The second most common deficiency often missed in those that have a chronic illness is magnesium deficiency.  For some reason most chronic disease processes can cause magnesium to leak out of cells to be eliminated from the body by the kidneys.  

Magnesium is critical to many cellular functions, including energy production, protein formation, and cellular replication. Magnesium participates in more than three hundred enzymatic reactions in the body, particularly those processes that produce energy (i.e., the production of ATP). When magnesium levels are low, energy levels are low. Low magnesium levels are a common finding in patients with fibromyalgia.

Major Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

• Fatigue
• Muscle cramps, spasm, pain
• Muscle weakness
• Poor response to alternative treatments (physical therapy)
• Depression
• Irregular heartbeats
• Fibro fog
• Insomnia

It is possible that millions of people suffer daily from magnesium deficiency without even being aware of it, and many of these may be affected by fibromyalgia. What makes it difficult to detect is that most magnesium is stored within cells and bones only 1% of the magnesium in your body is found in your bloodstream, so a common blood test most likely would not detect a deficiency. And studies have found that patients with fibromyalgia actually have lower magnesium levels in their bloodstream. In addition, there are so many conditions with symptoms similar to, and including some of those presented with this disorder, so often the initial diagnosis and treatment plan may not consider a magnesium deficiency.

Since low magnesium levels are usually missed by  the occasional blood test, a more accurate reading would be the Magnesium Challenge Test.  This test measure magnesium levels in the urine before and after the administration of magnesium supplementation but can be cumbersome.  Another easier test is the Intracellar Measurement.  This is not a blood test, but a scraping of cells from under the tongue.  The cells are placed on a slide and sent to a lab where the levels of intracelluar magnesium can be ascertained.  

Magnesium supplementation has produced very good results in treating fibromyalgia. Take magnesium citrate at a level of 150-250 mg three times per day.

 Cortisol is normally produced by the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys. It belongs to a class of hormones called glucocorticoids, which affect almost every organ and tissue in the body. Scientists think that cortisol has possibly hundreds of effects in the body. Cortisol's most important job is to help the body respond to stress. Among its other vital tasks, cortisol:

• helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function;
• helps slow the immune systems inflammatory response;
• helps balance the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar for energy; and
• helps regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency usually begin gradually. Chronic, worsening fatigue and muscle weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss are characteristic of the disease. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur in about 50 percent of cases. Blood pressure is low and falls further when standing, causing dizziness or fainting.  Furthermore, low cortisol levels will cause allergies, unexplained hair loss, and abnormal hair growth.  

In treatment an individual's cortisol levels can be measured by the cortrosyn stimulation test.  If the adrenal gland cannot respond appropriately to this natural stimulation that mimics the adrenal gland, then cortisol deficiency is usually the culprit.  There are medicinal therapies available such as Cortef to rebuild adrenal glands.

There are also natural food alternatives that can help build up adrenal function. Many of the natural food sources are found throughout the archives of this blog.  When we go for long periods without food, our adrenal glands work hard to release more cortisol and adrenaline, to try to maintain the body’s normal functioning. When our blood sugar dips for extended periods, this creates a stress reaction, taxing the adrenals. It’s important to know that our body always needs energy, even when we are sleeping. Cortisol works to moderate blood sugar in between meals and at night, so regulating our cortisol levels by eating timely, healthy meals and snacks is key.

Check out Dr. Lam's Adrenal Diet.

It's October and time for a bit of scare in your favorite novel.  Here's a great one that will keep you looking forward to that down time each day.  

​In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverend Jacobs—including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister, Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town. - Amazon

 A second hormonal function of the adrenal gland is to assist in regulating blood pressure.  The adrenals make a hormone called mineralocorticoids that help raise blood pressure when it is low.  You've heard of high blood pressure, but it is not well known that low blood pressure is cause for concern, too.

Think of it, if the water pressure in your house is too low, you can't take a shower.  The water will simply trickle out because there is not enough pressure behind it to spout out.  Low blood pressure is the same.  You are not pumping enough blood through your system to provide adequate circulation.  This leads to fatigue and weakness.  

A good tip that will illicit the presence of low blood pressure is that of dizziness or lightheartedness when standing up or changing position abruptly.  This symptom can be formally diagnosed with atilt-table testing procedure.  Most of the time, though,  your doctor can attest to this by continued readings of low blood pressure when entering his office.

This deficiency can be counter changed by prescription drugs that can raise blood pressure.  Some of these medications include Florinef and midodrine.  Usually these prescriptions will raise blood pressure only 10 points or so.   Most of the time medications are only needed for a few months.  It simply helps the body to remember how to make the substance it needs properly.  Please see your physician for further commentary on this.  

