Hildreth on Health: The significance of lymphatic condition and general health

Another summer is with us. That warm sun feels good on my back.

I want to get back to the old adage I have written about before, that is, “If we don’t use it, you lose it.”

This is no truer than in the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and the musculoskeletal system as we age.

The cardiovascular system with its symptoms of high blood pressure, swollen ankles, changes in the skin color, heart irregularities and difficulty in breathing is one very significant area.

The things observed in connection with the immune system are as we get older we seem to get everything that is going around; the chronic sinus and postnasal symptoms and the ongoing chronic cough.

It is also common for us to experience the vague tickle in the throat with mild chest congestion.

Last, but not least, is the ever-present low backache radiating into the hips and legs, and/or the pain across the shoulders and neck radiating down the arms, particularly if we do much activity.

Congestion of the lymphatic system plays a big part in all of this.

Every cell in our body floats in and is bathed in this lymphatic fluid.

The vascular system transports all of the oxygen and nutrients needed to the individual cells throughout the body.

All the oxygen and nutrients are dropped off by way of the capillaries near groups of cells.

The nutrients and oxygen find their way to the individual cells by way of the lymphatic fluids that the cells are bathed in.

The vascular system depends upon the heart to move the blood loaded with oxygen and nutrients around to the different parts of the body.

The cells take up the nutrients and give off byproducts and other toxic products back into the surrounding lymph fluid.

Many of these components are too large to be picked up by the capillaries.

The only way they can get out of the body is by way of the lymphatic system, which is seen as a secondary circulatory mechanism that does not have a pump such as the heart.

It depends only on surrounding movement to move the cellular byproducts and other waste along.

If adequate surrounding muscular movements are not there, the waste products back up and the cells float in a sea of garbage.

This poisons the cells creating cellular dysfunction.

Many times, in an effort for survival, the cells become cancerous.

Sometimes, a whole gland will simply enlarge in an effort to continue the job that it was intended to do.

Does any of these effects sound familiar?

This lack of movement causes fluid retention and increased weight.

It is no wonder we get up in the morning aching and stiff and have to get moving a little bit before we are comfortable.

So, what do we do?

We go see our doctor expecting another pill or a different pill or a stronger pill to do the job.

This may help for a little while, at least until the garbage around the cell builds up more.

Can you picture what is happening?

This very mechanism affects the arteries and veins of our circulatory mechanism creating clogging and dysfunction.

It creates immune dysfunction in the way of weakening of the immune system and sometimes an autoimmune dysfunction which is in the way of an over-activity.

This displays itself by too much inflammatory activity and will be apparent in the glands, muscles or other parts of the body that are the weakest or most affected by the sluggishness of lymphatic movement and toxic backup of waste products.

Why do you think there is a certain odor apparent in our nursing homes no matter how clean they are kept?

In the coming weeks I would like to relate this challenge to the different systems of the body.

This does not mean that I would suggest trading one form of therapy for another, but integration of multiple therapies expecting the best out of each.

Not only does activity of the musculoskeletal system relieve lymphatic congestion in the muscles and the tendons, but it also reduces the inflammation at the stress points by reducing the toxic byproducts.

The condition will always be worse at the points of greatest physical stress.

Osteoporosis and osteopenia precedes bone degeneration and this can be secondary to poor lymphatic drainage and toxic buildup of byproducts from cellular function and disuse.

Because of the ongoing bone and muscle degeneration and constant push of gravity the spine buckles under the load increasing the congestion of the organs it is intended to support.

This is why medication and surgery are not always the answer.

We will be discussing the relationship between the vascular system including the heart and lymphatic congestion with toxic changes and how that may relate to lipid oxidation buildup on the inner lining of the vessels and within the heart. We will go over in detail what can be done in the way of improving lymphatic drainage and establish a better habitat for cell function.

Contact Green Valley Dr. DeWall Hildreth at (520) 625-1101 or cnhcgv@ yahoo.com . His column appears biweekly in the Green Valley News