Thursday, December 30, 2021

2022 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: Protect Yourself Against Radiation from Cell Site and Cellphone

2022 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION 

Protect Yourself Against Radiation from Cell Site and Cellphone 

Radiation Plague is caused by an invisible deadly pollution of our postmodern era.


It is the man-made or man-induced kind of radiation spawned by the splitting of the atom on one hand and the invention of the microchip on the other, that jointly and collectively, with the proliferation of their uses, have become high risk to humans and all living things.

Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]

General Effects of Radiation to Human Health and Well-Being



Depression and Sense of Abandonment and Rejection


Autism and Mental Disorder

Birth defects

Miscarriage
What should I do if I’ve been exposed to cellular phone towers?


“There is no test to measure whether you have been exposed to RF (radiofrequency) radiation from cellular phone towers. But as noted above (Cellular Phone Towers), most researchers and regulatory authorities do not believe that cell phone towers pose health risks under ordinary conditions. If you have additional health concerns, you might want to talk with your doctor.” Quoted from article Cellular Phone Towers (Source: Internet, American Cancer Society)



Even at 80, I consider myself an unwary member in a worldwide club of hundreds of millions of cellphone users. The cellphone has become man's best friend in exchange of a biological one. We seem not to be in in today's society without the gadget day and night, often complementary with other electronic devices. Cellphones are virtually implanted in our body, in the mind and heart, in our nervous system - and in the spirit, too. Sea change, and where are we?


Cellphone Traffic

Non-ionizing radiation emitted by electronic gadgets, from radio and TV, computers to cellphones, have proved in the long run to be harmful contrary to guarantees of its safe use. Individual units per se have very low emissions, but each one is a miniature volcano to compare with, and with millions and millions now in use - and increasing at an unprecedented rate, the collective effect is alarmingly dangerous to an epidemic level.

We are at center stage of interconnecting cellphone towers compounded by TV and radio antennae, radar discs, interceptor devices, and many more features that service an ever expanding communications market.

A Flashback

Dead man walking is imagined as an aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan that ended WWII in 1945. Zombies aimlessly walk down abandoned streets and vanish into the horizon. Movies even made such fearful scenes dramatic. I could barely understand then in my early age, not until I was able to understand the workings of a maverick neutron targeting huge number of atoms in a blinding blast which scientists call chain reaction.

To this day, seven decades after, people are still dying from radiation residues whose half life remains fatal even after many generations particularly at the epicenter.

Armageddon needed redefinition by this human feat - or shall I say defeat, for it spawned for nearly half a century of Cold War which polarized the world into two warring ideologies, but thanks to the kinder side of humanity, the Cold War was put to an end in 1989.

But it did not actually end there. Nuclear accidents - the melting down of nuclear generators in Chernobyl in Russia, Three-Mile Island in the US and Fukushima in Japan all attests to the vulnerability of technology, however modern and safe it may be.

Today we are engaged in a second great discovery, the power of cyberspace communication tapped by the invention of the microchip. The Age of Computerization. The birth of a second breed of radiation, first alleged to be harmless because of its non-ionizing nature unlike the ionizing radiation that directly break cell-tissues and organic compounds.
Here in these photos, illustrations and graphs sourced from the Internet, we picture ourselves as unsuspecting victims of a super technology the tools we have always believed and in realized in one way or the other, to be the tools of progress. Progress it may be, but the cost is also great. It is actually an antithesis to the point we ask ourselves, "Are we better of with super technology?" What then is The Good Life, when we are victims of our own making? Slaves of science and technology, social media, fast transportation, modern medicine treating ailments, all brought forth by no less than our pursuit of affluence?



Today I have maintenance medicine for my heart, kidney, hypertension, and yes, remedies for allergy and headache, sleeplessness. fatigue, etc. And yet at retirement age, past the world of struggle, I deserve that peace and quiet, of leisure and enjoyment in the golden years of life. I pause to decipher the signs and symptoms that negate such potential gains. It is not what I am that I realize to be more important. It is the future of the young ones who are more vulnerable to risks made complex and mysterious by the invisible plague of radiation.

Cellphone Towers EMR Damaging Biological Systems of Birds, Insects, Humans
by Anthony Gucciar

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/cellphone-tower-emr-damaging-birds-insects-humans/#ixzz4Crm7R5qX Follow us: @naturalsociety on Twitter | NaturalSociety on Facebook

Of the 919 studies, a staggering 593 showed the negative impact of mobile towers on birds, bees, humans, wildlife and plants. xxx (On the other hand) the experts even cited an international study that pinpointed cellphone towers as a potential cause in the decline of animal populations. They went on to say that there was an urgent need to focus more scientific attention on the subject before it was too late.

In addition to calling for a law protecting urban flora and fauna from emerging threats of electromagnetic radiation, the experts are also suggesting bold signs and messages on the dangers of cell phone tower and radiation to be posted near the position of cellphone towers.



Disorientation - and eventual death - of migratory birds

“To prevent overlapping high radiations fields, new towers should not be permitted within a radius of one kilometre of existing towers. If new towers must be built, construct them to be above 80 feet and below 199 feet … to avoid the requirement for aviation safety lighting,” it said.



Left: Butterfly exhibiting effects of radiation, or by any mutagenic substance. Right: Disoriented seedlings exposed to RF radiation.

The negative effects of EMR on life is something that has been ignored by health officials and legislators for years. As cellphone subscriptions outnumber the total number of US citizens, more and more mobile phone towers are popping up around the globe. As the experts cautioned, it is extremely pertinent that further independent research is conducted to highlight the dangers of EMR.

Disorientation of plants
Radiation disturbs tropism governed by auxin, plant hormone that dictates direction of growth (geotropism, towards gravity; phototropism, towards sunlight; thigmotropism, away towards of from touch) These abnormal behavior is specific and is not transmitted to the offspring, unless the genes have been impaired resulting in mutation.(AVR)

Milk Yield Dropped in Cellphone Tower Area.



