Cancer patients find relief in integrative medicine services

by: continuum wellness - June 17th, 2010   Filed under: adverse events, alternative medicine, cancer, complementary medicine, health beliefs, integrative medicine, thoughts 1 Comment

Following is an interesting article (press release) on how integrative medicine is used alongside standard drug therapy. Note that the therapies mentioned in this are said to offset the harsh side effects of chemotherapy and boost the immune system. Later, it is stated that integrative medicine offers no cure for cancer. Cancer has been *cured* by the use of numerous modalities. Anyone interested should do their own research. The living proof is available. This Integrative Oncology program at Northwestern Memorial is to be commended. It is alleviating suffering, reducing cost and saving lives. Healing should do just this, heal, not cling to rigid viewpoints. Read on…please note, the emphasis in the text has been added.

25 February 2010

Northwestern Memorial’s Integrative Oncology Program aims to ease pain and help patients manage cancer

CHICAGO- The very instant Penny Kukovec was diagnosed with breast cancer her world permanently changed. Suddenly, it felt as if her life was out of her control. She felt powerless and overwhelmed. There were so many unanswered questions. Why me? What’s next? What about my family? The feelings Kukovec experienced are felt by many cancer patients following their initial diagnosis and as they pursue treatment. In an effort to effectively and compassionately respond to these worries, as well as address common side effects associated with cancer treatment, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University now offer integrative oncology services.

“When a patient is diagnosed with cancer many of them want to fully participate in their recovery, but don’t know where to begin. This program gives them control over their treatment,” said Julian Schink, MD, chief of Gynecologic Oncology at Northwestern Memorial and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

The integrative oncology services are part of a larger 360 Care Program that recently launched aimed to address cancer patients’ needs from every angle through treatment that extends beyond medical therapies, to include counseling, stress management and integrative medicine. Integrative oncology services include acupuncture, massage, energy healing and naturopathic medicine offered by Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group’s Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness.

“Our goal is to treat the whole person, not just their illness,” said Melinda Ring, MD, medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness. “Research suggests that a holistic approach can alleviate stress and anxiety, as well as the physical pain and discomfort patients often experience while undergoing cancer treatments by activating the body’s innate healing process.”

While there is little research to explain exactly how integrative approaches like acupuncture work, researchers at the National Institute of Health state complementary therapy such as acupuncture do improve the body’s immune system. In an oncology setting, integrative approaches provide an effective way to manage symptoms, alleviate side effects, and help patients restore their sense of control and vitality.

“My body was hit hard with trauma. I was so tired, my joints hurt and my muscles were tense. I knew I needed more help. When I began massage therapy my muscles relaxed, and it helped me release my emotions. It reminded my body that it can relax in spite of what I am going through,” said Penny Kukovec, patient at Northwestern Memorial.

Common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer include muscle tension, aches, pains nausea, vomiting and fatigue. The main role of complementary medicine is to provide supportive care and reduce adverse effects while helping the patient cope.

“Unfortunately, the side effects associated with conventional therapies often cause patients to end their treatments prematurely, or require that we take a less aggressive approach,” said Schink. “We’ve seen this occurrence decrease with the addition of integrative oncology services.”

“The medicine I was taking for my cancer caused nerve damage in my hands and feet. It was very uncomfortable. Acupuncture helped relieve the pain,” said Nancy Amicangelo, patient at Northwestern Memorial.

There is evidence that integrative approaches may also play a role in reducing the rate of depression among cancer patients. Services such as massage therapy are believed to have a short-term effect on reducing anxiety related to depression among patients.

“You’re sick, your hair falls out, and your family is stressed. When you are diagnosed it’s sometimes all that you can think about. The massages offer me a chance to escape,” said Kukovec.

While integrative medicine does not offer a cure for cancer, there is strong evidence that it positively affects the patient. Studies show 77 percent of cancer patients who incorporate complementary approaches believe it improves their quality of life, and 73 percent state it makes them feel hopeful. In addition, 71 percent say it helps to boost their immune system.

All patients under the care of a Northwestern Memorial oncologist are eligible to receive free integrative medicine services as part of their cancer treatment. The 360 Care Program was made possible by a generous gift from Abra Prentice Wilkin, board member of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and longtime supporter of the hospital.

Source:
Angela Salerno
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Photo credit: Emory University

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Tylenol Recall, 9/2009

by: continuum wellness - September 25th, 2009   Filed under: adverse events, children, medications 1 Comment

McNeil Consumer Healthcare is recalling certain lots of children’s and infants’ liquid Tylenol manufactured between April and June 2008. According to the company the recall is due to “an unused portion of one inactive ingredient did not meet all quality standards.”

