Speaking of YOUR HEALTH... By LESTER L. COLEMAN, M.D.
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from October 1969.
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Dear Mr. O.: The art and science of medical diagnosis can be taught to many physicians. Some have a very special perceptive quality that makes it possible for them to cut through a great deal of confusion to arrive at a proper diagnosis. Surgeons and physicians can almost immediately sense, by the general appearance and attitude of a patient, the degree of their illness. The color and texture of the skin, the clouding of the eyes, the spiritless weakness of speech all reveal important secrets.
Doctors frequently pay their morning visit to a hospitalized patient, and in a flash can tell that recovery is rapidly taking place. It may happen overnight and a patient is suddenly transformed into one who is soon ready to be discharged. There are some general classifications of all disease. Infection caused by bacteria, viruses and molds are probably the most important. Allergy to food, drugs, inhalants and contactants is a major cause of body dysfunction.
Tumors, the most frequent classification for any growth, may occur anywhere in the body. These are subdivided into malignant (cancerous) and benign (harmless). Injury, of course, can devitalize tissue and destroy it by fractures, bruises, cuts and by contact with physical agents. Electricity, sunray and X-ray radiation are in essence an injury to tissue.
Degenerative changes due to advancing age with narrowing of the blood vessels and weakening of the muscles, tendons. and joints are a special cause of disease. Heredity does play a very important role in the cause of some illnesses and predisposition to others. Physical and mental disorders can be traced to the improper balance of the chromosomes or some genetic error.
Nutritional disturbances, inadequate diet, lack of water and essential minerals can produce typical deficiency diseases. It is now established that the emotions play a role in every aspect of the body's health and disease. It is true that some illnesses are actually caused by the emotions alone.
In most instances, the emotions play a role in physical disease not only as a cause. but as an overtone to it. The emotions can affect the proper functioning of the heart, the blood vessels, the brain and the intestinal tract. Physicians now know that in order for a patient to be totally recovered from disease, he must be completely treated both from the physical and from the emotional point of view.
1969, King Features Syndicate, Inc.)
