The Dangers of Gatorade and other Drink-like Substances for your Child

I would bet if you are older than 25 you have never thought that something that professional athletes use would be bad for you, let alone your child. And I am not talking about steroids, alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. On a side note, do you remember when Gatorade came in glass bottles? If you do you will be shocked at what is actually in that bottle today.

"Pediatric athletes can benefit from using sports drinks that contain carbohydrates, protein, or electrolytes; however, for a child engaged in routine physical activity, the use of sports drinks in place of water on the sports field or in the school lunchroom is unnecessary. Stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diets of children or adolescents. Excessive regular consumption of carbohydrate-containing beverages increases overall daily caloric intake without significant additional nutritional value. Therefore, frequent consumption adversely affects the appropriate balance of carbohydrate, fat, and protein intakes needed for optimal growth, development, body composition, and health." 
(Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics)

The beverage was first developed in 1965 by researchers at the University of Florida, to replenish the combination of water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes that the school's student-athletes lost in sweat during rigorous athletic competitions. Thus, its name was derived from the collective nickname of the university's athletic teams, the Florida Gators.

Disadvantages of Drinking Gatorade

Gatorade is a sports drink that claims to benefit athletic performance, and professional athletes promote the beverage. While Gatorade may offer advantages in some circumstances, such as fueling endurance activities, Gatorade isn't an optimal sports beverage and can prove detrimental to your health and the health of your child in some ways.

Erosion and Tooth Decay

Gatorade's high sugar content may make it detrimental for your overall health. Each 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade contains 34 g sugar, which is nearly 2.5 times the amount in a 1/2 cup serving of ice cream. In addition, Gatorade contains citric acid. According to the American Dental Association, both sugar and citric acid can promote tooth decay and erosion of your teeth. And don't even ask about G2, that stuff will kill you faster.

Reduced Testosterone

Although Gatorade is purported to enhance athletic performance, some features of the drink can actually be counterproductive for athletes. One factor is the high sugar content; a study performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital found that consuming a large dose of sugar reduced testosterone production. According to research published in the June 2009 edition of the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism," higher testosterone levels improved endurance, muscle size and strength, in a group of older men, so it's possible that reducing your testosterone production through over consumption of sugar could hinder your athletic ability.

Upset Stomach

Although carbohydrates can be helpful for promoting energy, certain types, such as sugar, may be disadvantageous. Consuming too much sugar during or before exercise may result in an upset stomach, which can hinder your performance.

Fatigue

Athletic activity can be tiring, and drinking a sugar-laden drink such as Gatorade may actually make you feel more tired. This is because sugar causes an initial increase in blood sugar levels that is followed by a dramatic reduction, which can make you feel fatigued. Complex carbohydrates, found in whole grain products and certain nutrition bars and drinks, are preferable because they provide sustained energy and don't cause large fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Weight Management

Drinking Gatorade may impair your ability to manage your weight, as it is calorie dense, with 130 per 12 oz. serving. Additionally, Gatorade contains no fiber, which can help suppress appetite. Gatorade also has a high glycemic index rating, as it contains sugars but no protein or fat. According to a study from the June 2011 edition of "Journal of Nutrition," consuming high-glycemic foods can impair your weight loss efforts. Additionally, the fact that Gatorade is a liquid can also be detrimental, as high-calorie liquids are less filling than solid food.
Artificial Colors/Flavors
These have been linked to ADD/ADHD and other behavioral issues in children. These should be avoided in all foods.

Ingredients

High Fructose Corn Syrup- is an inexpensive sweetener--cheaper than sugar--that is used extensively to sweeten foods and beverages. It is also a preservative, used to extend the shelf-life of processed foods and it tops the list of items to be eliminated from your diet for numerous reasons. One of the latest reasons to avoid high fructose corn syrup is outlined by The American Society of Nephrology in a press release dated Oct. 29, 2009 detailing the results of its study. "These results indicate that high fructose intake in the form of added sugars is significantly and independently associated with higher blood pressure levels in the U.S. adult population with no previous history of hypertension," Plus it will make you fat.
dextrose - more sugar
citric acid - dental erosion (see above)
natural flavor - This could be anything like MSG, Aspartame or GMO (genetically modified organisms) even bugs! The FDA can not and does not police this additive.
sodium chloride - (table salt)
sodium citrate - emulsifier
monopotassium phosphate - is a soluble salt which is used as a fertilizer, a food additive and a fungicide
and flavoring/coloring ingredients - causes cancer in mice
brominated vegetable oil as a stabilizer, they just took this out. After a petition they decide our Gatorade did not need to be flame retardant. 

