XII. Role of Environmental Toxins in Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia
44. Dr. Fors, earlier you stated that over time physical, chemical and emotional distress can causes these chronic myofascial pain syndromes; we seemed to have covered most of the physical aspects, what about toxic chemical distress?
We live in an environment inundated with industrial chemicals, there are more than 75,000 chemicals registered with EPA that are know to be hazardous to human health. Furthermore, we add about 1,000 new chemicals each year. These chemicals are rarely fully tested and never tested in combinations with each other, the way they appear in our environment and hence in our tissues. As of the year 2000, we were pouring over 10 million tons of toxic waste into our environment each and every day!
There are now more than 500 industrial chemicals that have been found in the tissue of humans. On any simple random assay, the average individual is found to have over 100 detectable industrial chemicals in their body. These are chemicals that were not found in human tissues before 1920. This means we are now in at least the third generation of humans exposed in utero and during their childhood to these synthetic toxic chemicals, no wonder we are seeing a rise in health problems. Between the years 1965 and 1990, birth defects more than doubled and the rate is continuing to worsen.
These cocktails of industrial chemicals in our tissues take their toll on our health. They tax our detoxification systems throughout our body, especially in the liver and kidneys! But also our detoxification pathways in our muscle and nerve cells can be overwhelmed, which especially important in chronic pain.
A study by Ursin in 2001 found toxin exposure from any source will cause pain-receptors in muscle tissues to fire for a more prolonged time, causing more pain. Another study done by Bell in 1998 found that even low level toxic exposure can cause the painful condition of fibromyalgia, or make it worse if you already have it.
45. Interesting, could then the increasing number of people with fibromyalgia be a sign that our environment is becoming more toxic?
Individuals with chronic myofascial pain disorders such as fibromyalgia syndrome may be the "canaries in the cage" of our environment. Many years ago the only way miners could tell if conditions were getting toxic in a mine was to bring a canary down with them. Because of the canary's genetics, their biology made them more susceptible to toxins in the environment of the mine. If a canary became ill or died it was vital for the miners to get out immediately.
In our post-modern toxic world it may be that the growing number of our fellow citizens with chronic myofascial pain and fibromyalgia, may be our warning that we must do something soon. It may be that their genetics make them more prone to environmental toxins. Research has found that the detoxifications systems in our liver can vary 700% from one individual to another it's sometimes referred to as the "Churchill Effect."
Winston Churchill drank, smoked heavily, and lived to his nineties possibly because his detoxification pathways could render these toxins harmless, before they could much damage to his tissues. Then there are other individuals who walk into a smoke filled room and get sick. These individuals may have 7 times less detoxification capability than say Winston Churchill. Because of our toxic environment allergies are sky-rocketing, for example asthma is near epidemic. Many disorders including cancer and birth defects are now being connected to the increase of toxic industrial chemicals and heavy metals in our environment.
46. How do environmental toxins make individuals more prone to chronic myofascial pain disorders?
Remember when we discussed the formation of myofascial trigger points. To review, taut contracted bands in muscles squeeze out the blood and obstructs good blood flow. This lack of blood creates a state of low oxygen and nutrients in the muscle tissues. This creates an energy crisis in the muscle tissue, and an inability to relax the contracted tissue.
Furthermore, this lack of energy does not allow the muscle tissue to produce the enzymes necessary for detoxification of the tissues. Also energy is necessary to produce vital antioxidants that protect the muscle against free radicals. This is important because any chemical toxins not detoxified produce more free radicals or act as free radicals, so antioxidant protection is also vital in chronic myofascial pain disorders.
47. How do environmental toxins specifically cause myofascial trigger points to form?
Because the way our mitochondria are structured they are very susceptible to damage from toxins in our tissues. Industrial chemicals do this directly or by promoting more free radicals. Either way, the only way our liver, kidney, muscle and nerve cells can protect themselves is by producing more antioxidants and by increasing their detoxification capabilities. Nutrients such as Co-Enzyme Q10, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Vitamin E, Milk Thistle, and NAC are excellent ways to accomplish this, but more on that later.
Next: Supplements for Detoxification
|
I.
|
XIV.
|
