Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna
Mental Attitude: Certain Chemicals Tied to Language Delays in Children. A new study suggests that children may suffer a delay in language development if their mothers come into frequent contact with chemicals called phthalates early in their pregnancy. In a study that involved 1,370 pregnant women in Sweden and the United States, researchers found that children with higher exposure to two phthalates (dibutyl phthalate and butyl benzyl phthalate) while in utero had up to a 30% increased risk for language delay than kids with less phthalate exposure. JAMA Pediatrics, October 2018
Health Alert: FDA Bans Lead in Hair Dyes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that lead acetate will no longer be approved as a hair color additive. Tom Neltner, the chemicals policy director at the Environmental Defense Fund, explains, “In the last several decades, we’ve seen tremendous progress in reducing exposure to lead from major sources. Given this progress and wide recognition that there is no safe level of exposure, it may seem unbelievable that common hair dyes contain the neurotoxin—putting those who use the product and their children at risk… We now know that the approved use of lead acetate in adult hair dyes no longer meets our safety standard.” The FDA notes that companies have twelve months to reformulate hair dye products that contain lead acetate, which will put an end to the only remaining legal use of this neurotoxin in cosmetic products in the United States. Food and Drug Administration, October 2018
Diet: Vitamin D Supplement May Help with Bedwetting. Nocturnal enuresis is a common urinary bladder problem in younger children. In this study, researchers found that giving a daily vitamin D supplement to children with a history of wetting the bed appeared to significantly reduce the number of wet nights experienced by 44.4% of the participants within two months. Journal of Pediatric Urology, June 2018
Exercise: Exercise May Reduce Risk of Falls Among Alzheimer’s Patients. Among a group of 210 seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, researchers observed that those who participated in a year-long exercise program had a lower risk of falling than Alzheimer’s patients who did not exercise. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, October 2018
Chiropractic: Diabetes-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. According to a new paper published in the European Journal of Rheumatology, patients with diabetes mellitus have an elevated risk for a number of musculoskeletal conditions, including: limited joint mobility syndrome, frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis, Dupuytren’s contracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, stiff hand syndrome, flexor tenosynovitis, Charcot osteoarthropathy, gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic amyotrophy, diabetic muscle infarction, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, and osteoporosis. Doctors of chiropractic commonly treat many of these conditions, often in conjunction with a patient’s medical provider, when appropriate. European Journal of Rheumatology, October 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Child Fever Guidelines. Fever is generally not a concern, but some cases do require medical attention. The Nemours Foundation recommends that you seek immediate care if your child shows the following behaviors or symptoms: won’t stop crying; exhibits extreme irritability or fussiness; has trouble waking up; develops a rash or purple spots that look like bruises; has blue lips, tongue, or nails; has a stiff neck; has a severe headache; is limp or refuses to move; has trouble breathing that doesn’t improve when the nose is cleared; is leaning forward and drooling; has a seizure; and complains of moderate-to severe belly pain. Nemours Foundation, November 2018
Quote: “Celebrate what you want to see more of.” ~ Tom Peters
Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna