Community News
Shaking: Essential tremor or Parkinson’s disease?
Published
4 years agoon
BY W. GIFFORD- JONES MD & DIANA GIFFORD-JONES
It’s fair to say, these are shaky times! In keeping with the rocky ride of 2020, have you noticed your hands shaking lately? Are you having trouble tying your shoes, signing your name, or embarrassed that the glass you’re holding is shaking?
Parents may also have concerns if their child has shaky hand movements. A report from the University of California says that a condition called essential tremor can occur in young children and young adults. This problem increases with age. At around age 60, about 5% of people notice a slight tremor. Another study states that about 1% of the population suffers from tremor.
Essential tremor is the most common form and usually involves the hands and arms, less often other parts of the body. It occurs with movement, not at rest.
This slight shaking can also affect the head, with movement from side to side, or up and down. On rare occasions, it involves the vocal cords, and the voice becomes halting. It may also be associated with poor balance.
No one is certain of the cause. Researchers are studying a part of the brain called the cerebellum which plays a role in movement and muscle control.
Doctors can usually make the diagnosis when symptoms have been present for at least three years, and no other signs of neurological disease are evident. But there are differences between essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease that help doctors to distinguish one from the other.
For instance, considering statistical chances is helpful. Essential tremor is approximately eight times more common than Parkinson’s disease.
Essential tremor normally occurs during action, such as writing, eating or extending an arm to shake hands. But in Parkinson’s disease, the tremor occurs when the arm is not being moved. This is a “resting tremor”.
There’s a difference in the tremor’s frequency and the magnitude. For essential tremor, it’s usually of higher frequency, with more repetitions over a length of time. In Parkinson’s disease, the frequency of movement is slower.
A look to relatives may provide clues. A family history of essential tremor exists in more than 50% of cases; whereas in Parkinson’s disease, only 10-20%.
In terms of symptoms, in essential tremor, the primary issue is anxiety regarding the shakiness. In Parkinson’s, other symptoms appear apart from the tremor, such as rigidity, slowed movements and balance issues.
Treatment of the two is different as well. The majority of people who have essential tremor do not require treatment. In fact, researchers report that those with this condition rarely bother to seek treatment. Or, they wait for many years before seeing a doctor.
A change in lifestyle may ease mild tremors. Since sleep deprivation aggravates tremors, the answer is to get more shut-eye.
There is little doubt that anxiety plays a major role with tremor. Sufferers indicate they try to avoid stressful activities such as public speaking due to the visibility of hand tremors. Yoga, stretching and relaxation exercises can be beneficial. Alcohol also has a moderating effect on tremor as long as used in moderation. Smoking must be eliminated as nicotine aggravates tremor.
For patients with Parkinson’s disease, alcohol has no effect on the disease. But drugs such as levodopa usually provide some improvement of symptoms.
And for parents who notice a child with shaky hands, have a doctor follow the case and keep a journal of what you see. As the child grows and becomes self-conscious of tremors, help them gain confidence through understanding of essential tremor.
Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, MD is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Harvard Medical School. He trained in general surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University and in Gynecology at Harvard. His storied medical career began as a general practitioner, ship’s surgeon, and hotel doctor. For more than 40 years, he specialized in gynecology, devoting his practice to the formative issues of women’s health. In 1975, he launched his weekly medical column that has been published by national and local Canadian and U.S. newspapers. Today, the readership remains over seven million. His advice contains a solid dose of common sense and he never sits on the fence with controversial issues. He is the author of nine books including, “The Healthy Barmaid”, his autobiography “You’re Going To Do What?”, “What I Learned as a Medical Journalist”, and “90+ How I Got There!” Many years ago, he was successful in a fight to legalize heroin to help ease the pain of terminal cancer patients. His foundation at that time donated $500,000 to establish the Gifford-Jones Professorship in Pain Control and Palliative Care at the University of Toronto Medical School. At 93 years of age he rappelled from the top of Toronto’s City Hall (30 stories) to raise funds for children with a life-threatening disease through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Diana Gifford-Jones, the daughter of W. Gifford-Jones, MD, Diana has extensive global experience in health and healthcare policy. Diana is Special Advisor with The Aga Khan University, which operates 2 quaternary care hospitals and numerous secondary hospitals, medical centres, pharmacies, and laboratories in South Asia and Africa. She worked for ten years in the Human Development sectors at the World Bank, including health policy and economics, nutrition, and population health. For over a decade at The Conference Board of Canada, she managed four health-related executive networks, including the Roundtable on Socio-Economic Determinants of Health, the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, the Canadian Centre for Environmental Health, and the Centre for Health System Design and Management. Her master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government included coursework at Harvard Medical School. She is also a graduate of Wellesley College. She has extensive experience with Canadian universities, including at Carleton University, where she was the Executive Director of the Global Academy. She lived and worked in Japan for four years and speaks Japanese fluently. Diana has the designation as a certified Chartered Director from The Directors College, a joint venture of The Conference Board of Canada and McMaster University. She has recently published a book on the natural health philosophy of W. Gifford-Jones, called No Nonsense Health – Naturally!
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Community News
On tariffs, tempests, and trade teapots
Published
14 hours agoon
January 31, 2025By
TOCaribNewsBY HERBERT HILDEBRANT
Where are the Canadian leaders anyway? Put the toys away, it’s time to work.
The recent threat of tariffs on Canadian goods shipping to the USA by President Trump represents more than just a political challenge; it is an economic alarm bell for Canada. At a time when leadership and decisive action are needed most, what do we see? A Prime Minister and many of our provincial leaders preoccupied with ideological grandstanding and political posturing rather than acting decisively to protect Canadian interests.
While Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is taking the bold steps necessary to advocate for Alberta by meeting directly with Donald Trump, the response from our federal government and many provincial leaders, along with the government funded media, has been to criticize her. Let me make this clear: every Premier should be following her example, not disparaging it. You don’t need to agree with her political views to acknowledge that she is demonstrating leadership and advocacy for her province, regardless of the media and political chatter.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford: You lead a province with the manufacturing heart of Canada, a region that will feel the brunt of these tariffs more than most. Yet instead of addressing these real and pressing issues, you’re playing games—like pulling American booze off Ontario shelves and calling an election a little over 2 ½ years after the last one.
Your fascination with alcohol policies is getting old, Premier Ford. Ontarians are tired of the distractions. It’s time to get real. Focus on protecting the industries and workers who are counting on you. Ontario needs decisive leadership, not gimmicks. Get yourself to Washington DC this week and make some deals. You have been in business on both sides of the border before you entered politics, stop electioneering and meet with the President and his staff and get the job done now.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault: You govern Quebec, a province rich with industries that contribute significantly to the Canadian and American economy. Your inaction on these tariff threats is disappointing. Quebec cannot afford to stand idly by, especially when its industries—forestry, aerospace, and more—are so deeply interconnected with the United States. You must step up, not just for Quebec, but for all of Canada.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre: Leadership means doing what is bold and necessary, even in the face of false narratives and media insinuations. I urge you to rise above the noise and demonstrate the courage Canadians need. Meet with President Donald Trump. Show him, and the world, that Canada still has bold and decisive leaders ready to stand for our country’s interests. Such a move will not only reaffirm Canada’s commitment to a strong bilateral relationship but also remind Canadians that we have leaders who are not afraid to act when the stakes are high. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Canadians are extremely weary of the current government, and this is your time to step up boldly and take the PR wheel. We have the most unpopular and incompetent Prime Minister in living memory – fill that vacuum now.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: This is a defining economic moment for the country, but unfortunately, your record speaks for itself. Under your leadership, Canada’s GDP growth has lagged by over 30% compared to the United States. In nine years, your policies and those of your cabinet have weakened our economy and left us with anemic growth. This is not just a failure of governance—it is a direct result of your policies and sunny ways.
