Swine Flu: A Whole Industry Is Waiting For a Pandemic

An Interview With Der Spiegel
Original source here - dated 21st July 2009
Part 1: An Interview with Epidemiologist Tom Jefferson

Tom Jefferson, 55, has worked for the Cochrane Collaboration for 15 years. Along with an international team of scientists, he evaluates all published flu- related studies. Before assuming his current position, he was a general practitioner in the British Army. He lives near Rome. Interview conducted by Johann Grolle and Veronika Hackenbroch.

The world has been gripped with fears of swine flu in recent weeks. In an interview with SPIEGEL, epidemiologist Tom Jefferson speaks about dangerous fear-mongering, misguided, money-driven research and why we should all be washing our hands a lot more often.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Jefferson, the world is living in fear of swine flu. And some predict that, by next winter, one-third of the world's population might be infected. Are you personally worried? Are you and your family taking any precautions?

Jefferson: I wash my hands very often -- and it's not all because of swine flu. That's probably the most effective precaution there is against all respiratory viruses, and the majority of gastrointestinal viruses and germs as well.

SPIEGEL: Do you consider the swine flu to be particularly worrisome?

Jefferson: It's true that influenza viruses are unpredictable, so it does call for a certain degree of caution. But one of the extraordinary features of this influenza -- and the whole influenza saga -- is that there are some people who make predictions year after year, and they get worse and worse. None of them so far have come about, and these people are still there making these predictions. For example, what happened with the bird flu, which was supposed to kill us all? Nothing. But that doesn't stop these people from always making their predictions. Sometimes you get the feeling that there is a whole industry almost waiting for a pandemic to occur.

SPIEGEL: Who do you mean? The World Health Organization (WHO)?

Jefferson: The WHO and public health officials, virologists and the pharmaceutical companies. They've built this machine around the impending pandemic. And there's a lot of money involved, and influence, and careers, and entire institutions! And all it took was one of these influenza viruses to mutate to start the machine grinding.

SPIEGEL: On your Italian homepage, there is a "pandemic countdown" that expires on April 1. Don't you think the situation calls for just a bit more seriousness?

Jefferson: I'm just using it ironically to expose the false certainty that we are fed. Will one-third of the world's population get swine flu? Nobody can say for sure right now. For now, at least, I don't really see any fundamental difference, no difference in the definition between this and a normal flu epidemic. Swine flu could have even stayed unnoticed if it had been caused by some unknown virus rather than an influenza virus.

SPIEGEL: Do you think the WHO declared a pandemic prematurely?

Jefferson: Don't you think there's something noteworthy about the fact that the WHO has changed its definition of pandemic? The old definition was a new virus, which went around quickly, for which you didn't have immunity, and which created a high morbidity and mortality rate. Now the last two have been dropped, and that's how swine flu has been categorized as a pandemic.

SPIEGEL: But, year after year, 10,000-30,000 people in Germany alone die from influenza. In the Western world, influenza is the most deadly infectious disease there is.

Jefferson: Hold on! These figures are nothing more than estimates. More than anything, you have to distinguish between an influenza-like illness and a genuine flu, the real influenza. Both of them have the same symptoms: a sudden high fever, a sore throat, coughing, rheumatic pain in the back and legs, possible bronchitis and pneumonia. But real flues, real influenzas are only caused by influenza viruses, while there are more than 200 different viruses that cause influenza-like illness. When it comes to figures related to so-called flu deaths, you always get other causes of death caused by other viruses mixed in. Now, in the case of elderly people who die of pneumonia, nobody would do a postmortem to figure out if it was really an influenza virus that killed them. Approximately 7 percent of influenza-like illness cases are caused by influenza viruses. It's a very small percentage. What I know is that real influenza is systematically overestimated.

SPIEGEL: And what about the 200 other kinds of viruses?

Jefferson: They're not as popular as influenza. Researchers are just not as interested in that. Take rhinovirus, a horse-derived virus. It's the most commonly isolated agent in common colds. There are a hundred different types of these rhinoviruses. They usually only cause a normal runny nose, but they can be deadly, too. Or so-called RSV, the human respiratory syncytial virus, that is highly dangerous to infants and small children.

SPIEGEL: So why aren't researchers interested in it?

Jefferson: It's easy: They can't make money with it. With rhinoviruses, RSV and the majority of the other viruses, it's hard to make a lot of money or a career out of it. Against influenza, though, there are vaccines, and there are drugs you can sell. And that's where the big money from the pharmaceuticals industry is. It makes sure that research on influenza is published in the good journals. And that's why you have more attention being paid there, and the entire research field becomes interesting for ambitious scientists.

SPIEGEL: But is there any scientific reason to be interested in influenza viruses?

Jefferson: The strict focus on influenza is not only misguided; it's also dangerous. Do you remember something called SARS? That was a truly dangerous epidemic. It was like a meteor: It came and it went quickly, and it killed a lot of people. SARS took us by surprise because it was caused by a completely unknown coronavirus. Where did it come from? Where did it go? Or is it still here? We still don't know. There are lots of other strange things like that coming out. Every year, a new agent is identified. For example, there's something called bocavirus, which can cause bronchitis and pneumonia in small children. And there's something called metapneumovirus, which studies say is responsible for more than 5 percent of all flu-related illnesses. So, we should keep our eyes open in all directions!

SPIEGEL: But the great pandemic of 1918/1919 was caused by an influenza virus, and it killed up to 50 million people around the world. Or do scientists contest that?

Jefferson: It's very well possible that it was, but there are many aspects about the 1918/1919 pandemic that still puzzle us. It was only 12 years ago that we learned that the H1N1 virus caused it. But there was also a lot of bacterial activity going on at the time. And it's particularly unclear why the mortality rate for the flu dropped so dramatically after World War II. Today, you only get a fraction of what was standard before the war. When it comes to the later pandemics, such as the "Asian flu" of 1957 or the "Hong Kong flu" of 1968/69, you can barely detect them as exceptional figures when it comes to death statistics as a whole.

Part 2: Contradictions between Scientific Findings and Practice

SPIEGEL: So why should we even speak of pandemics at all?
Jefferson: That's something you should ask the World Health Organization!

SPIEGEL: In your opinion, what do you think it takes to make a virus like the swine flu a global threat?

Jefferson: Unfortunately, we can only say that we don't know. I suspect that the whole issue is much more complex than we are even able to imagine it today. Given all the viruses that produce flu-like symptoms, perhaps Robert Koch's postulate that one particular pathogen causes one particular disease doesn't go far enough. Why, for example, do we not get influenza in the summertime? In the end, the pathogen is there all year long! Already in the 19th century, the German chemist and hygienist Max von Pettenkofer had developed a theory about how the pathogen's contact with the environment can alter the disease. I think that research in this direction would be worthwhile. Perhaps it would allow us to understand the pandemic of 1918/1919 better or to be able to assess the dangers of swine flu.

SPIEGEL: Humans have better defenses today than they did in 1918, and it probably won't be long before we have a swine flu vaccine. Last week, Germany's federal government announced that it wanted to buy enough for 30 percent of the population. How much do you think that will protect us?

Jefferson: When it comes to pandemic vaccination, as we say in English, the proof is in the pudding. The proof is in using it. We'll see. It does generate an antibody response, but will it really guard against the disease?

SPIEGEL: Are you pessimistic about that?

Jefferson: No, I'm just saying I think we're about to find out (laughter). Let's have this conversation again in about a year's time, shall we?

SPIEGEL: For a number of years, as part of the Cochrane Collaboration, you have been systematically evaluating all the studies on immunization against seasonal influenza. How good does it work?

Jefferson: Not particularly good. An influenza vaccine is not working for the majority of influenza-like illnesses because it is only designed to combat influenza viruses. For that reason, the vaccine changes nothing when it comes to the heightened mortality rate during the winter months. And, even in the best of cases, the vaccine only works against influenza viruses to a limited degree. Among other things, there is always the danger that the flu virus in circulation will have changed by the time that the vaccine product is finished with the result that, in the worst case, the vaccine will be totally ineffectual. In the best of cases, the few decent studies that exist show that the vaccine mainly works with healthy young adults. With children and the elderly, it only helps a little, if at all.

