Response essay of 'Sico' by Michael Moore

Word count 711

Michael Moore has made a career of producing films that make political statements. Sicko, his latest film was meant to address the health care crisis that is a hot topic in America today. Mr. Moore chose a light-hearted approach peppered with seriousness, sadness and anti-American sentiment. He crossed the globe to make the point that the universal health care system, used in other countries, is a far superior system than what is used in America. Questioning citizens from Canada, Britain, France, and even Cuba, Moore’s objective was to establish that the wait, quality, and cost of health care under those countries’ systems were to be desired and adopted here in the US.

Without much delay Mr. Moore tried to connect with lower class Americans. Identifying the lower class white male without health insurance who severed two of his fingers, Moore explained how the man had to choose which fingers he wanted to save because he was too poor to pay to have both reconnected. If that story does not pull at your heart strings, then the story of the older couple, who had to file bankruptcy and move into the storage room of their unwilling grown daughter, because they lost everything due to medical expenses, will. The assertion that super expensive medical care opposed to free medical care is preferred is almost a nonissue. Unless you understand that nothing is truly free. Socializing medicine is not the only alternative.
In the film we, the viewers, watched as Mr. Moore accompanied a French doctor as he made house calls. What a revolutionary idea! In fact, home visits are not a new idea and would strive better under a free market system rather than a socialist one.

Doctors and patients would have the freedom to determine pay, and demand would keep doctors competitive. This point leads me to an organization that Mr. Moore mentioned in the film- the American Medical Association. This group deserves a little credit for the “health care crisis” that we find ourselves in. What with capping the number of students that medical schools will take makes the ratio of doctor-to-patient unbelievably skewed. No matter how noble doctors are the law of supply and demand works in the medical field just as well as in any other field. Raise your hand if you want to be a doctor. Mr. Moore also documented a conversation where President Nixon seemed to be selling the American people to a greedy business man who started the HMO mess. I don’t cast much doubt on the point that he was making, yet his argument is so laughable. His argument is that the “government” screwed us over so we need more “government” (universal, national, controlled by the government healthcare) to rescue us from the mess that the “government” got us into. I’m a little dizzy trying to stay on that merry-go-round. I will give him credit for pointing out that the government does a crummy job helping people.

It was apparent to me from the beginning of the film that Michael Moore did not share my ideas. I have friends who: sew their own stitches, change their own radiator and toilets, work several jobs, pay for their own health care, and would think it an insult if someone were to tell them that they “should be kicking back on a beach somewhere”-both woman and men, young and old. I would ask my fellow Americans who would desire to go to France so that the government nanny could cook the food and do the laundry, are you truly comfortable with laying your life wide open for the government to look in? A better question would be; would you like an IRS official cleaning your house? Or perhaps having a DSS worker babysitting for you would be more appealing? Unlike others that I know, I am for trading with Cuba, and Moore was right to bring to light how inexpensive medicine is there. Was there a sleight of hand involved? I’m not sure; however I do know that the value of currency plays a big role. To my American friends who would envy the life in Cuba, I would issue a warning. CUBA IS NOT FREE PERIOD.

Making Heads of Migraine Headaches (essay #3)

Word count 942

The Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines migraine headaches as: a condition marked by [a] recurrent severe headache often with nausea and vomiting ("Migraine"). This definition is known, accepted, and used by doctors and scientists when dealing with the somewhat mysterious disorder. Several factors working in concert together including genetics, neurology and vascular irregularities, are the best known causes of migraine headaches.

Genetics being a remote cause of migraines should not be dismissed out of hand because there are statistical evidence and studies that show a connection in the genes of migraine sufferers and their families. A happy and blessed portion of the world’s population would have no idea of the pain that migraine headaches bring on. Yet another has a natural disposition to migraines that may have been inherited. Without the use of statistics and graphs, it seems to be common knowledge that women are the major recipients of migraines. Late night television or children’s programming proves the comedy in the writers’ pen when the wife says, “not tonight honey, I have a headache.” Data are there and are conclusive in favor to support the woman’s claim to pain. The statistics from “studies conducted in multiple countries have documented the incidence of migraine [sic] as approximately eighteen percent in women and six percent in males.” The author continues, “This striking gender imbalance probably reflects hormonal fluctuations as the difference in prevalence is most apparent during the reproductive years” (McKinnon). Scientific studies have also identified an association in the genes while studying a rare migraine condition. Ross McKinnon states, “The identification of three associated genes that all encode types of ion channels provides valuable insights into the possible pathophysiology of [the] migraine”. The wonder and mystery in this condition however lies in the evasiveness of it. One does not have to fret because they have a family member who suffered with migraines. They could be one of happy persons to never suffer a day with the pain simply by avoiding migraine triggers.

