[occ-env-med-l] FW: Successful Talk on Environmental Illness at Washingto

[Guest guest]

Subject: [occ-env-med-l] FW: Successful Talk on Environmental

Illness at Washington University Hospital last week.

Date: Fri, 9 May 2008

On April 28th a series of speakers on the subject

of 'Environmental Health and Illness' were heard by a sophisticated

crowd of Washingtonians interested in learning more about everything

from Chronic Fatigue to Chemical Sensitivity and Autism. The

meeting was hosted by the Center for Integrative Medicine and was

organized by The Preventive and Environmental Health Alliance.

Speakers included were: Nagy MD, Doris Rapp MD, Yu

MD, and Dana Laake MS. Also speaking was Sutton - a 20 year

disabled postal worker who represents 500 postal workers made

chemically sensitive who have pulmonary disease from exposure to

paper dust which is blown out from the machines everyday. Also a

young interior designer told her story of becoming chemically

sensitive from chronic exposure to formaldehyde in fabrics and was

made more severely ill when she married a man with a moldy

basement. Lastly, Dr. Nagy's father -- Henry Lavine -- a local

corporate attorney, discussed the surprising lack of recognition of

this condition by the medical community and how much easier it would

have been to have had better educated advice from his family

physician and others on this subject.

The point of the meeting was to reach out to a diverse group

including leaders from NIEHS, EPA, the media, lobbying groups,

medical film makers, politicians, activists and influential women

who have the power to promote the field of Environmental Medicine.

It was a quickly put together talk that followed a presentation by

Dr. Nagy at The Madeira School where many women confessed their

relatives had the syndrome as well.

Dr. Nagy spoke about becoming ill from a mold exposure in her

home and her recent recovery which was in part portrayed on

Nightline on March 20th. Her message is that not only are about 4%

of the population severely ill disabled from Chemical Sensitivity

but also that a large percentage (70%) of 'normal' women over the

age of 40 have mild symptoms as well that they do not realize are

related to being 'environmentally overloaded or sensitive'. As

their hormones decline the symptoms worsen towards menopause.

Because only 10% of men have mild symptoms they are less likely to

comprehend, believe or experience chemical sensitivity.

This may be the reason for the animosity of male Occ Med

physicians towards the environmentally ill. In fact this meeting

was almost cancelled at the request of one of this list serve

members. Perhaps the interest of the Washington Post publisher as

well as an owner of the NY Times kept the meeting on track. These

powerful women in DC were a formidable match. Fortunately the CEO

of GW and Dean of the medical school supported our right to have

such an educational gathering and even the medical students seemed

outright excited about what they learned!

All and all it was a very informative presentation and is

available on DVD when you join PEHA. See the website:

www.environmentalmedicineinfo.com to sign up and get your copy and

move into the 21st century with an open mind and want to help your

patients get well.

Dr. Nagy will speak at Case Western Reserve on May 15th,

Cleveland Clinic on September 10th, and is now running for the Women

Physicians Congress at the AMA if you care to vote for her this

week. It is time to put the misconceptions of men about conditions

that chiefly affect women to rest for good. Anyone with an interest

in helping to increase awareness or who wants to learn more or host

a speaker call or write.

Sincerely,

Lavine Nagy M.D.

The Preventive and Environmental Health Alliance - President

A Group Focused on Political and Educational Change.

For information or to join see www.environmentalmedicineinfo.com

(same as www.lisanagy.com)

Your contribution of even 10.00 dollars defrays costs - thank you!

Go to www.AAEM.com to locate a physician or educational conference .

Referral from at no charge at from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm 7

days a week.

Tel: 508 696 6998 / Fax 508 696 7169,

P O Box 2472 Vineyard Haven, MA 02568