There’s a 20 per cent chance your chronic disease is caused by chemical intolerance – but your doctor will never know

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11 July 2012

If you have a chronic health problem – such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or allergies – there’s a 20 per cent chance it’s been caused by a chemical intolerance. But if it is, there’s almost no chance your doctor will detect it.
Doctors have a blind spot when it comes to chemical intolerances – usually of household products such as cleaners, fragrances, and the fire retardants on new carpets and furnishings.
In a study of 400 patients attending one health clinic for chronic problems, 20 per cent had a chemical intolerance – but the doctor hadn’t picked up the association. Instead, they were treated in the usual way – further tests, prescription drugs, even possibly surgery – when just taking the chemical out of their lives would have reversed the condition.
Clues of a chemical intolerance include fatigue, changes in mood, difficulty thinking or concentrating and digestive problems, say researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
(Source: Annals of Family Medicine, 2012; 10: 357-65).

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