[Blindtlk] chalking everything up to blindness

[Gary Wunder]

Just as researchers have a knee-jerk reaction to attribute things to 
blindness, so do we sometimes have that same reaction to say that blindness 
has nothing to do with this or that condition. This is an understandable 
reaction given how many times we've seen products developed which we don't 
need and into which we had no say. Still, I think we have to be open to the 
idea that blindness is not a condition which stands on its own and may well 
interact with other bodily functions. Especially is this true when you 
consider that there are many ways to go blind.

I think Pete is right when he says that we dare not ignore other known 
conditions which lead to sleep problems such as sleep apnea. I had a sleep 
study done about 10 years ago and when considering courses of treatment the 
technician doing the study pulled me aside and said quote for most of the 
people we see, you included, many of your symptoms would go away if you just 
lost 40 pounds." That made me a bit uncomfortable, but I have found what she 
said to be true. I still struggle, like everyone else, to keep my weight 
under control, but I certainly do see a relationship in my case between 
weight and the ability to sleep well at night. Sleep Apnea is not always 
found in those who are overweight - my mother-in-law weighs 110 pounds and 
has it - but in some cases we can do something positive to help reduce its 
symptoms.


Gary


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert J Smith" <rsmith247 at csc.com>
To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 9:31 AM
Subject: [Blindtlk] chalking everything up to blindness


> Hi all.  I definitely agree that there is a tendency for health
> professionals to chalk problems up to blindness, but I believe in the case
> of sleep irregularities, there is solid evidence that shows that the brain
> actually needs to see light to keep its day and night cycles regulated. As
> I understand it, when the brain sees light, the production of melatonin
> which causes a person to sleep is held in check.  When a person is in the
> dark, then melatonin is produced, causing sleep.  If a person does not see
> light at all, to the brain, the person is then in a perpetual night
> surrounding so melatonin could be produced at inappropriate times causing
> drowsiness during those times.  Possibly the taking of Melatonin
> externally, regulates this a little more.
>
> Bob Smith
>
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