If this all makes sense and you say, "I just drink G2. (diet gatorade)" Then you missed the point, artificial can not replace natural.
To sum up, your child does not need Gatorade. No matter what Jeter or Jordan says. Water should be the go to re-hydration drink of any child.
Check out one of my favorite blogs, this one is on Pedialyte.
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/31/homemade-pedialyte/

How We Are Making Our Children Sick part 3 of 6

Antibiotics

Antibiotics given in the first year of life quadruple a child’s risk of developing asthma. Children given antibiotics after age one year are still one and a half times more likely to develop asthma than children not given antibiotics. What is particularly concerning is that every course of antibiotic treatments a child increases the occurrence of allergies and that treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics, such as streptomycin, tetracycline, and Cipro®, appear to be more likely to be associated with allergy development than is ordinary penicillin.

Antibiotics enhance allergic reactions by sidestepping (my son would say "cheats") the normal immune system response. Whenever the immune system successfully deals with an infection it emerges from the experience stronger and better able to confront similar threats in the future. Through the process of developing and then conquering infection, the child gets rid of acquired toxins and poisons from the body and receives a boost to the immune system. If you always jump in with antibiotics at the first sign of infection you do not give the immune system a chance to grow stronger.

Antibiotics also act nonspecifically, killing infectious bacteria as well as upsetting the normal gut flora. (There will be a whole other posting on that little nugget.) Substances that are introduced through the mouth are normally ignored by the humoral system (look back at part 2). But, in order for this to occur, the normal bacteria in the intestines need to be present. Alterations in the normal intestinal bacteria levels, especially in infancy, allow food proteins and other particles to pass into the blood stream before they are broken down, where the body identifies them as a threat, contributing to a persistent humoral response and the development of allergic diseases.

How We Are Making Our Children Sick part 2 of 6

Hygiene

There are numerous reports that suggest the excessive cleanliness practiced in modern society may be partly responsible for the increased incidence of allergic diseases. Repeated exposure while young to various types of bacteria and spores found in dirt, dust, and animal dander may actually protect against the development of allergies. A molecule known as an endotoxin naturally occurs in the outer membrane of bacteria. When the bacteria die the endotoxin is released into the environment. Children are exposed to these endotoxins by breathing them in, or by ingesting them when they put their hands or other objects into their mouths. The exposure to bacteria, viruses, and endotoxins is essential for the maturation of the immune system; less exposure leads to imbalanced immune responses.

Children’s early exposure to allergens and infections prime their immune systems to resist them later on. Although children in daycare seem to get sick more often than other children do, this is not necessarily a bad thing. These colds and other infections may be giving their immature immune systems a health workout, resulting in a lower incidence of asthma. Children with the highest degree of personal hygiene are the most likely to develop eczema and wheezing between the ages of two and a half and three and a half years. In 2000, a study of 61 infants between the ages of 9–24 months found that the more house dust an infant was exposed to, the less likely that they would suffer allergies.

How We Are Making Our Children Sick

The purpose of the immune system is to allow us to live in harmony with our environment. In fact, most of the trillions of foreign cells present within our body coexist peacefully, and in some cases even contribute to our health and well-being. In spite of this, chronic diseases such as allergies, asthma, and eczema, which were rare several decades ago, have risen exponentially, especially in children, quadrupling during the last two decades.

The number of asthma sufferers in the United States is expected to double by the year 2020, affecting 1 in every 14 people and outnumbering the combined projected populations of New York and New Jersey. A growing number of scientists now believe that the routine measures taken to suppress and prevent infections actually weaken certain responses of a child’s immune system, allowing other less appropriate responses to operate without control. The reduction of childhood diseases has been heralded as one of medicine’s finest accomplishments, yet there are growing suspicions that infection intervention may be having an adverse effect; as childhood infections have decreased, chronic afflictions have increased.

