The significance of a medical problem is not always measured
by how complicated the problem is, how expensive it is to diagnosis, how difficult
it is to treat, or how expensive it is to treat. If a swimmer swims into a cave
and cannot manage to make it back to the surface to breathe, he will die. Such
a problem is not complicated or difficult to understand. It is not difficult
to diagnose, or prevent; but, nevertheless, the problem can certainly have a
tremendous impact on a swimmer. Likewise, Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is not complicated
and it can be easily and inexpensively diagnosed and treated, yet it can have
tremendous impact on a person's life and on a society. The significance of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome lies in the fact that it is
1. Extremely common
2. Debilitating
3. Easily treated
4. Reversible
It is my feeling that Wilson's Temperature Syndrome takes a greater toll
on our society as a whole, in terms of productivity in the work place, progress
in industry, harmony in families, harmony in communities, performance in school,
and overall quality of life than any other medical condition, even heart disease,
cancer, and AIDS. This is primarily because of how many more people are affected
by Wilson's Temperature Syndrome than there are by heart disease, cancer, and AIDS; and
also because it is currently going unrecognized and untreated.
Although recognition and treatment of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is
very simple, it is also very significant. Although it may be difficult
to imagine at first, there is a very good physiological reason why Wilson's Temperature Syndrome can affect so many things (body temperature affects all body
function) and have such far-reaching effects. An effort has been made with this
book to help the reader begin to see just how far-reaching those effects can
be.
The ramifications of Wilson' Syndrome can be as wide-ranging
and as far-reaching as those seen in any medical specialty. The problems and
symptoms present in this book are most similar to the problems and symptoms
seen by primary care doctors (general practitioners and family doctors). Considering
that the practitioner should be continually mindful of this significant condition's
many varied ramifications (directly and in relation to other medical problems
and treatments), the management of this one condition and its ramifications
could represent a field of practice in and of itself. Because WTS is so prevalent,
and because it can cause and interface with so many medical problems, a doctor
could easily devote all of his time to this one area of medicine (as I do).
Considering Wilson's Temperature Syndrome derives its importance from its effect on the
metabolism, this field of medicine could be called metabology (would that make
us metabologists?).
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