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Study examined the benefit of coping with MCS

Friday 14 January 2011

Man on mountainStyle and Classic Forever reports:

 

Study examined the benefit of coping with MCS

On January 4, 2011, In Science and Technology, By Michelle

Swedish scientists published results of a study that examined the use of coping strategies (strategies for coping with the disease) in people with chemical intolerance and the social support they receive.

Chemical intolerance (CI), commonly known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) called out in patients to that artificial chemicals in the environment are not tolerated, especially no synthetic fragrances in perfumes, colognes, deodorants and laundry care products. Even at minute concentrations of contact against the affected develop a variety of symptoms ranging from breathing difficulties rashes, depression and neurological disorders. Despite the large number of affected persons (estimated at 5-15% in developed countries) and their suffering and disability by CI, the disease is currently recognized by only a handful of governments as a real medical illness and medical care is urgently needed. As a result, those affected are too often left to cope with their illness and the resulting limitations in life with little or no means alone.

Against this background, scientists from the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University in Sweden developed questionnaires that were completed by 182 stakeholders in chemicals intolerance. These questionnaires were used to determine which approach used affected to cope with their illness, what social support they received and their views on whether it was their personal responsibility to improve their health or the responsibility of the Company.

The study included 59 people with mild, 92 moderate and 31 with some serious chemical intolerance. There were benefits and effectiveness of six problem-based and evaluated six emotion-based coping strategies, as well as emotional, instrumental and informational support to them from various sources and the company made available, as well as their own responsibility for improvement.

The most common and effective coping strategies were avoiding environments with pungent odors and other people ask to be limited in their use of odorous / pungent odors. These strategies are regarded as problem-focused. In addition, acceptance of the situation were other priorities and setting a frequently viewed as a helpful emotion-based strategy, which reported patients with CI that are helpful.

The picture that emerges from this study, looks like that the best chance to restore a better level of health and happy with life when one was hit by chemical intolerance, the fact is that the people concerned both problem-oriented and as also make use of emotion-oriented coping strategies. There is a need to be proactive to avoid things that trigger symptoms, on the other hand, it is also important to develop a sense of acceptance and evaluate priorities in their own lives.

The results of the study showed that heavier chemicals intolerance was marked with greater use of problem-focused strategies, which corresponded to expectations. In people with severe self-CI, the smallest amount of a substance they are sensitive to unpleasant and even cause life-threatening symptoms. The amount of a substance that is needed to trigger symptoms is often below the level at which an individual can recognize it by its smell.

In addition to information on coping strategies in which CI was found out by the study that the stakeholders offered help was mainly emotional in nature rather than practical and informative, and that it was mostly provided by the respective partners or other family members. In it reflects both the lack of information and medical care that is intolerant of chemicals available, and a lack of understanding towards the disease both by physicians and often of the friends of an affected person.

Finally, the scientists reported that in the severe CI affected the feeling was more pronounced that the company had to take responsibility for improving the quality of life of those affected by chemical intolerance. Not surprisingly, given the fact that these people their lives due to their illness, often have to be restricted to their homes and move into a new house or even in an area with better air must. Even those who do not have to live confined to their homes, can often enter any public building. Ironically, this also relates to hospitals, because chemicals used in detergents and other products aggravate their condition.

The scientists concluded that the study results can be used to help doctors and other healthcare providers to recommend appropriate management strategies individual CI patients and also to the effect that the health system should provide better social support for those affected. They resolved, however briefly in relation to the matters that will meet the companies as regards the responsibility for CI affected.

 

The above originally appeared here.

 


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