The immune system has two different aspects: the cell-mediated immune system and the humoral immune system. The cell-mediated immune system involves white blood cells and specialized immune cells which “eat” antigens, or foreign particles in the body. This helps drive the antigens out of the body causing symptoms such as skin rashes and the discharge of pus and mucous from the throat and lungs. The cell-mediated response is associated with the beneficial acute inflammatory illnesses (not a correct term) of children, and represents the externalization, or driving out of the infection.

The other aspect is called the humoral immune system whereby antibodies—special defense proteins—are produced to recognize and neutralize the antigen. It is a persistent humoral response that is associated with chronic allergic-type diseases.

In order to be healthy, a child must keep a balance between the cell-mediated system and the humoral system, with the cell-mediated system predominating. The cell-mediated response is activated by the natural exposure to bacteria and viruses, in the way children are exposed by interacting with their friends. Through repeated exposure to infectious organisms a child develops a diverse repertoire of immune response patterns. It is the cell-mediated response that protects a child from future illness, and develops the type of immune response we commonly associate with life-long immunity. The cell-mediated system suppresses the activity of the humoral system. The more active the cell-mediated activity is, the less active the humoral system is.

However, if the cell-mediated system is not properly stimulated it does not fully develop, leading to an abnormally high production of humoral system antibodies. A humoral system that is continually engaged will overdevelop, creating a hypersensitive environment. When infants are exposed to germs early, their immune systems are pushed to go in an “infection-fighting direction.” Without this push, the immune system’s shift to infection fighting is delayed, and it becomes more likely to overreact to allergens—dust, mold, and other environmental factors that most people can tolerate.

Early life experiences are believed to play a crucial role in the formation and patterning of a child’s immune system. Sensitization begins in utero and the first few months of life are crucial, for once cell-mediated/humoral imbalance occurs it tends to persist until specific measures are taken to shift the immune system back to equilibrium. There are several ways that pattern the reaction of the immune system toward either the cell-mediated response or the humoral response based on their timing and frequency. The important thing for a parent to understand is that their child’s immune system will react based on the way it has been patterned and programmed to react. If your child’s current immune capacity is poor, then it is possible to improve it by making better choices in the future.

In part 2 of 6 we will discuss ways to improve your child's immune system.
How confident are you that you have done everything possible to insure your child's immune system is functioning at its highest level? Not sure, then I am excited for you to read the next 5 issues.

CASE STUDY: Infantile Physiological Reflux & Feeding Difficulties

Resolution of Infantile Physiological Reflux & Feeding Difficulties Following Subluxation Based Chiropractic: A Case Report

Trent Maly, DC, Bio

Abstract

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Objective: To discuss the care of a seven week old female with spit up (physiological reflux) and resultant feeding difficulties.

Clinical Features: The seven week old female was brought into the clinic by her mother with a history of spitting up after feedings, breast feeding difficulty on one side, only sleeping with head turned to one side.

Interventions and Outcomes: Chiropractic adjustments by means of sustained contact as well as Craniosacral Therapy, were performed aimed at reducing vertebral subluxations in the upper cervical spine. The spitting up, sleeping issues and feeding difficulties were resolved by the third adjustment.

Conclusion: The resolution of these health challenges in three adjustments suggests there is a possible connection between them and vertebral subluxation. Research supports this possibility that physiological reflux and feeding difficulties are related to upper cervical chiropractic adjustments. The parent reported an increase of sleeping time from 1-2 hours to 6-7 hours of continuous sleep. There is a need for more research to explore the association between vertebral subluxation and these childhood disorders.

Key Words: Chiropractic, spit up, irritable baby, adjustments, craniosacral therapy, spinal manipulation, subluxation, feeding difficulties

Tylenol is Not Candy

For many people, at the first sign of a fever, headache or other minor discomfort,the "go to" remedy is acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Since pain is a sign that something is wrong, covering up the symptoms without getting to the cause is not a good plan and often creates more serious problems. Helping the body to heal itself without drugs is a much better option.

