Surviving AIDS

This is another essay that I had to write for school, and thought that I would share it here.

Uncontrolled Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is fatal, however I learned that it can be controlled. This is relatively difficult to do, and there is still much research on the topic. Myself, being more familiar with the symptoms and effect of AIDS as a result of HIV on the human body, I am intrigued to learn about how the virus operates inside the human body, initially, and long term.

The way that it was described, how the virus attaches to cells at their receptors, first to the CD4 receptor, and second to the CCR5, allowing the virus to invade the cell, deposit RNA and reproduce, brings to mind the ways of a parasitic illness. Targeting the cells in the body that are usually meant to protect, it turns the cells into its ally and it then begins to attack the body that it lives within, hence the name Immune Deficiency.

Having a natural bent toward natural and preventive health care, I am far more intrigued by how the body's natural defense has the capability of fighting off the invasion of the virus. While the virus may still be present within the body, if the CD4 Helper T Cells can get a foothold on the situation, and engage the CD8 Killer Cells, the body can prevent the invading virus from multiplying and taking over. Only 5% of the HIV population seems to have the natural ability to defend against the invasion, but through studying this phenomenon, scientists and physicians have made discoveries about early detection and aggressive early treatments.

In some cases there is a gene missing in the patient’s chromosomes. This missing gene is responsible for making the receptors on the leukocytes. If just one of those receptors is missing, the virus cannot attach, and therefore cannot penetrate the cell and plant it’s RNA. This gives the Helper T Cells the necessary time to generate the CD8 Killer cells to action.

In other cases, both receptors are intact, but for reasons not yet clearly identified, the Helper Cells here able to activate the killer cells, and hold the full invasion at bay.

While the body does not seem to be able to completely rid itself of the presence of the virus, the body certainly can keep it’s numbers so low that it is barely detectable, and render it primarily harmless in the body. This does not however, mean that this person is no longer contagious! In fact, it is well known that the HIV virus can be carried and transmitted by those that show no symptoms at all, so being in a state of what one might call remission, does not make one safe from transmitting the disease to another person. I also imagine that also, if ones immune system were to be compromised in some other manner, then the already present virus might have an opportunity to take hold.

For more information on this, please click the title to be taken to the PBS NOVA web page.

In all things, be healthy, and wise about your safety, and health care!
LIVE WELL!
Love
Suzi

Sensless and Heinous Crime

Sunday November 29, 2009 ...

A gunman walked into a coffee shop near Macord Air Force Base near Tacoma Washington.
He stood at the counter quietly for a moment, and when the barista asked him what he would like, he silently turned around, pulled a gun from under his coat, and executed 2 of the 4 police officers sitting in the cafe.
One officer stood and reached for his gun, but was killed before he could draw.
It is not clear at this time if the fourth officer was wounded at the time, but he fought with the murderer all the way to the door, where he died from his wounds.

This is a disgusting and heinous crime against 4 human beings. Against the 9 children who lost their parent. Against the 4 spouses that lost their love. Against the 8 parents that lost their child! Against a community that lost 4 of it's finest. Against the region who has lost yet another sense of security. Against the state, against the nation. AGAINST HUMANITY!

You can click on the article title and it will take you to the Seattle times Article on this.
I will have more to say on this topic ... stay tuned

Love Suzi

Managing Candida Yeast Imbalance

I am not a doctor, and you really must research and decide for yourself, and consult your health care provider.  I am sharing my experience, and research, so that you can be educated and empowered as you and your physician made decisions about your health care.  A great number of the conditions I mention later in this article are misdiagnosed in the mainstream health care facility, and certainly mistreated; often with over the counter pharmaceuticals that can have side effects that are just as unpleasant to deal with as the symptoms, and really only address and treat the symptom, and not the underlying condition.

This article started as an email to a friend, and as I was writing to her, I realized how valuable this information is, and wanted to share it with you!  Like everything that I share with you, it grows out of my own personal experience, in this case, with an overgrowth of yeast in my body.