SPIEGEL: But aren't those the exact groups that influenza immunization is recommended for?

Jefferson: Indeed. That's one of the contradictions between scientific findings and practice, between evidence and policy.

SPIEGEL: So, what's behind this contradiction?

Jefferson: Of course, that has something to do with the influence of the pharmaceutical industry. But it also has to do with the fact that the importance of influenza is completely overestimated. It has to do with research funds, power, influence and scientific reputations!

SPIEGEL: So, at the moment is it reasonable to keep vaccinating against seasonal influenza?

Jefferson: I can't see any reason for it, but I'm not a decision maker.

SPIEGEL: And what about Tamiflu and Relenza, two of the anti-flu medications that are being deployed against swine flu? How well do they really work?

Jefferson: If taken at the right time, on average, Tamiflu reduces the duration of a real influenza by one day. One study also found that it diminishes the risk of pneumonia.

SPIEGEL: Could these medications lower mortality rates associated with the flu?

Jefferson: That's possible, but it has yet to be scientifically proven.

SPIEGEL: And what about side effects?

Jefferson: Tamiflu can cause nausea. And there are things that point toward psychiatric side effects. There are reports coming out of Japan that young people who have taken Tamiflu have had acute psychotic reactions similar to those found in schizophrenics.

SPIEGEL: So, is it sensible to use such medications at all?

Jefferson: When it comes to severe disease, yes. But under no circumstances should Tamiflu be handed out to whole schools, as is currently sometimes being done. With that being the case, it doesn't surprise me at all that we're already hearing reports about resistant strains of swine flu.

SPIEGEL: In Germany, the government is supposed to stockpile flu medications for 20 percent of the population. Do you see that as being sensible?

Jefferson: Well, at least there are much cheaper ways to accomplish a lot more. For example, school children should be taught to wash their hands regularly -- preferrably after every class! And every airport should install a couple hundred wash basins. Whoever gets off a plane and doesn't wash their hands should be stopped by the border police. You could tell for example by putting an invisible, neutral dye in the water. And wearing masks can be sensible, as well.

SPIEGEL: Has it really been shown that these measures work?

Jefferson: There are several good studies on this that were done during the SARS epidemic. They are so-called case-control studies that examined individuals that had had close contact with the SARS virus. They compared the characteristics of those who had been infected with the virus through this contact with those of people who had not been infected. These studies resulted in very clear results.

SPIEGEL: You sound pretty impressed.

Jefferson: I am. What's great about these measures is not only that they are inexpensive, but also that they can help against more than just influenza viruses. This method can fight against the 200 pathogens that bring about flu symptoms as well as against gastrointestinal viruses and completely unknown germs. One study done in Pakistan has shown that hand washing can even save children's lives. Someone should get a Nobel Prize for that!

SPIEGEL: Mr. Jefferson, we thank you for this interview.source:healthymuslim.com

Principles Concerning 'Infectious Disease' (al-Adwaa) In Light of the Swine Flu Drama -

- by HealthyMuslim
Key topics: Contagion • Infectious Disease


All praise is due to Allah and prayers and salutations be upon His Prophet. To proceed.
Inshaa'Allaah, this series of articles will cover some broad principles by which, as a Muslim, you can have a clearer perspective of this subject in general and with regard to the current issue of swine flu in particular.

The subject of al-adwaa (contagion, infectious disease) can be confusing when you start looking into it, so what we want to do is to start isolating the various principles and build upon them one by one inshaa'Allaah in this series of articles.

PRINCIPLE: It is from the belief of the people of Jaahiliyyah and the Disbelievers (and secular, atheistic societies) that al-adwaa (contagion, "infectious disease") is infectious by its own inherent and intrinsic nature (bit-tab'), that it infects outside of the domain of Allaah's Will (Mashee'ah), Permission (al-Idhn) and Decree (Qadr).

