Kids | ProActive Chiropractic Health and Wellness Blog

Childhood infections may prevent heart disease; ‘Hygiene hypothesis’ helps explain decrease in risk, researchers say

August 31, 2011 | Filed under: General Interest,Heart Health,Kids

(This article was originally published in 2005 after the IV World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. For some reason it’s no longer available online). Here it is from a cached version:

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Early childhood viral infections might reduce the risk of developing heart disease later in life by as much as 90 percent, researchers from Sweden and Finland reported at the IV World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

According to the investigators, “improved hygiene in early childhood might partially explain the greatest epidemic of the 20th century — coronary heart disease.”

It is the first time that the so-called “hygiene hypothesis” has been linked to the development of heart disease. The hypothesis proposes that reduced microbial exposure because of improved sanitation and cleaner lifestyles has facilitated the rise in asthma, allergic disease and multiple sclerosis in the Western world.

Researchers led by Dr. Erkki Pesonen, from the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, compared 350 patients who had unstable angina or a heart attack with 350 subjects without coronary heart disease (control subjects). The study participants answered a questionnaire about their childhood experience with contagious diseases, specifically whether they had ever had chickenpox, scarlet fever, measles, German measles, mononucleosis, or infection of the parotid salivary glands.

Childhood contagious diseases were more frequent in the controls, researchers noted. Furthermore, they found a consistent trend between the number of childhood infections and the reduction in coronary risk. For instance, having two childhood viral infections reduced the coronary risk by 40 percent; four infections was associated with a 60-percent decreased risk; and six infections lowered the risk by 90 percent.

Dr. Horacio Faella, a pediatric cardiologist at the Garrahan Hospital, Buenos Aires, and member of the Organizing Committee of the meeting, considered these findings to be interesting but preliminary. “We need to do more studies about the influence of the immune system on the cardiovascular system,” he said.

via msnbc.msn.com

Posted via email from ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco, California

Second hand smoke linked to learning and behavior problems in children

August 5, 2011 | Filed under: General Interest,Kids

Scientists have known for years that second hand smoke has an effect on the health of children and non-smokers living with the smoker. It is common knowledge that second hand smoke can take a toll on a child’s respiratory system, amongst other health problems.

Now, researchers are finding that second hand smoke can affect a child’s brain. Learning disabilities, attention deficit and conduct disorders are found to be linked to second hand smoke.

Early Antibiotic Use Increases Risk of Allergies & Asthma

May 29, 2011 | Filed under: Drugs,General Interest,Kids

In a study of over 1,400 children, children who received antibiotics by 6 months were between 59% and 89% likely to have asthma by age 6, depending on family history. These children were also 59% more likely to have a “positive allergy blood or skin test.” Read more about the study here.

Dr. Cohen Introduces ‘An Easy Way To Avoid Soccer Injuries’ Video, Supported By FIFA

May 23, 2011 | Filed under: Kids,Sports,Video

“I strongly recommend the 11+ exercise series as a warm up tool. It’s easy to follow and implement into any warm up program or training drill,” says Dr. Cohen, San Francisco Chiropractor who sees many young athletes for sports injuries.

“The 11+” is a complete warm-up package for soccer players. The program was developed by an international group of experts.

In a scientific study it was shown that female youth football teams using “The 11+” as a standard warm-up had significant lower risk for injuries than teams that warmed-up as usual,” says Football for Health, an offshoot of FIFA.

(click on the photo below to see the video)

This is an easy, cheap, and effective prevention tool but unfortunately even with “the 11+” injuries may occur.

Some common injuries that present at ProActive Chiropractic are pulled hamstrings, groin pulls, knee injuries, low back sprains, neck whiplash-type injuries from heading, and ankle sprains/rolls. Some injuries can be quite serious such as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and after a thorough exam Dr. Cohen is able to refer you to the appropriate specialist. If a sports injury occurs quickly see Dr. Cohen at ProActive Chiropractic because the sooner you are treated, the sooner you can be out of pain and return to play. When you wait too long, scar tissue develops which prolongs the healing time dramatically.

