MCS symptoms

Those with MCS experience a wide variety of cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, hepatic, immunological, nervous system, and musculoskeletal 

Attention deficit Blurring of vision Breathing difficulty Chest pain 

Food intolerance ffeadache Flearing changes ffeart palpitations ffeartburn ffives 

Reduced tolerance to heat or cold Restless leg syndrome Seizures 

Sinus discomfort Skin irritation Skin rash Sleep disturbances Slurred speech Sneezing Swollen glands Tendonitis Trembling Unusual thirst Vertigo Vomiting 

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In nonindustrial settings, MCS substances are the cause of indoor air pollution and are the contaminants in air and water. Many of the chemicals which trigger MCS symptoms are known to be irritants or toxic to the nervous system. As an example, volatile organic compounds readily evaporate into the air at room temperature. Permitted airborne levels of such contaminants can still make ordinary people sick. When the human body is assaulted with levels of toxic chemicals that it cannot safely process, it is likely that at some point an individual will become ill. For some, the outcome could be cancer or reproductive damage. Others may become hypersensitive to these chemicals or develop other chronic disorders, while some people may not experience any noticeable health effects. Even where high levels of exposure occur, generally only a small percentage of people become chemically sensitive. 

Chemicals may also damage the immune system and enzymes that are required to detoxify harmful substances. It is also speculated that MCS symptoms may be caused by impaired blood circulation or the body s decreased ability to extract or use oxygen from the bloodstream. Lead, mercury and other heavy metal exposures can contribute to the development or aggravation of MCS as well. 

Stress can worsen your MCS symptoms due to the adrenalin boosts (internal triggers) which your body must process. Especially when the patient has a damaged detoxification system this could mean an added burden. Meditation and Reiki are quick methods to relax a stressed body and soul. See entries 238 and 272. 

Table 18-1 lists the various names given to MCS. The most recent name for MCS is idiopathic environmental intolerances, or IEI (Bornschein et al. 2001). The variety of names reflects the unresolved definition of MCS. A survey of physicians familiar with MCS proposed six characteristics of MCS, as listed in Table 18-2 (Bartha et al. 1999). Table 18-3 lists the most frequent symptoms. MCS symptoms often overlap with symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (Jason et al. 2000 Nawab et al. 2000). Prevalence of MCS in community surveys and occupational health clinics was found to be 6.3% and 23.0%, respectively (Kreutzer et al. 1999 Kutsogiannis and Davidoff 2001). 

Table 18-5 lists diagnostic and treatment approaches with the greatest success according to scientific consensus. Individuals with the belief that their symptoms result from chemical exposure have poorer treatment outcomes than those without such beliefs (Black et al. 2000 Gupta and Horne 2001). Evaluations of patients with MCS should include a full medical examination, including exposure history and consultations with occupational and psychiatric specialists (Sparks et al. 1994b). Adrenal insufficiency, seizures, and certain classes of medications can decrease the olfactory detection threshold and must be ruled out in complaints of MCS (Scott 1989). One case report described an individual with MCS found to have an occipital lobe meningioma. Removal of the tumor did not resolve the MCS symptoms (Moorhead and Suruda 2000). 

Papi C, Ciaco A, Koch M, Capurso L, Camarri E, Ferrieri A, Guardascione F, Miglio F, Minoli G, Terruzzi V, Parodi MC, Riegler G, Russo A Efficacy of rifaximin on symptoms of uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon. A pilot multicentre open trial. Ital J Gastroenterol 1992 24 452-456. 

People without MCS can become aware of the segment of the population that has become hidden from them because of industrial culture s refusal to moderate its rush to economic growth through exploitation of the environment. Rather than being a negligible small number, a rural household study showed that one third of the population reports some illness from chemical exposures, and four percent of people report becoming ill every single day from chemicals. This amounts to over 11 million people in the U.S. alone who suffer daily from chemically induced symptoms. Two other studies document MCS as a worldwide problem. 

Multiple chemical sensitivity has shaped Jill s life, but is not a significant part of her self-image. Although the symptoms she experiences from chemical exposures can be debilitating, she does not think of herself as handicapped or sick, nor does she seek out friendship or support from others with MCS. 

While volunteering in the Indian community I noticed that a large part of the population was sick, and no one knew what was causing it. When they started talking to me about their symptoms, I recognized it as MCS. I ve gotten quite a few of them to a doctor. It was like my own private war. 