We first draw upon a quote from Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaanee (rahimahullaah) in his "Badhl ul-Maa'oon Fee Fadl it-Taa'oon" (Dar ul-Kutub al-Athariyyah, 1993CE) which is a book specifically dealing with the plague, as he lived during the time of outbreaks of plague in Egypt and covered the issues relating to contagion in the Sunnah (Prophetic Narrations). On page 212 of this book, after lengthy preceding discussions, he summarises the various viewpoints on contagion (what is referred to as "infectious disease"). He says:

The first: that the disease is infectious by its intrinsic, inherent nature (bi tab'ihi), and this is the saying of the disbelievers.
We will come back to this full quote in a later part in this series, at this point, we just want to document what is held in an atheistic secular society in relation to contagion ("infectious disease").

Next we have a statement from Shaykh al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah), who says in the course of discussing the issue of al-adwaa (contagion) in Silsilah as-Saheeah (no. 971):

...And know that there is no contradiction between these two hadeeths and between the hadeeths, "There is no contagion ("infectious disease")..." that have preceded (nos. 781-789), since what is intended by them is to affirm contagion. And the intent behind these hadeeths is to negate the contagion that the peple of Jaahiliyyah used to believe in, which is its transmission by itself, without looking at the (determination of the) Will of Allaah in that... How today resembles yesterday! For indeed the European doctors are in the most severe heedlessness away from Him, the Most High, due to their shirk (association of partners to Allaah) and their misguidance, and their belief in contagion ("infectious disease") upon the way of Jaahiliyyah...
We should note here that when you look at the speech of the scholars in this regard, you see that in some words they appear to be affirming contagion and in other's they are saying it is false. They are referring to two things. When they affirm, what they are referring to is the spread of disease due to Allaah's permission and will. When they are negating, and declaring contagion to be false, they are referring to what is believed by the people of Jaahiliyyah, the secular and atheistic societies and their likes, that a disease is infectious in its own right, in its inherent intrinsic nature, outside of Allaah's control, will, permission and decree, and that it moves and spreads in a population, outside of Allaah's will, decree and permission.

From Shaykh Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) in his treatise "al-Qawaadih fil-Aqeedah wa Wasaa'il as-Salaamah Minhaa":

And whoever claims that there is al-adwaa (contagion, infectious disease), then this is falsehood (baatil), however Allah has made mixing with some of the ill to sometimes be a means (sabab) of the disease being found in the healthy, however it does not infect (spread) by its inherent, intrinsic nature...
And Shaykh Saalih Aal us-Shaykh says in his explanation of Kitaab ut-Tawheed, on this subject:

And the people of Jaahiliyyah believe that the contagion transmits of its own accord (from person to person, or place to place) so Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic - falsified that, He falsified that belief, and he [the Messenger] - may prayers and salutations be upon him - said, "There is no contagion ("infectious disease")", meaning: that which is the effective, influencing element on its own.
Now we can bring more quotes from the Scholars, but here we just want to establish the principle here that the belief on the inherent, intrinsic infectiousness of a disease, that it infects due to its inherent nature (at-tab'), is something held by the people of Jaahiliyyah and the disbelievers.

We can bring in some speech of Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan just to give us a slightly wider perspective before closing this article,and so as not to cause any confusion. He says in his "I'aanat ul-Mustafeed" (Vol 2/7-8):

His (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam's) saying, "There is no contagion ("infectious disease")": What is meant by contagion (al-adwaa) is: The spread of a disease from one person to another, or from an animal to another, or from one place to another. And disease can spread from one place to another and it can spread from the ill to the healthy and from the sick animal (scabies) to the healthy. This is something that exists.
But the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) is not negating this, he is negating the contagion ("infectious disease") that the people of Jaahiliyyah used to believe in, that the disease spreads by itself without the decree of Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted.

So al-adwaa (contagion) is: The spread of disease from one place to another because of the nearness of the healthy to the diseased, and the one who decrees it is Allaah, the Most High. For a healthy person can be close to an ill person and nothing will afflict him, and he may sometimes be close and he will be afflicted (with the illness). And so the cause is that it goes back to Allaah, if He wills, the Sublime and Exalted, the illness will spread (to the other person) and if He wills, then it will not spread.

So the mere nearness of the ill person to the healthy person, or going to a place where a disease has broken out, this is a sabab (a means). As for the effect (ta'atthur), then it is in the Hand of Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted. For a person can enter into a land where a disease has broken out, and he will not be afflicted, an ill person may pass by a healthy person and (the latter will) not be affected. An ill person may sleep next to the healthy person and he (the latter) will not be afflicted. Sometimes, he may. But what is the separating matter between the two situations?