Google "acetaminophen dangers" and see what comes up. The results are scary, especially if you take acetaminophen like candy. According to the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, "some symptoms of acetaminophen overdose mimic flu-like symptoms, resulting in the individual continuing to use acetaminophen."1 It is scary to know that the symptoms of an overdose might cause you to take even more and aggravate the problems. 

Tylenol is not candy! Is the risk of extreme side effects and liver damage worth taking a quick fix drug that has the potential to quickly and permanently make things worse? Drugs.com provides 12 pages of side effects from Tylenol and other acetaminophen based drugs ranging from unpleasant digestive issues and mood swings to seizures, hives and dizziness. 

"Acetaminophen overdose is one of the most common poisonings worldwide. People often think that this pain-relieving medicine is extremely safe. However, it may be deadly," says the U.S. National Library of Medicine.3 Since we humans come in all shapes and sizes, the standard dose for one may not be right for another and let’s be honest: How many people really wait 4-6 hours before taking the next dosage? 

On WebMD’s internationally recognized website, an article entitled Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Poisoning by Dr. Michael Ameres and Dr. Daniel Crough states that, "Too much acetaminophen can overwhelm the way the liver normally functions."2 So how much is too much? 

Slightly increasing the recommended dose can be dangerous and can happen unintentionally. McNeil Consumer Healthcare issued a press release in July 2011 announcing plans for new dosing instructions. Tylenol’s recommended dose per day is being dropped by 1000mg because of people taking other medications that have acetaminophen as an added compound. 

Recently published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, a research project by Dr. Kenneth Simpson of the University of Edinburgh revealed little known information about the dangers of "staggered overdose." The research indicates, "People experiencing pain who repeatedly take slightly more Tylenol than they should are in danger of suffering a staggered overdose. They haven’t taken a massive overdose taken by people who try to commit suicide, but over time the damage builds up and the effect can be fatal. These patients were more likely to have liver and brain problems, require kidney dialysis and were at a greater risk of dying that people who had taken a single overdose."4

Instead of reaching for the pill bottle or the tablespoon to measure out the next dose, and risking taking too much or giving too much to a loved one, contact your 100 Year Lifestyle Provider or go to www.100yearlifestyle .com to find a provider near you and experience how Chiropractic Care can help you live the healthy drug free lifestyle you deserve. 

References:
CDER’s Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity Working Group. Acetaminophen Overdose and Liver Injury – Background and Options for Reducing Injury. May 2009.

www.emedicinehealth.com/acetaminaphen_tylenol_poisoning/article_em.htm

Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, Acetaminophen overdose
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002598.htm 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/238220.php

Baby Boomers vs. Their Parents

- Which Group is Healthier?

- Don’t Wait for a Crisis
- Easy FitNESS Acronym to Remember

Which Group is Healthier?
Unhealthy lifestyles have caused too many members of the baby boom generation to be in worse health compared to their parents during the same stage of life. 

A recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine reported only 13% of today’s baby boomers are in excellent health while their parents’ generation was 32%. Comparatively speaking, 39% of today’s baby boomers are obese and 16% have diabetes. The previous generation’s numbers for these same conditions are 29% and 12% respectively. 

According to Dana King, a professor at the West Virginia School of Medicine and the study’s lead author, today’s baby boomers are twice as likely to use a cane or walker than the previous generation. “It’s not too late to adopt new, healthy lifestyle habits and make a difference in your health,” said King.

Don’t Wait for a Crisis
What will it take for you to make the lifestyle changes you know you need to make to improve your quality of life? Will you wait for a severe crisis that leaves you with permanent damage and a future of disability or will you make a quality of life, Lifestyle Care, choice that will ensure your quality of life for the remainder of your years. 

Easy FitNESS Acronym to Remember
The acronym FitN2ESS can get you on the right track immediately. To get and stay healthy and fit you need neurology, nutrition, endurance strength and structure. 

Neurology: Every cell tissue and organ needs innervation, nerve supply, to function properly.

Nutrition: Choose quality calories over empty calories every time you make a food choice and drink plenty of good clean water.

Endurance: Cardiovascular exercise including walking, running, riding a bike or swimming will prepare you for the marathon of your extended life.

