FDA Makes Recommendation on Hormone Replacement Therapy
That month we reported on new research showing hormone therapy to help ease the symptoms of menopause and prevent certain health risks associated with the loss of natural hormones after menopause may have serious health risks, including breast cancer, heart attack and stroke (see August News). In response to this research, the FDA has issued a warning about using hormone replacement therapy. They recommend that if women choose to use hormones to ease the symptoms of menopause, they should do so at the lowest dose and for the shortest duration possible.

Dr. Sears comments: The fact that the FDA has issued this warning, after it had supported the safety of hormone replacement therapy for so many years, adds a lot of weight to these new found concerns about the safety of this treatment.

World Health Organization Issues Warning About Depleted Ozone Layer and Risk of Skin Cancer in Children
The depleted ozone layer means that children growing up now will have a much higher lifetime exposure to the sun's harmful rays than past generations. The WHO warned that sun protection is more important now than ever before.

Dr. Sears comments:click here to read how to protect your child from the sun.

New Study Shows the Greatest Risk Factors for Stomach and Esophageal Cancer
A study in New York showed that the lifestyle habits that contribute most to cases of these cancers include being overweight, smoking, lacking fruits and vegetables, and alcohol consumption.

In a related story, researchers in China showed that taking alpha-tocopherol, a form of Vitamin E, decreases the risk of these cancers as well. Natural fruit and vegetable supplements are rich in tocopherols.

Dr. Sears comments: this isn't really new news, but it does reiterate the importance of cancer prevention in our daily lives. Click here to read about the anti-cancer lifestyle.

High Levels of Flame Retardant Chemical Found in American Breast Milk
The Environmental Working Group studied the levels of bromine-based fire retardants in the breast milk of 20 women from various parts of the country. The average levels were 75 times higher compared to recent studies in European women. Animal research has shown that exposure to this chemicals has harmful effects on the developing brain. This study did not evaluate the effects on the babies. Bromine-based fire retardants are used in many products, including furniture, computers, TV's, cars, copy machines, and hair dryers.

The purpose of this study was NOT to warn against breastfeeding. The EWG has been studying toxic chemicals throughout the world for years, and one method they use to determine a population's exposure levels is to test breast milk. The report emphasized the importance and safety of breastfeeding, and warned that the greatest effect on a baby may occur in utero. The conclusion of this report was that the U.S. population has significant exposure to these chemicals, which have been banned in many European countries.

Dr. Sears comments: I want to emphasize that this doesn't mean women shouldn't breastfeed or wean their babies early. Breastmilk is far safer and more nutritious than formula, which probably contains hormones and pesticides passed down from cow's milk and soy plants. What we need to do is clean up our act and ban such chemicals.

Osteopathic Bone and Muscle Manipulation May Help Resolve Chronic Ear Infections
A small study of 57 kids with recurrent ear infections showed that those who received a six-month program of massage type of manipulation of their head, neck, ears, and other points in their body (a technique that osteopathic doctors and some chiropractors are trained in) in addition to routine pediatric ear care had less ear pain, less chronic ear fluid, and were less likely to go on to have ear tubes put it.

A larger, more advanced study is underway to verify these findings.

Dr. Sears comments: I routinely prescribe chiropractic care to my pediatric patients with chronic ear problems. I am excited to see that osteopathic adjustments show benefit in a research study. Click here to read more about ear infections.

Early Introduction of Infant Cereal Shown to Increase Risk of Diabetes
Two teams of researchers from Denver and Germany showed that infants who were fed fiber or rice cereal prior to 4 months of age were 5 times more likely to develop damage to their pancreas and eventual diabetes, compared to infants who were introduced between 4 and 6 months. The theory behind this affect is that the infants' immune system overreacts to proteins in the cereals, and this immune reaction attacks the pancreas (just as in Diabetes).

Dr. Sears comments: I am very adamant in my recommendations to my patients that they wait until the AAP recommended age of 6 months before introducing ANY foods to baby. Click here to read more about introducing solids.

Flu Shot Update - 2003
In past years, the flu shot was only recommended for infants and children with asthma or other chronic lung diseases, heart conditions (not including simple heart murmurs), diabetes, immune deficiencies and kids on chronic immune suppressing medications such as oral steroids (not if just taking it for a few days). Healthy infants and children without any of these conditions generally were not urged to get a flu shot.

Last year the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the CDC said that while all children 6 months of age and older could benefit from the flu shot, until further research is done over the next couple years, the committee won't yet recommend it as a definite universal shot that should be given to all infants and children.

This policy means that it's up to parents to decide with their own doctors whether they want to give their infant this extra shot each October or November (2 shots are required the first year it is given for it to work), or if they instead want to risk their child catching the flu, which in the vast majority of cases is troublesome but harmless.

The bottom line is that as of yet, there is no official medical recommendation that infants and children should get the flu shot.

Click here for a full discussion on the Flu.