That this goes back to Allaah, the Most High's Will (Mashee'ah).

As for the people of Jaahiliyyah, they don't differentiate, rather to them: Everyone who comes close to an illness, or everyone who comes close to an ill person - that he will be afflicted. And they don't ascribe this to Allaah's ordainment (qadaa) and decree (qadar), and nor do they place reliance upon Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted, and they exaggerate in omens (at-tashaa'um and at-tiyarah) and in the spread of contagion ("infectious disease") and they do actions that are laughable.

So what we find here is that the phenomenon of disease spreading is something that is observable and witnessed. So clearly this outwardly observable phenomenon is not being negated, it does take place. However, this is not because of the "infectiousness" of the disease or this being inherent and intrinsic to it (bi tab'ihi). Further, the mixing between people can sometimes be a sabab, a means. The decisive factor in the spread of the disease is actually Allaah's will, His permission, His decree. This is what the affair return's back to. From this understanding a range of other issues branch off which inshaa'Allaah will be covered in later articles.

What we should note here is that there are a number of viewpoints amongst the Salaf

There are those who say that there is no such thing as contagion ("infectious disease") at all, and that any spread of disease is because Allaah creates that disease afresh in each individual. We will be documenting this view later inshaa'Allaah. For now we'll just mention what has been summarised by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaanee in the aforementioned book (p.213), and which in his view is the most correct view:
The fourth: That disease is not infectious by its inherent nature at all (aslan, fundamentally). Rather, to whichever person a disease occurs, then that is due to Allaah's, the Sublime and Exalted, creating of that in him afresh. For this reason, many who are afflicated with a disease - about which it is said that it is "infectious" - are observed where a healthy person mixes with them often and nothing afflicts him at all, and many who have not mixed at all with the one with the disease are observed, yet the disease (still) afflicts that person (nevertheless). And all of that occurs from the decree (taqdeer) of Allaah...
So here it is explained that because it is often observed that there are many who have never mixed with those with the disease, and who still catch the disease - this shows that the mixing on its own is not the sabab (means), rather it is purely from Allaah's decree and will that other people get the disease, since whether a person mixes with an ill person or not, they still get the disease.

And others from the Salaf say that Allaah has made the mixing between two people to sometimes be a means (sabab), but that the actual effect is under the control of Allaah's will, permission and decree..
These views have arisen out of the necessity to provide an explanation for the apparent contradiction between the hadeeths that negate contagion (such as "there is no contagion") and those that appear to affirm it (such as "flee from the leper"). So you have different ways of reconciling. We will go into that in more detail inshaa'Allaah in future articles.

Summary

The people of Jaahiliyyah, and atheistic, secular societies believe that a disease is "infectious" by its own inherent, intrinsic nature (bi tab'ihi), and that the spread of disease is outside of Allaah's will, permission and decree. When you read much of the language in the scientific documents, in the reporting and in the general coverage of "infectious disease", and in many of the health leaflets on "infectious diseases" and especially when there is an outbreak of some disease (large or small) you come across an abundance of language indicating this.
Here is just one example from the Washington Post from 2nd May 2009:

Mexican Officials Say Flu's Ability to Spread May Be Low. Mexican health officials studying the new influenza virus said Friday they have found that its ability to spread from person to person may be fairly low, raising hopes that the extreme measures taken here -- the shutting down of all nonessential commerce and government -- can contain its spread... In an obscure government building in the south of this city, dozens of experts in public health gathered in a "war room" to monitor on computer screens the spread of swine flu around the country. While it is far too early to answer with any certitude the most pressing questions -- how infectious and lethal is the virus? -- they offered some preliminary assessments
And another example:

...they've determined that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission...
And another example from the LA Times, 30th April 2009:

The swine virus does appear able to spread easily among humans, which persuaded the WHO to boost its influenza pandemic alert level to phase 5, indicating that a worldwide outbreak of infection is very likely.
The capability, and ability in the transmission, is attributed to the virus in this type of language being used.