Schedule today by calling 415-762-8141.

Should I Take Muscle Milk, EAS Myoplex, Met-Rx Ready-to-Drink Shake, Met-Rx Collegiate Series, or GNC AMP XXX?

May 20, 2011 | Filed under: General Interest,Kids,Nutrition,Sports

A college friend of mine recently posted great information on protein powders. I am reposting it here:

Protein Supplements Reviewed – Which Are OK to Take?
October 20, 2010
The one nutrient nearly ALL of my student-athlete patients and baseball students never get enough of is PROTEIN.
How Much Protein Should Your Child Get Each Day?
1) Take their weight in pounds, divide by 2.2 = their weight in kilograms
2) Multiply weight by 1.5 = the minimum amount of protein needed each day
200 pounds / 2.2 = 91 kilograms x 1.5 = 136 grams protein per day
The Healthiest Sources of Protein?
1. Free Range Chicken
2. Grass-Fed Beef
3. Omega-3 Eggs
4. Almonds, Almond Butter, Walnuts, Pistachios
5. Raw Milk

Now, Protein Supplements…

I (Dr. Arnold) have reviewed 7 different protein supplements:

Protein Supplement #1: Muscle Milk Collegiate
(http://www.cytosport.com/products/collegiate)
Recommended? NO = contains both Splenda and another sweetener called Acesulfame-K which possibly causes thyroid problems (http://www.holisticmed.com/acek/)
-To review, my biggest concern with Splenda is the damage it does to the digestive system.
A Duke University study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18800291) showed that
Splenda may
1. Make your stomach MORE acidic, affecting digestion and cell function
2. Kill the good bacteria in your intestines (called “probiotics”), increasing your risk of
infection.

Protein Supplement #2: Muscle Milk Regular
(http://www.cytosport.com/products/muscle-milk)
Recommended? NO = Contains both Splenda and Acesulfame-Potassium.
Also contains sunflower oil = high omega-6 fats that increase inflammation

Protein Supplement #3: EAS Myoplex
(http://eas.com/product/myoplex-original-ready-to-drink)
Recommended? NO = Contains Splenda
Also contains sunflower oil = increased inflammation

Protein Supplement #4: Met-Rx Ready-to-Drink Shake
(http://www.metrx.com/labels/031685.pdf)
Recommended? NO = Contains both Splenda, Acesulfame-K
Also has safflower oil = high in omega-6 fats, increasing inflammation

Protein Supplement #5: Met-Rx Collegiate Series
(http://www.metrx.com/shop/parent.aspx?parentID=27&catID=16&xs=feac78c505a64bef9e4200ae9983a401)
Recommended? YES (sort of) = No Splenda, No Acesulfame-K
Please notice that the second ingredient is sugar and it does contain soybean oil = inflammation

Protein Supplement #6: GNC AMP XXX
(http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3480829)
Recommended? NO = Contains both Splenda and Acesulfame-K.
It’s unfortunate because it’s the only supplement here to contain Medium-Chain Triglycerides
(the same fat in Coconut Oil), known to help burn fat and is very popular among bodybuilders
(http://www.musculardevelopment.com/articles/fat-loss/28-fat-attack-eat-fat-burn-fat.html))
.
STOP BEING FOOLED BY ADVERTISING
Having a pro athlete endorse a product doesn’t mean the product is good for you.
Remember when doctors endorsed cigarettes?

What about professional athletes?

When Is The Most Important Time To Take Protein Supplements?
If you had to choose one time during the day, drink your shake within 30 minutes after your
workouts as the body is starving for nutrients to recover.

To read more go to Dr. Arnold’s website. He is a great chiropractor and an incredible pitching coach.