Strength: We have all seen an older person struggle to get out of a chair. Don’t wait until you lose your strength to try and get it back. Strength train now.

Structure: The health and function of your posture, spine and nervous system will determine how active and healthy you can be as you age. 

If your posture appears to be changing don’t waste another minute and schedule a chiropractic check-up. Lifestyle Care can improve your health dramatically. It is very important that today’s baby boomers learn from our current generation of seniors and super-seniors who were blindsided by their extended lives. You cannot blame your genes for your current health condition. Adjust your lifestyle and optimize the expression of your genes so that you can enjoy the quality life you deserve.

Childhood Falls and Health Problems

Research led by Jessie Garciaguirre and Karen Adolph published in Introduction to Infant Development, Oxford Press, 2007, showed that fourteen month old toddlers fall an average of fifteen times per hour while playing. Fifteen times! That is not a trivial number especially when you begin to add the number of falls they take during a day, a week, a month or a year. The cumulative impact of these repetitive falls can cause problems in the spine and nervous system that contribute to many unexplainable health problems.

Do the math! Fifteen falls per hour, six hours minimum per day, is approximately 90 falls a day. This equals nearly 700 falls per week, and up to 2,500 falls per month. And while their young bodies are capable of adapting to the environment during their developmental years, these repetitive strains can be overwhelming and cause injuries to the spine and nervous system that affect their health on every level. In addition, these falls can cause abnormal spinal patterns that become lifelong problems and lead to unhealthy aging.

Injuries to a child’s spine called vertebral subluxations can result from these falls. They can also be caused by trauma from the birth process. Research out of the University of Colorado by Seth Sharpless, M.D. found that it only takes 10 millimeters of pressure, the weight of a dime, to reduce nerve transmission. While this amount of pressure may seem insignificant, it is enough to wreak havoc within a growing body and cause immediate symptoms, or it may remain symptom-free and go unrecognized for years. Also, since not all nerve interference is felt as pain and can affect the organs, many unexplainable health problems can result.

The medical profession is well aware of these types of conditions and has termed them "Medically Unknown Symptoms" [MUS]. These are conditions for which there are no medical examination findings even though the individual may be suffering from symptoms such as pain, irritable bowel syndrome, non-cardiac chest pain and fibromyalgia [Hatcher, S, Arrol B. Assessment and management of medically unexplained symptoms. BMJ 2008; 336:1124]. 

In fact, among patients seeking medical care, the prevalence of MUS is in the range of 50 %, varying from 25 to 75 %, with pain being the most common symptom [Smith RC, Dwamena FC. Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. J Gen Intern Med 2007; 22:685].

The nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every cell, tissue and organ in the body, and adapts you to your environment. Because of the vast nature of nervous system control, many symptoms related to spinal injuries are overlooked and unexplainable through traditional medical examinations. This can be true with many childhood maladies ranging from ear infections and digestive disturbances to growing pains.

A chiropractic examination can determine whether repetitive falls may be affecting your child’s health and development. This important, non-invasive examination can ensure the healthy function of their spine and nervous system, and a healthy future. 

A common-sense solution to your child’s unexplainable health concerns may be right around the corner. Or, if you want to ensure that your child’s spine and nervous system are developing normally in spite of all their falls, this comprehensive spinal examination can give you the security you are looking for.

Either way, explaining the unexplainable may be a phone call away. Don’t waste another minute in worry or wonder. Make an appointment for your child today.

Lifetime Effects of Traumatic Birth

- Birth Trauma May Occur Frequently

- Symptomatic vs. Asymptomatic
- Neck Injuries Can Affect the Entire Body

Birth Trauma May Occur Frequently
Traumatic Birth Syndromes are more common than you might think. A German medical researcher discovered that over 80 % of the infants that he examined shortly after birth were suffering from injuries to the cervical spine, the neck, causing all types of health problems.

Believe it or not, there are 44 countries with a better infant mortality rate than the United States according to the 2012 CIA Factbook. 

Dr. Abraham Towbin, from Harvard Medical School and the Department of Pathology found that “the birth process, even under optimal conditions, is potentially a traumatic, crippling event for the fetus.”

