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Pet Health, Plus Vaccination Autism Statistics, Pregnancy Info

I am going to do something different with this week’s health tip.  This week’s health tip will focus on pets. Each year, tens of thousands of pet parents reach out to their veterinarian or an animal poison control hotline because they know or suspect their pet has ingested a toxic substance. Most pet owners are aware that there are products around their home that are toxic to their dog or cat, for example, antifreeze or rat poison. But many don’t think twice about the potential toxicity of the medications they take on a regular basis.  Topping the list of human medications that are ingested by pets are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., Advil), followed by acetaminophen (Tylenol), pseudoephedrine (a decongestant), and several varieties of prescription drugs.  In households with pets, each family member must be diligent about keeping their own medications out of reach of the dog or cat. Veterinary medications should be stored away from human medications to prevent accidentally giving the wrong drug to your pet.  Even over-the-counter herbal medications, including human vitamins and mineral supplements, may cause serious poisoning in pets.

Thought for the Week:  I am sure there will be all sorts of debate over this controversial topic.   This discussion does not involve science, just straight forward statistics.  Statistical research conducted at the University of British Columbia found that the countries that have the heaviest vaccination schedule (the children are vaccinated with a great number of vaccines) have higher autism rates compared to countries that do not vaccinate children with as many vaccines. Based on the CDC timetable for vaccinations in the United States, by the time a new born child reaches the age of 17, they will have received at least 49 vaccination doses. With 41 of the doses occurring before the age of 11, and 24 vaccination doses before the age of 18 months old.  It should be noted that after publishing study, the paper was criticized by vaccine proponents, but the University itself refused to retract the paper standing behind the research, as a sound, factual statistical study.  One of the study’s authors, Dr. Lucija Tomljenovic, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she works in neurosciences and the Department of Medicine had this to say concerning the results of the statistical analysis, “If you look at the temporal trend in the US, you see a significant correlation over the last three decades between the number of vaccines and autism rates. The autism numbers have been skyrocketing. They always say it's only because the diagnosis of autism is better. But that's a bogus argument because just in the last five years there's been about a 70 percent increase in autism. This is not due to better diagnostic criteria, and it sure isn't a genetic epidemic, because genes in a population do not change in a five-year span. These arguments are just silly.”

Chiropractic Thought for the Week:  Spring has sprung and so has seasonal allergies.  Chiropractic is of benefit to allergy sufferers for two reasons.  1.  Regular chiropractic care improves immune system function.  A strong immune system helps to combat allergic reactions.  2.  Nerves in the upper neck control the function of the sinuses.  If the sinuses are not working properly due to nerve interference, they cannot drain as well as they should and they will stay clogged.  Chiropractic care improves nerve flow to the sinuses, thus helping allergy attacks.

Pregnancy / Prenatal Chiropractic Care Info:  New pregnancy research from six European countries shows that prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to make plastics and included in plastics, may have negative effects on respiratory health in school-age girls.  By linking human population studies, researchers have provided evidence that complex mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals impact children's brain development and language learning. The scientists show that up to 54 per cent of pregnant women were exposed to experimentally defined levels of concern. The BPA chemical leaks out from water bottles or cooking in plastic with microwave ovens.  All people, not just pregnant women should use BPA free plastic or avoid plastic all together, instead using glassware.  On another subject concerning pregnancy, cannabis use among pregnant women is on the rise and may be associated with negative health outcomes in children, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.   22% of pregnant women had detectable levels of cannabinoids in their body. Women who use cannabis, both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), during pregnancy could be putting their child at risk for low birth weight and behavioral problems. Exposure to cannabinoids may also increase the child's future risk of obesity and high blood sugar.

Author
Dr J. Zimmerman, Chiropractor Dr. Zimmerman is a practicing chiropractor from Galloway, NJ with 30 years of chiropractic practice.

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