Sodas and Children:

As our kids transition from childhood to adolescence, parents need to pay as much attention to their child’s soda consumption as they do to the new adventures in middle school. And, as a new variety of physical and emotional issues arise in the pre-teen years, so can a not so nutritious diet.

With vending machines being commonplace in schools, it’s no wonder that our kid’s soda consumption has doubled in recent years.

According to the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA), consumption of soft drinks now tops 600 12-ounce servings (12 oz.) per person per year.

Young males ages 12 to 29 are the biggest consumers at over 160 gallons per year – that’s almost 2 quarts per day! Furthermore, according to an article in Beverage, January 1999, “Influencing elementary school students is very important to soft drink marketers.”

This is disturbing when we consider that the most commonly associated health risks from soda consumption are obesity, diabetes and other blood sugar disorders, tooth decay, osteoporosis and bone fractures, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease, food addictions and eating disorders, neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners, and neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine.

And, when watching any local TV station today, we see just as many ads for soda as we do for the current epidemics of childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes.

Schools and Paid Advertising for Soda:

Even more disturbing, some schools and local kid hangouts are actually paid to carry soda advertisements. In fact, soda companies spend most of their advertising budget on campaigns aimed at America’s youth.

As a result, a 1994 report published in the Journal of Adolescent Health shows a “strong association between cola beverage consumption and bone fractures in girls.”

This study concluded with the following:

“The high consumption of carbonated beverages and the declining consumption of milk are of great public health significance for girls and women because of their proneness to osteoporosis in later life.”

Furthermore, a study of 460 high school girls published in Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in June 2000 indicated that cola beverages are “highly associated with bone fractures.”

Harvard School of Public Health professor Grace Wyshak recently found that ninth and 10th-grade girls who sipped soda were three times more likely to break bones than those who quenched their thirsts with other drinks.

Worse, her study found that physically active girls who drank colas were five times more likely to break bones as physically active girls who abstained from carbonated beverages. Wyshak believes the phosphoric acid in colas may interfere with the body’s ability to use calcium.

Children Drinking More Soda:

Our children are drinking more and more soda every decade. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in October, 2004, since 1977, U.S. soft drink consumption has increased by 135 percent.

And twenty years ago, boys consumed more than twice as much milk as soft drinks, and girls consumed 50 percent more milk than soft drinks.

By 1996, both boys and girls consumed twice as much soda as milk (USDA). Decreased milk consumption means that children are no longer getting required amounts of calcium in their diets. Therefore, since 1977, energy intake from milk has dropped by 38 percent. This is the same period of time during which soda consumption skyrocketed.

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a chiropractor and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has taken extra courses on pediatrics above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Dr. Greeley is the owner of the practice United Family Chiropractic is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Dr. West #D Simi Valley, Ca. Her office can be reached at 805-522-2324 for further questions.

Natural Alternatives for Colds and Flu:

As the leaves start to fall and the sun shines less we find ourselves approaching the cold and flu season. For some kids that means runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and itchy skin and eyes. While this may sound like an ad for your local over the counter remedy, I am here to express there are some natural alternatives to make this year possibly an easier one.

Allergens and Chiropractic Care:

Let’s first get to know how our body reacts to the local allergen. What is an allergy? Our bodies should develop a tolerance to food, pets, dust, etc. when that fails our immune system responds with a hypersensitivity reaction.

This reaction can be anything from digestive problems such as diarrhea, acid reflux, and lack of appetite. Skin reactions in children can come from the following six most common foods: eggs, peanuts, cow’s milk, soy, fish, and wheat.

Upper respiratory infection is a general description of a group of conditions, which includes the common cold, runny nose, tonsillitis, earaches, sinusitis, flu, and bronchitis. The lymphatic drainage route from the head to the neck passes through the muscles along side the neck. Lymph is cleared through the body is known as the “lymphatic pump” by muscular contractions of the neck.

When a bone is misaligned in the cervical spine it can produce a muscle spasm that could then cause a restriction of lymphatic drainage form the head to the neck, which could prevent the body from clearing the bacteria, or viruses that could lead to chronic respiratory infections1.

Antibiotics and Allergies:

In a study conducted at Henry Ford hospital in Detroit states that “Children who receive antibiotics within the first six months of life increase their risk 1.5 times of developing by age seven allergies to pets, ragweed, grass, dust mites, and 2.5 times more likely to develop asthma.