A study into the effects of a cell tower on a herd of dairy cattle was conducted by the Bavarian state government in Germany and published in 1998. The erection of the tower caused adverse health effects resulting in a measurable drop in milk production.

Relocating the cattle restored the milk yield. Moving them back to the original pasture recreated the problem. (Dairy Cow Study)

Mobile phone towers threaten honeybees
The Philippine Star, September 5, 2009


Honeybee worker gathering nectar and pollen of Kamias flowers.

NEW DELHI (AFP) - The electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phone towers and cellphones can pose a threat to honeybees, a study published in India has concluded.

An experiment conducted in the southern state of Kerala found that a sudden fall in the bee population was caused by towers installed across the state by cellphone companies to increase their network.

The electromagnetic waves emitted by the towers crippled the "navigational skills" of the worker bees that go out to collect nectar from flowers to sustain bee colonies, said Dr. Sainuddin Oattazhy, who conducted the study, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

He found out that when a cellphone was kept near a beehive, the worker bees were unable to return, leaving the hives with only the queen and eggs and resulting in the collapse of the colony within 10 days.

Over 100,000 people in Kerala are engaged in apiculture and the dwindling worker bees population poses a threat to their livelihood. The bees also play a vital role in pollinating flowers to sustain vegetation.

If towers and mobile phones further increase, the honeybees may be wiped out, Pattzhy said.~

Student Science Experiment Shows Plants Won’t Grow 
Near Wi-Fi Router
by Morgana Matus, 06/02/13
Garden cress (Lepidium sativum): left, exposed to Wi-Fi routers failed to grow, while the control grown in another room without Wi-Fi routers developed normally. © Kim Horsevad from Hjallerup School

Five ninth grade students from Hjallerup School in Denmark conducted a science experiment that elicited profound and shocking results about the effects of cell phone radiation. Their project was inspired by the observation that they had difficulty sleeping if their cell phones were next to their heads at night. They originally hoped to test the effects of a cell phone’s radiation on humans, but since their school did not have the necessary equipment to do so, they decided to experiment with radiation exposure on plants instead. Using two wireless routers that emitted about the same type of radiation as an average cell phone, they filled six trays full of the garden cress Lepidium sativum and placed them in a room with two routers, and then placed six trays of the plant in a room without Wi-Fi routers. The result of their experiment is shown in the above photo.

Keep smartphones away from your bras and trousers
January 12, 2016
Melbourne: People these days are practically glued to their smartphones, but you should place some distance between yourself and your phone and avoid keeping them in bras and trousers.

Photo supplied by author from Internet

Dr Devra Davis, an American scientist who has been studying the effects of mobile phone radiation for many years, has warned mobile phones could be doing more harm than good. The scientist said mobile phone-like radiation was being used positively in the medical field to treat liver cancer, detect cancer and enhance the absorption of drugs in the brain.

But the reason it is able to do this was because the radiation broke down the blood brain barrier, which protects the brain from foreign substances that may injure it.

Hence it can also damage DNA, affect male fertility and change the brain`s metabolism. And that`s not all- researchers have also found mobile phone use could contribute to the development of drpression, diabetes and heary irregularities.

Article is a response to DICT Usec Eliseo Rio Jr's claim that cell tower radiation is safe, citing WHO and DOH as references. (TV Interview with Tony Velasquez, 8:30 AM on Channel 27, Jan 30 2017)
Acknowledgement: Internet, Living with Nature avrotor.blogspot.com

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

2022 YEAR OF THE TREES: Greet Sunrise through the Trees

       Trees for Peace

              Greet Sunrise through the Trees

"Morning comes early as the sun peeps through the trees;
greet the birds and butterflies, lovers and artists." avr

Dr Abe V Rotor

Wake up under the green umbrella of trees, 
     cool and invigorating; 
Breathe freely, away from the stale city air,
     and catch the breeze passing.

Let the morning settle down on dewdrops,
     on mist like curtain parting;
Just let the world go by on Nature's scale,
     and life's sweet rhythm singing. 

Wake up from too much haste and worry,
     life's not a race for winning;
You may have the happiest moment in life,
     listen to the trees singing. ~ 

Canopy of heritage trees laden with lianas and ferns, 
San Vicente Botanical Garden
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur (Living with Nature Center)

Greet Sunrise Through the Trees in acrylic by the author. ~


Saturday, December 25, 2021

Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index - Measure of People's Happiness and Joy in Life

Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index
- Measure of People's Happiness and Joy in Life


Dr Abe V Rotor

Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index has recently gained a place in measuring the level of development of a country by inputting an elusive parameter which is happiness.  GNH Index can be downsized for local application, individually or by group or community that is closely knit.

  Relationship is the Number One source of happiness

However, the standard development index remains: Gross National Product (GNP) Index, the annual total value of goods and services generated by a country within and outside its shores, as differentiated from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total value generated within the country only.

This was modified to include Human Development (HD) Index, in order to determine how a country's wealth and earnings are used for the  welfare of its citizens in terms of health, education, housing, and the like.

Parameters of Happiness of GNH Index:

1. Psychological Well-Being
2. Health
3. Time Use
4. Education
5. Cultural Diversity
6. Good Governance
7. Community Vitality
8. Ecological Diversity and Resilience
9. Living Standards
10. Family
11. Spirituality
12. Sense of Achievement

 Preserving native language and culture

Upon reading Time's feature story on The Pursuit of Happiness (October 22, 2012 issue), what came to my mind was to rank the nine parameters, and add three to the list, namely, Family, Spirituality and Sense of Accomplishment or Achievement.  

Individual perception of course, varies, so that it is suggested that a kind of self-evaluation be conducted using the Likert Scale: 1 Very Poor, 2 Poor, 3 Fair, 4 Good, and 5 Very Good. 

Compute the average by adding the values of all the parameter, and divide it sum with 12.  This is the general perception of happiness of the person concerned. What is equally - if not more important - is in being able to find out the main source of happiness, at the same time, the least. This exercise therefore, is aimed at re-affirming our sense of values in the pursuit of happiness. So does a community or country.

Author's family outing to scenic Patapat in  Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte  

We say we are happy, or a little happy. Or unhappy. Or sad. But how can we quantify happiness like in a grading system?

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) found a good reference. It came from the works of the founding father of happiness research, Dr Happiness himself - Dr Edward Diener of the University of Illinois.* He calls this technique The Satisfaction with Life Scale.

In the radio program Ka Melly and I used this technique to impart a lesson about Happiness. We find that Dr Diener's test can be used in the classroom, in meetings and conferences, or just for the sake of bonding with friends and associates.  Reference: The New Science of Happiness, Claudia Wallis, Time February 28, 2005

Get a piece of paper and rate yourself in each of the following items. Use a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is not true at all, 4 is moderately true and 7 absolutely true. The scale allows you to approximate closer to your self-judgment.

Here are the criteria:

1. In most ways my life is close to my ideal.
2. The conditions of my life are excellent.
3. I am satisfied with my life.
4. So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.
5. If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

Compute for the total score by adding all values from the five questions.

·         Here is the interpretation of your score.
·         If you got 31 to 35, you are extremely satisfied with your life. Kudos!
·         If you got 26 to 30, you are very satisfied with your life. My co-host Melly Tenorio got 28; I got 27. Three program participants got Very Satisfied scores, too.
·         If you scored 21 to 25, you are slightly satisfied. Two participants got scores on this level.

Those who scored 15 to 19 (slightly dissatisfied) will have to perk up and unload some reasons. Get to the neutral point which is 20, and thence move up the happiness ladder.

It's not hopeless if you got low. The idea of this exercise is to create awareness that there are avenues of happiness, and that there are basic levels of happiness that one can cling to, and say, "Oh well, that's life." And still manage to laugh. And the world laughs with you.

Here is Ella Wheeler Wilcox's masterpiece which projected her to world fame as author and poetess.

 The Way of the World

Laugh, and the world laughs with you,
     Weep, and you weep alone;
For the brave old earth must borrow its mirth,
     But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing and the hills will answer,
     Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes rebound to a joyful sound
     And shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you,
     Grieve, and they turn to go;
They want full measure of your pleasure,
     But they do not want your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many,
     Be sad, and you lose them all;
There is none to decline your nectared wine,
     But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded,
     Fast, and the world goes by.
Forget and forgive – it helps you to live,
     But no man can help you to die;

There’s room in the halls of pleasure
     For a long and lordly train,
But one by one, we must all march on
     Through the narrow isle of pain.

Psalm of Life

Psalm of Life is the perhaps the most important poem written by America's darling poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The poem is among the world's most quoted and recited pieces of literature; in fact, it is a prayer by and in itself. It speaks of universal values, feelings and compassion, of valor and sacrifice, and of victory over ones own battle.


Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Longfellow himself, a victim of a family tragedy, rose to further fame and dignity. After the death of his wife in an accidental fire he went on raising his young children, and teaching in the university, experimenting with new forms and styles of poetry, producing Hiawatha and Evangeline that revolutionized poetry.

I found a very old publication, Longfellow's Evangeline (copyright 1883)with the author's biographical sketch. In describing Longfellow's trial in life, allow me to quote, "More than a score of years remained with the poet, and he had the love of his children and the comfort of his work, but the grief was so deep and lasting that he could not trust himself to speak the beloved name of his wife."

From sorrow rises a great triumph, and this is the testimony to greatness - to share not how the world should end, but how it must begin again. Not how one closes himself in, but opens himself to others. Not to "Go Gentle into the Night", but stand sentry to the "Light of Dawn".

Psalm of Life is dedicated to victims of Typhoon Odette, other calamities - force majeure and man-induced, circumstances beyond control, and all those who find life difficult to bear. May they find comfort, hope, and new meaning of life in Psalm of Life. ~

Psalm of Life

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
     Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
     And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
     And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
     Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
     Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
     Find us further than today.

Art is long, and time is fleeting,
     And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
     Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
     In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle,
     Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no future, how'ver pleasant!
     Let the dead past bury its dead!
Act - act in the living present!
     Heart within, and Good o'erhead.

Lives of great men all remind us
     We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
     Footprints on the sands of time.

Footprints, that perhaps another,
     Sailing o'er life solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
     Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us then, be up and doing,
     With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
     Learn to labor and to wait. ~


                 “Yes, I have a successful married life.”
Dr Abe V Rotor

 - On getting married and your friends are around, and you tell to the whole world, “Here is the person I will always love.”

- On having your first child and see the image of both of you and your spouse? (“Look he got my eyes, and chin of his dad.”)

- On having a third child and the economy has not recovered? (“I haven’t any increase in pay since last year.”)
Author and wife visit a museum

- On driving the kids to school, then attend to chores you say, “It’s like a storm had left all the things out of their places.”


- On having your in-laws around and other relatives coming for weekends, then you realize you have an extended family.

- On having a home of your own, and say, “What I paid for rent, I now pay for amortization.” And it is investment.

- On having family disagreements now and then and you say, “Well, if everything is yes, you are sure only one is thinking.”

- On leaving your present job (or his) and start anew, even when you start again at square one, and say, “Tighten your belts.” Even so, you think you are happier now, so with my family.

- On winning an award, and say, “I owe this thing to all of you, especially to my family.”

- On going to other places and call up, “I’ll be home on Christmas.” It is only spring though.

- On experiencing a tragedy in the family, and find a strong shoulder to cry on, “He was meant to be with us only for sometime. He is our angel now.”

- On discovering a life threatening illness and you realize how each day passes with greater meaning and resolve. (“Each day is a bonus - my life is not mine anymore.”)

