| Agent Orange and Parkinson`s Disease |
| Anne Kelly |
| 9/4/2009 |
| Since the Vietnam War, the defoliant Agent Orange has been linked to cancer and other health problems. And now researchers say they may have yet another medical condition to add to that list. Jim Kramer may be one of the most patriotic Americans alive. A Vietnam veteran who lives in a house of red, white, and blue, he openly talks about what he calls the `best country in the world` and memories from his time in the war. "One morning I woke up and I went outside and there was this huge planes spraying something," says Kramer. "We thought they were spraying for mosquitoes." But instead, the US planes were spraying Agent Orange, a herbicide used to kill crops and other plants that enemy forces were using as cover. Last year Kramer was diagnosed with the cancer multiple myeloma, and doctors say Agent Orange was likely the cause of it. No surprise, as it`s has been linked to as many as 17 health problems, and now possibly, yet another: Parkinson`s disease. "Now they`re not saying definitively that there is a causality, but they`re saying there could be a relationship," says Dr. Craig Lambrecht, of the North Dakota Guard State surgeon. "It`s a complex disease, it`s a very complex disease and it really shows that we don`t have a good handle on it." By law, every two years, the Institute of Medicine has to report any updated findings about the health effects of Vietnam War herbicides. The latest report finds evidence connecting Agent Orange to Parkinson`s, but researchers say more studies need to be done before they decide if a definite link can be made. Especially since Parkinson`s disease is impacted by other factors like genetics and age. And the findings do matter. They may not only give some veterans piece of mind but also service related disability benefits through the Department of Veteran Affairs. "I`m very proud of my service to my country and no one can take that away from me," says Kramer. As for him, doctor`s say his Agent Orange related health problem is in the past...his cancer is in remission now. Giving him a chance to live for the future, and spend more time with the family he fought for. Recent findings my researchers also point to limited evidence that Agent Orange may be linked with an increased risk of developing ischemic heart disease. |
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