Et tu, Spongebob
We just got a little reminder that even a little cartoon viewing could have a negative effect on our kids. In this study, watching brief clips of the Spongebob Squarepants cartoon made 4 year-olds less able to stay on task.
… study provides empirical evidence that watching a 9-minute episode of a fast-paced television cartoon immediately impaired young children’s EF relative to watching an educational television show or drawing. Children in the fast-paced television group scored significantly worse than the others despite being equal in attention at the outset, as indicated by parent report. This result is consistent with others showing long-term negative associations between entertainment television and attention. Lillard, P. (2011). The immediate impact of different types of television on young children’s executive function. Pediatrics.
This study is far from conclusive, but for me it as a reminder that my kids should be out playing in the dirt more often.
If You Take This To Stop Smoking, You May Have a Heart Attack
If you take this to stop smoking, you may have a heart attack.
The newest drug to help people stop smoking seems to cause heart attaks in a small but significant number of users:
Our meta-analysis raises safety concerns about the potential for an increased risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events associated with the use of varenicline among tobacco users. Despite the limitations of our analysis, our findings have potential regulatory and clinical implications. Drugs that receive priority review have limited safety data at the time of approval.34 The initial safety signal regarding ardiovascular events in people using varenicline was not followed up by an adequately powered safety trial. Until such trials are conducted, clinicians should carefully balance the risk of serious cardiovascular events and serious neuropsychiatric adverse events associated with varenicline use against the known benefits of the drug on smoking cessation.
This is in addition to the major mood disorders that it (Chantix) sometimes causes.
Once again, we see that many pharmaceuticals have surprising risks that are not noticed by the FDA until long after they are released. Proceed with caution…
It’s A Boy!
It’s a Boy!
We just had a new baby. On June 14th, my wife gave birth to a 7 lb 4 oz baby boy by C-section due to “breech presentation” (he was right-side up instead of the usual head first position). We’ve named him William Edward, after my father.
He’s been in and out of the hospital due to jaundice. He was put under the “Bili lights’ and received a new (to me at least) IV immunoglobulin treatment. Fortunately, he’s doing well and his mom is well, too. He’s still a little yellow, but it appears to be a benign condition called “breast milk jaundice”.
Many thanks to Drs. Cahill, Gennaro and Grafani (the OB’s) and Dr. Lasky and her partners at the Pediatric Center. More to come…
Dr. Burzinski
Several months ago a patient mentioned some impressive cancer work being done by a Dr Burzinski. Eventually, I found the time for some preliminary research. Well, I was impressed. I did not have time to investigate him thoroughly, but Burzinski’s story rang true and I put him on my very short list of alternative cancer specialists.
Thanks to Dr. Mercola at Mercola.com, check out this video. It will only be live for a day or two, so check soon or you will miss this free viewing.
Otherwise, you might want to search “Burzinski, MD” and “cancer” if your are investigating cutting edge alternative cancer therapies.
Natural Treatments for ADHD
Natural treatments For ADD/ADHD by Michael E. Doyle, MD
Is your son unable to pay attention to details or easily distracted? Does he fidget and squirm, or seem hyperactive? Does your daughter have difficulty following through with instructions in school or at home? Perhaps she seems not to listen even when spoken to? Do you know an adult with these symptoms? These problems can occur in any healthy person, but they can also be symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). If these problems become troubling enough, a doctor or teacher may recommend that your child (self, or spouse…) get medically evaluated and treated. Once the diagnosis of ADHD (previously known only as ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder) is made, stimulant medications are usually prescribed to help the patient focus. While stimulant medications can aid in controlling symptoms, they have many potential side effects.
Read the entirety of the article @ Natural Awakening Website
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