- On surviving and your hair is now gray, and the children have learned to adapt to life, the way you wish them to be.

- On receiving an award your children earned, and this time a sweet voice says, “This is you.” A drop of tear rolls on your wrinkled face. Words are not enough.

- On being alone; the children had left home and your spouse (bless his soul) had left something for you to live the rest of your life.

- On having grandchildren. “You naughty one you got my nose, and your chin is your grandfather’s.”

Success in married life - yes, it is the greatest success a man or woman can achieve. It is success that makes the world go round. It is the very foundation of a family and therefore of human society.

- It is a kind of success no one is denied to aspire for, irrespective of race, creed, education, or culture. Yet it is one many people failed to achieve in spite of their wealth and power.

- Success in family life is primordial. Between career and family, many people have chosen the latter, and say with a sigh, “Well, you cannot have the best of two worlds.” And they chose family.

- Success is not always equated with money or power. But it is always associated with happiness. A philosopher once said, “Happiness is the only commodity, which if you divide it, will multiply.” Try this formula, and it will tell us, “A happy family is successful.”

- Family life to be successful does not depend on one formula though. It thrives on new frontiers. There are always new things to discover. It is the discovery itself that is important, that makes it original and unique. And it must be always mutual. Joy to one is joy to the other.

- Success cannot be kept in a treasure box and locked. They say, “You cannot rest on your laurels.” Trophies are symbols; they are not an end. In Greek mythology Jason, after his adventure with Hercules in search of the Golden Fleece, spent the rest of his life beside his ship, the Argon, which fell into pieces with age killing the great warrior.

- Success in married life is neither abstract, nor merely spiritual. It is real. It is to be shared. It must be contagious. Let it be expressed with the children. It must be felt and celebrated in one way or the other minus the pomposity of the Romans. It must be exemplified. It must strive to be a model.  It should be able to pass as a paradigm of not only what life really is – but what it should be. “Life,” according to Reader’s Digest, “is the most difficult art, yet it is the finest.”

- Asked what the great British Prime Minister and hero, Winston Churchill wanted if he were born again. He said with twinkle in his eyes looking at Mrs. Churchill. “I’d like to be Mrs. Churchill’s next husband.” Success in married life has an imprimatur. It leaves a mark. That mark even glows on the dead man’s face, and on the shine of his epitaph, and flowers that grace it.

- Trials are not enough to weather success. Yes, to a courageous person, who when asked, “Were you not afraid?” He simply said, “I was afraid, but I did the brave thing.” He picked up the pieces together and his family is once more solid and whole.

When I was invited to talk on this topic before faculty members and students, I said to myself. “Gush, I should know I am successful in my married life.” For whatever I have done so far – through thick and thin - I know my family has always been with me – on the stage, on camping trips, painting exhibits, on visitation of the tombs of our departed, in the church, on my sickbed, lectures, at the mall, workshop, at the farm, on rosary hour. Seldom do I encounter the four “Ws” and one “H” – the very things that make our life complex and uncertain – without my family helping me answer these questions. Life is truly worth living for.

As we switch on the vigil light and retire in the night, we are one happy family looking forward for the next day. For indeed, success must be lived with day after day, season after season, year after year.
At the end, we come to submit our credentials to the One who made us all, who gave us that star that guides our life, who welcomes us at His throne when we shall then have reached it. ~

“The greatest gift that we can give to our children and children’s children is Happiness. Happiness is one commodity, which when you divide it, will multiply.” AVR   

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Papyrus - Signature of Egyptian Art

 Papyrus - Signature of Egyptian Art 

Dr Abe V Rotor

Museum guide at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, demonstrates to author and other guests on how fresh papyrus stalk is cut and split, then laid crosswise, one layer on top of another, and pressed with a mechanical presser (background, second photo). The mat is dried and pounded to attain evenness and smoothness. Now it is ready for use as writing and drawing material.  Papyrus is the first paper, hence the name).  
 
Author inspects papyrus drawings and paintings depicting the rich history of ancient Egypt, the oldest civilization in the western world.  Hieroglyphics (picture story) on papyrus, like Chinese calligraphy (language signs), make an art distinct and  unique from all the arts in the world. Papyrus art is a major attraction to scholars and tourists, and contributes significantly to the Egyptian tourism industry. 


Papyrus is highly adapted in humid tropical countries like the Philippines.  The conditions are similar to those along the Nile River. The local industry developed from papyrus and related species is the making of mats, baskets, curtain and blinds.  


Cyperus papyrus belongs to the sedge family, Cyperaceae, to which our own tikiw (cattail) and barsaga (Cyperus rotundos), a perennial weed on the farm, belong. It is a native of southern Europe, Syria and Africa. Egyptian manuscripts and paintings were done on paper made from this plant as early as 2400 BC. A cheap imitation is made from banana stalk.

Photos of the plant were taken at UP Sunken Garden, Diliman QC

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

ALLERGY - The Silent Pandemic (Self-administered tests, and all you need to know about allergy)

 ALLERGY -  The Silent Pandemic

(Self-administered tests, and all you need to know about allergy)

Dr. Abe V Rotor

------------------------------------------------
This paper is part of a lecture Allergy and the Environment presented before the members of Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology on its 11th Biennial Convention, September 9, 2008 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in honor of the late Dr. Arturo B. Rotor, first Filipino allergist (photo). 
------------------------------------------------

What is Allergy?

Our body reacts to substances it can’t tolerate, such as pollen and dust. These environmental antigens or allergens are normally harmless, but the immune system of certain persons views them as harmful. There are many types of allergies, such as skin and food allergies, and many different types of allergic reactions, which can range from skin rash to vomiting and diarrhea. 

Evolutionarily our immune system is adapted to combat pathogens – viruses, bacteria, fungi – but modern living and modern medicine have greatly eliminated much of these threats on one hand, and rendered our immune system idle on the other. The immune system isn’t challenged in the same way. Instead of developing to target real threats, such as bacteria, the immune system may dysfunction and begins to trigger allergies.

