Bob Mount: Neuropathy not given much attention

Several months ago I began experiencing episodes of instability, usually when standing or walking after having been seated for a while.

I visited my regular physician, who ordered a CAT scan and an MRI, neither of which revealed any abnormality. A sonogram of my neck indicated blood was flowing normally through my carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. My systolic and diastolic blood pressures are within normal limits.

I thought I might be suffering from labyrinthitis, a disorder affecting the inner ear that can cause instability. An ear specialist ruled out an inner ear disorder. My next appointment was with Dr. Steven Bryan, a neurologist I have known for a number of years and for whom I have a great deal of respect. He examined me from head to toe, checked my balance and rendered his diagnosis: “Professor, indications suggest you are suffering symptoms of neuropathy.”

Until then I knew of only two people so affected, and I have since learned of two more. The condition (a nerve disorder) is far more prevalent than I realized, and I suspect the vast majority of readers of this column are likewise ignorant of its prevalence. According to the Neuropathy Association, about 20 million Americans suffer from neuropathy, close to the number who have diabetes, 24 million according to the American Diabetes Association.

The Diabetes Association solicits funds and lobbies on behalf of diabetics, at least three organizations are dedicated to efforts to prevent and cure Alzheimer’s, and then there is the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association. The March of Dimes helps disabled children. There are other charitable organizations of a similar nature dedicated to prevention and cure of various ailments. I receive solicitations from nearly all of those, but not the Neuropathy Association. And strangely, I’ve never seen or heard it mentioned in the media.

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I belong to several organizations dedicated to protecting the environment. Most tend to ignore the obvious fact that the root cause of many if not all of the threats to our environment is the unsustainable growth of the human population.

One that does not ignore it is the Center for Biological Diversity. In the most recent issue of its publication, Endangered Earth, Kieran Suckling, the Center’s executive director, states, “The correlation between human population growth and the decline of the Earth’s biodiversity is undeniable.” According to the publication, between 1800 and 1930, the population doubled, from 1 to 2 billion people, while extinctions began to rise dramatically.

The proponents of decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide may gain support from people who harvest, sell, and enjoy eating oysters.

Carbon dioxide dissolving in the ocean causes acidification of the water, which is detrimental to oyster reproduction.

Maybe John Rice and Steve Benson, owner of Archie’s Oyster Bar on Opelika Road, will become active in the environmental movement.

Bob Mount is emeritus professor of zoology and entomology at AU and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News.