ADHD and Heart Screening, Update

by: continuum wellness - July 31st, 2008   Filed under: ADD, ADHD, adolescents, adverse events, heart, heart attack, medical news, medications, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Apparently the experts are at odds with one another, but have come to some agreement regarding assessing the risk of future heart problems developing in children who take stimulant drugs.

Pediatricians don’t consider it necessary for heart screenings for children prescribed stimulant drugs. The American Heart Association initially recommended heart screening for children taking stimulant drugs. The current position is it not mandatory, but considering the number of children who have sudden cardiac death it may be useful to at least have the heart screen performed. The AHA has released an update clarifying their position, here. Basically an ECG screening is not considered mandatory.
U.S. News reported on this topic here
Following is the statement: of the American Heart Association
May 16, 2008

This statement replaces the April 21 news release

Endorsed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American College of Cardiology, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality and the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

The American Heart Association released on April 21, 2008 a statement about cardiovascular evaluation and monitoring of children receiving drugs for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a result of language in the news release and the statement as published, there have been conflicting interpretations of the recommendations regarding the use of an electrocardiogram (ECG) in assessing children with ADHD who may need treatment with medications. The purpose of this joint advisory of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Heart Association (AHA) is to clarify the recommendations.

• The scientific statement included a review of data that show children with heart conditions have a higher incidence of ADHD.

• Because certain heart conditions in children may be difficult (even, in some cases, impossible) to detect, the AAP and AHA feel that it is prudent to carefully assess children for heart conditions who need to receive treatment with drugs for ADHD.

• Obtaining a patient and family health history and doing a physical exam focused on cardiovascular disease risk factors (Class I recommendations in the statement) are recommended by the AAP and AHA for assessing patients before treatment with drugs for ADHD.

• Acquiring an ECG is a Class IIa recommendation. This means that it is reasonable for a physician to consider obtaining an ECG as part of the evaluation of children being considered for stimulant drug therapy, but this should be at the physician’s judgment, and it is not mandatory to obtain one.

• Treatment of a patient with ADHD should not be withheld because an ECG is not done. The child’s physician is the best person to make the assessment about whether there is a need for an ECG.

• Medications that treat ADHD have not been shown to cause heart conditions nor have they been demonstrated to cause sudden cardiac death. However, some of these medications can increase or decrease heart rate and blood pressure. While these side effects are not usually considered dangerous, they should be monitored in children with heart conditions as the physician feels necessary.

The statement has been revised to clarify the language and to assure that the intent is clear to all readers. This is available at:
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.189473

The correction notice is at:
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.189473/DC1.

This clarification has been endorsed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American College of Cardiology, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality and the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

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Meditation Improves Concentration

by: continuum wellness - July 29th, 2008   Filed under: adolescents, Health, healthy mind, meditation, self-healing, spirit, spiritual development, spirituality, stress, wellness 4 Comments

Meditation is an ancient practice which all spiritual paths promote.  The art of quieting the mind produces many benefits for the practitioner.  Improved concentration is one. Modern research is again catching up with an ancient truth, read on...

Penn researchers demonstrate improved attention with mindfulness training

Philadelphia — Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say that practicing even small doses of daily meditation may improve focus and performance.

Meditation, according to Penn neuroscientist Amishi Jha and Michael Baime, director of Penn’s Stress Management Program, is an active process that literally changes the way the brain works. Their study is the first to examine how meditation may modify the three subcomponents of attention, including the ability to prioritize and manage tasks and goals, the ability to voluntarily focus on specific information and the ability to stay alert to the environment.

In the Penn study, subjects were split into two categories. Those new to meditation, or “mindfulness training,” took part in an eight-week course that included up to 30 minutes of daily meditation. The second group was more experienced with meditation and attended an intensive full-time, one-month retreat.

Researchers found that even for those new to the practice, meditation enhanced performance and the ability to focus attention. Performance-based measures of cognitive function demonstrated improvements in a matter of weeks. The study, published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, suggests a new, non-medical means for improving focus and cognitive ability among disparate populations and has implications for workplace performance and learning.

Participants performed tasks at a computer that measured response speeds and accuracy. At the outset, retreat participants who were experienced in meditation demonstrated better executive functioning skills, the cognitive ability to voluntarily focus, manage tasks and prioritize goals. Upon completion of the eight-week training, participants new to meditation had greater improvement in their ability to quickly and accurately move and focus attention, a process known as “orienting.” After the one-month intensive retreat, participants also improved their ability to keep attention “at the ready.”

