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Ugh, earaches! They can keep your child and you up all night! A child’s tears caused by painful earaches can be heartbreaking. And, it seems that so little can be done to prevent and treat them, even with medication. Earaches come in all strengths and sizes and occur at all ages. As a writer of health articles involving children, I’ve previously written that by the age of three years, more than 70 percent of children will have had at least one episode of earache; and nearly a third of those will have had three or more! It may not surprise you, as a parent of young children, that earaches are the most common reason for a visit to a pediatrician. But, it may surprise you that earaches are also the most widespread reason for children under the age of five years to be taken by parents to see a chiropractor!

That’s right. There is an alternative treatment that is healthier for your child than the general treatment by pediatricians of a course of antibiotics for middle ear infection. In fact, advanced medical research has determined that this type of treatment is often imprudent because the basis for a child’s middle ear infection may not be due to bacteria. Antibiotics, as we all know, is only effective against bacterial pathogens so there can be no positive result by giving a child antibiotics. Antibiotics are tough enough on a child’s body when necessary, but given when they will not be effective in the least is a risky practice. Since middle ear infections can be generated by a virus, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics, children who are given antibiotics can actually develop chronic ear infections!

A pediatric chiropractor can determine whether or not a child’s inability to combat an earache or ear infection is generated by inflammation of the small nerves in the spine (called free nerve endings). An abnormal tension in the small muscles of the neck is created when these nerve endings are irritated, and such muscle tension can place pressure on the lymphatic drainage ducts. This results in inadequate drainage from inside the ear and prevents the child’s body from being able to naturally fight the problem.

If a chiropractor feels elevated tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles on the side with the earache, this is indicative of inadequate drainage of lymphatic ducts. In addition, the chiropractor will palpate to see which spinal vertebrae are either moderately out of alignment or not moving within their normal range, which may have been the result of any one of the variety of bangs, jolts and falls that almost all children experience in the early years of their life. Frequently, a short series of spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles can help to restore normal lymph drainage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection in children accounts for at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed for the problem! So remember, if your child is suffering from an earache or an ear infection, contact a pediatric chiropractor who may be able to provide the the type of effective treatment necessary to end your child’s pain and discomfort naturally.

Technorati Tags: children's health issues, chiropractic care, chiropractor, ear infections, earaches, pediatric chiropractic

Sugar! A kid’s “high” that is legal…and lethal as far as future good health is concerned. I have been a chiropractor for over twenty-five years and have preached the gospel of a low-sugar, if not totally sugar-free, diet to my patients (for themselves and their children) for all of the years I’ve been in practice. But, even farther back than my graduate year of 1985, scientists have proven the “overpowering” power of sugar. In 1974 Anthony Sclafani, a Brooklyn College professor, found that lab rats were so drawn to the kids’ cereal, Froot Loops, that they would suppress their natural fear to eat in the exposed areas of their cages. (Death before sugar deprivation!?) Researchers using brain imagining technology found that foods high in sugar or fat activate the same reward system as cocaine and other drugs (most of them illegal), and can also set off the release of the neural chemical dopamine, which can cause the brain to override the biological brakes that prevent overeating, as well as other social and behavioral tendencies that natural “inhibitory” responses would prohibit.

So, even though I’m a “freedom first” kind of guy, I felt gratified to read about a group of parent in one North Philadelphia neighborhood, who have decided to “take on” the insidious sugar underworld that is creating, in plain sight, so many health problems for kids. In Elliot Ness fashion, but wearing bright-colored safety vests and walkie-talkies, they police certain fast food stores in the area that cater to children.

These parents have joined the national battle, begun by Michelle Obama, over the diets of children, and they are filled with the type of “fire” that can truly make a difference. That said, it must also be acknowledged that they are up against formidable forces — from economics to biology — all of which are playing out in Philadelphia, where the obesity rate is among the nation’s highest.

Beyond simply reducing calories, the Agriculture Department wants to change the content of federally subsidized school meals to meet new standards that would emphasize whole grains, vegetables and fruits and set tighter limits on sodium and fats, and encourage more dark green and orange vegetables, as well as fruits, whole grains and legumes.

