I have little in the way of introduction for this story, mostly because it’s a rerun.
Today’s Word:
amaurosis
As in:
Researchers have discovered that a high fat, low carbohydrate diet significantly reduces the number of seizures associated with epilepsy.
In a study of children with epilepsy, it was found that 70% of those children on a special high fat diet experienced fewer seizures. A high percentage of these children reported no seizures at all while on the diet.
Interestingly enough, while the diet did result in fewer seizures, the incidence of juvenile heart disease has increased dramatically. Researchers are uncertain as to whether the diet is connected to this upsurge.
Parents are concerned that this dietary regimen will cure their children at the cost of a lifetime of heart related problems. “It seems sort of ridiculous to us. It’s almost like curing drunk driving by instituting a policy of mandatory amaurosis. Heck, if I couldn’t see, I wouldn’t drive. Well, I mean, that sort of plan will largely stop people from driving, sober or not, but will it be a beneficial long-term plan? I like couch-potatoes as much as the next guy, and I’ll admit, that seizures are really damaging to leading a normal lifestyle, but, well, there’s gotta be another way.”
Researchers are uncertain as to why the diet works, but the results seem to indicate that there has to be some reason for the positive results. Says one, “Yeah, sure, the kids put on a few pounds and their activity levels plummeted. They are now no different from hundreds of American kids who, despite the fact that they don’t have epilepsy, are equally out of shape, physically inactive and on the verge of developing heart disease. Now kids with epilepsy can be normal kids, just like all the rest. It’s great that they can now be full-fledged members of their society, and can related to the other children in a meaningful way. I’m sure, for kids with epilepsy, this is a dream come true. A regular modern miracle.”
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Okay. That’s it for today. type to you all later.
amaurosis: / AM-o-RO-sis / partial or total blindness.