If a child lived with fewer than 2 pets they were 1.7 times more likely to develop allergies and 3 times more likely to develop asthma and those kids with a mother who had a history of allergies were 2 times as likely to develop allergies.”

Chiropractic and Improvement in Symptoms:

According to Reuter Health news, the use of alternatives was twice as common among children with chronic illnesses, than their healthy peers. The most common conditions see were respiratory illnesses, strains and sprains, allergies, digestive problems, and ear infections.

According to dynamic chiropractic case reports frequently describe rapid improvement in upper respiratory symptoms following an adjustment of minor misalignments, especially in the neck.

Remedies for Chronic Allergies and Respiratory Infections:

So now that your child has allergies or chronic colds and flu’s, what remedies if any can help with children with these chronic allergies and respiratory infections?

In chronic skin disorders eliminating the above foods may help clear up eczema type of reactions. Parents also need to pay attention to the fragrances in soaps and lotions. Just because it is made for children does not mean that it cannot irritate their young skin.

As Parents you want to look for more natural soaps and lotions without a lot of dyes and chemicals. If your child has excessive dry skin removing chlorine from your tap water and bathing with soap with oatmeal as one of its first ingredients may help. Many children are lacking in the omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega 3 essential fatty acids can support immune health and healthy skin.

Natural Herbal Remedies for Allergies and Colds:

With seasonal allergies and colds a few good herbs I have use with many of my patients as well as my own children to help relieve the symptoms are the following:

* Nettles-which is known to have antihistaminic properties for seasonal allergies and hay fever
* Eyebright herb-astringent for mucus membranes peppermint herb-antiseptic and expectorant to open up clogged nasal passages
* Oregon grape root-antiseptic and anti-inflammatory
* Sage leaf-antiseptic, spasmolytic and aromatic to support clear respiration
* Chamomile flowers-sedative and antispasmodic to soothe and calm
* Milk thistle-liver and immune support
* Black Elderberry berries-immune support, especially for viruses
* Echinacea purpurea root-antiseptic and tonic for immune system
* Horehound leaves-expectorant and antiseptic to support easy breathing, wet coughs
* Wild cherry bark-antitussive and sedative to soothe and calm dry coughs.

Consult with a Licensed Health Professional:

There are many companies that specialize in herbal formulas especially for children, so before going to you local whole foods or health store you should always consult with a licensed health professional first who is knowledgeable in nutrition for children.

1. Chiropractic Care for the Pediatric Patient, Peter N. Fysh DC, FICCP, 2002 pgs 169-170

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a chiropractor and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has taken extra courses on pediatrics above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Dr. Greeley is the owner of the practice United Family Chiropractic is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Dr. West #D Simi Valley, Ca. Her office can be reached at 805-522-2324 for further questions.

Babies and Chiropractic Care:

When should you take your baby to see a chiropractor? The answer to that question is when you want your child to have all the benefits of a conservative, drugless approach to health care. Your infant’s first visit to a doctor of chiropractic will usually be a pleasant experience, one without painful injections or procedures.

The first year of your child’s life is an all-important one.

Spinal trauma can occur during birth as well as from falls while learning to sit up and walk. During the first year of life your child’s spine grows 50% and improper lifting and carrying of your child can also contribute to spinal stress.

Chiropractic and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome:

According to Abraham Towbin, M.D.:

“Sudden Infant Death caused by spine damage to the nerve system during birth occurred in 7 to 8 autopsies showed this to be the cause of deaths with SIDS victims.”

Ten percent of infant deaths are due to spinal injury during the delivery process, according to David Yashon M.D. When Dr. G. Gutmann examined children after birth, 80% were suffering from subluxation or misalignments of the first bone in the neck, causing all manners of diseases. In fact in 1981 birth trauma was the sixth leading cause of neonatal mortality.

Spinal Misalignments Among Infants:

There are some symptoms as parents that we can look for that could indicate spinal misalignments in our infants. If your baby has a hard time nursing or will only turn head to one side that could be an indication of a first bone or atlas subluxation.

If you child seems excessively sleepy or hyper irritable or exhibits colic like symptoms that is also and indication of spinal misalignments. If their ears or shoulders seem uneven or one leg seems longer then another that could be a sign of structural misalignments.

