Thursday, August 20, 2009

Arrhythmias caused by electrosmog? / Electro magnetic radiation causing an increase in cytokine activity?

From: Art Kab 
The following appeared on the front page of the Bangkok Post on Friday, July 24th, 2009:
Healing Arrhythmias
Many people believe that irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia, is caused by stress. In fact, arrhythmia is actually the result of a heart disorder related to the electrical impulses that naturally control our heart rate. These disorders can cause the heart to beat either too quickly, too slowly, or erratically, and if gone untreated can lead to stroke or even death.
I think the key words here are "Electrical impulses." It doesn't take much to put two and two together -- or does it?
The Mayo Clinic lists one of the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as "Irregular Heartbeat."
Furthermore, Arrhythmia is often sited as a symptom of Electrosensitivity:
"Symptoms may include skin disorders (pins and needles, numbness, burning), fatigue, muscle cramps, cardiac arrhythmia, and gastro-intestinal problems."
"Chest pains, heart arrhythmia."
Like I said, it doesn't take much to put two and two together -- it is just surprising that most people don't seem to be able to do this for whatever reason.
*Heart attack rates in North Karelia and Kuopio, Finland, became the highest (and most swiftly increasing) in the world* within a few years after the Soviets installed a gigantic over-the-horizon radar complex that bounced microwaves off the surface of Lake Ladoga and through these parts of southeastern Finland._ p. 300
*There are indications that some types of electropollution directly decrease the efficiency of the heart*. Several research groups in Poland, the Soviet Union, Italy, and the United States have studied pulse, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and reserve capacity (the heart's ability to handle exertion) in animals. Microwaves and 50-Hertz electric fields both produced similar changes that persisted throughout long-term exposure. These included *bradycardia* (decreased pulse), *a huge reduction (40 to 50 percent) in the strength of electrical impulses governing contraction of the heart muscle*, a decline in reserve capacity, and a short-term rise followed by a long-term fall in blood pressure. In general, these decrements occurred in both "domestic" (0.5 volts per centimetre and "industrial" (50 volts per centimetre or more) electric fields and at microwave power densities of 150 microwatts, well within the amount received by many people from radar beams and microwave ovens._ p. 291
In 1971, Zinaida V. Gordan and Maria N. Sadchikova of the USSR Institute of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases described a comprehensive succession of symptoms, which they identified as Microwave Sickness. The initial symptoms are low blood pressure and slow pulse. The second stage includes headaches, dizziness, eye pain, sleeplessness, irritability, anxiety, stomach pain, nervous tension, inability to concentrate, hair loss, which are eventually followed by adrenal exhaustion and* ischemic heart disease*._pp. 314-315
*The Body Electric, Dr. Robert O. Becker, 1985*
Art
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People who get what is called Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFIDS/ME) also suffer from inflammation caused by an increase in cytokines.
They also very often suffer from heart disease, have sleep disturbances, depression, and behavioral disturbances including fatigue and sleep problems. Now, could it be that all this radio frequency (RF) (e.g. microwaves) radiation that we are being exposed to might also be very well causing an increase in cytokine activity?
Just another piece of the puzzle!
Art  
Public release date: 18-Aug-2009 Contact: Jeremy Moore
jeremy.moore@aacr.org
267-646-0557
American Association for Cancer Research

Fatigue related to radiotherapy may be caused by inflammation

PHILADELPHIA- Patients who experience fatigue during radiotherapy for breast or prostate cancer may be reacting to activation of the proinflammatory cytokine network, a known inflammatory pathway, according to a report in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Julie Bower, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues, conducted an observational study among 28 patients with breast cancer and 20 patients with prostate cancer, all early stage. Patients completed questionnaires and provided blood samples so researchers could determine the level of proinflammatory markers.
As expected, there was a strong link between radiotherapy treatment and fatigue. In a new finding, the researchers noted that increases in serum markers of cytokine activity, specifically IL-1 receptor antagonist and C-reactive protein, were also linked with fatigue.
"This study suggests that exposure to radiation is releasing these inflammatory cytokines and that may be contributing to fatigue," said Bower.
Scientists have been studying the role of inflammation in several diseases and have recently made breakthroughs about the link between inflammation and diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer. There is growing evidence that inflammation may also contribute to depression and other behavioral disturbances, including fatigue and sleep problems.
Stephen Hahn, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, said this study is an important step forward in understanding the biological basis for fatigue.
"Fatigue related to radiotherapy is very common but we do not have any good idea about why it occurs. This suggests one possible mechanism and suggests an avenue for treatment," said Hahn, who is also an editorial board member of Clinical Cancer Research.
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The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes more than 28,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.