So the point being here, that in the language used in atheistic, secular societies (and likewise in the educational and medical establishments), diseases are noun-entities that are "disease-causing" in and of themselves, and they are then spoken of as having inherent and intrinsic properties and abilities, such as "infectiousness", "capability of transmission" and so on. And this language is widespread - and it affects the way people think and perceive of the situation, and its a reminder of what was said by Shaykh al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah):

...How today resembles yesterday! For indeed the European doctors are in the most severe heedlessness away from Him, the Most High, due to their shirk (association of partners to Allaah) and their misguidance, and their belief in contagion ("infectious disease") upon the way of Jaahiliyyah...
The spread of disease, however, is an observable phenomenon. The mixing between people can be a means (sabab), and the control and power over it's effect lies only with Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted. Since Allaah is the Creator of the asbaab (ways and means) and the musabbabaat (the resulting effects). However, as Allaah is the Creator He can prevent the asbaab (means) from being tied to their musabbabaat (effects). Further, some of the ways and means are strongly, or inextricably tied to their effects, so the sabab (say drinking water) always leads to its effect (removing thirst), and other ways and means are loosely tied to their effects (say planting a seed may not always lead to the plant and its fruits, or a man having intercourse with this wife, may not always lead to a child) - since there may be additional asbaab (means) that are required also, as well as the absence of preventative barriers for the musabbabaat (effects) to be seen. So ultimately, Allaah has power over everything.
The above is one explanation, namely the mixing between the people is a sabab (means) that is under the control of Allaah, and it can lead to the transmission of disease from one person to another, but this is purely by Allaah's will and decree.

The other explanation from the Salaf is that there is no such thing as "infectious disease" (al-adwaa), at all, and that Allaah creates the disease in each individual afresh. This will be documented in more detail in a later article inshaa'Allaah.

It is permissible for a person to keep away from a person with a disease or from a land where a disease has broken out, out of the principle of not subjecting oneself to potential harm, and keeping away from the asbaab (ways, means) that can lead to harm. And in this regard there is the hadeeth of Umar not advancing to the place where plague had broken out - this will be covered on its own in more detail in a future article inshaa'Allaah. So not subjecting oneself to harm is a general principle, so it applies to things like a person not climbing down a well that is deep, or climbing up a tree, or a building where there is a danger of falling, because this is subjecting oneself unnecessarily to potential harm, and so keeping away from a person with a disease that can spread (by Allaah's will and decree), or from a land where a disease has broken out, is permissible, since the mixing with such people, or going to such a land is from the asbaab (means) that can lead to potential harm. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) forbade going to a land where a disease has broken out and from fleeing from a land where a disease has broken out with the intent of fleeing from the disease. And some of the scholars have explained that the one who has strong faith and reliance upon Allaah can go to a land where a disease has broken out, but that those of weak faith should avoid this in case their aqeedah becomes corrupt.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said in I'aanat ul-Mustafeed (2/8):
So his saying "There is no contagion", meaning, upon the manner that the people of Jaahiliyyah believed in it. As for contagion (the spread of disease) occurring by the permission of Allaah, then this is an affair that occurs, and for this reason the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited from mixing with the leper, and he (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited from approaching a land where disease has broken out, and he he prohibited whoever was in the land in which the disease broke out from leaving that land, and the one who was outside was not to enter into it, because these are asbaab (ways and means) that lead to the spread of disease, and to prevent them is to adopt the protective ways and means, and proceeding towards (such a land) is throwing oneself to destruction. And Allaah prohibited from that, except for the one whose faith and his reliance upon Allaah, the Most High, is strong, for such a one can proceed to the affected land, and can mix with the diseased and he will not be afflicted, because he is relying upon Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted, however this is only for the people of strong faith. As for the people of weak faith, then they are to remain far from these places in case they are affected and then their aqeedah becomes evil
.
It is also permissible for a person to mix with a person with a disease out of reliance upon Allaah (tawakkul), upon the belief that Allaah is the one who controls everything. These two actions are both validated in the Sunnah, and explained by the Scholars.
On a closing note, in the Time Magazine from 27th April 2009:
How to Deal with Swine Flu: Heeding the Mistakes of 1976. In February 1976, an outbreak of swine flu struck Fort Dix Army base in New Jersey, killing a 19-year-old private and infecting hundreds of soldiers. Concerned that the U.S. was on the verge of a devastating epidemic, President Gerald Ford ordered a nationwide vaccination program at a cost of $135 million (some $500 million in today's money). Within weeks, reports surfaced of people developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing nerve disease that can be caused by the vaccine. By April, more than 30 people had died of the condition. Facing protests, federal officials abruptly canceled the program on Dec. 16. The epidemic failed to materialize.