Migraine specialist feels that they have made positive in-roads identifying two immediate neurological causes for migraine headaches. Alpha and beta nerve receptors were found to react abnormally to certain stimuli. These receptors are responsible for the contracting and dilation of blood vessels in the brain, and are influenced by gases and chemicals. (Arehart-Treichel) In being such, CO2, used to dilate blood vessels, would work counterproductive for the migraineur showing an important link in the puzzle. This abnormal activity in the nerves is related to the decrease in pain relieving chemicals in the brain. Joan Arehart-Treichel refers to the research, “What is now known for sure about migraine pain is that enkephailns become depleted at the beginning of the migraine attack but increase to normal levels as the headache subsides.”(qtd. in Arehart-Treichel) Having this valuable information could lead to help in pain relief for migraine suffers.

Closely related to neurological causes of migraines, blood flow or vascular causes are documented to be the most immediate factors. Here in lies the connection between each of the causes. To paraphrase, one expert says, Many things are coming in to play when speaking of migraines. Platelet interaction, serotonin’s functioning, and the change of the blood flow from arteries… to veins through vessels called “anastomoses” which would lead blood away from nutrient loaded capillaries. This would alter the role of trigeminal nerve centers and cranial tissues…stirring up the throbbing of the headache in turn causing the swelling of the blood vessel incurred during the attack. (Matthews. 32) Understanding what happens in the brain is tough; however, we can understand that when vessels widen, they push on surrounding nerves which has painful results as noted before. By the same token, if they tighten, blood flow is hindered which cuts off the dispersion of essential gases. All the while serotonin, a neurotransmitter, sends messages to control blood vessel contraction and dilation. Now we are back to square one. Without the catalyst of triggers to set off the elaborate web of transactions the process may never take place. Triggers are sometimes mistaken to be the true cause of migraine headaches. Identifying and avoiding them would be the sufferer’s best way of getting relief. “Migraine attacks may be triggered by:
· Alcohol
· Bright lights
· Certain odors or perfumes
· Changes in hormone levels (which can occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills)
· Changes in sleep patterns
· Exercise
· Loud noises
· Missed meals
· Physical or emotional stress
· Smoking or exposure to smoke
Certain foods and preservatives in foods may trigger migraines in some people. Food-related triggers may include:
· Any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
· Baked goods
· Chocolate
· Dairy products
· Foods containing MSG
· Foods containing tyramine, which includes red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and certain beans
· Fruits (avocado, banana, citrus fruit)
· Meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats)
· Nuts
· Onion
· Peanut butter
This list may not be all-inclusive.” (Migraine)
With triggers being the most immediate cause of migraines it is recommend keeping a headache journal to identify the triggers affecting each individual.

The immediate and remote causes of migraines each have researchers scratching their heads. Whether finding the genetic connections and why women suffer more than men, solving the mystery of the alpha and beta receptors or finding a way to make blood flow more regular for migraineurs, we can rest assured that scientists will not abandon hope for the all important break through.






Works Cited

Arehart-Treichel, Joan. “Unmasking the Causes.” Science News vol.118 Issue 15 (10/11/1980): 237-38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Greenville Tech. Col. Lib. Greenville, South Carolina 22 Oct. 2008 http://ezp/gvltec.edu:2113/host/delivery?vid=5&hid=22&sid=88c5038e-e43a-4df0-b164...
Healthline. Ed. Daniel Hoch PHD,MD et.al. 27 July 2008. Adam Health Illustrated Encyclopedia. 22 Oct. 2008 http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/migraine?print=true
Matthews, Dawn D, ed. Headache Sourcebook. Detroit: Omnigraphic, 2002
Mckinnon, Ross. “Not Tonight Darling: Exploring the role of gender and genetics in Migraines.” Pharmacy News 00.00 (Oct. 23, 2008): 13 General One File. Gale. Greenville Technical College Library. Greenville, South Carolina. 1 Nov. 2008 .
“Migraine.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Merriam-Webster Online.4 November 2008