A good and naturally occurring element in our bodies, yeast is part of what helps keep our bodies in balance, or homeostasis.  I did not know, until about 8-10 years ago, what a huge impact Candida can have! Below I share a list of some of the conditions that can be caused by yeast imbalance, and I can tell you that I was amazed as I was learning about all of this.  So many of these symptoms are treated on a reoccurring basis, because the underlying condition is not recognized; not that yeast is the only cause for any of these conditions, quite to the contrary, however, yeast is a factor that YOU can have some control over, and can positively impact your health.  All of these things (and others) are possible symptoms of a yeast imbalance.

If you are you prone to ANY of the following conditions, it might be worth your time, and health, to try addressing this as a yeast imbalance. 
• Gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn or pain in the intestines
• Bowel irregularities, constipation or diarrhea or perhaps alternating between the two
• Food cravings especially for carbohydrates or sweets.
• Mood swings, depression or suicidal tendencies
• Headaches or migraines
• Menstrual problems, PMS or break through bleeding, endometriosis.
• Respiratory concerns, asthma frequent bronchial congestion
• Dry, itchy skin or hives
• Finger or toe nail fungus
• Vertigo or balance problems
• Joint or muscle pain
• Bad breath despite good oral hygiene
• Allergies…air-born or food-related
• Malabsorption (this is what happens when your body is not properly absorbing the nutrition hat you take in, and might be indicated by vertical grooves in fingernails)
• Vaginal yeast infections
• Itching or redness in body creases
• Acne on face, back or body
• Cravings for chocolate, peanuts, pistachios or alcohol
• Adrenal or thyroid failure
• Hemorrhoids, fissure or rectal bleeding
• Insomnia
• Chronic fatigue
• Feeling cold and shaky
• Weight imbalance/control (over or under-weight despite diet)
• Poor memory
• Puffy, dry or burning eyes
• Urinary tract problems (infections, prostatitis, incontinence)
• Premature ageing
• Chemical sensitivity (especially colognes or fabric dye)
• Blood sugar imbalances
• Thrush/Receding gums
• Numbness

If you are experiencing even one of these symptoms, you can test the potential impact excessive yeast might be having on your body, without the aid of a physician, by increasing the amount of acidophilus, and making some dietary changes.  I currently take three acidophilus capsules a day, but when I can feel that I am off balance, I take 3- 3 times a day!!! I had a friend that was a skeptic for years, but finally tried it, and now takes it every day!  Also cut back, better yet, eliminate, sugar, yeast made bread, and alcohol from your diet for a couple months (it will cause HUGE cravings!! when you take away the yeast's food! But that tells you it is working!) I really need to increase my acidophilus intake again for a while, as I can feel that I am out of balance, and know in myself, that plays a role in my sensitive bladder issues.

It might be well worth your time to do a more thorough study on Candida, and Candida diets.  You will instinctively know as you read if this is affecting you. The beautiful thing is that you don’t have to have health insurance, or a lot of money, to start making changes that can be very beneficial!  Then once you have a better understanding, you can decide if simple life style changes are all that’s necessary, or if you need to enlist the assistance of your health care professional.

These two websites have some great information to get you started, and I highly recommend that you do some additional research of your own to get a good feel for it yourself.
http://www.customprobiotics.com/candida.htm
http://www.everydiet.org/diet/candida-diet

Be healthy, and  LIVE WELL!

Love

Suzi

Convinced of Love

Victor Hugo said, "Life's greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved."

When I read that, I became focused on the word "convinced".

Thinking to myself that someone else does the convincing, it is a matter of persuasion. Someone trying to convince someone else of something. Someone demonstrating through words & actions to bring another into a common train of thought.
I also immediately recognized the thought of convinced as a "state of being". That convinced is a conviction that something is true, and right, & that causes the believer to live & behave in a manner that supports that belief.
 
Are you CONVINCED?  Meaning ... Is there someone that is in the process of convincing you that you are loved?  AND are you convinced that it is so?
 
I am!  On both accounts

ONE (a poem)

ONE.
That night you said we have become one.
ONE.
Each time we kiss the line between us blurs.
ONE.
Each time we open our hearts we are more a part of the other.
ONE
Yes, together, we are ONE.
One heart beats for the other.
One soul empowers the other.
And yet the more we become ONE,
The stronger the individual becomes.
We are synergistic …
ONE is greater than its individual parts.