Let’s face it, childhood teaches us what to eat, how to eat, when to eat and what food should taste like whether we are guided to enjoy healthy foods or left alone to grab a sugary, fatty snack of chips and soda pop before school.

So, I applaud the parental “sugar police” in North Philadelphia. May such passionate parental involvement be just the beginning of the end to childhood addiction to unhealthy food.

Technorati Tags: childhood nutrition, parents taking action for kids health, sugar and fats in kids diets, unhealthy food for kids

I am a pediatric chiropractor who is just about at the end of my rope when it comes to the unconscionable junk that is being offered to our children as “treats.” When I was a kid, my mom wouldn’t let me drink soda pop except on special occasions, like when we went to the movies or to the amusement park. Otherwise, we kids drank milk, and plenty of it! But, today’s kids, and teens in particular, face a more significant problem than “mere” sugary drinks. American kids are chugging energy drinks at an accelerated rate, and there is growing concern among health care professionals that the ingredients in these sugary-caffeine (so-called) beverages might be putting kids and teens at risk. The worst part about it is that the cauldron of ingredients that include dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbal extracts that are not easily monitored! And, it is for this very reason, the inclusion of vitamins and herbal extracts, that these beverages are classified as nutritional supplements and receive much less scrutiny and have fewer restrictions than both foods and drugs.

The damage that energy drinks are causing is measurable and of great concern. In a new report issued Monday, Florida pediatricians describe cases of seizures, delusions, heart problems and kidney or liver damage in children who had downed one or more non-alcoholic energy drinks. I am a great proponent of vitamins and supplements, but the manufacturers of energy drinks who are pawning off these non-nutritional and potential harmful drinks need to be shut down, as far as I’m concerned.

Parents, as always, it’s up to you to keep the “bad” stuff away from your kids. There are plenty of ways for your child to get “energy” that are healthy — like kinetic activity such as playing sports, running, riding a bicycle, etc. These drinks are a sugar/caffeine rush that will send your kids health down quickly!
Source: reuters.com

Technorati Tags: childrens health, dangers of energy drinks for kids, energy drinks, new study

I have a confession to make, as a chiropractor who believes that the health of a child begins prenatally and is further establish in the infant/toddler years, I have never been a big supporter of Gerber Baby Food. I’m a believer in natural food for babies and in the past decade or so there have been several baby food brands who offer natural and even organic baby foods. But, I have to say that Gerber has come a long way since those “bad old days” of additives and fillers and for all intents and purposes they seem to be not only “on the infant/toddler nutritional health bandwagon,” but in many ways leading the parade! Visiting their website, gerber.com, can actually provide excellent health education for new parents. It discusses nutritional needs for infants and toddlers and gives the latest research on what’s bad and what good-but-needs-improving when it comes to the nutritional health of children. In fact, I’ve recommended the website to several of my pregnant patients!

Technorati Tags: child nutrition education, children nutrition, Gerber, infant nutrition, toddler nutrition

As a chiropractor for over twenty years, naturally many people have come to me as patients. And, over the course of their treatment, in addition to their sharing general health and fitness concerns with me, my patients often share their personal concerns for family, especially their children. What I’ve heard, of course, from every parent, rich or poor, is their concern about the future of their children and how well they will do in the world. In recent years, with both parents needing to work to make ends meet, those concerns have taken on more intensity because, of necessity, a larger portion of child care is being “outsourced.” The quality of child care has been a primary concern for many reasons. And now, a new study has found that the effects of early child care may be more even more long-lasting than commonly believed.

According to Deborah Lowe Vandell, PhD, the study leader, as well as the professor and chair of education at the University of California, Irvine, at fifteen years of age teens who had high-quality child care in their early years performed better on academic and cognitive tests than did other teens, and they had fewer adolescent behavior problems.

It is apparent that the effects of early child care don’t just “fade away.”  Before you place your child in a day care situation, remember that what your children experience today, e.g., a nurturing, creative environment, will make a difference in their success in life later on, not only as adults, but in their teens years as well.

