Thread

Pasma deserves further scientific discussion, as the symptoms are real to patients.

We did a study on pasma back in medical school (Jara et al., 2008), which suggests that it is an orthostatic dysfunction seen after years of alternating heat and cold exposure. 1/ https://twitter.com/umipigmd/status/1264033399389347840

It has since been studied further, but since it is multifactorial, it is difficult to give it a clear-cut diagnosis. In cases like this, I would advise patients to consider the following:

1. Take rest periods between exposure to heat and cold
2. Ensure proper hydration

2/

3. Vitamin B Complex and targeted accupressure, as needed

I would write in my chart “t/c Peripheral neuropathy”.

I believe that medicine should work for the patient’s needs, not force our Western medicine frameworks on what they feel. It’s should be a balance.

3/

Here is a link to our paper. https://app.box.com/s/6gmb8kdfo8a75j8frag1eflonwfwk1qb

In hindsight, I didn’t realize the importance of this study when I was in school (it felt it was just a requirement), but I saw its importance when I was already practicing.

And this got me started in research!

4/4

PS. I also advise my patients to address their comorbidities that will lead them to experience pasma more, especially hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disease.

Pasma is real. It may not yet be a diagnosis of its own, but it does tell us of our patients’ health.

PPS. Orthostatic dysfunction = BP changes with posture. We asked all participants to do an orthostatism test (see vid). After, when we tested people who reported pasma, their systolic BP was significantly higher than those who claimed not to have pasma.

PPPS. This means that the patients had possible abnormalities with their autonomic nervous system. As with these issues, further study is needed and must consider all other health issues of the patient.

P4S (hehe quite a number of things to add already):
Autonomic dysfunction is manifested in many ways, but one of them are the following that are also associated with pasma: hyperhidrosis, numbness, hand/extremity pain and tremors.

We did our study for laundrywomen who are constantly exposed to heat (i.e. ironing) and cold (i.e. handwash). We noted that one or more of the 4 can still be felt even by those who don't have thyroid problems, and are felt more by those who have been doing such work longer.

Feel free to ask questions, and I can try to answer, or refer to more knowledgeable people in our network. :)

Last na: here's a Filipino summary of this thread. Thank you for your support! https://twitter.com/jimlopez875/status/1264566414540541952