The recall does not apply to children’s Tylenol meltaways or junior strength Tylenol meltaways.

McNeil has established a consumer call center at 800-962-5357 for parents or caregivers with questions.
Acetaminophen (Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in Tylenol) and Liver Injury, click here for an FDA consumer report.

Partial Product Recall List:
Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold MS Suspension 4 oz. Grape
Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4oz. Grape
Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4oz. Bubble Gum
Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4oz. Strawberry
Infant’s Tylenol Grape Suspension Drops 1/4oz.
Infant’s Tylenol Suspension 1/2oz. Cherry
Children’s Dye Free Suspension 4oz. Cherry
Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4oz. Cherry
Children’s Tylenol Plus Cough & Runny Nose 4oz. Cherry

For a complete listing of recalled products, which includes the lot number’s visit Tylenol’s page, here.

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Research: Inexpensive Method for Stroke Detection

by: continuum wellness - September 23rd, 2009   Filed under: adverse events, brain, brain research, Health, holistic medicine, integrative medicine, medical news, medicine, stroke Add Comment

Is this the kind of innovation that American health care needs?
– Small study demonstrates possibilities of reducing unnecessary MRI tests and improving safety

September 18, 2009-In a small “proof of principle” study, stroke researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Illinois have found that a simple, one-minute eye movement exam performed at the bedside worked better than an MRI to distinguish new strokes from other less serious disorders in patients complaining of dizziness, nausea and spinning sensations.

Results of the study of 101 patients , who were already at higher than normal risk of stroke because of factors including high blood pressure or high cholesterol, were published online ahead of print on Sept. 17 in Stroke. The patients were all seen at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill.

The project, spearheaded by a Johns Hopkins neurologist in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Illinois in Peoria, found that the quick, extremely low-cost exam caught more strokes than the current gold standard of MRI, suggesting that if further research on broader populations confirms these results, physicians may have a way to improve care and avoid the high costs of MRI in some cases.

“The idea that a bedside exam could outperform a modern neuroimaging test such as MRI is something that most people had given up for dead, but we’ve shown it’s possible,” says David E. Newman-Toker, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dizziness is a common medical problem, Newman-Toker says, responsible for 2.6 million emergency room visits annually in the United States. While the vast majority of dizziness complaints are caused by benign inner-ear balance problems, about 4 percent are signals of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA, a condition that often warns of impending stroke in the coming days or weeks). Because more than half of patients with dizziness who are experiencing strokes show none of the classic stroke symptoms — one-sided weakness, numbness, or speech problems — emergency room physicians are estimated to misdiagnose at least a third of them, losing the chance for quick and effective treatment.

“We know that time is brain, so when patients having a stroke are sent home erroneously, the consequences can be really serious, including death or permanent disability,” says Jorge C. Kattah, M.D., chairman of neurology at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, who co-led the study.

The study of eye movement tests was suggested by previous research showing that people experiencing a stroke have eye-movement alterations that correlate with stroke-damage to various brain areas and that these are distinct from eye-movement alterations seen with benign ear diseases. Some patients, for example, can’t immediately adjust their eye position if their heads are quickly turned to the side, or they experience jerky eye movements as they try to focus on a doctor’s finger when looking to either side.

Newman-Toker and his colleagues at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria wondered whether testing eye movements in dizzy patients might help them sort out which ones were having a stroke from those with other problems.

All of the patients in the current study were seen after complaining of severe dizziness that had lasted for several hours continuously, and all had at least one risk factor for stroke. The researchers selected them to increase the chance that they would find strokes in this population. None of the patients had a history of previous dizzy spells and more than half sought care at the Peoria medical center’s ER, though some were inpatients at the hospital or were transferred from other area hospitals.

The researchers gave each patient an exam comprised of three eye-movement tests: looking for inability to keep the eyes stable as patients heads were rotated rapidly to either side, looking for jerkiness as patients tracked a doctor’s finger to look right and left, and checking eye position to see if one eye was higher than the other. Each patient then received an early MRI, the highest-quality neuroimaging test available to confirm stroke in dizzy patients. Patients with eye tests suggesting stroke but without stroke on the first MRI scan underwent a repeat scan.

In the end, 69 patients were diagnosed with stroke and 25 with inner-ear conditions. The remainder had other neurological problems. Using only the three eye-movement tests, the researchers had correctly diagnosed all of the strokes and 24 of 25 with inner-ear conditions. By contrast, initial MRI scans were falsely negative in eight of the 69 stroke patients, who were later correctly diagnosed with follow-up MRIs.