You and Chrystia Freeland are single-handedly responsible for the economic decline of Canada. Yet instead of addressing these failings, you continue to posture and appoint incompetent negotiators who cannot defend our country’s interests. Take responsibility for the economic harm you have caused. Resign immediately. Call an election and let Canadians determine who they want to lead us in this definitive year. We need leaders who will prioritize prosperity and sovereignty, not political expediency.
You have blocked pipelines across this country so that our oil must flow through the USA to get to eastern Canada. They can turn those taps off with no notice. It is time to unlock and unleash the economic prosperity that cheap oil and gas swiftly produce in any nation that is fortunate to have those resources. Canada has some of the most natural resources in the world and we need to tap those resources like never before. This will restore affordability, middle class wealth, and economic stability quickly.
We must appoint negotiating leaders for the Canada<>USA relationship who understand both business and diplomacy, MPs with the: track record, integrity, and insight needed to represent Canada effectively along with key business leaders who operate on both sides of the border, individuals with firsthand experience navigating the intricacies of trade between Canada and the United States. People who understand the stakes and have a vested interest in achieving balanced solutions. We have Canadians with close ties across business, political, and geographical boundaries that need to be given space to work on behalf of our country, such as: Wayne Gretzky, Dr Jordan Peterson, Kevin O’Leary, MP Jamil Jivani, Premier Smith, and many more.
While we are addressing our trade relationship with the United States, let us seize the opportunity to think bigger. It is time to explore an economic union directly with the U.S. that goes beyond the limitations of North American free trade. By harmonizing our economic policies, we can eliminate the border as a barrier to prosperity while focusing our efforts on defending our sovereignty. A joint approach to: securing our borders, stemming the tide of illegal immigration, and reigning in temporary visa abuse will help restore affordability to housing and secure a better future for the next generation of Canadians.
Let me be very clear: tit-for-tat tariff trade wars are a game Canada cannot afford to play. Every time we retaliate, we risk further damaging our industries and losing the economic stability we need to thrive. Tariffs are not a weapon we wield well, and if this becomes a contest of escalation, we will lose. Every time. That is why strategic diplomacy and strong, competent negotiation must replace the short-sighted theatrics we have seen from your government.
This isn’t just about avoiding tariffs—it’s about securing our economic future and standing tall as a contributing partner on the global stage, minus the empty rhetoric of Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland. Every Premier, every MP, and every business leader should be working together to fight for Canada’s future. This is no time for partisan politics, or ideological grandstanding. It is a time for courage and decisive action that produces meaningful results.
We cannot allow any individual biases and like, or dislike for President Trump and VP JD Vance to cloud this moment – Canada simply cannot afford it. Premier Smith has demonstrated what leadership looks like. Instead of trying to tear down her efforts, swallow your pride and follow her lead. The stakes are too high for anything less. The economic future of hard-working Canadians depends on you at this moment, don’t drop the ball.
Community News
Narcissism; the trendy diagnosis of the 21st Century
Published
19 hours agoon
January 30, 2025BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“Narcissism.” The word rolls off our tongues with alarming frequency these days. It’s become the trendy diagnosis, a label slapped on anyone who seems a bit too confident, a bit too self-absorbed, but are we truly understanding the nuances of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), or are we simply using it as a catch-all for anyone who rubs us the wrong way?
This week, I delve deeper. I will explore the fine line between healthy self-esteem and the dangerous territory of self-importance. I attended a lecture by renowned psychologist Igor Weinberg, PhD, and he provided invaluable insights, breaking down the complexities of NPD while challenging the stigma that shrouds this disorder.
Dr. Weinberg addressed critical questions: How do we distinguish between genuine confidence and the inflated ego characteristic of NPD? What are the real-world impacts of these differing self-perceptions, and most importantly, how can we navigate relationships with individuals who may be struggling with this disorder?
I took the time to meticulously research the questions posed by other attendees at Dr. Weinberg’s lecture; today, I will be providing valuable answers and guidance for those who suspect a loved one may be grappling with NPD. Join me as we shed light on this often-misunderstood condition and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and those around us.