This one will keep you on the edge of your seat. You'll find a masterfully piece of film with lots of slips and turns.  

In Chicago, the ambitious prosecutor Mitch Brockden is happily married with Rachel Brockden and they have a baby daughter. One night, Mitch goes to a bar to celebrate with his friend Stuart Wilson and other colleagues and when he is trying to take a cab, he sees two men snooping around his brand new SUV. He decides to drive home and accidentally hits a man on the street. He calls 911 in a phone booth and drives home, leaving the man on the street. On the next morning, Mitch learns on the news that a man called Clinton Davis was found with the body of the man in his van and claimed that he was helping the stranger in a hit-and-run. However the Police Detective Blake Kanon believes that Clinton is a wanted serial-killer. Mitch believes that the man is innocent and helps him in his trial and Clinton is declared not-guilty. But soon Mitch discovers how dangerous Clinton is and now his family is jeopardized. - IMDb

What a beautifully put together portrait of one woman's life long suffering.  You're going to enjoy this one.

The title character of Stephen Frears' Philomena is played by Judi Dench. She is an elderly Irish woman who, as a teenager, gave birth while she was working at a convent. The Catholic Church had the child adopted, and now, decades later, Philomena is introduced to Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), onetime government spokesperson who is now working as a freelance journalist. Martin agrees to help Philomena look for her son, and the trail takes them to the United States, and brings them face-to-face with some long-buried secrets. All the while, the type-A Martin and the ceaselessly charming Philomena learn to trust each other. Philomena screened at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

According to Dr. Neil Nathan, the single most important and overlooked area to diagnose is the functioning of the adrenal glands.  He feels in virtually all chronic medical conditions, the ability of the adrenal glands to respond to appropriately to stress diminishes progressively as the stress of having the condition continues.  

The adrenal glands are two glands that sit on top of your kidneys that are made up of two distinct parts.

• The adrenal cortex—the outer part of the gland—produces hormones that are vital to life, such as cortisol (which helps regulate metabolism and helps your body respond to stress) and aldosterone (which helps control blood pressure).
• The adrenal medulla—the inner part of the gland—produces nonessential (that is, you don’t need them to live) hormones, such as adrenaline (which helps your body react to stress).

Adrenal glands help the body to maintain proper functioning during life-threatening, stressful situations. They are responsible for managing hormones and activating blood sugar. Adrenal gland secretions give the body energy, endurance, immune system strength and the ability to manage stress. Adrenal fatigue occurs when the body's ability to compensate is diminished or disabled. Once the adrenal gland is depleted of stress-compensating chemicals, adrenal fatigue symptoms occur.

The largest amount of hormone produced by the adrenals is DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone.  It is the precursor for a host of other hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.  In order for us to remain in balance as we grapple with stress, we need to produce a wide array of hormones that allow us to deal with stress appropriately.  If we can't, we lose the ability to cope- both physically and psychologically. Levels of DHEA peak between the ages of 20 and 30 years old and decline with age. . Having appropriate DHEA levels offers several health benefits, ranging from increasing energy to possibly helping with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Symptoms of DHEA Deficiency

• fatigue
• exhaustion
• brain fog
• depression
• decreased libido
• recurrent infections
• generalized sense of "I don't feel well"

Testing for DHEA is simple, it's the evaluation that comes into question.  The normal values for DHEA from the laboratory are 130-980 (ng/dL) for women and 180-1,250 (ng/dL) for men.  According to Neil Nathan, M.D., these numbers represent a huge range.  He feels many physicians are unaware that unlike other tests, the reason for this large spread is that these values are age-based.  Hence, 130 is normal for a 90 year old woman, while 950 would be normal for a teenage girl.  As for men, 180 is normal for a 90 year old male and 1,250 would be normal for a teenager.  So on a closer look, if a test shows that a "normal" age man's reading is 200 then his DHEA could be low actually.  If you take the mid way between the proposed readings of 180-1,250 then HIS normal range should really read between 600-700.  This is quite a difference from his actual reading of 200.

He further states that treating DHEA deficiency is a simple process.  There are several treatments and supplementation available.  DHEA can be purchased from any natural food store and is usually taken once a day in the morning.  It is also available in cream form.  Dr. Nathan discourages anyone from treating themselves and suggests you find a doctor who is familiar with the knowledge of reading such test results. DHEA is a hormone and must be taken with precaution.  Furthermore, it must not be taken by anyone who has been diagnosed with breast, ovarian, or prostrate cancer.  

Jot this one down to bring to your next physician visit.