Though the researchers emphasize the need to verify their results in a larger and more general population of patients with dizziness, Newman-Toker says the initial findings are “incredibly promising.” If they hold true, he adds, testing eye movements could have several advantages over MRI beyond reliable diagnostics. For example, while the wait time for an MRI can be several hours or more, physicians can perform all three eye-movement tests in a minute or less. Also, the eye-movement tests are “basically free,” compared to $1000 or more for an MRI, Newman-Toker says.

“In an era where cost containment is butting up against issues of quality in health care delivery, there’s tremendous potential for bedside approaches like ours that could reduce costs while improving quality at the same time,” says Newman-Toker.

For more information, go here

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Enter the “Polypill” to reduce heart problems, hbp and stroke

by: continuum wellness - March 30th, 2009   Filed under: adverse events, alternative medicine, baby boomers, behavior, cholesterol, complementary medicine, healing, healing philosophy, Health, health beliefs, health benefits of food, health care, healthy body, healthy eating, healthy mind, heart, heart attack, holistic, holistic medicine, integrative medicine, kindness, medications, medicine, men, prescription drugs, self-care, self-healing, thoughts, tips, wellness, Western diet, women, women's health Add Comment

The “miracle” of modern medicine has led to bizarre side effects such as a treatment for restless legs, that has caused compulsive gambling. A medicine for Parkinson’s has a similar problem for some. Sleep drugs that cause people to stumble out of their home and drive. Fertility drugs that lead to multiple births. Hallucinations are a “rare” side effect of some ADHD medications. These are the considered a-typical, but the typical side effects are no fun either.

Help for High Blood Pressure

Enter the Polypill.  Researchers want to create a pill a 3 in one that can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure in one.  article here
Truth is it has been created or should I say they have been. When we eat whole foods, contained therein is a synergistic blend of vitamins, proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, solar and lunar energy and maybe even (hopefully) love from the gardener. We cannot get this from a pill.

Run This Way

Instead of running from nature, run to nature. Nurture yourself with learning how to live in balance. It’s free. It’s the healthiest choice for yourself and the planet. Give it a try. Polypill? Try basking in the sun, or hugging a dear friend, cook yourself a meal with a big dose of love in it…you’ll be glad you did, for benefits no Polypill could ever provide.

At Continuum Wellness we offer homeopathic care and wellness coaching to promote wholeness, health and well-being.

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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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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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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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The Gardasil Vaccination, A Study in Tragedy?

by: continuum wellness - June 10th, 2008   Filed under: adolescents, adverse events, cervical cancer, drugs, HPV, injury, medical news, Uncategorized, vaccination, vaccine damage, vaccine injury, vaccines 4 Comments

The info posted below is from this young lady’s blog. In an attempt to pass the word about what she is currently dealing with. Visit her blog (here), medical professionals should check it out also and of course teens, young women and their mothers.

Her blog has additional information on other cases in where Gardasil is implicated. We can keep her in our prayers.

Welcome to the Family Blog for Jenny.

Jenny is a 14 year-old girl who lives in Northern California.

Over the last year, she has gone from being a fully healthy 13 year-old to being nearly completely paralyzed. She retains movement only in her neck and mouth and faintly in her left hand.This rapid decline in motor ability has understandably shocked and concerned us [her family]. We have responded by working with the best doctors in the field, fighting continuously to reach a diagnosis and find treatments.

Despite the best efforts of an extremely talented array of medical professionals, we have not been able to stop her decline. Doctors don’t know for sure why Jenny got so sick but some think it may be connected to the Gardasil vaccinations she got (last one in March, 2007) and the weakening that seemed to start in spring and gradually built up. One sign was in April 2007 when everyone in her PE class laughed at her because she couldn’t jump a hurdle they considered really puny. It is hard to say when the weakening started but by summer she had a terrible limp.

One of the major things that would help her doctors figure out what to do is to find other people like Jenny (called “comparables”)–people that share her medical condition and perhaps have had luck with certain treatments.

We are creating this blog to aid us in our search for comparables. If you think you may know a comparable, we urge you to check out the comparable traits in the sidebar and email us at jenjensfamily@gmail.com. Even if you do not know a comparable, feel free to leave a comment of support or link to any information you think might be helpful for us.