Narcissism refers to feelings and attitudes towards one’s own self. It is the core of self-esteem and emotions, which influence the way one perceives and relates to others.
One thing that needs to be cleared up is that we all have some narcissistic tendencies. Normal narcissism involves a healthy, positive sense of self-worth and self-regard with self-acceptance, curiosity, and compassion, including pride and enjoyment. Interpersonally, healthy narcissism motivates regard and connection with others, as well as reciprocal sharing with genuine interest in others’ thoughts and feelings, (i.e., commitment and empathy). It promotes an ability to handle challenging situations; to tolerate both criticism and defeats, as well as self-conscious emotions, such as shame, envy, humiliation, frustration, and guilt.
Then, there is an unhealthy narcissism, which is what many of you have come here to understand. Pathological narcissism differs from normal, healthy, or exaggerated narcissism foremost because of fluctuating, or dysregulated self-esteem and emotions. People struggling with pathological narcissism make considerable efforts to enhance themselves to protect and support a special, or amplified, but at the same time, fragile or negative sense of self. They strive to avoid threats and inferiority caused by adverse feelings and experiences, especially reflecting upon the self. Interpersonal closeness and intimacy are usually impaired due to compromised genuine interest in others’ experiences, or reactions, except when it is important for one’s own concerns or gains.
Self-centeredness and the need for personal benefits are additional predominant features. Empathy, including attention to and ability to identify with others’ feelings and needs, is impaired and accompanied by misjudgments of own influence on others. When the level of pathological narcissism is less severe, triggered in certain situations, or limited to a set of specific character features (something that I personally deal with), it is referred to as narcissistic pathology, or narcissistic traits.
The diagnostic term NPD refers to a stable long-term personality functioning that meets the DSM-5 section II, or III criteria for NPD or any other comprehensive diagnostic description. Just to bring everyone up to speed, The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) is a comprehensive guide used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders.
According to the DSM-5 section II, striking characteristics of NPD include: self-enhancement and self-centeredness, with interpersonal insensitivity and critical, competitive, or provocative behavior, along with compromised ability for commitment, collaboration, closeness, and mutuality.
The manual also speaks to the fact that NPD has a genetic origin with inherited hypersensitivity, low frustration tolerance, compromised emotion tolerance, and regulation. Early interactions between child and caregivers are influenced by overprotection, leniency, and overvaluation, or alternatively by: inconsistency, dismissiveness, and unreliability.
Both clinical and empirical studies have confirmed that: emotional distress, interpersonal vulnerability, a sense of inadequacy, need for control, avoidance, and fear, pain, shame, and anxiety are important facets of narcissistic personality functioning.
For some patients, the possibility of confirming narcissistic pathology, or receiving the NPD diagnosis when starting treatment can be extremely challenging and evoke deep shame and hopelessness. Others may have deeply rooted negative experiences or trauma that caused the development of narcissistic pathological functioning, and it may take significant time of building alliance and trust until those can be accessible to process in psychotherapy.
A flexible, nonjudgmental, collaborative, and exploratory treatment approach, adjusted to the individual patient’s: functioning, motivation, and degree of self-awareness and self-reflective ability, is strongly recommended. It is necessary to balance patients’ urges to reject and devalue the therapist and drop out of treatment with efforts to encourage and support them to face, explore, and reflect upon their own experiences and behavior.
There is so much to be said about this topic, but for my readers remember that you are not alone. Dealing with someone who has NPD can be incredibly challenging. Prioritize your own well-being. Establish and maintain healthy boundaries. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. Educate yourself about NPD to better understand the dynamics at play. Focus on self-care and nurture your own needs. Remember, you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
REFERENCES:
https://www.mcleanhospital.org/video/dbt-skills-value-validation
https://www.mcleanhospital.org/video/narcissistic-personality-disorder
Community News
Three children’s toothpaste that you should avoid giving your children
Published
4 days agoon
January 27, 2025BY SIMONE J. SMITH
Crest, Colgate/Tom’s of Maine, and Hello; I want you to take a look in your medicine cabinet or on top of your bathroom sink and tell me if you see these products. More importantly, I want you to look at them, especially if you are allowing your children to use these products. I have some news for you that is not going to be exciting to read.
