Manmade Or Natural, Tasty Or Toxic, They're All Chemicals … By Dr. Mark Lorch

[KT2000]

17. what you saw

Last edited Wed May 21, 2014, 02:34 PM - Edit history (1)

was a real condition. I did not see that show in particular but I have seen some real hatchet jobs, especially one from John Stossel. It is easy to make fun of people with that condition.
There is quite a bit of literature on this condition. You may wish to look at the work by Claudia Miller MD (U of TX), Nicholas Ashford, PhD (MIT), Martin Pall PhD (WSU), William Meggs MD, Iris Bell MD

Here are some of the features: the nasal passages have tight junctions, meaning the cells are close together to prevent bad things from proceeding past the nasal passages. Certain chemicals can damage the tight junctions (such as acids), thereby leaving space for bad things to proceed.
They proceed through the olfactory bulb into the brain. Several researchers have focused on the kindling effect where the initial injury is "aggravated" by subsequent exposures. This causes an over-firing much like a person experiences with seizures.
Another feature is reduced blood flow to certain areas of the brain after exposure. Different people show different areas affected.
Since the injury is in the brain, it can trigger any number of problems - sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, digestion, heart (atrial fibrillation is common), skin disorders and immune dysfunction.
It is not an allergy it is a brain injury. It is a feature of Gulf War Syndrome, 9/11 responders, the oil spill in the Gulf and many other situations where people were very over-exposed or exposed to lower levels over a long period of time.
It is a tough way to have to live and the ridicule from others makes it nearly impossible for some to bear. Suicide is not uncommon. I hope you will learn more so you can show kindness to people in that situation.