H E L P
AIDS prevention/
Life extension
by Patrick Caplis. /YD.
Since the first cases of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported
in 1979, we have traveled a long way. K is now
generally accepted that AIDS is caused by a
new strain of virus, the human T-lympho-
tropic virus III, also known as HTLV-III. The
virus is thought to specifically attack certain
cells in the body's immune system, inhibiting
the function of these cells and often killing
them.
The immune system is the body’s primary
means of defense against disease-causing
organisms. And it is the immune system
which initiates the inflammatory response
which occurs when you get a sliver in your
finger or when you start sneezing around that
y
cat you know you’re allergic to. Our immune
system is composed of several different body
organs and many types of chemical sub- .
stances and cells. One class of white blood
cells, B-lymphocytes, defend the body by
creating antibodies to bacteria and viruses
before they can impair cells. A second class
of white blood cells, T-lymphocytes, are the
central defense of the "cellular" immune
system. T-lymphocytes detect invading
organisms and malignant cells and directly
or indirectly bring about their destruction.
In persons with AIDS, this cellular immune
system fails. The AIDS virus attacks
T-lymphocytes, resulting in abnormally low
levels of T-helper cells” which stimulate the
immune system, and higher levels of
T-suppressor cells" which inhibit the func
tion of the immune system. This imbalance,
called a reverse T-cell ratio, can lead to a
strong vulnerability to “opportunistic" infec-
is the
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tions, rarely seen except in individuals whose
immune system has been disabled by
• genetic deficiency, chemotherapy, or age.
Such infections include Pneumocystis
carinii pneumonia and the rare cancer
Kaposi's sarcoma. With a severely disabled
immune system, new infections or malig
nancies often continue to develop, and in
most cases, this progression, developing one
disease after another, is so debilitating that
the person eventually dies.
Experts at the recent AIDS conference in
Atlanta estimate that one million Americans
may have already been exposed to the AIDS
virus. So far 9,600 Americans have contracted
AIDS, and the Center for Disease Control
expects the number to double by this time
next year. The AIDS epidemic is worsening.
It is time for all of us to think seriously
about a preventive medicine approach to
AIDS. There is at present no treatment pro
ven effective for the immune system failure in
AIDS, and the discovery of a vaccine remains
a distant prospect The only known method
of preventing AIDS is to avoid exposure.
I recently attended SAFESEX WORK
SHOP II here in Portland. In the recent past
many researchers have stressed the promis
cuous sexual behavior of AIDS victims as a
possible factor in their having contracted the
disease. Mow more emphasis is being placed
not so much on the number of sexual con
tacts but more on high versus low risk sexual
activity. Because AIDS is transmitted primar
ily through body fluids, particularly blood and
semen, high risk sexual activities are those in
which there is a high risk of body fluid ex
change between two individuals. Examples
of high risk sexual activities are anal inter
course and fisting. Both are considered po
tentially dangerous because of the possibility
of producing microscopic tears in the rectum
which would allow exchange of blood and
semen. Low risk sexual activities include
mutual masturbation and passive oral sex.
At this point I part company with some of
my more orthodox medical peers. Any
standard medical textbook will tell you that
there are two requirements for any infectious
disease to occur: 1) the presence of a patho
genic (disease-producing) organism such as
a virus or bacterium, and 2) a susceptible
host which provides a favorable environment
where disease-causing organisms can grow
and reproduce. Putting so much emphasis
on the HTLV-III virus as trie cause of AIDS
tends to overshadow the fact that the AIDS
virus, like any other pathogen, requires a
susceptible host organism in order to pro
duce a disease state. But how can we identify
those individuals more likely to develop AIDS
when exposed to the virus. At present, not
much is known.
It is, however, my subjective opinion that
healthy people do not get sick, or at least not
very sick or very often. Living according to the
laws of health tends to decrease the like
lihood of serious illness. The problem is that
most people have very little idea what the
laws of health might be. Most of us did not
learn much about health at home or in school
or in the doctor’s office. And even if a person
does have knowledge about how to be
healthy, it is quite another thing to actually
struggle to be healthy! So no wonder people
get sick a lo t
Over the years, I have evolved my own set
of health guidelines. These are not the Ten
Commandments written on stone tablets;
each of us is an individual with different
biochemical and psychosial needs. As you
use this rather general information to help
you evolve your own healthful lifestyle, try to
be flexible and accepting of who you are as a
person.
In a total approach to health. I feel the
following things are important:
GENETICS: You are, in some respects, the
person vour parents made you. We cannot at
present alter the genetic material we were
bom with; we can only strive to do the best we
can with what we've go t See below.
NUTRITION: Most Americans eat a diet
high in fats, proteins and simple sugars, and
relatively low in complex carbohydrates
(whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables).
Modem day nutritionists advocate exactly the
opposite: 60-70% of our calories should
come from complex carbohydrates. 20-30%
from protein foods, 15-20% from fats. It is
important to eat some raw food daily, and I
also encourage people to take a good multi-
vitamin/mineral supplement every day.
Sunlight clean air and lots of pure water are
also nutrtional requirements.
EXERCISE: Groan! It’s not as bad as you
think. You don’t have to jog fifty miles a week
or play raquetball until you drop from ex
haustion. Thirty minutes of brisk walking 3-4
times a week is a good amount of exercise.
Individuals on a weight-loss program usually
have to do more. What is important is to
make exercise a regular part of your life. If you
have a heart condition, other serious medial
problem or you are over forty years old, see
your doctor before starting an exercise
program.
STRESS: A certain amount of stress in our
lives is healthful and normal, but chronic
high-level stress can be detrimental. Too
much work or too much play can make you
sick. Too much failure or too much success
can kill you.
DRUG (JSE: A little goes a long way be
cause all drugs have some toxic effects. So
cial drugs like alcohol, marijuana, cocaine,
amyl nitrite (poppers) and nicotine all have
direct adverse effects on certain body organs.
Sugar is a drug-like substance which, among
other things, inhibits some functions of the
immune system.
REST/RELAXATION: Time out for minds
and bodies to unwind and repair. Sleep depri
vation may leave you cranky, foggy-brained
and low-energy. Relax and smell the flowers
— often.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE, FAITH, LOVE: Our
minds can be powerful tools in promoting
the health of our bodies. Some of the nation’s
most prestigious research institutions are
now exploring the intricate connection
between mind and body. There is growing
evidence that you can literally think yourself
sick and you can also think yourself back to
health. So think positive!
MENTAL-EMOTIONAL HEALTH: Emo
tional expression is a part of being healthy.
People who are emotionally constipated stuff
their emotions and allow a huge build-up of
tension in their bodies which may contribute
to high blood pressure, cancer, migraines,
etc. Each of us must strive to know and love
and accept the person we are and the world
we live in. We need to be touched, and we
need to be loved.
By gradually adopting such a health
program, I think you will find that you feel
much better day to day, and that overall you
will tend to get sick much less often. My own
opinion is that you will also be much less
likely to contract a life-threatening illness like
AIDS. Furthermore, you will be more likely to
remain healthy even as you age, and chances
are good that you will live a long life. Good
health is not an accident, we create it day by
day. So ... go for it!
Patrick Caplis is a Portland-area naturo-
patriic physician.
Ju*t Out, June. 1985