In fact it has become maverick that it attacks substances, including those secreted by our body, so that by attacking non-harmful substances, it creates more harm, and even death. Thus the hygiene hypothesis explains why there are much more allergy cases in affluent societies than in marginal societies. A case in point is that West Germany where people lived with high standard of living were suffering allergies much, much more than their counterparts living a simple life style in East Germany. 



Allergies are a worldwide problem. They are often overlooked by doctors and patients and can lead to serious health problems. It means also needless suffering. Allergies disturbs sleep, adversely affect active life and good disposition. Kids and adults alike are more likely to develop asthma, sinus and ear infections, especially if their allergies go untreated. 

Mechanics of Allergy
Here is an example. People who develop allergic rhinitis have an excess of a certain class of antibodies, called IgE, which makes them unusually sensitive to these otherwise harmless substances. All the symptoms of allergic rhinitis are really part of the immune response. 

So what really happens in an allergic person? Medically it is explained this way.

“Following the body's first exposure to the allergen, the white blood cells produce antibodies, specifically IgE antibodies, that prepare the immune system for the next encounter with that same allergen. This first exposure to pollen will not produce any outward allergic symptoms, but inside, the IgE antibodies attach themselves to mast cells. Mast cells are cells that can be found in the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. 

During the second and subsequent exposures to pollen, this allergen will combine with the IgE antibody and release chemicals, such as histamine, in the mast cells, thus producing the allergy symptoms of a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing.” (1) 

Anaphylaxis – Fatal Allergy
Anaphylaxis is systemic reaction, during which exposure to an allergen triggers an allergic response throughout the body rather than just near the site. 

Anaphylaxis can strike within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen. Or it may sneak up slowly, with symptoms delayed up to 2 hours from the time of exposure. Initial symptoms may even disappear, then return full-force within 4 to 12 hours. 

It’s a terrifying feeling, you may become flushed, and your skin may become quite itchy and red. The frightening thing is, you begin to feel you’re having difficulty taking a full breath, that you are suffocating. As your blood pressure drops, you feel dizzy and sweaty and become pale. You body is not kidding. Anaphylaxis can kill by suffocation.

It doesn’t take much to trigger this body-wide allergic response – a single peanut or tiny paper wasp can set off the reaction. Egyptian Pharaoh Menes, 3000 years BC, is the first reported victim of Anaphylaxis. During an anaphylactic attack, a rush of chemicals – histamines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins – is released in an attempt by the body to defend itself. These chemicals are produced by basophiles found in the blood, mast cells found throughout the body, including eyes, nose, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Anaphylaxis may affect many organs, such as the throat, lungs, blood vessels, and intestines. Histamine and other chemicals released by the body may

1. Produce widespread itching, welts, and hives on your skin
2. Cause blood vessels to become leaky, resulting in a drop in blood pressure, swelling of the skin, and fluid in your lungs
3. Bring circulation of your blood and oxygen to a near-standstill as your blood pressure drops
4. Trigger nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as your gastrointestinal system goes haywire.
5. Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that can trigger reactions all over your body, affecting the various systems in the body
6. Cardiovascular: Light-headedness, feeling faint, loss of consciousness (syncope), heart palpitations.
7. Upper respiratory: nasal congestion, sneezing, difficulty swallowing
8. Lower airway obstruction: coughing, wheezing
9. Skin: welts or hives, swelling of the skin (particularly on face and around lips and tongue), flushing
10. Gastrointestinal: bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps
11. Make it difficult or impossible to breathe as your tongue and throat swell up and your lungs go into asthmatic spasms
12. Metallic taste in the mouth, cramping of the uterus during pregnancy, sudden need to urinate.

Causes of Anaphylaxis: food – peanut, shellfish, crustaceans; insects – fire ant, honeybee, bugs; drugs - more than half million serious allergic reaction occur in hospitals (Penicillin); latex – condoms, balloons, gloves; exercise – eating 3-4 hrs before exercising increases risk; narcotics; aspirin; blood transfusions; food additives 

Is there a cure for allergy?
Immunotherapy is the only treatment that alters the immune system, restoring the same response to allergens like pollen in normal nonallergic people. Unlike pills and nasal sprays, immunotherapy holds out the possibility of something far better: a cure. The treatment involves identifying the specific culprit that’s causing the problem through a series of skin tests or blood test. Tiny doses of allergen are then injected under the skin in a weekly series of allergy shots to desensitize the immune system. 

There are many promising avenues of research. Purified antigens are being tested that can lead to a more rapid desensitization in immunotherapy. There’s interest in putting specific antigens onto viral vectors that will carry them directly to mast cells. Ultimately that could mean that one injection would render people nonallergic, instead of the years of immunotherapy now often required. 

And before long, there will be sublingual immunotherapy, which uses antigens that dissolve under the tongue instead of injections. It offers two important advantages. It’s believed to be safe, and one won’t be visiting his doctor. Immunotherapy can be done at home - soon.
 
Does allergy run in the family?

To a certain extent, yes. If both parents have allergies, a child stands a 75 percent chance of developing them. If neither parent is allergic, the risk drops to 25 percent. The genetic aspects are numerous and overlapping, which means we’re not going to find a single gene that accounts for allergies. And as the percentages suggest, environmental factors also play a role.

Allergy symptoms 

  • Breathing problems 
  • Burning, tearing, or itchy eyes 
  • Conjunctivitis (red, swollen eyes) 
  • Coughing 
  • Diarrhea 
  • Headache 
  • Hives 
  • Itching of the nose, mouth, throat, skin, or any other area 
  • Runny nose 
  • Skin rashes 
  • Stomach cramps 
  • Vomiting 
  • Wheezing 


Fact or Myth


1.Children who grow up on the farm are at much lower risk to allergy than children in the city.

