Popular dental fillings containing chemical BPA (bisphenol A) have been linked to behavioral problems in children. Fillings made using BPA are becoming more popular because they are teeth-colored, as opposed to the older, silver fillings. This study looked at 543 children between the ages of 6 and 10 for a period of five year who had either received BPA or silver fillings. Children with highest exposure to BPA base fillings were more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than those with silver fillings. Behavior problems seemed especially common in children who had those fillings on chewing surfaces. This seems to support the idea that fillings on chewing surfaces may begin to break down over time and release their chemicals to other parts of the body. It was unclear whether it was the BPA or other chemicals in these fillings that was the cause of the behavioral change.
In a 2011 related study that looked at BPA exposure from plastics found in some food packaging and canned goods, tied prenatal exposure to BPA with hyperactivity and anxiety in infants. This study found it to be especially true in girls.
It is important not to freak out and have all your child's BPA fillings removed at this point. All studies indicated that more research needed to be done in this area. I would recommend choosing silver fillings for any future cavaties that are located on the chewing surface while we wait on future findings.
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Is Bariatric Surgery Right for Your Overweight Teen?
Is bariatric surgery right for your overweight teen? My initial answer was absolutely not but after researching the data available on this issue I can see that in some situations this drastic surgery may be a viable option for a morbidly obese teen or tween's health. But I urge parents to exhaust all possibilities before considering this life changing and dangerous surgery for your child. Research all the information available, consider that there have not been any studies done to date on the long-term effects that this surgery may have on children and then make an informed decision. This is not an easy solution to an obesity problem, it is one that will have life altering consequences.
The information that changed my "absolute no" to a "sometimes" involved data from the research collected by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. They have been following nearly five hundred teens who have received either gastric bypass or gastric band surgery for a year. These teens were at risk or were already developing medical issues associated with obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. They were at risk of dying. Researchers found that a year after surgery, these teens had lost on average 50 pounds and their health had improved greatly. It should be noted that one of the teens did die six months after surgery. Many researchers are concerned that this procedure disrupts the absorption of nutrients which will effect the growth of these children. Since these studies did not look at long term effects, this suspected side effect has yet to be researched. A case may be made for waiting until your child has stopped growing if that doesn't somehow put them at greater risk of stroke, heart attack or diabetes.
This choice will require your child to make difficult diet and life style changes after the surgery. A component of getting this surgery requires that the patient meets with a counselor and a nutritionist.
The question that continued to jump to my mind was "why gastric bypass instead of gastric band for teens when the gastric band is reversible?" I couldn't find an answer to that question.
The information that changed my "absolute no" to a "sometimes" involved data from the research collected by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. They have been following nearly five hundred teens who have received either gastric bypass or gastric band surgery for a year. These teens were at risk or were already developing medical issues associated with obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. They were at risk of dying. Researchers found that a year after surgery, these teens had lost on average 50 pounds and their health had improved greatly. It should be noted that one of the teens did die six months after surgery. Many researchers are concerned that this procedure disrupts the absorption of nutrients which will effect the growth of these children. Since these studies did not look at long term effects, this suspected side effect has yet to be researched. A case may be made for waiting until your child has stopped growing if that doesn't somehow put them at greater risk of stroke, heart attack or diabetes.
This choice will require your child to make difficult diet and life style changes after the surgery. A component of getting this surgery requires that the patient meets with a counselor and a nutritionist.
The question that continued to jump to my mind was "why gastric bypass instead of gastric band for teens when the gastric band is reversible?" I couldn't find an answer to that question.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Prep Time for Talking with Your Children About Drug Use
It is important to do your homework before starting a discussion with your child about drug use. Research, making sure to use reliable sources, the damaging effects that specific drugs can have on the body, and the current trends in drug use. Some of the ways that children are getting themselves high today were things that we never thought of when we were younger. Whoever thought of snorting bath crystals or smoking potpourri to get high. Times are really changing when it comes to drug use, make sure you are current on these trends.
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