“Spinal cord and brain stem injuries occur often during the process of birth but frequently escape diagnosis.” Dr. Towbin continues, “In severe instances death may occur during delivery or, in cases where respiratory function is depressed, a short period after birth. Infants who survive the initial effects may be left with severe nervous system defects.”

Symptomatic vs. Asymptomatic
What about the babies that don’t show immediate signs and symptoms? What if the signs and symptoms don’t appear until later on in life? What is the effect on that infant’s potential to express itself completely and wholly as a human being? What kind of symptoms and diseases could it cause later on in life?

The neck is an area of the body that cannot afford to have an injury remain uncorrected. Since injuries here can affect the brain stem, all the vital functions of the body are inhibited. This can occur whether there are symptoms present or not.

Neck Injuries Can Affect the Entire Body
Do you remember what happened to Christopher Reeve, the actor who played Superman in the movies? He was riding his horse and fell on his head, breaking a bone in his upper neck.

In interviews after his injury, it was clear that he was unable to breathe without the use of a ventilator machine. He also was unable to control his elimination system. Many of his other bodily functions were altered. “How could this be?” you might ask, “He didn’t hurt his lungs, his bowel, or his bladder. He hurt his neck.” 

This is precisely the point. When the neck is injured, the entire body is affected. When there is an injury to the spine, the organs and systems supplied by those nerves become dysfunctional. These injuries, which are very often vertebral subluxations, can alter the course of a person’s life if not immediately corrected.

A healthy spine and nervous system will ensure your baby’s development during every stage of their life. Don’t wait for a crisis. Make an appointment to have a spinal examination performed by a chiropractor who is trained to find and correct these injuries whether they are symptomatic or not.

Antibiotics and the Aware Parent

by Claudia Anrig, D.C.

Acute Otitis Media is the most common upper respiratory condition treated in pediatric offices and the treatment of this condition continues to be the most controversial in the medical community ^(1-3).

The majority of children suffering from Acute Otitis Media will automatically be placed on antibiotics despite growing evidence that suggests there’s only a marginal benefit from this form of care ⁽⁴⁾.

The pediatric community is being confronted primarily by mounting evidence that the standard use of antibiotics may be an outdated practice with little value and what appears to be greater risk to the child.

When prescribing antibiotics for your child your pediatrician should be willing to answer the question, “Does this case warrant a prescription”?

Let’s consider an observation published recently by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians:

“Each course of antibiotics given to a child can make future infections more difficult to treat. The result is an increase in the use of a larger range of—and generally more expensive— antibiotics. In addition, the benefit of antibiotics for Acute Otitis Media is small on average and must be balanced against potential harm of therapy. About 15 percent of children who take antibiotics suffer from diarrhea or vomiting and up to 5 percent have allergic reactions, which can be serious or life threatening. The average preschooler carries around 1 to 2 pounds of bacteria – about 5 percent of his or her body weight. These bacteria have 3.5 billion years of experience in resisting and surviving environmental challenges. Resistant bacteria in a child can be passed to siblings, other family members, neighbors, and peers in group-care or school settings.” ⁽⁵⁾

Scientific Evidence

Scientific evidence puts forth the following information:

• Children with high temperature or vomiting improved after an average of three days.
• Children with high temperature or vomiting were likely to benefit from antibiotics, although it’s still reasonable to wait 24 to 48 hours since many children will improve when left to their body’s own natural defenses.
• Children without high temperature or vomiting were not expected to benefit from immediate antibiotics.

Considering this information it’s best to take an option to observe stance since 80 percent of children with Acute Otitis Media get better without antibiotics within 48 to 72 hours ⁽⁶⁾.

With this scientific evidence mounting, ask yourself a few questions:

Will my pediatrician continue to prescribe antibiotics to my child based on his or her old programming and habits despite growing evidence that suggests antibiotics make little difference?

Does my pediatrician continue to have concerns that there’s a risk for dangerous complications, such as Acute Mastoiditis, despite the fact that it’s documented as a “rare occurrence” ⁽²⁾?

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As a parent, what do you need to know?