2. Infants on the farm have fewer allergies than those who grow up in sterile environments. 

3. Children who grow up with a cat in the house are less likely to develop allergies or asthma. 

4. Very few pet owners are allergic to the animals they love.

5. Children who have been breastfed are less likely to have allergies.

6.Milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanut, fish and meat comprise the most common food allergies. 

7. Most reactions to food are not allergic in nature, but rather intolerance, that is, there is no allergic antibody involved. 

8.Babies exposed late to cereal grains have higher risk to cereal allergy, especially wheat. 

9.Regular use of “foreign” materials (e.g. nail polish remover, contact lens, metals) can eventually cause sensitivity and reaction to these materials.

10.Allergy can induce strong and unwelcome mental and emotional reactions, such as altered perception or inappropriate changes of mood. 

NOTE: The ten items are based on facts.

What is the connection of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma.

Both are mediated by an excess of IgE, a class of antibodies. Twenty years ago we thought asthma was caused by bronchial constriction. Now we know the main cause is allergic inflammation. Inflammation needs to be controlled in order to prevent more serious problems from asthma. Allergists now use the term “unified airway” to describe a new understanding that the nose, sinuses and lungs aren’t separate systems but parts of the same system. 

What goes on in the upper respiratory tract can exacerbate problems in the lower respiratory tract. And it’s now clear that treating inflammation in the upper respiratory tract can help prevent development of asthma. If you have a cough along with congestion and itchy eyes, it’s wise to see a doctor. A cough can be a sign of asthma. If you try over-the-counter drugs and they aren’t helping, see your doctor. That’s especially important for children with symptoms of allergic rhinitis, since we know that treating the condition can greatly lessen the risk of going on to develop asthma. Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swell. This reduces the amount of air that can pass by, and can lead to wheezing sounds.

Approximately 20.5 million Americans currently have asthma. Many people with asthma have an individual or family history of allergies. 

Contact dermatitis
It may involve a reaction to a substance that you are exposed to, or use repeatedly. Although there may be no initial reaction, regular use (for example, nail polish remover, preservatives in contact lens solutions, or repeated contact with metals in earring posts and the metal backs of watches) can eventually cause sensitivity and reaction to the product.

Some products cause a reaction only when they contact the skin and are exposed to sunlight (photosensitivity). These include shaving lotions, sunscreens, sulfa ointments, some perfumes, coal tar products, and oil from the skin of a lime. A few airborne allergens, such as insecticide spray, can cause contact dermatitis. Here are allergens that cause contact dermatitis: Poison ivy, lipang kalabaw plant, Nickel, other metals, antibiotics (topical), topical anesthetics, rubber, cosmetics, fabrics and clothing, detergents, solvents, adhesives, fragrances, perfumes, many chemicals and substances

Are You Allergic? 

A Quiz (Yes or No) Simply add up the number of points that apply to each question to which you answer YES.
1. Do you have hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, watery nasal drainage, and nasal itchiness? (4 pts)
2. Do you have chronic nasal congestion, postnasal drip, or both? (3 pts)
3. Do you have sinus problems – frequent “colds” or headaches? (2 pts)
4. Do your eyes itch, water, get red, or swell? (4 pts)
5. Do you have asthma (wheezing), a tight chest, or a chronic cough? (1 pt)
6. Do you have skin problems such as eczema, hives, or itching? (2 pts)
7. Do you have indigestion, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation? (1 pt)
8. Do you have chronic fatigue or tiredness? (4 pts)
9. Are your symptoms seasonal only – or worse seasonally? (4 pts)
10. Do your symptoms change when you go indoors or outdoors? (3 pts) 
11. Are your symptoms worse in parks or grassy areas? (4 pts)
12. Are your symptoms worse in the bedroom, after going to bed, or in the morning when you get up? (2pts)
13.Are your symptoms worse when you come into contact with dust when vacuuming or cleaning around thick carpeting, heavy drapes, and so on? (4 pts)
14. Are your symptoms worse around animals? (2 pts)
15. Do you have any blood relatives with allergies: one or both parents, brothers or sisters, or children? (6 pts) 

SCORES (Are you allergic?)
If you scored less than 7, it’s unlikely you have allergies.
If you scored between 8 and 12, it’s possible you have allergies.
If you scored between 13 to 30, it’s probable you have allergies.
If you scored more than 31, it’s very likely you have allergies. 

Key to Allergy Management.

The key to prevention is avoidance, which is easier said than done. You can eradicate the disease by getting rid of the allergen that’s causing problems. For dust mites, which live in the bedroom, wash sheets regularly and keep humidity down to below 50 percent, which drives down dust mite populations. Remove carpeting and any stuffed animals from the bedroom, which are also home to dust mites. If you’re allergic to cats or dogs, don’t let them share the bedroom. Since we spend one-third of our lives sleeping, reduce your exposure somewhat by targeting the bedroom. 

Be prepared for Food Allergies

  • Be prepared and treat the reaction immediately: Be familiar with the signs and symptom of food allergies: Earliest detection and treatment is crucial. 
  • Avoid the culprit foods: Have a checklist at fingertips. Know the most common foods that cause allergy: These are milk, fish, egg, soy, wheat and peanut, and their various products. 
  • Read food labels: Ask questions about the ingredients of the food you order in restaurants. 
  • Patients with food allergies should always be prepared to recognize and treat their reaction, should one occur. Emergency medical care should always be sought if an allergic reaction to food occurs. 
  • Communicate with others: Communicate with members of the family, office mates, school staff, and friends, about your medical condition and knowledge of how to handle allergy cases. 


