Gulf War Syndrome
Re “The Pentagon Has Had Its Shot,” editorial, Nov. 14:
The Times is on target. Not only did approximately 10% of our troops come home from the Persian Gulf War with this syndrome of a spectrum of incapacitating symptoms, but approximately 10% of the people who live in the Gulf War area also have the same spectrum of symptoms.
Something happened there. It is suspected that a combination of stressors (many of the different factors converging at once) overwhelmed the immune systems of these people. The immune system not only protects our body but also our brain; our brain controls the inner workings of all the processes in our body in some way.
An independent, well-funded research investigation may not only uncover the causes of the Gulf War syndrome and lead to more effective treatments, but in all probability would give to medicine a very important understanding to be used as a tool to keep people healthier.
HERBERT S. GROSS MD
Culver City
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