Dr. Tanelian's Weblog

Immunization?

Prompted by an MSNBC article, Strife over shots: Should our kids play together? I decided to question why vaccination at all.

We take it for granted that “vaccines” are the reason for our existence, but is that true? No man has survived and still survives thousands of infections throughout his life without being vaccinated to them. Why then do we need any vaccines?

Today we discriminate against children and their parents if they do not embrace vaccines. Does that make any sense? No, the only person potentially at increased risk of contracting a disease if not vaccinated against it is the non-vaccinated person – so let them take this calculated risk. Proponents of mass immunization cite “herd immunity” (the theory that fully vaccinated populations do not contract diseases) as their reason for imposing vaccines upon everyone, but that is not true.

We assume that a vaccine provides us with full immunity against disease, but that is not true. Obtaining immunity from contracting a disease and recovering does a better job of producing permanent immunity than does a vaccine. We immunize based on the fallacy that “one size fits all”, but that is also not true.

We assume that diseases would increase if we stopped immunizing, but actually studies from Germany show that to be untrue. When vaccination was halted, the mortality rate continued to decline. In fact, the decline of the “killer diseases” we vaccinate against began before mass vaccination.

What we really need to question is – are these vaccines actually creating disease? Since the advent of mass vaccination we have seen the emergence of autism, ADD, hyperactivity, dyslexia, and a host of allergies. Not only could the vaccine be directly responsible, but also the additives and preservative in our vaccines could cause many problems.

Little is known by the general public about the risk of vaccines being designed to create disease at a later date in unwitting individuals who just go along with anything. Are we opening the door for our own mass destruction?

It can be “damned if you do” and/or “damned if you don’t” – so what should you do? I say that vaccination should be an individual or parental choice, just assume some responsibility and educate yourself to the best of your ability.

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.

PSA for Prostate Screening?

Does it make sense or is it really helpful to have a PSA blood test looking for prostate cancer?

On August 5, 2008 the Annals of Internal Medicine published the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommendations created by medical experts for Screening of Prostate Cancer (see Dr. Tanelian’s Medical News for linkage to recommendations). A list of USPSTF recommendations on cancer screening can be found at www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov

The experts’ recommendations for men younger than age 75 are that evidence is inadequate to determine whether screening improves health outcomes.

For men age 75 or older, the benefit from treatment of prostate cancer detected by screening is small to none. Therefore, harms outweigh benefits. The harms of screening include the discomfort of prostate biopsy and the psychological harm of false-positive test results.

Another valid question is: Why Are Doctors Generally Screening All Men With PSA Tests on their Physical and General Medical Exams?

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.

Exercise and Acidosis

Acidosis causes many adverse conditions that impair optimal athletic performance (decreased endurance, poor bone health, poor muscle performance, poor wound healing, arrhythmia generation, decreased heart performance, decreased alertness and mental acuity, and many other essential impairments).

It is also very important to know that studies done on humans have shown that saline [sodium chloride (NaCl or common table salt)] ingestion leads to the generation of metabolic acidosis, which in turn reduces the bloods oxygen carrying capacity and ability to remove carbon dioxide. In comparison, an alkalinizing beverage such as MineralConnexin can prevent metabolic acidosis from developing and significantly enhances the oxygen carrying capacity of our blood and its delivery to our tissues, while simultaneously helping to remove excess carbon dioxide.

Overall, one of the many significant advantages of an alkalinizing beverage, such as MineralConnexin, is that it will enhance athletic performance and endurance by helping to deliver more oxygen to all tissues, including muscle while simultaneously helping to conserve energy through enhanced carbon dioxide removal; thereby, leading to a slower breathing rate and less unnecessary expenditure of energy.

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.