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Warning for Children on ADHD Medication – Get a Heart Checkup

by: continuum wellness - April 24th, 2008   Filed under: ADD, ADHD, adolescents, adverse events, children, culture, drugs, Health, healthy body, heart, medical news, medications, medicine, prescription drugs, side effects, Uncategorized Add Comment

The article below is from the American Heart Association. While there is a place for modern medicine, it seems practically every day there is a warning or a recall over drug safety or a therapeutic approach gone sour.
It seems evident that there should be options for those who want to explore and use them, and yes I am referring to homeopathic medicine or other holistic approaches. Why should the public be subjected to these scenarios? Read the article below.

    Children with ADHD should get heart tests before treatment with stimulant drugs

    Statement highlights:
    • The side effects of stimulant drugs, like those used to treat ADHD are usually insignificant, but are important to monitor for children with ADHD and certain heart conditions.
    • Children diagnosed with ADHD should receive an electrocardiogram (ECG) to rule out heart abnormalities before beginning treatment with stimulant drugs.
    • Children currently taking stimulant drugs who did not have an ECG prior to treatment should get an ECG.

    View the statement here

    DALLAS, April 21 – Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should get careful cardiac evaluation and monitoring – including an electrocardiogram (ECG) – before starting treatment with stimulant drugs, a new American Heart Association statement recommends.

    The scientific statement on Cardiovascular Monitoring of Children and Adolescents with Heart Disease Receiving Stimulant Drugs is published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

    In 1999, concerns over potential cardiovascular effects of psychotropic drugs, especially tricyclic antidepressants, but including stimulants, prompted an American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Cardiovascular Monitoring of Children and Adolescents Receiving Psychotropic Drugs. However, no specific cardiovascular monitoring was recommended for the use of stimulant medications. Warnings from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about stimulant medications and public concern for the safety of using them have prompted the current statement.

    Studies have shown that stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD can increase heart rate and blood pressure. These side effects are insignificant for most children with ADHD; however, they’re an important consideration for children who have a heart condition. Certain heart conditions increase the risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD), which occurs when the heart rhythm becomes erratic and doesn’t pump blood through the body.

    Doctors usually use a physical exam and the patient and family history to detect the risk for or presence of health problems before beginning new treatments, including prescribing medication. But some of the cardiac conditions associated with SCD may not be noticed in a routine physical exam. Many of these conditions are subtle and do not result in symptoms or have symptoms that are vague such as palpitations, fainting or chest pain.

    That’s why the statement writing group recommends adding an ECG to pre-treatment evaluations for children with ADHD. An ECG measures the heart’s electrical activity and can often identify heart rhythm abnormalities such as those that can lead to sudden cardiac death.

    “After ADHD is diagnosed, but before therapy with a stimulant or other medication is begun, we suggest that an ECG be added to the pre-treatment evaluation to increase the likelihood of identifying cardiac conditions that may place the child at risk for sudden death,” said Victoria L. Vetter, M.D., head of the statement writing committee and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

    Vetter also said doctors should evaluate children and adolescents already taking these medications if they were not evaluated when they started the treatment.

    If heart problems are suspected after the evaluation, children should be referred to a pediatric cardiologist. Once stimulant treatment begins, children should have their heart health monitored periodically, with a blood pressure check within one to three months, then again at routine follow-ups every six to 12 months.

    “Children can have undiagnosed heart conditions without showing symptoms,” Vetter said. “Furthermore, a child’s body changes constantly, with some conditions not appearing until adolescence.”

    If the initial ECG was taken before age 12 years, it may be useful to do a repeat ECG after the child is over age 12 years, the statement says.

    Widespread use of ECGs to detect heart abnormalities, including screenings for competitive athletes, is not routinely recommended by the American Heart Association. However, the writing group found using ECG screening in this specific population of children prescribed ADHD medication is medically indicated and reasonably priced. That said, however, lack of an ECG shouldn’t mean that kids who need ADHD treatment can’t get it.

    “While we feel that an ECG is reasonable and helpful as a tool to identify children with cardiac conditions that can lead to SCD, if, in the view of their physician, a child requires immediate treatment with stimulant medications, this recommendation is not meant to keep them from getting that treatment,” said Vetter, who added that some children may not have access to a pediatric cardiologist who can evaluate an ECG or perform a cardiology consultation.

