Paul-

You explained that I should reply to MoreLife directly, so I hope I'm not
duplicating this email.

Updates: BP is more like 125 / 65 (NOT 125 / 85).

[Actually, while a person who is not knowledgeable about the meaning of blood
pressure numbers may think that 125/65 is better than 125/85 because of the
lower diastolic pressure, that conclusion is incorrect. The reason is that the
difference between the two values (which is called the "pulse pressure") is a
rough indication of the stiffness of the arteries. If the arteries are highly
flexible, then when the heart muscle is ejecting the blood (at the systolic
time) the pressure will not be able to rise as much above the pressure when the
heart is relaxed (the diastolic time), because the arterial walls will simply
stretch and not allow the pressure to build. Whereas if the walls are inflexible
(like a rigid pipe) the heart's push will cause the pressure to build before the
blood can possibly escape out the other end through the capillaries into the
very flexible and low pressure veins. People who have excellent arterial
flexibility will have pulse pressures 40 or below (as mine and Kitty's usually
are). Your reading of 60 for pulse pressure shows that in spite of all the
running, your arteries have not remained very flexible. I am not surprised at
this since I do not think that running is a primary method to prevent inflexible
arteries but instead lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by other means.
Instead, a better diet and use of supplements would be more effective at
restoring and maintaining the flexibility of your arteries. --Paul]


I am using the prescription pharmaceutical Clindamycin
Phosphate to treat acne

[Something like acne does not simply come from nowhere without any cause, and is
generally not present in a healthy person of your age. IMO, this is a sign of a
hormonal imbalance of some kind. However, I could not possibly suggest anything
until I saw a full set of blood tests for you. Most assuredly Clindamycin is
merely treating the symptoms when instead you need to eliminate the cause.
--Paul]


Your analyses herein are amazing! It's full of ideas and facts that I did
not know about and / or that you have given a different weight / balance to
that I had not considered. I'm going to have to spend more time with this
to get the full benefit, but for starters:

What would you recommend I do to find a neurologist that you would trust?

[Before you go to any doctor (except in the case of an emergency situation),
begin to research your problem and become as knowledgeable as possible about all
possible diagnoses that it could be. Under the US medical system (and probably
everywhere else at the present time) there is no way to know the quality of a
doctor ahead of time (except perhaps anecdotally by knowing some patients of
hirs). All that you can do is to pick one (likely the one recommended by your GP
or other person whose judgment you trust) and then to question everything that
s/he says for the reasons and for your own understanding. If s/he does not
respond well to the questions, then ditch hir and try another with the same
approach. You will at least have learned something from the first. --Paul]


Same for blood and other appropriate tests.

[The best thing to do at the start, particularly at your age, is to have a very
complete set of tests. I do not know of any cheaper and easier way to get blood
tests than through LEF. So that is what I recommend. If you like I can supply
you with the list of all that they offer which would be complete and
comprehensive for you without duplication. IMO, it would even be best to get
these done *before* seeing a neurologist, unless your symptoms are getting
speedily worse. These test results would aid hir and show hir that you were
serious and knowledgeable, so you would not get treated so much like a dummy.
All that s/he might need additional would be some very specialized tests (likely
not blood related at all). --Paul]


With changes to a person's supplementation, is there a recommendation to
change one item at a time to be able to isolate results and side effects,

[Generally yes, except that some supplements need to be taken together for
safest and best effect. For example if you take alpha lipoic acid then extra
biotin should be taken. If you take more than 30 mg daily of zinc then extra
copper should be taken. So the best thing to do is eliminate them in related
groups. OTOH, I really do not think that your problem is related to your
supplement intake. --Paul]


and what period of time is reasonable for evaluation before making another
change?

[Almost all supplements will stop having any negative effects (and also usually
any acute positive effects) within a week or two so I would say two weeks is
generally sufficient. However, your tremor has been building for a long time and
may be due to some chronic injury by now which will take a long time to heal, if
in fact it even can. Therefore, if it is being caused by the supplements (which
I think is highly unlikely) the best way to find out would be to stop all of
them for at least six months. OTOH, if your neurological problem is not being
caused by the supplements (as I think) then this could make it worse and also
leave you less healthy in other ways because of the lack of the supplements.
--Paul]


Are there suitable negative references re endurance athletes and aging /
health detriments (all the ones I've seen are positive or n < 100).

[I do not know what you mean by "or n < 100", but ignoring that, the answer to
your question is yes with respect to health and healthful aging, and I have
listed many of them already in the other thread (on exercise). As for life
extension (a longer lifespan because of a life-style practice than without it),
there are no human lifespan studies of any kind (basically because humans live
too long to have interventions in their lifespans be studied by humans). All
that exists are some animal studies and theory. --Paul]


And who is "-°Olafur"? He seems very knowledgeable also. Would I
appropriately respond to him via MoreLife, or directly, or ...?

[In an email for some additional information, I provided Russell with the link
to a previous post he apparently had not read which answers his question.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/morelife/message/1156
An info update - Olafur is in the midst of a visit from Iceland with us here in
Arizona. In fact, we 3 hiked to the Cathedral and Devil's Bridge at Sedona on
Sunday with 2 MoreLife Yahoo members. On Monday we hiked a major portion of the
Grand Canyon Park south rim (including a bit of Bright Angel Trail). Lots of
discussion too - a most enjoyable time.
**Kitty]


Thanks! Rrussell