Remember our babies cannot communicate effective yet and their only means of communicating that there is something not right is by crying.

Baby’s First Adjustment:

When a baby gets its first adjustment it needs to be by a chiropractor that works with children and is comfortable with adjusting the child. The technique is much different then that of an adult. Usually if the child is under six months the doctor will flip the child upside down to check for proper neck movement and to assess any cranial imperfections.

Most treatments of children will involve cranial-sacral technique and or the activator technique. Both of those techniques are extremely low force. Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of health care. A baby’s spine is very supple during the first few months of life and the doctor of chiropractic applies only a slight pressure to make spinal adjustments.

In my office I would also perform a computerized spinal scan looking for variants of heat and muscle imbalances along the spine. Periodic spinal check ups are needed as the infant goes through various milestones in the first year.

If during delivery if the mother had to use drugs or excessive pulling or pushing then the most common misalignments occur at eh T-8 liver area and C1-C2 from the neck being pulled on. The reaction after an adjustment is usually one of relief and some babies even fall right to sleep.

Chiropractic Care & Baby’s Health:

It has been my experience that children that have started under chiropractic care at an early age tend to be healthier then there peers in regards to less colds and flu’s and less infections. In fact most of my babies that get adjusted regularly from birth go through their first year of life without a round antibiotics.

So when you want to give your child a head start in good health, Doctors of Chiropractic believe it’s much more important to prevent diseases than to wait until some illness occurs. Through regular adjustments, counseling on proper diet, exercise and posture, the Doctor of Chiropractic can help you raise a child whose body is structurally and functionally sound. Your child will also learn good health habits at an early age.

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two. She has completed extended courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. She is proficient in a variety of techniques including diversified, cranial sacral and activator. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center, is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. Dr. Greeley can be reached at (805) 522-2324.

Childhood ear infections:

Ear infections seem to be a common part of childhood infections. The most common diagnosed ear infection is the otitis media or better known as a middle ear infection. There are many different ways to treat this condition, some more conservative than others. Most parents are aware of the medical approach with antibiotics but few are aware of the more natural approach to ear infections with chiropractic.

Otitis media, the most common childhood infectious disease:

Otitis media is one of the most common infectious diseases in childhood, with the incidence being the greatest in the age group of 6 to 36 months. In fact one third of the child population will have six or more episodes before the age of five.(2)

The diagnosis is usually made when a physician looks inside the child’s ear and sees an inflamed and bulging tympanic membrane. This membrane reaction could be due to bacteria, viral, or an allergic reaction.(1)

Since virus and allergies do not respond to antibiotics this would explain why some children seem to have recurrent ear infections. According to Dr. Lehnert he concluded in his study:

“Acute Otitis Media in Children: Role of antibiotic therapy,” that there was a “definite need for antibiotics in only five-to-ten percent of acute otitis media cases.”(1)

Chiropractic treatment of otitis media:

As a parent you may be asking yourself if antibiotics is not the solution then what can I do? There is another treatment to acute otitis media that has nothing to do with bacteria. That treatment is chiropractic care.

Chiropractic treatment of otitis media is based on the model that restricted lymphatic drainage from the middle ear plays a major part in recurrent otitis media. The lymphatic drainage of the ear runs from the cervical lymph system and that system depends on its flow from muscle activity.

For example if a child falls and causes a minor misalignment in one of the vertebrae in the neck the irritation of that misalignment may cause the neck muscles to develop a state of increased tension or spasm. That state could be the cause of restricted lymph drainage from the ear.

The lymph tissue carries the lymphocytes which allow our body to have acquired immunity. If the lymph tissue is restricted then our acquired immunity can not fight the viruses that enter our body effectively.

A fall is not the only way a vertebrae in the neck may become misaligned. During childbirth as the head pushes through the canal the cervical vertebrae especially at the base of the neck may become misaligned disrupting nerve function and lymphatic drainage which may cause fluid buildup in the middle ear.

A chiropractor will gently adjust the upper neck which can reduce the neck musculature and restore normal function to the lymphatic system.