Managing Pollen Allergy

  • If you have allergic asthma, take reliever medications (asthma inhaler) with you in case of a breathing emergency. 
  • Stay indoors and keep your windows closed, especially during heavy pollen times. 
  • Avoid outdoor activities during peak pollen time (5 a.m. to 10 a.m.) 
  • After going outdoors in pollen, shower, wash your hair, and change your clothes immediately. 
  • Close car windows when traveling to avoid pollen. 
  • Wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from pollen irritation. 
  • Brush your dog down when returning indoors, and bathe your dog weekly. Pollen hitches a ride on animal fur and can easily come inside your house. 
  • Use Facemasks. There are situations where a multiple sensitive person may want to wear a protective mask. 
  • Once you’ve shed your clothes, hop into the shower and thoroughly wash off any allergens cling on the skin and hair. 
  • Consult the Pollen Calendar. The late Filipino palynologist (specialist in pollen), Dr. Lolita Bulalacao developed a pollen calendar indicating what (species), when (season), where (location) pollen is likely to be encountered. 
  • Allergen-Proof Your Home
  • Design your home in unity and harmony with natural environment, not the other way around. 
  • These are fairly quick, simple, and inexpensive methods of making your home friendlier to your asthma and allergies. 
  • Build house on spacious lot and surroundings 
  • Free house of carpet and wall paper 
  • Knock on wood 
  • Prefer shiny floors, materials of low-gas ingredients 
  • Provide good natural ventilation 
  • Let sunshine in, façade towards the east 
  • Integrate house plan with garden 
  • Screen out plants that are allergen potential 


“Sick Building” Syndrome

1. Install proper air-con and exhaust fans corresponding to the number people, and nature of work.
2. Avoid blocking the air supply and return vents.
3. Clean up water spills and damp places to get rid of molds.
4. Store food properly, and empty the garbage daily.
5. Observe if symptoms are experienced by co-workers, other occupants, visitors.
6. Check equipment and supplies – they may be the source of irritating odor and fumes.
7. Strictly no smoking allowed.
8. Divide area into independent units – office, manufacturing, kitchen or storeroom.
9. Report problem to concerned persons/authorities. 
10. Have a regular building maintenance program

Allergy-Free Yard

1. Fix your yard to bring down allergies.
2. Go for plants native to the place (save allergy misery and labor)
3. Maintain a pest-free lawn, naturally (biological control)
4. Plant ground plants (and minimize mowing of grass lawn – source of allergen)
5. Be a creature of the evening (or early morning when there are fewer allergens)
6. Keep problems outdoors (like pollen) 
7. Be vigilant (weed out allergen-causing plants like lipang kalabaw, sabawil
8. Minimize the mold (remove anything that traps moisture)

 Allergy-proofing the bedroom

1.Keep pets out.
2. Encase sleeping place
3. Clean sheets 
4. Run your air through filter
5. Banish the blinds
6. Steer clear of soft seats
7. Filter the vents
8. Pluck pillows and comforters wisely
9. Stow gewgaws away
10.Wash away the pollen
11.Debunk the mites
12.Give Teddy a bath

Allergy-proofing the Kitchen and Dining Room

1. Roach-proof your food.
2. Put a lid on your trash.
3. Get crumbs where they hide.
4. Don’t let dishes get crusty.
5. Scrub those floors and cupboards.
6. Battle roaches with smarts.
7. Call the pros.
8. Be a fan of your fan.
9. Avoid the cold mold.
10. Choose your cleaners wisely.
11. Cook your food, don’t gas it.

Allergy-Proofing the Bathroom, Laundry Room, and Closets 

1. Turn on the fan.
2. Harvest piles of damp stuff.
3. Pick a natural freshener.
4. Bring down the curtain on mold
5. Bleach the mold away.
6. Be the squeegee man.
7. Take your washer’s temperature.
8. Wash permanent-press clothes before you wear them.
9. Opt for smell-free products.
10. Be sure the clothes dryer blows outside.
11. Leave the light on.
12. Air out dry-cleaned clothes.
13. Use wire shelves.

Allergy-Free Garage and Workshop 

1. Start the engines outside.
2. Ditch your damp possessions.
3. Store chemicals safely.
4. Moldy rags on the floor
5. Old chemicals stored on table
6. Paint can not closed tightly
7. Car engine should not be left running in garage
8. Room should have a window or exhaust fan
9. Tools should be cleaned outside 
10. Insure good ventilation

Allergy-Free Workplace

1. Carpenters – acrylate (adhesives), amines (lacquers), isocyanates (paint, foam), anhydrides (plastic), wood dust
2. Farmers, gardeners – pesticides, insects, molds
3. Veterinarians, petshop owners – animal allergens, feeds, disinfectants 
4. Hospital and healthcare workers – antibiotics, formaldehyde, latex, 
5. Bakers, millers – cereal grain, flour dust, hay, silicates, insects
6. Beauticians – persulfates, ethyl enediamine
7.Janitors, cleaners – Chloramine-T, detergents, dyes
8. Office workers, market vendors, musicians – wide range of allergens

Allergy-Friendly Exercise Program

1.Avoid exercise if you have an upper-respiratory viral infection.
2.Premeditate.
3.Drink plenty of fluids.
4.Perform warm-up exercises.
5.Breathe through your nose.
6.Cool down.
7.Know your limits. 
8.Avoid exercising near busy roads.
9.Judge exercise intensity with a “talk test”.
10.Slow down if you feel weak, dizzy.
11.Don a dust mask when necessary.
12.Stay inside during high-pollen days. 


A Meal-to-Meal Plan for Fighting Allergies

No single diet is right for everyone. Your nutritional needs are unique to you, because no one else has the same combination of genetic and acquired traits of metabolism, nutrition, and immune status.

1. Breakfast – build your breakfast around fresh fruits and whole grains. Instant breakfast may be loaded with syrup and preservatives. If you wish to drink milk, restrict to fat-free. 
2. Lunch – Build around fruits, vegetables and grains, unless you are growing up or pregnant. If you eat meat, choose the leanest. Most fat-food burgers contain fat as high as 35%.
3. Dinner – Build around grains, cooked or raw vegetables, and protein from meat, fish or legumes. Trim off fats. Avoid oils and fats in sauces and dressing. If you drink, have a glass of red wine rather than beer or liquor.
4. Snacks – Don’t indulge in snacking at all, but if you must, take a fruit like mango or pineapple.     


