Publications
This publication page will present several relevant topics of interest for those wanting to know information on select topics in health care.
Now available online
“A Stroke of Midnight”
By Dr. John L. Stump
Five years ago, Chiropractic Physician John Stump was suddenly struck down by a massive stroke. His struggle to recover was more harrowing than John, his wife and their children could ever imagine. In this article pulled from their new book “A Stroke of Midnight” the couple share their challenges.
On May 7, 1999, Dr. John Stump, 52, a lecturing Chiropractic physician for the International Acupuncture Academy was struck down at home while packing for a lecture trip. After returning on Sunday evening from one of his many lecture trips John and his wife, Dianne went out for Dinner. Arriving home they decided to pack for the upcoming lecture he was scheduled to do in New Zealand. John looked up at the clock, it was five minutes before midnight when a strange feeling went to his right arm and a few seconds later his right leg went weak, he fell over on the bed and tried to call for Dianne but nothing would come out of his mouth but gibberish.
Dianne: By the time we got John to the hospital some 12 miles away he was unconscious and it was then 12:30 AM, I knew if this was what I thought it was, time was of the essence. They rushed John into the ER entrance and when I saw the doctor’s face some thirty minutes later it didn’t look good. He came out to the waiting room and looked at me and said he would do all that he could but, John had a massive stroke and he was hemorrhaging in the brain. We’re trying to get the blood pressure under control and I’ll get back to you when I can. I knew I had to remain calm nothing would be accomplished if hysteria took over here.
They had confirmed my worst suspicion that he had suffered a stroke. But why, he was not a smoker, not over weight, an avid athlete all of his life…what would cause this sudden brain attack? It was not until later that I realized that the doctor on duty was trying to tell me that it was a touch and go situation. I would learn later just how bad the stroke had been. The ER physician told me that he had called the Neurosurgeon and the Cardiologist but it was Sunday at midnight, not to expect anyone very quickly.
I had done a good job that night, of appearing positive and in control, in front of the medical staff and the others in the waiting room. I knew I had to get on the phone and let the kids know that Doc was down and they had to get home. This would be a shock to them because Doc was never down. They were all in different locations around the country and I knew it would be difficult to get them to drop their plans and come down. I knew that I could depend on Sue and Randa to handle things at the office and call the patients until we could figure out how long John was going to be out.
John saw at least fifty patients each day and on a busy day seventy-five, he had slowed his pace some since moving to Fairhope. At one time I can remember him seeing over one hundred and fifty patients each day. He had promised me he wouldn’t push himself like that again. In Delaware he was like a human dynamo, he was non-stop from 7AM until 9 PM seeing patients and teaching. Then on weekends he would lecture somewhere in the world. It was not unusual for him to drive to Dulles airport or Baltimore/ Washington airport fly to London or Paris, lecture for the weekend and fly back Sunday night, and then be in the office on Monday morning seeing his full schedule of patients. He was one of the few doctors in the early 1980’s that knew and understood acupuncture so his time was in demand.
Now, John was lying on a hospital ER table hooked to a ventilator, heart monitor, blood pressure gauge and God knows what else! I loved my husband fiercely. Our marriage was strong and in a good place. In 1986, he was asked to serve on the Olympic team in Seoul, South Korea, as one of the team doctors. After that he was hooked on sports medicine. We moved from Delaware to Alabama so he could finish another doctorate in sports medicine at the United States Sports Academy. He ended up teaching his unique multidiscipline practice of chiropractic, acupuncture and sports injury to hundreds of doctors throughout the sports world. What started as an adventure left me sometimes exhausted, frustrated and resentful of John’s drive.
When John would return home after a long lecture tour, we would steal chunks of time to be together at the beach or planning our next get-away, those were wonderful periods. That life that we had grown to love, right now dangled near the edge of a cliff.
The book will be available for $19.95, October 6, 2007, at Page and Palette Book Store in Fairhope, AL or through the publisher:
Page and Palette
32 South Section Street
Fairhope, AL 36532
251-928-5295
www.pageandpalette.com
Alternative Concepts Publishing House
315 Magnolia Avenue
Fairhope, AL 36532
www.alternative-concepts.com
251-990-8159 - FAX
Tissue Mineral Analysis
What is a Tissue Mineral Analysis?
By Dr. John L. Stump
I have had this question asked of me many times over the last few years and figured I would just explain it to everyone at one time. A number of doctors use this analysis as a tool but none so adequately as the clinical nutritionist and nutritional consultant. A trace mineral analysis is a test that measures the mineral content of the hair. I know many of you have seen them use this same procedure on the CSI crime lab TV series. Vitamins, minerals enzymes and co-enzymes work together in the body for a person’s health. Mineral content of the hair reflects the mineral content of the body tissue. If a mineral deficiency or excess exist in the hair, it usually indicates a mineral deficiency or excess in the body, what’s called bioavailability.
An example of this would be if your hair revealed an elevated calcium level two or three times normal, then your calcium level within the body may be elevated also. If the were the case, a strong tendency exist for atheriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to calcium plaques).
If the calcium were low, then tendency exist toward osteoporosis (demineralization of bone), increased tendency to bone fracture, dental caries, periodontal disease, muscle cramps, etc.
Various mineral imbalances frequently lead to metabolic dysfunctions before any symptoms manifest. This is what the practitioner is trying to determine or rule in or out as a possibility of a problem.
Why test for minerals you ask? Minerals are the “sparkplugs” of life. They are involved in almost all enzyme reactions within body and without enzyme activity life cease to exist. A trace mineral analysis is preventative as well as being a screening tool.
When does one need a trace mineral analysis you are wondering? Anyone that is ill and no explanation can be found, or when the cause seems to be known but the therapy being use is not fully effective. This analysis opens up a completely new vista for solving the problem by recognizing the biochemical components involved. Even if one is not experiencing a severe problem, abnormal changes in the body chemistry and nutritional deficiencies may result in early, subtle changes in the body such as: white spots in the fingernails- this would indicate a possible zinc deficiency. Longitudinal ridging of the nails- indicates an iron deficiency. Brittle hair and nails – indicates a possible calcium and copper imbalance. Deep grooves across the nails indicate a calcium deficiency. Mood swings indicate a possible toxic level of metal accumulation such as lead, mercury or cadmium.
The aforementioned indicators may be early signs of metabolic disturbances and may lead to serious problems if left unchecked. The most common cause of a mineral deficiency or imbalance is usually dietary like, an excessive intake of refined carbohydrate and sugars. A strict vegetarian diet or other exclusive diets may also lead to imbalances if the proper guidelines are not followed. Taking vitamins and minerals that are not compatible with your current body chemistry, medications, birth control pills, stress or an accumulation of toxic metals from the environment, job or hobby can lead to imbalances. Inheritance and genetics are another cause that is often over looked as a factor in many cases of mineral deficiencies.
There are many conditions that may be uncovered by a trace mineral analysis i.e a zinc deficiency that may be retarding bone development or a lead toxicity that may be linked to multiple sclerosis. Doctors often diagnose heart problems by the amount of mineral manganese in the body and high levels of copper and iron in the tissues can cause migraine headaches and be a contributing factor to schizophrenia.
There are a number of tools and test that doctors use to come up with their diagnosis but when a person simply wants to know which vitamins, minerals and enzymes they need to take for a preventive measure this is one sure way to make that determination.
Please send any questions or comments to Dr. John L. Stump, Integrative Medicine Centre, 315 Magnolia Place, Fairhope, AL 36532 or email at bamashogun@aol.com
