Environmental Medicine
Many “new” illnesses have been diagnosed in the last 20 years including sick building syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue (CF), fibromyalgia (FM), and recently electrical hypersensitivity syndrome (EHS). Many of these illnesses may be clumped under the umbrella of environmental illness (EI). Because chemicals are found everywhere in our outdoor, and indoor environment, our food, our water – everyone is exposed. The question is not a matter of exposure, but the extent of exposure.
Environmental medicine is a field of medicine concerned with the interaction between environmental toxins and our health. These toxins are “ubiquitous” or found everywhere, in our food, water and air. Many of these chemicals bioaccumulate or “build up” and concentrate in our bodies, and get transferred to our children and future generations. Exposure to these toxins can lead to many problems with our immune system, nervous system and endocrine system. Some of the most common complaints of toxic burden include fatigue, headache and brain fog. However, depending on the extent of exposure or the individual’s capacity to detoxify, toxicity can lead to more serious illnesses.
Learn more about the approaches used to assess and treat environmental illness at the Marsden Centre by clicking on a section below:
Information On Toxin Exposure
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In this section we will explore the various potential environmental toxin exposures that individuals may encounter each day. Learn how increased exposure may affect your health and strategies you can employ each day to minimize the risk.
Environmental Assessments
Technology in assessment for environmental illnesses has come a long way. Only a few years ago it was impossible to assess an individual’s exposure and accumulation of environmental contaminants outside of a research study. It is now possible to measure the level of various contaminants present in an individual to determine the extent of toxin exposure and potential body burden.
Allergy Desensitization
Sensitivity to various environmental (food, inhalant, etc.) and biological (bacteria, fungi, viruses) are common in patients with environmental illness. In this section see how providers at Marsden Centre can reduce reactivity/sensitivity to these various factors.
Methods Of Detoxification
The first foundation in environmental medicine is to eliminate exposure to environmental contaminants. After doing this, doctors at Marsden Centre can use various methods known to assist patients to eliminate contaminants that are persistent in the body.