Mystery Illness Killing Vietnam Vets
By
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
Posted December 9, 2017
I have a soft spot in my heart for military veterans—especially the ones who have seen active combat.
And that’s why the news of a mysterious illness killing Vietnam vets makes me especially angry.
It turns out that the soldiers who fought in Vietnam could have brought something home with them that laid dormant for decades
It’s what I call the Vietnamese Trojan Horse, and it’s killing these veterans on their own home soil.
Here’s how to stay safe.
Vets who served in Vietnam have an uncommonly high likelihood of having a parasite that hitched a ride home with them.
It’s called a liver fluke, and it can be contracted when eating raw or undercooked fish or from ingesting river water. While it’s practically unheard of here in the States, it’s extremely common in Asia, affecting about 25 million people.
Liver flukes can live undetected in your body for years—decades, even. And sometimes, people can live and die without ever knowing they had them.
These parasites cause tissue damage that leads to scarring and inflammation—and in some cases, that can contribute to a rare form of bile duct cancer called cholangiocarcinoma.
This type of cancer typically goes undetected until it’s too advanced to do anything about it—making it extremely lethal.
In the past few years, some scientists and veterans and have been connecting the dots between these liver flukes and bile duct cancer.
They’ve been trying to sound the alarm, but it’s been falling on mostly deaf ears… until now.
The Department of Veterans Affairs decided to conduct a study to see if Vietnam vets were more likely to carry these liver flukes.
They drew blood samples from 50 veterans—and a shocking 20 PERCENT came back positive for liver fluke antibodies.
In other words, thousands of vets could have a cancer-causing infection…and not have a clue.
And that means that if a veteran develops this form of cancer, he either doesn’t know that it could have been from Vietnam (so he doesn’t even file for service-related benefits)—or he is denied coverage if he does ask.
This pilot study is the government’s first real step in acknowledging the connection, but in the meantime, too few vets—and their families—are getting the benefits they deserve.
But there is a silver lining in all of this.
Knowledge.
Every Vietnam vet should be tested for the parasites. If they’re infected, they can be treated with a medication that kills the flukes and their eggs.
They should also be tested for lesions that can lead to the cancer. In many cases, precancerous lesions can be removed before they develop into full-blown cancer.
The reason the cancer is so fatal is because it’s usually not caught until its final stages. Catching it early gives a man a fighting chance.
That’s the least we can do for these heroes who have already sacrificed so much.
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
11-Minute Solution PREVENTS 1 in 10 Early Deaths
You already know that exercise reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and early death. According to the current guidelines, you’ll need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to get those benefits. That breaks down to 21.4 minutes of daily exercise. I don’t know many people who get that much exercise every day. But the...
Don't Touch Another Strawberry Until You Read THIS!
If you’ve ever had a freshly picked, vine-ripened strawberry, you KNOW there’s nothing quite so juicy with a delicious burst of flavor. And you ALSO know that the imposter strawberries sold in grocery stores are bland and tasteless in comparison. They barely deserve to be called strawberries. But a recent study showed that these strawberries...
"Diaphragm Dumbbell" Dials Down Blood Pressure
They call high blood pressure “the silent killer” for a reason. It can quietly do damage for YEARS before your first symptoms appear. And once they do, the clock is ticking to get your numbers under control. Because if you don’t, your risk of a heart attack or stroke goes through the roof. You see,...
The Nutrient Secret to Better Sleep
Don’t make the mistake of thinking poor sleep… or not getting ENOUGH of it … is no big deal. Bad quality sleep doesn’t just leave you feeling groggy and gross the next day. Over time, it can play a big part in just about any MAJOR health issue you can think of. That includes heart...
Are You Getting Enough Vitamin H?
Some vitamins are household names by now. If I mention nutrients like vitamin D, C, or B12, not only have you likely heard of them, but you probably also know a little about why they’re good for you. You might already have them in your “medicine” cabinet. However, I’m guessing you’ve never heard of vitamin...
“Bearded Tooth” Fungus Regrows Brain Cells?!
There’s a rare mushroom that goes by MANY names… But we should add the nickname “Smart Mushroom” to the list because of its ability to support cognitive health and brain function. Previous studies have shown this fungus can help improve cognitive function, protect against memory loss, and reduce symptoms of depression. In a recent study,...
Tackle BOTH Sleep and Mood Problems
I love using unconventional methods to treat common problems. And by unconventional, I mean anything other than what the mainstream would tell you to do. Take mood and sleep problems, for example. Too many people get a prescription and are sent on their merry way. I call that “getting written off.” Instead, I’ve found a...
Top 5 Joint Pain Supplements
If you’re living with joint pain, you don’t want Band-Aids… you want solutions. Typically, it occurs as a result of two underlying problems: Inflammation Cartilage breakdown If you address those two issues, you can get to the ROOT of joint pain. But traditional heavy-duty painkillers often come with unwanted side effects… Some inexpensive supplements can...
HIDDEN Heart Attack Trigger (Beware)
At first glance, my home state of Arizona and Hawaii have little in common. But both share an important distinction. Neither participates in the risky practice of daylight saving time (DST). It’s just one of the many reasons I love living here. The rest of the country shifted their clocks forward by an hour nearly...
Is This Bathroom Habit Triggering CANCER?
It’s always a good idea to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals. This can include things like ditching the Roundup to kill weeds in your yard or replacing your bathroom cleaner with natural solutions like vinegar and essential oils. But as you’re making the switch to a “cleaner” lifestyle, I’m guessing you never considered tossing...