Scientists acknowledge that many substances contain chemicals known to be toxic in high concentrations. To chemically sensitive people, these and other substances can be harmful even in minute amounts. A whiff of hair spray, fresh paint or bug spray, for example, can be debilitating to a person with multiple chemical sensitivities. People with MCS must avoid chemical exposures or symptoms will persist or worsen and the illness will progress. 

The exact mechanism by which chemical exposures cause MCS is unknown. It is believed that a two-step process occurs. First, an initial exposure or chronic exposures interacts with a susceptible individual, leading to loss of that person s prior, natural tolerance for everyday, low-level chemicals, as well as certain foods, drugs, alcohol, and caffeine. In the second stage, symptoms are thereafter triggered by extremely low doses of previously tolerated products and exposures.2 This theory is called toxicant-induced loss of tolerance or TILT. 3... 

Almost any symptom can occur in chemically sensitive people. The unifying factor in people with MCS is that their symptoms come and go in relation to chemical exposures that do not ordinarily affect others. The symptoms are diverse and unique to each person. The same chemical exposure may trigger different symptoms or none at all in different individuals. Usually more than one body system... 

While many of the symptoms reported by people with MCS are similar to known toxic reactions, they usually occur at exposure levels previously thought to be safe. Additionally, many chemically sensitive people experience symptoms vastly different from typical toxic reactions. 

Symptoms can range from mild to disabling and can even be life threatening. Reactions may vary depending upon the person s general state of health and the amount of other recent exposures. The onset of symptoms following an exposure may be immediate or delayed for hours or even days, and quite often are masked by the effects of ongoing exposures. Symptoms can last from a few seconds to a few weeks or months. Some people experience distinctly different constellations of symptoms in response to different substances. New symptoms may develop over time, and some may resolve. People with moderate to severe cases of MCS may be partially or totally disabled for several years or for life. Many improve but full recovery is rare. 

Children with MCS may have red cheeks and ears, dark circles under their eyes, learning disabilities and behavior problems as well as other symptoms. 

Because people with MCS react to chemicals at levels that ordinarily do not affect others, chemical sensitivity is sometimes referred to as chemical allergy, although the mechanism is not the same as in the more traditional allergies. A person with MCS may react to animals, pollen, dust and mold with symptoms that are the same or different from those of traditional allergies. People with MCS may also have common allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma, hives and other rashes that result from exposures to chemicals or typical allergens. 

Jorenby DE, Hatsukami DK, Smith SS, Fiore MC, Allen S, Jensen J, Baker TB. (1996). Characterization of tobacco withdrawal symptoms transdermal nicotine reduces hunger and weight gain. Psychopharmacology (Berlin). 128(2) 130-38. 

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterized by a variety of adverse effects upon multiple organs that result from exposure to levels of common foods, drugs, and chemicals that do not affect most people. Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, lack of concentration, memory loss, asthma, and other often subjective responses following exposure. MCS has remained controversial because standard medical evaluations, such as blood biochemical screens, have failed to identify consistent physical or laboratory test abnormalities that would account for the symptoms. 

There is only one study in (open trial) examining the efficacy of quetiapine in the treatment of EOS (Mc-Conville et ah, 2000). Patientes were treated with 100 or 400 mg/day. Quetiapine was well tolerated and improved both positive and negative symptoms as determined by the BPRS, the CGI Scale, and the Modified SANS. Quetiapine pharmacokinetics were dose proportional in adolescents and resembled those reported in adult patients. The most common side effects in the study were postural tachycardia and insomnia. The EPS occurred and improved during the course of treatment. There were no serious adverse events or clinically important changes in hematology or clinical chemistry. 

Most people are barely able to conceive of the fact that chemical substances and scents (even in small doses) can cause illness and lead to various, sometimes serious symptoms. Many people are presumed to suffer from MCS without themselves realizing that MCS causes their symptoms. They don t realize that their headaches or skin rashes might be caused by laundry detergent, a scented candle, the air freshener, a traffic jam, or even the office printer. 

Many people consult their general practitioner for all kinds of complaints, both concrete and vague, such as respiratory problems, exhaustion, skin conditions, (chronic) infections, and so on, without finding effective help or a cure. The mainstream medical establishment often knows very little about chemical sensitivity. Doctors and therapists have not been trained to look for or understand MCS and as a result this causation is rarely diagnosed. In order to connect the symptoms to MCS it is necessary to learn about the living environment and the home and work conditions of the patient. This takes more time than most doctors have available. Much improvement can be made in this regard. 

MCS patients react very differently after exposure to a substance that is harmful for them. For this reason the list of signs and symptoms is rather long, but this list does not suggest that all... 

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