Clean Your Home Naturally

1.    Instead of disinfectant, use borax (1 cup to 1 gal of warm water) or grapefruit seed extract (10%) 

2.    Instead of fabric softener, use ¼ cup of vinegar added to the rinse water. 

3.    Instead of furniture polish, use olive oil with 1 tbsp vinegar poured in 1 liter of warm water.  Keep in spray bottle. 

4.    Instead of glass cleaner, use ½ cup vinegar mixed with 1 gal warm water, place in spray bottle. 

5.    Borax instead of laundry whitener; Baking powder on sponge instead of scouring powder. 

6.    Hydrogen peroxide as stain remover; borax + vinegar as toilet bowl cleaner. 

Allergy-Free Stress Busters


1. Biofeedback (internal memo)
2. Cognitive Reframing (handling an experience)
3. Guided Visualization (imagination)
4. Humor Therapy (healthy laugh)
5. Hypnosis (hypnotherapy)
6. Journaling (diary, autobiography, literary)
7. Massage, sauna 
8. Social Involvement (clubs, parties) 
9. Yoga, Tai-chi 
10.The Humanities (drawing, singing, drama)
11.Meditation (prayer, communion with nature)
12.Proper grooming. 

Sounds that make us sick

  • o Irritable Sounds activate not only the senses but affect bodily functions.
  • o Pavlov’s Principle on conditioned learning.
  • o Adrenaline shoots up, increases blood pressure, challenges us – fight or flight.
  • o Nausea, headache, other forms of irritation. 
  • o Interrupts present activity, interferes with trends of events.
  • o Destroys relationship, creates personal impressions.

Worst Sounds (9)
1. Scratching the blackboard with fingernail, similar to a hard chalk creating a grating sound. 
2. Air escaping like releasing air from a balloon. 
3. Productive coughing 
4. Throwing out is the worst. 

Why are people healthier and happier in the countryside?(1)

People feel better and more zestful when they are near mountain streams or beside the sea. It is the presence of excess negatively charged ions in these places, which tend to be diminished in buildings, homes and offices. The average negative ion concretion near a waterfall is 50,000 per cubic centimeters, in mountain air 5,000 and in the countryside 1500 or so; yet in a modern office, this figure can fall to as low as 50. What happens to the ions in buildings?
They are electrically precipitated by particles in the air, notably dust, cigarette smoke and fabrics such as synthetic carpet fibers. Modern closed ventilation systems and of course the ubiquitous office computer make the problems many times worse because of the static build-ups. 
Accordingly, a good idea is to supplement the environment with negatively changed ions with ionizers.  One study showed a remarkable drop in the incidence of headaches and other minor symptoms. There’s really nothing better than living in a pristine environment.

...............................

No period in history has man influenced the environment as much as what he is doing today in his pursuit for a higher standard of living, and affluence. Instead of “tailoring man’s lifestyle to the environment” which his ancestor did for centuries, man today is “changing the environment to cope up with affluence.”(8) 

    ...........................

Dr Arturo B. Rotor (1907-1988) served as Executive Secretary of the Philippine government-in-exile and member of the Cabinet, first under President Quezon, then President Osmeña.  After the second World War he became Director the UP Postgraduate School of Medicine, and founded allergology as a field of medicine in the Philippines. He was instrumental in the founding of PSAAI.

Dr. Rotor wrote several short stories, which earned him the Republic Heritage Award.  His stories are still used today in high school and college literature, among them Dahong Palay, Twilight’s Convict, The Wound and Scar and Zita. Ateneo de Manila University Press compiled ten other stories into a handy book with the title, The Men Who Play God. On the back cover is a curious brief description about the author. (5)

To wit: In the Philippine Journal of Science, a new orchid, Vanda Merrillii variety Rotorii is described by Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing. In Cecil Loeb’s Practice of Medicine, a new disease, “Rotor’s Syndrome,” is recognized.  Both the disease and the flower refer to Arturo B. Rotor and highlight the disparate, often incongruous activities that marked his career. The other side of Dr. Rotor’s life was one equally rich and fulfilling through the expression of the wonders of the right brain – as a  naturalist, an ardent lover of nature; and creativity through the art of music, demonstrating mastery of some of the world’s best compositions as a celebrated pianist.  (He graduated at the UP Conservatory of Music and UP College of Medicine at the same time.)  


References

1. Ansorge R and E Metcalf et al (2001) Allergy Free Naturally Rodale Inc NY,
2. Miller GT Jr (2004) Living in the Environment 7th Edition, Wadsworth Publishing, California
3. Radyo ng Bayan Lecture Series (May 2003 to July 2008) Towards Functional Literacy, DZRB 738 KHz. Philippine Broadcasting System, Bureau of Broadcast, QC
4. Raven PH, Berg LR and GB Johnson (2003) Environment 2nd edition Saunders College Publishing NY
5. Rotor AB (1983) The Men Who Play God: A Collection of Short Stories Ateneo de Manila University Press
Rotor AB (1983) The Wound and the Scar Cacho Hermanos, National Book Store
7. Rotor AV (2000) Light from the Old Arch UST Publishing House
8. Rotor AV (2003) The Living with Nature Handbook. UST Publishing House
Rotor A V (2007) Living With Nature in Our Times, UST Publishing House
10. Time (2007) Global Warming (The Causes. The Perils. The Solutions. Then Actions: 51 Things You Can Do) Time Inc.
11. wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy 
12. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy 
13.www.medicinenet.com/allergy 
14. www.allergyuk.org/

Photos acknowledgement INTERNET ~