruciating sharp – jolting pain from the buttocks down the leg and foot. … I experienced radiating pain at times as an achy to chronic electrical pain sensation which was horrible and nearly knocked my off my feet at times when it struck.

For me acute sciatica feels like short bouts of being zapped by electricity and a burning , or tingling/prickly sensation when it occurred. One way to know when the worse case pain scenario will occur… you’ll experience a numbness and swelling in your lower back and loss of sensation in parts of your leg/calf/big toe with prickly sensations. At least for me that’s how my acute converted to chronic pain episodes. When a chronic episode occurred, the pain and swelling afterwords was so severe, I stayed off my feet for a couple of days. Only anti-inflammatory, ice, physical therapy and bed rest helped get back on my feet.

I’ve known many people – including myself go years suffering with low back sciatic pain and use prescription pain killers, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory to treat the symptoms with rest. Other outpatient treatments include steroid injections, chiropractic and physical therapy sessions and acupuncture, etc., that work temporarily, or permanently but may/may not fix the underlying weight bearing integrity problems without surgery. Patients who ignore infrequent episodes of back pain, or sciatic symptoms… without proper diagnosis can unknowingly create an irreversible pain condition that may have been preventable and without need of surgical intervention.

Foot insoles may be the cure to remove a sciatic Pain Problem

I chose not to go through surgery. After years of working with specialists, I learned what worked for me. It was a combination of acupuncture and corrective insoles that abated my sciatic pain. I only wish I could have had someone tell me the exact treatment course that would work for me after experiencing 20 years of sciatic and radiating pain. Will this treatment course work for you? That’s hard to say. Everyone is so different. But until you make the time to get a physiatrist referral from your primary care physician you’ll likely continue the fast track pain alleviation plan like I did… pain pills, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants… “which won’t fix you, and your pain episodes and weight bearing bodily damage will likely worsen.”

Correcting posture at the feet first – in “most cases” when foot, knee and back problems first occur, including sciatic pain … corrective insoles are often the pain relief solution! However with this being said, there is no guarantee as you age a sciatic problem with radiating symptoms “will not” become worse. We are talking about pain alleviation through proper anatomical foot insole alignment that will not worsen a back-pain condition. But its good to know nearly all back problems can be corrected and/or alleviated without surgery when proper postural foot alignment “at the sole” is made in a timely manner.

Most back pain can be resolved without surgery if both doctors and patients are willing to try other treatments that basically help the back to heal itself (Dr. Richard Deyo, University of Washington, and Consumer Health Interactive Magazine).

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, Captain ARNG Retired. 2009-2020 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

How to Identify Home Products that Cause Illness and Disease

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Updated: 24 Aug 2018

I’ve known for years the chemicals in our consumer marketplace and environment has a direct correlation with disease and rising mortality rates. Through epidemiological, disease prevention and mortality rate studies and World Health Organization reports, etc., a direct connection with consumer products is found to have an effect on health and longevity. And that connection is the Westernized cultures who produce the pathological causing pollutant and chemical contaminants that attack cellular integrity by their oxidant agents.

Healthy longevity is important especially if we hope to enjoy retirement with our loved ones.
Healthy longevity is important especially if we hope to enjoy retirement with our loved ones.

Through the advancements of modern medicine a decline in mortality rates occurred – benefiting an increase in average lifespan during the early-mid-20th century. However the data today shows a reverse in trend. The marketplace in the later 20th and early 21st century changed by introducing thousands of toxic chemical contaminants into the food chain, water and air we breathe.

The global data shows a direct correlation to man’s manipulation of our food chain for sake of profit. As a result cancer is on the rise and so is every other major medical problem including diabetes, arthritis, heart, circulatory and autoimmune disease to name a few. At this rate our children and their children will live shorter lifespans than previous generations and suffer unnecessary pain and costs that need not be.