The results suggest that meditation, even as little as 30 minutes daily, may improve attention and focus for those with heavy demands on their time. While practicing meditation may itself may not be relaxing or restful, the attention-performance improvements that come with practice may paradoxically allow us to be more relaxed.
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The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Penn Stress Management Program.

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Open Letter to Consumer Reports – In Defense of Homeopathy

by: continuum wellness - July 25th, 2008   Filed under: healing, healing philosophy, Health, health beliefs, health care, holistic medicine, Homeopathy, Uncategorized Add Comment

Liddell Laboratories Sends Open Letter to Consumer Reports – In Defense of Homeopathy
MORAGA, Calif., July 24, 2008
Dear Mr. Podolsky:

Below is a significant body of evidence that refutes your recent article on homeopathy, Homeopathic Drugs — Look-Alike Medicines. In your article you say that “there’s little evidence to back up the notion … that homeopathy can improve health.” I believe that the accuracy of your article suffered greatly from inadequate research.
When people tell me that there is little convincing proof of the efficacy of homeopathy, I always find that they have not had access to the relevant scientific literature. As you will see below, there are an abundance studies demonstrating the efficacy of homeopathic remedies:

1. Clinical Trials in Homeopathy, the British (more)

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Pharmacists ‘break ethical code’ on homeopathy

by: continuum wellness - July 24th, 2008   Filed under: Homeopathy Add Comment

UK pharmacists are breaking their own ethical code on a daily basis when selling homeopathic medicines, a leading expert in complementary medicine has warned.

The ethical code states that pharmacists who sell homeopathic remedies, herbal medicines or other complementary therapies, must assist patients in making informed decisions by providing them with the necessary information.

But in an open letter to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, Devon, criticizes high street pharmacists for selling homeopathic remedies without informing customers that they contain no biologically active agents and are no more effective than sugar pills.

In the letter, Professor Ernst says that ‘customers are frequently misinformed by promotional material available in UK pharmacies and verbal advice given by pharmacists. Thus pharmacists breach their own mandatory ethical code on a daily basis’.

Professor Ernst calls for ‘urgent action’ to make sure that the ethical standards are followed by high street chemists.

Comment: Homeopathic remedies are prepared in a completely different manner than pharmaceutical drugs or herbal medicines. What a deceptive article! Furthermore it is well known that homeopathy is useful not only for infants but is used in animal care as well. No placebo effect going on there. It seems the real issue here is one of control and that everything must be the same. How many people are allowably harmed with pharmaceutical drugs? If any other system of medicine hurt so many people there would be justifiable outrage. Why is this acceptable in the allopathic system of care? Why should there not be room for choice and health freedom?
The ethical standards of the HPUS and ethical homeopathic pharmacy should definitely be followed. Not the allopathic system for homeopathic medicines.

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Gardasil Information

by: continuum wellness - July 24th, 2008   Filed under: adolescents, adverse events, HPV, medical news, Uncategorized, vaccination, vaccine damage, vaccine injury, vaccines, women's health Add Comment

Centers for Disease Control Gardasil reporting, here

A Homeopathic Perspective, here

Gardasil Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

On June 8, 2006, the FDA licensed Gardasil®, the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer caused by certain kinds of human papillomavirus (HPV). Since then, more than 12 million doses of Gardasil vaccine have been distributed. In 2006, a total of 2,151,000 doses were distributed and in 2007, another 11,317,902. At this time, the U.S. does not have a national registry for immunization and vaccination and therefore cannot report the total number of people who have received Gardasil.

The FDA has licensed the vaccine as safe and effective. This vaccine has been tested in thousands of females (9 to 26 years of age) around the world. These studies have shown no serious side effects. The most common side effect is brief soreness at the injection site. CDC, working with the FDA, will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine after it is in general use.

CBS News story, here

Age for HPV vaccination.
Harper DM, Paavonen J.

Dartmouth College, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Community and Family Medicine, Hanover, NH, USA. Diane.M.Harper@Dartmouth.edu

HPV vaccination of pre-pubescent girls will be effective for many girls. Vaccinating girls and women older than 12 years of age may accelerate the reduction in cervical cancer rates. Currently HPV vaccines are effective for at least 5 years in the prevention of HPV 16 and 18 associated precancerous lesions however the duration of vaccine protection is unknown. The need for booster shots must therefore be addressed with patients as unknown. Continued cervical cancer screening is necessary regardless of vaccination. Vaccination alone will not eliminate cervical cancer.

