Explaining 'Unexplained Illnesses': Disease Paradigm for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Gulf War Syndrome

Discover the answer to the mysteries of these debilitating illnesses Explaining Unexplained Illnesses provides long-sought explanations for the properties of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) fibromyalgia and posttraumatic stress disorder. This groundbreaking book examines common symptoms and signs; short-term stressors such as infection chemical exposure physical trauma and severe psychological stress; why people are often diagnosed as having more than one of these illnesses and approaches for treating the cause of each disease rather than the symptoms. The book presents a detailed and well-supported mechanism (the NO/ONOO- cycle) that provides consistent explanations for many of the puzzling elements of these diseases. At least a dozen scientists have proposed that chronic fatigue syndrome multiple chemical sensitivity and fibromyalgia must share a common mechanism; others have suggested posttraumatic stress disorder may belong to this group as well. This unique book provides explanations for their previously unexplained properties with more than 1 500 references to scientific literature creating a whole new approach to therapy and treatment of these illnesses. Explaining "Unexplained Illnesses" provides answers to these questions: how do short-term stressors initiate chronic illness? how does the biochemistry of the NO/ONOO- cycle produce chronic illness? how can the diverse symptoms and signs of these illnesses be generated as a consequence of their common biochemistry? why is there so much variation in symptoms from one sufferer to another? what are the principles underlying the NO/ONOO- cycle mechanism? how does the NO/ONOO- cycle provide explanations for a dozen previously unexplained properties of these illnesses? how might 14 additional illnesses/diseases also be caused by the NO/ONOO- cycle etiology? and many moreExplaining Unexplained Illnesses is a must-read for physicians and scientists and for anyone who suffers from-or knows someone who suffers fromthese previously puzzling illnesses.