Many of the statistical bullet points below were relative in 2007 when this article was first published. And just as relative and concerning today… mortality rates and disease is not decreasing. And occurring in an advanced culture where modern medicine should be reducing these things – It’s not.

Previous and Updated Consumer Statistical Facts,

It is a fact, cancer mortality rates throughout the globe have increased over the last decade. 7.6 million People died of cancer in the world during 2007. 13% of all deaths are due to cancer (American Cancer Society).

Since then, cancer cases have risen globally. Unfortunately Cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012 [World Health Organization, 2015] and (Woodard, 2015).

From 1965 to 1982 over 4 million distinct chemical compounds were formulated by corporations. And at least 250,000 new formulations created annually since then.

Approximately 6,000 chemicals are added to our foods (Woodard 2015). And the FDA has no knowledge of 1000 of them or effect on cellular health. And fewer than half the other 4000 chemicals have not been tested by the FDA (Marler 2013).

700 chemicals have been found in drinking water.

Over 500 chemicals can be found under kitchen sinks or laundry rooms in American homes.

Over 800 neurotoxin chemical compounds are used in cosmetic-perfume industries.

How many store bought products are chemically influenced by man?
How many store bought products are chemically influenced by man?

Seventy percent of our daily calories now consist of processed foods high in trans-fat, sugar, salt, other strange chemical preservative and processing additives, etc., that lack organic nutrients.

But if we care about people dying before their lives are really over or having to endure preventable suffering, and our neighbors racking up huge medical costs that we all share, then that space on our plates for processed food shouldn’t be anywhere near 70 percent. Perhaps closer to 20 or 30 percent. It’s only then that we can call our food supply truly safe (Marler 2013).

310,000 Americans go to early graves due to processed food diets that cause heart and diabetes disease, etc., including cancer.

For example, food preservative BHA is a known carcinogen found in many processed foods we consume daily: McDonald’s sausages, an ingredient found in Gatorade, Tang, DiGiorno Pepperoni Pizza, breakfast steak, bread making, etc., (Marler 2013).

3000 annual deaths and 130,000 food borne illness are reported by hospitals.

Bottled water, how pure is it? Studies show not much better than local drinking water.

There’s a lot of man-made toxic chemicals in the air we breathe, water we drink from plastic containers and foods we eat.

Many health conscientious consumers don’t consider the cosmetic and hygiene products they use every day.

To provide awareness to common toxic home care products with known carcinogens, to identify them in your house you can perform a home toxic product identification challenge. Then you decide if you want to keep the products or replace them with an organic home cleaning, laundry and hygienic product line. When you remove known toxic chemicals from your home, less stress is put on the autoimmune system which mitigates and relieves ill-health conditions.

Look no further than your kitchen cleaning, or bathroom hygiene cabinets. Simply select a shampoo, toothpaste or common home cleaning product and look for 1 or all 3 toxic ingredients listed below. The 3 chemical and toxic ingredients I chose out of hundreds of unsafe chemicals consumers unknowingly consume daily: Propylene Glycol, SLS (sodium laurylsulfate) and DEA (Diethanolamine).

Replace toxic hygienic product with green products to reduce health risk.

Below I’ve provided a short descriptor of each disease causing chemical ingredient found within common home use consumer products. Keep in mind, I’ve only listed 3 absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested. And barely scratched the surface or impressed upon the fact, there’s thousands of chemicals and toxins we take in daily found in our air, water and food.

Propylene Glycol – What’s Anti-Freeze doing in our shampoos, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, toothpastes and pet food, etc.? Yes the main ingredient is Anti-freeze, Propylene Glycol. Topical application to injured skin or intravenous administration has sometimes been associated with lactic acidosis, Comas, Seizures & Renal Failure. Linked to: Central Nervous System Effects, Metabolic Effects & Poisoning (Walker 2015).