Vaccine. 2008 Mar 14;26 Suppl 1:A7-11

EMEA Statement On The Safety Of Gardasil, Europe

Article Date: 25 Jan 2008

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has received reports of deaths in women who had previously received Gardasil, including two reports concerning the sudden and unexpected deaths of two young women in the European Union (EU). Gardasil is a vaccine approved in the EU for the prevention of cervical cancer and other diseases caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. It is estimated that about 1.5 million patients have been vaccinated with this HPV vaccine in Europe.

The two European cases were reported as part of the continuous monitoring of the safety of medicines. One of the cases occurred in Austria and the other in Germany. In both cases, the cause of death could not be identified. No causal relationship has been established between the deaths of the young women and the administration of Gardasil.

On the basis of the currently available evidence, the EMEA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) is of the opinion that the benefits of Gardasil continue to outweigh its risks and that no changes to its product information are necessary.

The EMEA will continue to closely monitor the safety of Gardasil and take appropriate actions should new information emerge that has an impact on the benefit-risk profile of Gardasil.

Notes:

1. The approved indication in the EU for Gardasil is: “Gardasil is a vaccine for the prevention of high-grade cervical dysplasia (CIN 2/3), cervical carcinoma, high-grade vulvar dysplastic lesions (VIN 2/3), and external genital warts (condyloma acuminata) causally related to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. The indication is based on the demonstration of efficacy of Gardasil in adult females 16 to 26 years of age and on the demonstration of immunogenicity of Gardasil in 9- to 15-year old children and adolescents. Protective efficacy has not been evaluated in males. The use of Gardasil should be in accordance with official recommendations.” For more information on Gardasil, please see here.

2. HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 vaccine is also marketed in the EU as Silgard. For more information on Silgard, please see here.

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Weekly Inspiration #18

by: continuum wellness - July 21st, 2008   Filed under: inspiration, motivation, quotes, spirit, spiritual development, spirituality, Uncategorized Add Comment

Before the soul can see,
the harmony within must be attained,
and fleshly eyes be rendered blind
to all illusion.

Before the soul can hear,
the image (Man)
has to become as deaf
to roarings as to whispers,
to cries of bellowing elephants
as to the silvery buzzing
of the golden fire-fly.

Before the soul can comprehend
and may remember,
she must unto the silent speaker
be united,
just as the form
to which the clay is modeled
is first united
with the potter’s mind.

For then the soul will hear,
and will remember.
And the inner ear will speak
the voice of silence.

The author of this poem is unknown to me, if known please let me know so that I may give proper credit.

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Our Deceptive Taste Buds, Was That a Veggie Burger?

by: continuum wellness - July 19th, 2008   Filed under: behavior, diet, food, health beliefs, healthy eating, men, nutrition, Uncategorized, wellness, Western diet 3 Comments

by Catherine Carter

A few years ago a commercial for a meat product, I think it was for beef. Well, there were two families sitting together for dinner and it was at the end of the meal. A cake was bought out. A young smiling girl glowed as she eyed her cake. The fathers gathered around. The father who was depicted as eating vegetables could barely blow out the candles. The burly looking meat eating father came over to blow out the candle. And wouldn’t you know it, his mighty breath not only blew out the candles but blew a hole in the wall which also sucked out the “weakly veggie dad.”

The motto for men, eat meat be strong, gr-r-r-r. The commercials aim was to appeal to men to eat meat so they can stay strong. According to some recent finding out of the University of Chicago,“heavy meat eaters claim that they eat meat because it tastes better than other foods, such as meat substitutes.” But in a recent study male participants ate a vegetable substitute and deemed it acceptable in terms of taste because they thought it was meat.

The researchers concluded that one’s personal beliefs influence what one tastes.

Symbolically many men view meat as a source of power, strength and virility. Vegetables are not viewed as powerful. Whoever heard of ‘mighty carrot’! However all it took was to have the study participants think they were eating meat and then the veggie burger was well received.