• That there is mounting evidence from the research community that the use of antibiotics has very little effect on Acute Otitis Media.
• That your doctor may be prescribing antibiotics based on old habits or the concern of developing acute mastoiditis, which has proven to be rare.
• That when delaying the use of antibiotics for 72 hours, even if your child is suffering from fever and vomiting, 50 percent of all children improve within that time period.
• That children with Acute Otitis Media but without fever and vomiting receive very little benefit from the use of antibiotics (this child should not begin antibiotics unless their condition worsens).
• It’s your child and you can take the initiative by asking your pediatrician to consider waiting 72 hours before introducing the antibiotic.

Prevention is the Key

New guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that the clinician take an active role in preventing Acute Otitis Media. A few suggestions included:

• Altering child care center attendance • Breastfeeding for the first 6 months • Avoid supine bottle-feeding (bottle propping) • Reduce or eliminate pacifier in the second six months of life • Eliminate exposure to passive smoke

A Healthy Alternative

Take the common sense approach to otitis media and consider chiropractic care. The Fallon study with 332 participating children suggests that chiropractic care may be more effective than drug therapy ⁽⁷⁾.

Be aware that your chiropractor is not opposed to antibiotics when necessary, but the chiropractic profession acknowledges that over usage is prevalent in our country and that the habits of medical doctors may not have caught up with the latest research.

A Final Thought

For the overall wellness of your child, participate in all decisions when it comes to the usage of antibiotics and seek other non-invasive forms of care. Remember, it’s your child and you have a say in his or her care. Most importantly, initiate healthy lifestyle choices for your family and include regular chiropractic care as part of your family’s achievement towards wellness.

About the Author:

Dr. Anrig is a long time board member of the ICPA. She has taught for their Diplomate program for over 15 years and has co-authored the most comprehensive, chiropractic pediatric text book. She can be reached via our doctor's directory: www.icpa4kids.com

References:

1. Bain J. Childhood otalgia: Acute Otitis Media. 2. Justification for antibiotic use in general practice. BMJ 1990;300: 1006-1007.
2. Browning G. Childhood otalgia: Acute Otitis Media. 1. Antibiotics not necessary in most cases. BMJ 1990; 300: 1005-1006.
3. Froom J, Culpepper L, et al, Antimicrobials for Acute Otitis Media? A review from the international primary care network. BMJ 1997; 315: 98-102.
4. Glasziou P, Del Mar C, et al. Antibiotics for Acute Otitis Media in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(1):CD000219.
5. http://aap.org/advocacy/releases/aomqa.htm
6. Little PS, Gould, et al Predictors of poor outcome and benefits from antibiotics in children with Acute Otitis Media: pragmatic randomized trial. BMJ 2002;325:22 (6 July).
7. Fallon JM. The role of the chiropractic adjustment in the care and treatment of 332 children with otitis media. JCCP, 1997:2,2:167-183.

Sensory Processing Disorder Helped with Chiropractic

Sensory Processing Disorder Helped with Chiropractic The case of a 3-year-old boy with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) was documented in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health on Nov. 8, 2012. A 3-year-old boy was brought to a chiropractor by his mother after the boy had been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, as well as possible Einstein syndrome which indicates an extreme intelligence coupled with delayed speech. Sensory processing disorder is a neurodevelopment disorder in which the person has problems processing sensory information. Normal touch, sound, and movement can cause extreme stress, and the 3-year-old boy’s symptoms included head banging, lack of pain response, hiding under the crib or in a corner, rubbing himself against the wall, and chewing holes in his clothes. The child's development was mildly delayed, and the childcare provider discussed a possible diagnosis of autism with the mother when the child was 16 months old. At 24 months, the child had a MMR vaccination and had a severe reaction. He developed a fever, total body rash, swollen glands, and pock marks. A chiropractic examination was performed and subluxations were detected by asymmetries in the head and neck regions, as well as shoulder level, foot/leg level, and other indicators of subluxation. A care plan was created and initiated with specific chiropractic adjustments for the child’s subluxations at a rate of two adjustments weekly. The child’s improvement with touch and vibration, social skills, and gross motor skills were noted in the initial phase of care when he began to receive specific chiropractic adjustments. During this time, the child’s language skills improved immensely. “Meltdowns” were still present, as well as teeth grinding, but were reduced in frequency and intensity. Continued chiropractic care resulted in improvements in communication with the child stating opinions for the first time, as well as showing signs of increasing imagination, affection, engagement, and attention span. The child is sleeping better, and his gross and fine motor skills have improved. The parents see great improvement in their son as a result of chiropractic care and adjustments. The 3-year-old boy is continuing under chiropractic care with the expectation of increased improvement and a lessening of symptoms of SPD.

