On a warm day in April, two women working together at a television station decide to have a light lunch at a nearby sidewalk cafe. It’s a friendly, crowded place, with small round tables set close to each other. Barbara, usually the more easygoing of the two women, seems worried as she leans forward and remarks to Jane: “Laura could lose her shot for a job in the newsroom. She’s missed so much work lately. Maybe she doesn’t want the job at all.”
Jane: Between us, it’s not the job. Laura’s always in pain . . . she’s got some real problems.
Barbara: What do you mean by problems? Jane: She has endometriosis. Barbara: What’s that?
Jane: For years, Laura had terrible cramps and pain, but no doctor could tell her what was wrong. Now it seems that the disease has done so much internal damage that she can’t get pregnant. Endometriosis spreads!
Barbara: How? Is it some new type of V.D.?
Jane: No, its not a disease you can catch. That’s all I know for sure.
A conversation like this one was exchanged over lunch somewhere in Manhattan, but one could easily find “Barbara” and “Jane” meeting at any coffee shop, discussing the plight of “Laura.” Such conversations are no longer isolated cases, because the subject—endometriosis—has tragically become a widespread topic. Compassionate friends like Barbara and Jane can only begin to describe the extent of the disease’s symptoms and effects. Every day in every city, millions of concerned women who know someone with endometriosis or who are themselves plagued by it are also searching for solutions to this new and growing health problem. Who are these women?
One might be a friend, a boss, a relative—or she might be yon. The facts now tell the story: a conservative estimate counts 20 million women with endometriosis, but realistically, there are more than twice that number of victims at varying stages of the disease. Millions of Lauras face the possibility of infertility and needless Buffering. Millions more are crippled by relentless pelvic pain and its complications, such as debilitating cramps and bladder disorders. Some have lost faith in professional medical care, as one doctor after the other (ailed to diagnose their disease before it grew out of control. More important, vast numbers of women may have endometriosis and not know that they do.
*4\43\4*
Yoga means union, a meeting; it is a state in which one unites, becomes one with, or attunes oneself to, reality. It is a union of your body and the physical aspects of your being with your mind, so that the body and mind can function harmoniously. Through yoga, some people can attain complete self-control.
The first step is the learning of correct breathing; this has particular importance in yoga, and is thought to be essential for adequate control of the mind.
The next important step is a series of exercises known as Hatha Yoga. These exercises lead to correction of posture faults, and increased general fitness. Systematic relaxation is another very important aspect of yoga, and this also involves exercises, both to control and relax each and every part of the body.
Once these things have been mastered, the mind is ready for meditation. This may or may not be an essential part of anxiety reduction. There is no doubt however that yoga not only improves physical fitness, but also endows practitioners with an inner calm and an ability to cope with stresses that they were previously unable to manage.
*30\44\4*
The paradigm arising from previous models of obesity assumes that if an overfat person consults a professional or commercial weight loss organisation, he or she will be given a set of instmctions which, if followed, will lead to an ideal body weight. Failure to achieve this is often attributed to sloth, gluttony or a lack of willpower. Under the new ecological approach presented here, it is acknowledged that an individual’s equilibrium point is determined by a variety of influences, many of which are beyond his or her control. To lose body fat may be extremely difficult for people with the biological and environmental cards stacked against them. To achieve ideal body weight may be virtually impossible. So it becomes unethical to use extreme cases of weight loss and unrealistic goals of achievement as selling points for commercial weight loss programs. These are likely to give false expectations which may lead to cycles of failure, guilt and low self-esteem which can only be expected to magnify obesity and eating disorders.
Re-defining the problem. As a working definition of obesity based on this new approach to the problem, we might consider the following:
Obesity and overfatness result from the combined influences of the environment, behaviour and biology on increasing fat intake and reducing fat utilisation. Changes in body fat levels from their equilibrium or ’settling point’ are moderated by physiological adjustments which temper the impact of fat/energy balance on body fat change.
*84\186\4*
Acupressure originated in China as a first aid technique. It is based on the same principles as acupuncture but the acupuncture points are stimulated by finger pressure instead of needles.
Acupressure is easy to learn and can be performed by yourself or by a friend. It can be used for the relief of symptoms such as menstrual cramps and can also be a means of strengthening and balancing your body’s deep energies for the well-being of your body and mind.
Shiatsu.
Shiatsu is a form of acupressure. It is an ancient Japanese art of applying pressure to acupuncture points and is combined with oriental massage. With regular use it is believed to improve your health by increasing the flow of energy through the body.
Shiatsu should be pleasurable, not painful. Once the correct technique has been learnt from a qualified person it is possible to have a friend give you a massage or even to do it yourself.
*75\83\2*
The actual location of the endometrial implants in the body depends on the way in which they were transported to their new site. Because the majority of implants are transported to their new location by retrograde menstruation, almost all endometrial implants are found in the pelvic cavity. As blood and lymph transportation of endometrial fragments is rare, it is unusual to find implants in other parts of the body.
The ovaries are one of the most common sites for endometriosis and at least 50% of women with endometriosis have some implants on one or both of their ovaries. The other most common sites are the utero-sacral ligaments, the Pouch of Douglas and the peritoneum.
Less common sites for endometriosis include the appendix, the surface of the bladder, the recto-vaginal septum, the surface of the uterus, the fallopian tubes, and the surface of the small and large bowel.
On rare occasions, endometriosis has been found in almost every part of the body including surgical and episiotomy scars, the cervix, vagina, diaphragm, navel, lungs, breasts, arms and legs, the groin and the nose.
*15\83\2*