Technorati Tags: day care study, early childhood education

Most of us, whether we are medical doctors, chiropractors, other health professionals, or laypeople know by now that one in three US children are obese. But, did you also know that studies have found that nearly one in five children becomes overweight or obese by age 6, and that more than half of obese children become overweight before the age of 2? And, if those statistics don’t shock you, try this: Nearly 6 percent of infants younger than six months are overweight today, up from 3.4 percent between 1980 and 2001. The “chubby baby” that, back in the day, epitomized good health (as opposed to malnutrition) is now a dangerous sign that childhood obesity is happening “from the start.”

First lady Michelle Obama, our country’s children’s health advocate, who released 70 goals as part of the government’s campaign against childhood obesity, said that panel found that women could help reduce childhood obesity by 1) maintaining a healthy weight when they become pregnant and 2) by breast-feeding their babies. “For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family and one community at a time,” Mrs. Obama said.

Obese and overweight children are at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other illnesses, and some public health experts say, if this trend isn’t remedied, children today may live shorter lives than their parents. Mrs. Obama said that the goal is to solve the problem so babies born today will come of age at a healthy weight. Of course, there’s much to be done, but the problem is urgent indeed. And, though over dozen federal agencies, including the Education, Agriculture, Health, Interior and Transportation departments, participated in the Childhood Obesity Task Force, it holds an “advisory only” position.

We can all become children’s health advocates by writing to our government representatives and letting them know that that we want action, in addition to advice, when it comes to the health of our country’s children, such as the proactive step that Congress has taken to begin the process of updating the guidelines for foods served in schools, including what is offered by vending machines.

Technorati Tags: breastfeeding, childhood obesity, Childhood Obesity Task Force, childrens health

As a chiropractor I am well-aware of the many important benefits of vaginal births versus Cesarean births for the overall health of babies. When an infant is allowed to make its way completely through the birth canal, this natural process encourages many of the primitive reflexes that will later help the baby to develop healthy motor function. Of course, vaginal births are not always possible, but they can and should be encouraged far more frequently than they are in this country. The national Cesarean rate has been steadily rising for the past eleven years to its current 31.8 percent. Though there is no consensus on what the rate should be, government health agencies and the World Health Organization have suggested 15 percent as a goal in low-risk women.

Why is the rate in the U.S. so high? Statistic show that it is fed by repeat patients. Many doctors and hospitals in this country refuse to let women who’ve had a prior Cesarean even try to give birth vaginally. The reasons for this have a practical financial basis (as do most expensive healthcare procedures) rather than their being performed for the safety and well-being of the patient, both mother and baby. Doctors and hospitals not only fear malpractice lawsuits and insurance premium increases, but they also get far more money for performing Cesarean surgery than assisting with a natural birth — several billion dollars a year, in fact, for a procedure that is unnecessary in most cases.

Vaginal births save money and are better for many mothers and infants. The National Institutes of Health is holding a conference this week in Bethesda, Maryland, where they will discuss this country’s dismal rates of vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC) that have descended dramatically since 1996. “I think it’s the purpose of this conference to see if we can turn the clock back,” said Dr. Kimberly D. Gregory, vice chairwoman of women’s health care quality and performance improvement at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Years ago fears that the scar on the uterus would rupture during labor, which can be life-threatening for both the woman and the child, was given as the reason for not allowing a VBAC. But even as far back at 1980, an expert panel declared it safe for many women, and yet the trend continues

While Congress is debating affordable healthcare, they should consider sweeping, fundamental changes in medical practices like Cesarean surgery, such as removing the profit motive for performing it, and allowing midwives to handle more deliveries. Federally funded medical care during pregnancy and labor would preclude the threat of insurance companies to increase premiums or withdraw coverage is doctors and hospitals allow VBAC, and midwives help to reduce costs in many ways, not the least of which is helping to reduce costly complications through their extended presence during labor and the birth process.

Nurse-midwives at at hospitals run by Indian Health Services on reservations, where Cesarean rates are a low 13.5 percent (less than half the national rate), deliver most of the babies born vaginally, with obstetricians available in case problems occur. Midwives staff the labor ward around the clock, a model of care thought to minimize Cesareans because midwives specialize in coaching women through labor and will often wait longer than obstetricians before recommending a Cesarean. They are also less likely to try to induce labor before a woman’s due date, something that increases the odds of a Cesarean.  In the rest of the country, nurse-midwives attend about only 10 percent of vaginal births.