How much fluoride are we ingesting

Inactivity Increases Headache Risk

Inactivity Increases Headache Risk
Filed under: Disease
Tuesday, December 16 2008 - by SoundHealth
Key topics: Headache
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People who are less active may have a higher risk of developing frequent headaches, results from a large study suggest. The findings were based on a survey of more than 68000 adults living in Norway, and found that of those who never exercised, 14% were more likely to develop non-migraine headaches over an 11 year period.
Furthermore, people who were already suffering from any form of frequent headache were at greater risk of being physically inactive. These findings suggest that a lack of exercise may be a risk factor for developing non-migraine headaches - and that exercise is a challenge for people already suffering from any form of head pain.

Lead researcher Emma Varkey of Cephalea headache Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden said it's not clear why a sedentary lifestyle might contribute to headaches, but the findings suggest that protection from headaches could potentially be another reason for people to stay active. Varkey and her colleagues report in the medical journal Cephalalgia.

"The study indicates that people with headache might need help (or) advice to increase their level of activity," she noted. There are, however, still questions about the types of exercise that are best for people with frequent headaches, according to Varkey.

Exercise usually does not worsen common, tension-type headaches, she noted, but for some migraine sufferers, vigorous activity can trigger episodes of head pain. Varkey added her researcher group will soon publish a study looking at an exercise regimen designed to boost migraine patients' fitness without worsening their condition.

(Adapted from article on Reuters Health)

Nutrition Basics: The Body's Digestive Cycle Explained

All praise is due to Allaah and prayers and salutations be upon His Messenger: To proceed:
Ensuring the body remains at its optimal condition requires an understanding of the foundations and basics of sound nutrition. In this series of articles we are going to cover a range of topics that will allow us to modify our lifestyles and diets to ensure that what we eat is of maximum benefit and at the same time of no harm at all to our bodies. The texts of the Book and the Sunnah require that we practice sound nutrition and as such it is important that we acquire a good basic understanding of this area.

The Body's Natural Digestive Cycle

In order to practice sound nutrition we have to understand that the body's digestive system is broken down into three (roughly) eight-hour cycles in a twenty-four hour period.

Digestion of food (appropriation and digestion)
Assimilation of food (absorption and use)
Elimination (excretion of waste products)
This is a rhythm programmed in the body and all of our consumption of food should be based around an understanding of this rhythm. Unfortunately, this rhythm or cycle can be thrown into confusion by way of bad eating habits, and this in turn can lead - over long periods of time - to chronic illnesses.

Appropriation of Food (12pm - 8pm)

This cycle commences around noon and this is the preferred time of appropriating and digesting food. Prior to this stage, the body is in the elimination cycle and isn't really ready for large amounts of food. During this cycle, if you do not have any food your body feels hunger and craves for food. The body lets us know that it is in need of food. At this stage it is important that you only eat when your body is hungry.

Notice that there is a difference between your body needing food and between you wanting food. Your body will let you know when it needs food. This is totally different to you wanting (but not necessarily needing) food. If you can appreciate this one thing in your eating habits, you will be on your way to much better and healthier living!

Assimilation (8pm - 4am)

The assimilation stage occurs during the night when the body ought to be resting. This allows the assimilation mechanism to get into gear and get on with the process with absolute minimal disruption. As the body is in a horizontal position it is better suited for assimilation compared to the vertical position during the day which is better suited for the passage of food down the digestive tract. In the assimilation stage the intestines extract all the nutrients from what we have digested, so it likes to keep all this food until it has extracted all the nutrients and goodness from it. Ideally you should leave three hours between your last meal and going to sleep.

