Environmental Illness Basics

Environmental illness effects an estimated 10-15% of the population; it is a classification of several illnesses including Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), Electromagnetic Hypersensitivities (EHS), and Sick Building Syndrome.  There is no separate ICD code for the illness, but is encoded under allergies.  The people share the common symptom of being a universal reactor, reacting to many things from chemicals to sunshine, not just the protein allergies which allergists test.

The illness is caused by a toxic level of exposure to chemicals, molds or anything else adverse to the human body, such as suspected second hand smoke.   It can be caused from years of chronic low level exposure or from an acute exposure or any combination of exposures.  Some exposures such as lead or formaldehyde takes over a decade to start exhibiting severe symptoms so the exposure could have happened years ago.

It is a very complicated illness and is treated by medical doctors who specialize in environmental medicine.  There are approximately 150 doctors with this specialty spread throughout the United States.  Our area is fortunate to have several specialists within 100 miles.  

Symptoms are unique in most individuals depending on exposures and constitutions.  For some there is quick weight loss to literally skin and bones and for others there is rapid weight gain such as 80-100 pounds within months with no food or exercise changes.  Most have extreme allergies, migraine type headaches, stomach problems, arthritis or muscle pain and fatigue.  The list of symptoms are several pages long for the official definition of the illness.  You can learn more about the definition at the chemical injury information network (CIIN.org).

Basically individuals see improvement when exposure it eliminated and their body is given support to process the chemicals out of their body.  Unfortunately anyone can join the ranks overnight with a small environmental accident, or long term exposures so be careful and stay as chemically clean as you can.

As we became an industrialized country so has our illnesses.  A high percentage of the people suffering environmental illness are locked into their safe space and unable to be in public.  You will not find many at your local hangout.  But if you keep an eye out for it, you may find one courageous enough to join you.  They are usually the ones who will say they are allergic to perfume.

Most with the illness live a shorter life, with life expectancy being a few years.  Many die from doctors not understanding the illness and trying to manage symptoms with adding more toxic medicines to an already bombarded system. We've seen this in some of the victims from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico where local doctors were not ready for the impacts of the spill.  And many die from non thriving, a condition where the body is no longer able to support itself.  On the flip side, some with proper treatment have recovered enough to return to a somewhat normal lifestyle with some illness management techniques in place.

Housing is a huge issue. Many end up living in cars and off the land as they seek out a safe environmental space.  They are the environmental homeless with the chemicals of modern day housing materials causing problems.   A  few lucky ones can modify their living environment to be livable. The state of Arizona is the most progressive state developing housing solutions, but even then their initial 'clean green' houses were still toxic to individuals with many end up sleeping in their tubs or tiled bathroom floor to just be able to breathe while sleeping.  Last I checked Arizona had successfully modified an old farm house to help three individuals of the thousands afflicted. A good start and hopefully other states will follow their lead.

If you suspect you or someone you love may have an environmental illness schedule an appointment with an environmental doctor.  Do not expect your regular doctor to understand anything about environmental medicine, people with the illness are often pigeon holed into the fibromyalgia diagnosis to give a name to the malady.   Adding holistic sessions can help you manage the illness and return to some aspect of normalcy.

Linda Bender is a metaphysical doctor trained as a medical intuitive. She uses over 20 life coaching and touch therapy techniques from Reiki to personal training to help you reduce stress and pain so your body invokes its natural healing ability. She is at on Church Street in Phoenixville. See www.BenderHealing.com or call 800-706-1354 for more information.