There is much to be done to fix our ailing healthcare system and, yes, this is just one area. But, giving babies a healthy start in life through natural childbirth will, no doubt, help to reduce future health problems for them as they grow old and, therefore, to reduce future healthcare costs as well.

Source: nytimes.com

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Did you know that over the period of a decade, medication side effects have sent over half a million American children to outpatient clinics and emergency rooms annually? As a pediatric chiropractor who believes in a conservative, natural, drug-free chiropractic approach to children’s health whenever possible, I find that figure very disturbing. The statistic comes from a group of researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston. Their findings were recently published in the journal Pediatrics. The study found that between the years 1995 and 2005, a total of 585,922 incidents of adverse drug events occurred annually among children 18 years and younger. Although most of these children received treatment at outpatient clinics, 22 percent resulted in a visit to a hospital emergency room.

The study analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics and found that as many as 13 outpatient visits per 1,000 children occur due to drug-related adverse events; an indication that medication complications are common in pediatric care. The greatest risk of medication side effects was discovered to be among children ages four and younger, accounting for approximately 43 percent of all events. The second highest risk was found to be among teens between the ages of 15 and 18 at a total of 23 percent.

For more valuable information regarding this important study, go to healthnews.com.

Technorati Tags: Children's Hosptial in Boston, drug-related adverse reaction, medication side effects

Did you know that one-third of children suffer from recurrent headaches that occur more than once a month? That’s an alarming statistic! But, as a chiropractor, though I’m alarmed, I’m not surprised. Children can get misaligned in many ways and headaches can often be the result. The active child can sustain a fall or sports injury. The sedentary, computer video child can occur headaches as the result of poor sitting postures.  But, another cause of headaches is surprisingly “seasonal.” As children and teens begin school each year, they are more susceptible to headaches and migraines. The change in schedule, new teachers, new friends and schoolwork can increase stress and, consequently, produce headaches.

In the case of the latter, there are quite a few things that you, as a parent, can do to help reduce these “seasonal” headaches.  For starters, enforce an earlier bedtime so that your child will be well-rested before beginning a new school year. In fact, in a new study published in Headache, researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that sleep and emotional disorders were common in adolescents with migraines. You should minimize (or eliminate) your child’s caffeine consumption (there is plenty of caffeine in certain soda pops). Obviously caffeine can make getting to sleep more difficult.  Also, make certain that your child is eating balanced meals and regular snacks, as well as drinking enough amount of water. Dehydration can often cause a headache.

If your child does develop a headache, chiropractic care is an effective, drug-free alternative for headache pain relief.  Over-the-counter medications, even once a week, can potentially put your child at risk for gastrointestinal and liver problems.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, headaches in children

As a chiropractor who specializes in pediatric care, I am always happy to read articles relating to the simple ways in which a child’s brain can be stimulated. Naturally, chiropractic adjustments have a positive effect on a child’s brain and nervous system. But, there is plenty that parents can do to assist the mental awareness and communication skills of their children. So, I found today’s nytimes.com article on the benefits of parents’ talking to their children very interesting. Randi Jacoby, a speech and language specialist in New York, believes that parents today have stopped having good communications with their young children, and this is causing children to lose out on the eye contact, facial expression and overall feedback that is essential for early communication development.

“Young children require time and one-on-one feedback as they struggle to formulate utterances in order to build their language and cognitive skills,” Jacoby said. “Parents need to be reminded of the significance of their communicative model.”

Ms. Jacoby’s general advice to parents is to reward your child’s communicative attempts with your own heightened attention, and to prepared to put down your cellphone and look them squarely in the eye as they share their thoughts with you.

The article is extremely informative and should be read in its entirety, ad it offers excellent advice on how to better communicate with your children. And, the most important was that when your children try to talk to you, give them your full attention whenever possible. And before you speak to them, make sure you have their attention.

The full article can be found at nytimes.com

Technorati Tags: child communication development, pediatric chiropractic