Baby with Colic Helped with Chiropractic

A baby with colic who was helped by chiropractic was the focus of a study published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health on Nov. 28, 2012. Colic in babies has classic symptoms of crying for more than 3 hours a day, usually at the same time each day, and for at least 3 days a week. Infants may have a hard abdomen, burp and pass gas a lot, spit up frequently after eating, and cry while pulling their legs up and making tight fists. The crying sounds as if the baby is in pain. Colic is distressing not only to the baby, but also to the mother and father who witness the suffering of their baby, and are frustrated by their inability to help the baby. In this case an 8-week-old baby girl was brought into a chiropractic clinic with the classic signs of colic. The mother said that the baby cried constantly for up to 5 hours, and that the baby’s face showed pain when making a bowel movement. The baby also had diarrhea, and would scream and cry during these episodes. A chiropractic examination of the baby was performed using static, motion, and muscle palpation. Subluxations were found in the atlas and T11, as well as observations of subluxation in other areas of the infant’s spine. Specific chiropractic adjustments were begun with “…light impulse finger adjustments.” The adjustments were made to C1 (atlas) and T11. The care plan included two visits weekly for four weeks. Immediate improvement was observed after the initial adjustment, and the colic symptoms disappeared after eight adjustments over four weeks.  The parents of the baby reported,  “after her first visit, she slept the entire night. She did not have the crying spells and we reduced the medication to once per day." After two weeks of chiropractic care the parents further noted, “she (the baby) no longer takes her medication daily. She is now a happy baby. She eats, sleeps and has regular bowel movements with no pain. For the first time since she was born, she slept through the night.” .

Breech Pregnancy Corrected with Chiropractic

A case study of a pregnant woman, whose fetus presented breech and was successfully turned with chiropractic care, was published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health on December 4, 2012. The title of the case study was, Resolution of breech presentation after application of Webster Technique in a 35-year-old female: A case study. The 35-year-old pregnant woman was in the 30th week of her pregnancy. The woman’s doula (a labor coach or midwife) established that the fetus was in breech position. The woman was in good health and had been receiving chiropractic care for headaches and low back pain with good results for the previous two years. This was the woman’s second pregnancy, with her first child delivered vaginally. Previous studies have determined that breech presentations occur in 3 to 4 percent of all pregnancies, with the often resulting decision to birth by cesarean section rather than vaginally for the safety of mother and baby. Breech presentations often turn after the 35th week of pregnancy, but 87 percent of breech pregnancies are delivered by caesarian section. Though safety is argued as the case for a caesarian section, the rate of morbidity was 3.6 percent in a study of 2,088 women birthing with caesarian section. Fetal morbidity can also result from caesarian section with reports of fetal heart-rate abnormalities, spinal cord injuries, skull fractures, long bone fractures, genital injury, and respiratory problems. A chiropractic examination was performed, and postural abnormalities were found, as well as a decrease of lateral flexion of 5 degrees, and lumbar range of motion significantly decreased due to the pregnancy. Motion palpation found several spinal misalignments, and EMG scans and thermography correlated the determination that spinal subluxations were present in the patient. Chiropractic care began for the woman using Webster’s Technique—a technique that uses sacrum adjustments and trigger point release in the abdomen area to reestablish pelvic function which can allow the fetus to turn to the desired head-down birth position. After four adjustments in four weeks using Webster’s Technique, the fetus turned from the breech position to the normal birth position. A healthy female baby was delivered vaginally by the mother at a home birth. The use of the Chiropractic Webster’s Technique resolved a breech presentation, and a possible caesarean section into a normal, natural and healthy birthing experience.