Pediatricians’ statement on stricter laws for chemicals

May 8, 2011 | Filed under: General Interest,Kids

A statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics calls for stricter laws for chemicals, especially for safety testing before their release on the market. The goal of the statement is to “include the voice of pediatricians in current discussions about the need to update the Toxic Substances Control Act, passed in 1976 with the intention of protecting the public against exposure to hazardous chemicals.” Children’s bodies interact with chemicals in different ways than adults, and are especially affected during important periods of their physical and cognitive development. The current law only regulates five types of chemicals – there are 80,000 types of chemicals out on the market. Most of them are unregulated because the outdated law does not require safety testing before their release. “A spokesperson from the American Chemistry Council told Reuters Health in an email that the chemical company representative agrees that the Toxic Substances Control Act needs to be updated, and that the chemical industry is also working with the government to protect kids’ health through other means,” according to the Reuters article.

Stop: That Brightly Colored Easter Candy May be Causing ADHD

March 31, 2011 | Filed under: Brain Health,Kids

ADHD (by the way ADD is not a proper term anymore) has had some news coverage lately addressing potential causes and nutritional ways to help the symptoms.

NPR:

March 30, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration is meeting Wednesday and Thursday to examine whether artificial food dyes cause hyperactivity in children. Artificial food dyes are made from petroleum and approved for use by the FDA to enhance the color of processed foods.

They’ve been around for decades and are found in everything from pudding to potato chips to soft drinks.

But recent studies linking food coloring to hyperactivity in kids is causing some experts to call on the FDA to ban foods containing them — or at least require a warning label.

Read this before reaching for your child’s fever medication

March 1, 2011 | Filed under: Drugs,General Interest,Kids

Oftentimes, a parent’s concern about their child’s fever causes them to quickly reach for medication. A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in the journal Pediatrics offers some advice and information that every parent should know:

fevers are the body’s way of fighting off illness – it is a sign that the immune system is kicking in.
“The focus should be on comfort and not on absolute temperature.” — lead author Dr. Janice Sullivan
newly published guidelines for the administration of fever-reducing drugs: the recommended dosage for acetaminophen is 10 to 15 mg/kg every 4 to 6 hours, and 10 mg/kg for ibuprofen.
Dosage is based upon weight, not age or height. Be sure to use the proper dosage devices (not kitchen teaspoons, which vary in size).
These medications can be toxic when given in large doses or over long periods of time
Be aware that some cough syrups and cold medicines already contain fever-reducing acetaminophen or ibuprofen – don’t give a double dose to your child.
It is not necessary to wake your child up in the middle of the night to give them a fever reducing medication – if they are sleeping, there is no sign of discomfort.
Although fever alone is not a cause for alarm, parents should monitor their child closely for signs of serious illness and make sure their child is properly hydrated.

Read more from the article here, or talk to Dr. Cohen at his San Francisco office if you have any questions.

See The Body Worlds Vital Exhibit at San Jose’s Tech Museum Before It Leaves

January 20, 2011 | Filed under: General Interest,Kids,Video

There isn’t much that’s worth driving to San Jose for, but this is! The Gunther von Hagens’ Body World Vital is an incredible exhibit. Not only is it educational and incredible, but they take the opportunity to teach you about ways to stay healthy. They also compare healthy bodies side by side with those that were subjected to unhealthy choices, from smoking to obesity.

After spending a year in the cadaver lab in chiropractic school, I am in shock at what these people were able to do and show, things I never thought were possible.

I would strongly recommend this exhibit, especially for kids – no, it’s not gory or gross. They do a great job visually teaching much of what I focus on in my practice, from the importance of exercise to healthy eating. Make sure you see it before it leaves.

-Dr Andrew Cohen, ProActive Chiropractic, San Francisco.

Tip: Save a few bucks by showing them your AAA card.

Fever – not as bad as you think

January 15, 2011 | Filed under: General Interest,Kids

This New York Times article talks about how although fevers can be scary when it is happening to your child, most of the time it is a good sign that the immune system is working. It is a cause for concern in infants, but in general “fever is positive evidence of an active immune system.”

According to the article, fever does not harm the brain or the body despite misconceptions, though it does increase the need for fluids. And even untreated, fevers rarely rise higher than 104 or 105 degrees.

Make sure to stay hydrated!

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