The mind is powerful and thoughts do much to create one’s reality. Probably not every veggie burger would pass this taste. However since it is mainly the spices and seasonings that contribute to the taste and flavor of a burger, be it a meat or veggie burger, making healthy food taste good will make it easier for any recalcitrant eater.

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Patients “misled” by contrasting views on complementary medicine

by: continuum wellness - July 18th, 2008   Filed under: alternative medicine, complementary medicine, healing, Health, health beliefs, holistic medicine, medical news Add Comment

Patients are being continuously and seriously misled by both sides of the debate on complementary medicine, according to a leading clinical expert.

One of the most important questions about complementary medicine — does it generate more harm than good? — remains unanswered because two alternative and antagonistic attitudes are influencing the evidence, says Professor Edzard Ernst in the journal BMJ Clinical Evidence.

According to Professor Ernst, the sceptics often ignore the evidence for complementary medicine.

He says that, despite thousands of clinical trials and hundreds of systematic reviews, mainstream journals rarely publish positive findings, giving the impression that little serious research is being done in this field, or that the findings show complementary medicine to be useless or even dangerous.

In contrast, he argues, the proponents claim that “scientific evidence cannot be applied to complementary medicine” when data fail to show what they had hoped for.

But the real loser in these ongoing disputes is the patient, warns Professor Ernst.

He points out that complementary medicine has become important not because of the eagerness of doctors, the interests of scientists or the attention of politicians, but because of the “almost insatiable hunger of patients.”

In Britain, £1.6bn is spent each year on complementary medicine —therapies rarely available on the NHS — yet there is little evidence available to patients about what really works.

To remedy the situation, reliable information intended specifically for lay people must be produced as a matter of urgency, Professor Ernst concludes.

BMJ Clinical Evidence

Antidrepressants May Lead to Bone Loss

by: continuum wellness - July 15th, 2008   Filed under: adolescents, adverse events, healing, seniors, side effects, symptoms, teens, Uncategorized Add Comment

As if it is not hard enough in itself going through a deep sadness, for those who take anti-depressant medication another risk is surfacing, brittle bones. This is a rather serious problem. In the model of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the kidneys are the rulers of the bones. The kidneys are involved in water metabolism, relate to bone problems (knees, teeth, low back); urinary and sexual issues, growth, mental development and from an emotional perspective relate to fear and insecurity.

The makers of Prozac list osteoporosis as a rare event (1 in 10,000). Are those who have smaller, nagging symptoms ignored? Researchers are also concerned about growing teens that there later health may be affected by taking SSRI medication.

Antidepressant medication should not be stopped suddenly. Following are a few measures to build bone and fight the blues.

  1. Take a daily walk. If you just can’t find the motivation, find a friend, a relative, a neighbor or a coach to help you.
  2. Increase your vit D by spending time in the sun. Find 30 minutes to relax and sunbathe.
  3. Increase your green vegetable intake.
  4. Increase whole grains in your diet.
  5. Make a soup of sprouted barley and kale. Cook the sprouted barley for 10 minutes and add the kale towards the end.
  6. Practice T’ai Chi the gentle exercise strengthen the bones.
  7. Reduce meat intake. Meat in excess interferes with calcium absorption.


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Weekly Inspiration #17

by: continuum wellness - July 7th, 2008   Filed under: inspiration, Monday motivation, quotes, Uncategorized, weekly reflection Add Comment

Then a ploughman said, Speak to us of Work.

And he answered, saying:
You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons,
and to step out of life’s procession, that marches in majesty and
proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours
turns to music.
Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?

Always you have been told that work is a curse and labor a misfortune.
But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth’s furthest dream,
assigned to you when that dream was born.
And in keeping yourself with labor you are in truth loving life.
And to love life through labor is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret.

But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse
written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away
that which is written.

You have been told that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.
And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is knowledge,
And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,
And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,
And all work is empty save when there is love;
And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself,
and to the other, and to God.

And what is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in the house.
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved
were to eat the fruit.
It is to charge all things, you fashion with a breath of your own spirit.
And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.

Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, “He who works in marble, and finds
the shape of his own soul in stone, is nobler than he who ploughs the soil.
And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth is the likeness of man, is more than
he who makes the sandals for our feet.”
But I say, not in sleep but in the over wakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not
more sweetly to the giant oaks that to the least of all the blades of grass;
And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving.

Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work
and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine.
And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man’s ears to the
voices of the day and the voices of the night.
-by Kahlil Gibran

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