SLS (sodium laurylsulfate) – What are concrete floor cleaner, engine degreaser and car wash detergents doing in hundreds of other personal home care and cleaning products, such as bath & body products, etc.? The main ingredient is SLS. SLS (sodium laurylsulfate) acts as a detergent. Used in the laboratory as a membrane destabilizer & solubilizer of proteins and lipids, causing potential harm to skin and eyes. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are denatured (Walker, 2015).

DEA (Diethanolamine) – What is a known cause, or contributor to cancer, or of being potentially dangerous or hazardous to our health doing in shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, laundry and dish washing detergents?

The main ingredient within many bath and body and cosmetic products is DEA, a known cancer causing ingredient. The California Center for Environmental Health (CEH) performed independent testing of 98 personal care products and found “products testing high in DEA and Cocamide DEA used to thicken hair, was listed a known carcinogen last year. Many personal care products with DEA in them is manufactured and sold by many major retailer brands consumers know and trust. Just to name a few Colgate, Palmolive, Colomer and Paul Mitchell.

Major retailers known to sell, or have sold products with toxic chemical ingredients include: “Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Pharmaca and Kohls and a store brand children’s bubble bath from Kmart and a children’s shampoo/conditioner from Babies R Us were also found with cocamide DEA. Falsely labeled organic products from Organic by Africa’s Best also tested for high levels of the cancer-causing chemical (CEH previously won a legal settlement with this company requiring it to end its use of phony organic labels) (Center for Environmental Health 2013).

For a list of brands and retailers that sell DEA personal care products, click on CEH link below.

Still need more proof. Check the back of your household cleaning, or hygiene product bottles. Pick an ingredient name you can’t pronounce or don’t understand its meaning. Type this name into an Internet search engine. You’ll see it is a man-made chemical product and it is not organic. I’m willing to bet you have at least 1 of 3 listed chemical ingredients in one or more of your favorite personal use and home cleaning products. Most likely exposed daily to all 3 and other toxic chemicals too numerous list.

If you are using products with ingredients you can’t pronounce, or understand their origins, these almost always are man-made chemical ingredients.

Take advantage of seasonal farmers markets.

The best advice I can give you is to begin replacing all home cleaning and personal care products with clean green home and hygiene products and eat as fresh organic foods as possible. Also cut down on processed and convenience food consumption.

The chemicals we use to clean our homes and foods we consume are at war with our bodies. And I’ve not even brought up the air we breathe and water we drink. To get more insight on these consumer topics of interest please click on the following MirrorAthlete article links: How Sick Buildings Effect Lives and Is Fluoride in Our City Water Needed or Safe.

It is more important than ever to remove the toxic household products and heavily processed foods from our plates. Consume as many fresh fruits and vegetables daily as possible. As a health insurance policy add a daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement to provide an anti-oxidant boost to immune system. This will help shield cellular health by protecting it from free radical damage caused by product and environmental oxidant damage and environmental stress taken in daily.

Without preventative health measures in our Westernized culture the aging process will advance with insidious disease and shorten lifespans.

Still need more proof, simply visit our Word Press publication site at MirrorAthlete Fitness Secrets, scroll down on our home screen page, find Topic Category and select Cancer or Product Toxins or Consumer Safety. Or type in Topic of Interest in the site articles search box next to Topic Category.

Helpful Reference Links,

Center for Environmental Health (CEH). Study Finds Cancer-Causing Chemical in Nearly 100 Shampoos and Soaps. EcoWatch. 29 August 2013. http://ecowatch.com/2013/08/29/cancer-causing-chemical-in-shampoos/

Marler, Alan. Our Unsafe Food Supply Is Killing Us. The Daily Beast. 1 March 2013. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/01/our-unsafe-food-supply-is-killing-us.html

Walker, Dani. Toxins in Personal Care Products. Powered by WordPress. 2015. http://daniwalker.com/toxins-in-personal-care-products/

Woodard, Marc. Doomed to Get Cancer. MirrorAthlete Fitness Secrets. 22 Feb 2015. http://www.mirrorathlete.org/?p=24

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2015 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.