    In 2003, an estimated 2.5 million children took medication for ADHD. Surveys indicate that ADHD affects an estimated 4 percent to 12 percent of all school-aged children in the United States, and it appears more common in children with heart conditions. Studies report that, depending on the specific cardiac condition, 33 percent to 42 percent of pediatric cardiac patients have ADHD, Vetter said. The number of undiagnosed children with heart conditions is unknown as routine heart screening is not performed, but Vetter said that a recent pilot study she presented at the American Heart Association’s 2007 Scientific Session indicated that up to 2 percent of healthy school aged children had potentially serious undiagnosed cardiac conditions identified by an ECG.

    Data from the FDA showed that between 1999 and 2004, 19 children taking ADHD medications died suddenly and 26 children experienced cardiovascular events such as strokes, cardiac arrests and heart palpitations. Since February 2007, the FDA has required all manufacturers of drug products approved for ADHD treatment to develop Medication Guidelines to alert patients to possible cardiovascular risks.

    Future studies are necessary to assess the true risk of SCD in association with stimulant drugs in children and adolescents with and without heart disease, Vetter said. However, studying SCD associated with drugs is difficult because the government’s reporting system is voluntary, which means local data on these types of deaths isn’t always reported nationally.

    A registry of SCD events is necessary for further investigating this issue, the writing committee said. Such a registry would allow for a more accurate understanding of SCD, including the true incidence of it and the potential effectiveness of universal ECG testing and pre-participation screening questionnaires.

    The statement writing committee said its recommendations are not intended to limit the appropriate use of stimulants in children with ADHD.

    “Our intention is to provide the physician with some tools to help identify heart conditions in children with ADHD, and help them make decisions about the use of stimulant medications and the follow-up of children who take them,” Vetter said. “The goal is to allow treatment of ADHD, while attempting to lower the cardiac risk of these products in susceptible children.”

    The writing committee also includes: Josephine Elia, M.D.; Christopher Erickson, M.D.; Stuart Berger, M.D.; Nathan Blum, M.D.; Karen Uzark, R.N., Ph.D.; and Catherine L. Webb, M.D.

    ###

    NR08-1058 (CIRC/Vetter)

    The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding primarily from individuals. In addition, foundations and corporations – including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies – make donations and fund specific American Heart Association/American Stroke Association programs and events. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are disclosed at www.americanheart.org.

Mobile Phones “More Dangerous Than Smoking”

by: continuum wellness - April 3rd, 2008   Filed under: adolescents, adverse events, brain, cancer, cell phones, Health, teens Add Comment

By Geoffrey Lean – The Independent UK – Sunday 30 March 2008

Brain expert warns of huge rise in tumours and calls on industry to take immediate steps to reduce radiation.

Mobile phones could kill far more people than smoking or asbestos, a study by an award-winning cancer expert has concluded. He says people should avoid using them wherever possible and that governments and the mobile phone industry must take “immediate steps” to reduce exposure to their radiation.

The study, by Dr Vini Khurana, is the most devastating indictment yet published of the health risks.
It draws on growing evidence – exclusively reported in the IoS in October – that using handsets for 10 years or more can double the risk of brain cancer. Cancers take at least a decade to develop, invalidating official safety assurances based on earlier studies which included few, if any, people who had used the phones for that long.

Earlier this year, the French government warned against the use of mobile phones, especially by children. Germany also advises its people to minimise handset use, and the European Environment Agency has called for exposures to be reduced.

Professor Khurana – a top neurosurgeon who has received 14 awards over the past 16 years, has published more than three dozen scientific papers – reviewed more than 100 studies on the effects of mobile phones. He has put the results on a brain surgery website, and a paper based on the research is currently being peer-reviewed for publication in a scientific journal.

He admits that mobiles can save lives in emergencies, but concludes that “there is a significant and increasing body of evidence for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumors”. He believes this will be “definitively proven” in the next decade.

Noting that malignant brain tumors represent “a life-ending diagnosis”, he adds: “We are currently experiencing a reactively unchecked and dangerous situation.” He fears that “unless the industry and governments take immediate and decisive steps”, the incidence of malignant brain tumors and associated death rate will be observed to rise globally within a decade from now, by which time it may be far too late to intervene medically.

“It is anticipated that this danger has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking,” says Professor Khurana, who told the IoS his assessment is partly based on the fact that three billion people now use the phones worldwide, three times as many as smoke. Smoking kills some five million worldwide each year, and exposure to asbestos is responsible for as many deaths in Britain as road accidents.

Late last week, the Mobile Operators Association dismissed Khurana’s study as “a selective discussion of scientific literature by one individual”. It believes he “does not present a balanced analysis” of the published science, and “reaches opposite conclusions to the WHO and more than 30 other independent expert scientific reviews”.

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