The seven risk factors for otitis prone children:

David W. Teele M.D. a pediatrician at Boston University School of Medicine identified seven risk factors for otitis prone children:

1. Age – the child is at more of a risk if their first attack is before six months of age.
2. Sex- boys are more susceptible than girls.
3. Birth order – First-born children are less likely to have repeated infections then second or younger siblings
4. Family history – If other children have been affected by recurring infections then the child is three times as likely to be affected.
5. Feeding method – Studies suggest that breast-fed babies have fewer cases of otitis media.
6. Day care – Infants spending 90 days or more in day care had three times the risk of recurring infection by their first birthday.
7. Smoking – Children who live in homes with smokers are susceptible to ear and respiratory-tract infections.(4)

In a comparative study of the health status of children raised under the health care models of chiropractic and allopathic medicine:

“chiropractic children showed 69% no occurrence of otitis media while the medical children showed only 20% otitis media free.”

With antibiotics, in general 49% of chiropractic children never used them while only 11.8% of medical children where antibiotic free.(5)

So if your child has not had a spinal check-up you may want to consider this especially if your child has any of the above risk factors or if they have had any falls or trauma at birth. They concluded that:

“the success of (the chiropractic) adjustment overshadows every other type of (care).”(5)

1. Browning, G.G. Childhood Otalgia: Acute Otitis Media. Brit. Medical Journal. 300:1005 1990.

2. Kline, M.W. Otitis Media. In Oski, et al. Principals and Practice of Pediatrics, Philadelphia, Lippencott 1990 :900.

3. Lehnert, Thomas MD. CCFP, “Acute Otitis Media in Children: Role of Antibiotic Therapy.” May 1997 Heath Watch

4. Teele, David W. MD. ” Is your child Otitis Prone?” Pediatric Annuals 1991

5. Van Breda W.M. & Van Breda J. M. “A Comparative Study of the health status of children raised under the health care models of chiropractic and allopathic medicine.” CRJ. Summer 1989. pp.101-103.

About the author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has completed extended courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center, is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. Dr. Greeley can be reached at (805) 522-2324.

By Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.

Children and the dangers of backpacks:

The demands of school and homework for today’s children have never been greater. In fact, students ranging from the ages of 5 to 18 are carrying more books and excess weight on their backs causing intense pressure not intended for the human spine.

As a result, within in the past five years, parents and doctors have noticed an increase in children who report pain in the back, neck and shoulders. In fact, a recent study conducted by Backpack Safety of America shows that 89 percent of the chiropractors surveyed report they have seen patients, ages 5 to 18, attribute such pain to the use of overly heavy backpacks.

Moreover, by then end of their teenage years, close to 50 percent of young adults will experience at least one lower-back pain episode (Spine, 1998).

A recent scientific study found that carrying a backpack alters the mobility of spinal bones, leading to restricted movement, which is also a risk factor for pain (Surg Radiol Anat, 1999).

Even worse, the improper use of backpacks can significantly alter the fluid content of the discs in between the vertebrae, which poses the risk for osteoarthritis and for disc herniation, also known as a “slipped disc” (Spine, 1999).

Tips to prevent backpack-related back problems:

The following are tips to help prevent posture problems and spinal conditions associated with a heavy backpack:

1. Choose the right size – backpacks are not “one size fits all.” A backpack should not be any wider or longer than your child’s torso.



2. The backpack should never exceed more than 15 percent of your child’s body weight –




• Research by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that students carrying backpacks weighing 25 percent of their body weight had balance problems and were unable to perform normal activities such as climbing stairs and opening doors whereas students who wore the recommended weight maintained an average balance.
• Heavy backpacks can also cause your child to lean forward or arch his or her back, which can stress the muscles along the spine and neck. This can increase the risk of injury and cause the natural curves to become distorted and irritated.




3. Lift by bending the knees – Remind your child to always lift his or her backpack by bending at the knees, instead of at the back.



4. Use shoulder and waste straps – Always encourage your child to use both shoulder straps and a waist strap when available. The backpack should be evenly centered in the middle of your child’s back because a backpack on one shoulder can cause your child to lean to one side and stress the muscles on the opposite side, creating strain in the neck and shoulders.
   



5. Have your child’s posture checked – If you are unsure if your child’s posture has already been affected or if your child is experiencing pain, you can have your child’s backpack and posture checked by a qualified spine and posture specialist such as a chiropractor.
   

The health of your child involves more than just avoiding sickness, scrapes and falls. Making sure your child’s back is healthy will ensure proper spinal growth and development and prevent problems later in life as well.

About the author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has taken extra courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. The office can be reached at (805) 522-2324.