On Monday January 13th, 2025, six class action lawsuits were filed accusing major dental product manufacturers of deceptively marketing products containing fluoride to young children, and misleading parents to believe the products are safe for toddlers. The lawsuits also allege the companies fail to adequately flag instructions for proper use, as mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Well, this news would make sense for a parent living in the United States, but why does that concern a parent living here in Canada. By and large, Crest manufactures most of its toothpaste at its plant in Greensboro. However, they do manufacture some of the toothpaste in Naucalpan, Mexico. To be more specific, Kid’s Crest Cavity Prevention is manufactured in Mexico. (For anyone concerned, check the packaging ahead of time to see that it says, “Made in the USA.”).
Colgate toothpaste is made in the United States, Mexico, and other countries around the world. The Colgate Total line is manufactured in Morristown, Tennessee. (Their toothpaste that is made in the USA is usually clearly marked with “made in the USA” or “proudly made by American workers). Hello company is a natural oral care brand that was founded in 2015. The company is based in San Francisco, California, and is committed to making oral care products that are both effective and good for the environment.
According to the parents who came forward, the companies design their product labels with candy and fruit juice flavors and images and cartoon characters to appeal to young children, often misleading them to think the products are meant to be consumed as food. The complaints highlight the serious risks to children’s health from ingesting excess fluoride. These include flu-like symptoms from: acute toxicity, dental fluorosis, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption and even death.
Colgate Kids natural product, marketed as “Silly Strawberry” by Tom’s of Maine, also features the word “natural,” implying that the product is free from toxic ingredients — which it isn’t — and that there is no need to limit how much paste goes on the brush. Crest offers flavors like “Bubblegum” and “Sparkle Fun” with cartoon animals on the box. Candy flavors and cartoons make it tempting for children to eat toothpaste, plus ask a child how good it tastes, and they will tell you. Children under age six lack the developed swallowing reflexes that allow them to control how much they ingest, increasing the likelihood they will swallow the products.
Research details that excessive fluoride intake can lead to dental fluorosis, a tooth discoloration caused by overexposure during childhood. Since the introduction of candy-like fluoride products in the 1980s, the rate of dental fluorosis among U.S. schoolchildren has skyrocketed. Rates rose from 23% of children in 1986-87 to “a staggering 68%” of children by 2015-16, the complaint alleges.
Each year, Poison Control receives between 10,000 and 15,000 calls due to excess consumption of fluoride toothpaste, and there are also thousands of calls related to the ingestion of mouth rinse most of which involve young children and hundreds of which result in hospitalization.
Ingesting too much fluoride can also cause acute toxicity, with flu-like symptoms such as nausea, stomach upset and vomiting — symptoms that parents may not recognize as being related to fluoride. The complaints note that swallowing just one full strip of toothpaste can cause these effects in toddlers.
Disturbingly, the evidence supporting these claims is growing. Scientists at the National Toxicology Program last week published a meta-analysis in the JAMA Pediatrics linking fluoridated water and IQ loss in children. It “found significant inverse associations between fluoride exposure and children’s IQ scores.”
Attorney Michael Connett, partner at Siri & Glimstad, is representing the plaintiffs. Connett successfully represented plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over water fluoridation. In that case, a federal judge ruled in September 2024 that water fluoridation at current U.S. levels poses an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children and ordered the EPA to take regulatory action.
The lawsuits seek to hold the companies accountable for including packaging elements on their products that allegedly mislead consumers and violate the act. Plaintiffs seek statutory damages to compensate for their financial loss incurred by purchasing more of the products than they needed because they were misled to overuse them. They also seek punitive damages.
REFERENCES:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2828425
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