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AS and illness/disease

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KevinLA
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09 Dec 2010, 5:42 pm

Are people with AS more prone to illness/disease (cancer, heart disease, etc.)?



Avengilante
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09 Dec 2010, 5:49 pm

No


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MidlifeAspie
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09 Dec 2010, 6:04 pm

Avengilante wrote:
No


Absolutely not



buryuntime
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09 Dec 2010, 6:28 pm

Not directly, but possibly health problems from stress, anxiety, depression, etc.



CockneyRebel
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09 Dec 2010, 6:36 pm

No


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aghogday
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09 Dec 2010, 8:48 pm

I think some of the neurochemical imbalances (low levels of dopamine, etc.) associated with Autism may point to a biological link per excerpt below:


http://www.researchautism.net/asditem.ikml?print&ra=50&infolevel=3&t=3


"Causes of mental health problems in people with autism
Many mental health problems in people with autism are likely to have the same causes as they do in other people. In addition, some people believe that

■some people with Asperger syndrome – and their families – are biologically more prone to some mental health problems, especially anxiety, depression, and OCD"



pensieve
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09 Dec 2010, 10:56 pm

I love all these 'no' answers.
'Nu-uh, AS isn't a disease so we are not prone to disease. We are strong and healthy like an ox. Even if we don't eat healthy or exercise as much as we should - we are ox!'

But I can see many reasons why people with AS could be.
Failure to recognize illness and so won't go to the doctor.
Aversion of seeing the doctor.
Not able to take care of oneself and so may become unhealthy. Maybe refers more to autism. I know I'm slowly deteriorating.
Just being in denial.
Social withdrawal so others that may notice signs won't get to see them.
Anxiety could lead to heart problems.
Use of medications could lead to a whole host of illnesses.


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Apple_in_my_Eye
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10 Dec 2010, 4:01 am

pensieve wrote:
I love all these 'no' answers.
'Nu-uh, AS isn't a disease so we are not prone to disease. We are strong and healthy like an ox. Even if we don't eat healthy or exercise as much as we should - we are ox!'
LOL

Quote:
But I can see many reasons why people with AS could be.
Failure to recognize illness and so won't go to the doctor.
Aversion of seeing the doctor.
Not able to take care of oneself and so may become unhealthy. Maybe refers more to autism. I know I'm slowly deteriorating.
Just being in denial.
Social withdrawal so others that may notice signs won't get to see them.
Anxiety could lead to heart problems.
Use of medications could lead to a whole host of illnesses.

I'd add to that list that chronic, high stress is usually also really bad for one's health.

Also feel like I'm experiencing a case of "premature decrepitude."



kruger4
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10 Dec 2010, 12:07 pm

The only real answer here is no, but you will have more health problems because of stress.



ruveyn
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10 Dec 2010, 1:16 pm

AS is not a disease. It is a condition.

ruveyn



KissOfMarmaladeSky
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10 Dec 2010, 2:34 pm

pensieve wrote:
I love all these 'no' answers.
'Nu-uh, AS isn't a disease so we are not prone to disease. We are strong and healthy like an ox. Even if we don't eat healthy or exercise as much as we should - we are ox!'

But I can see many reasons why people with AS could be.
Failure to recognize illness and so won't go to the doctor.
Aversion of seeing the doctor.
Not able to take care of oneself and so may become unhealthy. Maybe refers more to autism. I know I'm slowly deteriorating.
Just being in denial.
Social withdrawal so others that may notice signs won't get to see them.
Anxiety could lead to heart problems.
Use of medications could lead to a whole host of illnesses.


I'm the opposite; whenever I have a health problem, I tell everyone about it.



aghogday
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10 Dec 2010, 3:07 pm

KevinLA wrote:
Are people with AS more prone to illness/disease (cancer, heart disease, etc.)?


I don't think anyone is suggesting that being on the AS is a disease in itself.

I don't think anyone would disagree that it is a neurological condition, and the majority of the people on the AS experience a greater level of stress in their lives because of the symptoms of being on the AS.

I don't think anyone would disagree that continued, high levels of stress are associated with illness and disease, both mental and physical.

Therefore, in my opinion, it is reasonable to correlate higher levels of illness/disease with the condition of being on the AS.