A properly formulated and combined meal will already be on its way through the intestine for assimilation by the time you go to bed. While you sleep, your body is making use of all of those nutrients, refreshing and replenishing your body and the various systems therein. It replaces and repairs damaged cells and allows the blood and lymphatic system to get the waste material to the "waste collection" points ready for it to be picked up and excreted in the early morning.

In light of the above, it is harmful to the body if you start having heavy meals before going to sleep. Firstly your body is in the horizontal position and so gravity is not working in your favour, and secondly it interferes with the assimilation process and the general replenishment of the body.

Excretion (4am - 12pm)

At around 4am the elimination cycle kicks in and the garbage starts to get removed from the system. In the assimilation process the body has separated out the useful nutrients from the waste, and has rejected all the food that cannot be absorbed and metabolized for further use. Elimination removes the waste matter, whether it is non-metabolized fibrous food or waste products generated by the body. The body has extremely complicated system to get rid of waste using the bowels and urine to excrete all the useless junk the body no longer has any use for. In addition to this, toxins arising as part of the metabolic process are also removed via sweat (underarms), the bowel, urine and glands at the back of the knees, the groin and other areas.

Of the three cycles, the elimination stage is the most abused. This occurs primarily by having large breakfasts that include undesirable foods (from a health point of view) or which are badly combined. This prevents the elimination process from completing properly and over time this leads to waste and toxins building up in the intestine.

It is actually this problem (interfering with the elimination process) that underlies many long term chronic illnesses because the body is now no longer able to efficiently absorb vital nutrients in minerals to replenish the body. Maintaining a healthy and efficient intestine and colon is vital to good and long-lasting health.

Summary

Understanding these three stages of appropriation, assimilation and elimination is vital for developing a good daily eating routine that maintains optimal health. Along with knowledge of what constitutes a good balanced diet, by changing your eating habits to fall in line with this information you will see positive changes in the level of your overall health and well-being.
Nutrition Basics: The Body's Digestive Cycle Explained

Ibn al-Qayyim: Patience Preserves the Health of Hearts and Bodies

Filed under: General

Tuesday, June 09 2009 - by SoundHealth

Key topics: Patience

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Ibn al-Qayyim said in The Prophetic medicine regarding patience:

Patience is half of faith; for this is a quality composed of patience and gratitude (shukr). As one of the ancestors (salaf) has said: Faith is in two halves: one half patience, one half gratitude. And the Most High said: Indeed in that there are signs for each one who is patiently persevering and truly grateful [Surah Ibrahim: 5].

Patience in relation to faith is like the head in relation to the body. It is of three types:

* (1) patience concerning the obligations (fard) laid down by Allah, that one should not neglect them;

* (2) patience in abstaining from actions forbidden by Him, that one should not commit them;

* (3) patience concerning His judgments (qada') and decrees (qadar), that one should not resent them.

Whoever perfectly fulfills these three degrees has perfected patience. For the pleasure of this world and the next, their blessings, and victory and conquest can only be reached over the bridge of patience, just as no-one reaches Paradise except by crossing over the Path. 'Umar b. al-Khattab said: We attained the best of life through patience.

If you reflect on the degrees of perfection acquired in the world, you will see that they are all dependent on patience. And if you reflect on imperfection, which one is blamed for possessing, you will see it all stemming from lack of patience. Thus courage and purity, goodness and love of others, all this is the patience of an hour.

Most sicknesses of the body and heart arise simply from lack of patience. And there is naught like patience for preserving the health of hearts, bodies and spirits. For it is the great remedy, the mighty tiryaq, even if it were to contain only the company of Allah "for Allah is with the patient" [Surah Al-Baqarah:153], and His affection for them for indeed "Allah loves those who are patient"[Surah Al-Imran:146], and His giving victory to His people 'for victory comes with patience'; and that it is a good for the people of patience, "And if you show patience, that is indeed the best course for those who are patient" [Surah An-Nahl: 126], and that it is the cause of prosperity, "O you who believe! Persevere in patience, vie in perseverance, be ever vigilant, and fear Allah, that perchance you may prosper" [Surah Al-Imran:200].