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Growing prevalence of MS throughout Arabia to be discussed

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:03 am
by MSUK
Growing prevalence of MS throughout Arabia to be discussed at Arab Health 2011

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The effects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) the debilitating neurological disorder that attacks the central nervous system will be in focus during a dedicated one-day conference at the Arab Health Congress 2011, although scant information is available about just how widespread the disease is in the Middle East region.

MS strikes twice as many women as it does men, generally affecting adults between 20 and 40 years of age, however it is known to affect young children as well. Although no accurate data is available, according to US-based WrongDiagnosis.com, part of the HealthGrades network, MS is estimated to affect in excess of 400,000 people in the US and extrapolating that prevalence across the Middle East suggests the region has over 350,000 sufferers.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/2325

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:03 pm
by L
I remember reading that the incidence of MS had doubled in women, in the last twenty five years, in Iran. Roughly the age of the Islamic revolution. And since then the veil has been become much more popular amongst women, the burqa and the chador. I reckon it's vitamin D deficiency..

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 11:58 am
by Bender
Isnt' that a geographically weird region for such a high incidence?

This is going to sound weird but I wonder if the relevance of the 38th parallel has to do with the brains alignment in relation to the earth's lines of magnetic force. (this is not scientific it's just my wondering if people have any actual evidence either way I'd love to see it) and Iran has a lot of magnetic iron deposits. So maybe it's weird magnetic conditions there?

Also I would consider that the spike could be due to better medical treatment in Iran, once they became enemies of the US they started getting cuban doctors who built a medical system there far better than was in place under the Shah. So it could be an existing phenomena that's getting noticed due to the improved diagnostic capabilities there.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:57 pm
by lyndacarol
It could be L's suspicion of vitamin D deficiency, or it could be Bender's idea of improved medical care simply identifying more cases. Or could it be an improved diet with more carbohydrates (starch and sugars) makes more glucose in the bloodstream and consequently triggers more insulin?

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:37 am
by Leonard
this is a copy of my posting at another thread: http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-15285.html

they (these countries) are industrialising, just like we were 50 years ago, with heavy metal and other environmental polution causing venous deficiencies.
see this Boston study: http://www.areco.org/ms.pdf

and they become like any modern society with overconsumption of sugar and the like increasing insulin resistance, even among young people.
see also http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-15188.html

as a consequence: MS - so far unknown in these countries - shoots up!

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:49 am
by mrbarlow
Im in Saudi Arabia and can confirm all of what has been said.

In terms of Vitamin D deficiency the cause is obvious - a cultural obssession with not exposing any skin in public. Many women will cover hands and eyes with a veil so they can barely see. This attitiude is even reinforced by Docs who will tell you Sunlight derived Vitamin D is no good for you....

The region now largely has sewerage systems and people wear shoes so no longer exposed to parasite infections.

Pollution - well people still routinely use leaded petrol. Toxic crap is just stuck up the flare stack at refineries / gas oil plants at the weekend and burnt off.

Diets are shockingly bad too - obesity is the same if not worse than the USA.

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:11 pm
by cheerleader
mrbarlow wrote: Diets are shockingly bad too - obesity is the same if not worse than the USA.
Kuwait has the highest obesity rates in the world. MS and diabetes are skyrocketing. Some link this increase of chronic illness in the middle east to the western fast food revolution and leaving home to eat---

link

cheer

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:57 am
by mrbarlow
cheerleader wrote:
mrbarlow wrote: Diets are shockingly bad too - obesity is the same if not worse than the USA.
Kuwait has the highest obesity rates in the world. MS and diabetes are skyrocketing. Some link this increase of chronic illness in the middle east to the western fast food revolution and leaving home to eat---

link

cheer

I was in hospital for 5 days here and had a saudi guy in the bed next to me - the crap he ate was unbelievable. Smoked like a chimney and beleived the doctors who tell you (the party line) that Vitamin D from the sun is no good for you.....

Oh - and all the cancer is attributable to imported food (ie foreigner infidels)

http://menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?s ... 1093387609 :lol: