Air Pollution Linked to Diminished IQ in Children

In the August 2009 publication of Pediatrics, the findings of research funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the EPA and several private foundations, conducted at Columbia University, unveiled that there is possible correlation between increased air pollution and decreased IQ scores in children.

The study researched the effects of environmental pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which include chemicals released into the air from the burning of coal, diesel, oil and gas, or other organic substances such as tobacco. Hundreds of children born to mothers of varying races were followed from the time they were in utero to 5 years old, at which time they were given the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence test which provides full scale IQ scores. It was found that children that had high exposure to these pollutants had an average of 4.5 points lower that those that had less exposure, evidence that high levels of PAHs effects children's IQ scores adversely. Read more about this study.

What You Don't Know About Prostate Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, one in every six men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. While prostate cancer is slow-growing and curable if found early, there are few if any early warning signs. Some of these symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer include pain, weight loss and urinary disruption. In April, the American Urological amended the testing schedule for the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from beginning at age 50 to age 40 for men with average risk. Make sure you have talked to your doctor about your risk and regular screenings.

Currently there is no sufficient data to prove that prostate cancer is preventable however maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle are universally important for men’s health. Recently studies have shown that drinking 8 oz of pomegranate juice daily may slow the progression of localized prostate cancer and lycopene, a compound found in cooked tomato products, may also provide protective benefits.

If you happen to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are several treatment options available:

• Prostatectomy has the highest cure rate and is one of the more aggressive options and involves the surgical removal of the prostate. Talk to your doctor about the risks involved with any surgical procedure.

• Radiation therapy can be both external or through radioactive pellets (seeds) implanted directly in the prostate. This is used on older men who tend not to tolerate surgery and can require special technology.

• Hormone therapy is another option that requires shots or pills to decrease testosterone levels which slows the growth of prostate cancer, as the cancer cells need testosterone in order to grow.

• Cryotherapy creates an iceball within the prostate to freeze the growth of cancer cells. This is not the most common method of treating prostate cancer but you should talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you.

World Breastfeeding Week

Every year, over 120 countries celebrate World Breastfeeding Week from August 1st through the 7th. WBW celebrates the 1991 Innocenti Declaration: a Global Initiative on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding, listing the benefits of breastfeeding, plus global and governmental goals.

This year's theme is Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response, aimed at drawing attention to the importance of breastfeeding during an emergency. Many of us are accustomed to uninterrupted water, gas and electricity and seldom consider the consequences when they are not available. During a disaster or an emergency when these services are interrupted for long periods of time, breastfeeding becomes the most convenient and safe way to feed a baby.

The theme focuses on supporting mothers in their efforts to do what is most important for the health and survival of their children even during emergency situations.

• Being able to continue breastfeeding even during an emergency can bring comfort and a sense of normalcy even in the most stressful situations.
• Breastfeeding can continue even when an emergency interferes with the family’s established food supply. Situations that would otherwise be devastating for families that rely on sufficient funds for and access to formula, sanitation for feeding supplies, and refrigeration are no cause for alarm when the established food supply for the baby is mother’s milk.
• A breastfed baby is better prepared to deal with health challenges, avoiding some medical emergencies.

Visit www.WorldBreastFeedingWeek.org for more information.

August is National Immunization Month!

Whether you are a child or an older adult, it is important to stay up-to-date on your immunizations. Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that once routinely killed or harmed tens of thousands of infants, children and adults.
Immunizations are key to keeping our community healthy.

As a reminder:

By law, children must have had certain immunizations in order to attend school. Click here to connect to the CDC website’s Childhood Immunization Schedule to see if your child’s immunizations are up-to-date.

If you are going on vacation out of the country, be sure to check with a travel doctor about any additional immunizations you and your family may need especially if you are traveling to a tropical climate.

Have you heard about the Zostavax vaccine? This immunization is intended to prevent shingles in adults age 60 and older. Shingles is very painful and can cause long-term debilitating nerve pain so talk to your doctor about your risk of shingles and whether this vaccine is right for you.

Introduction

Welcome to Health Matters, the official blogspot for Liberty Drug!

Liberty Drug is a full service pharmacy and premier pharmaceutical compounding center, providing customized medication for adult, pediatric and veterinary patients. Our specialties include bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, pain management, hospice care, sports medicine, intravenous home infusion therapy, sterile ophthalmic products, specialized pediatric dosage forms and veterinary compounding.

As a unique provider for all your health and wellness needs, Health Matters, the voice of Liberty, will provide you with the latest information on all things health including topics on Women's Health, Men's Health, exercise, nutrition and more.

Please visit regularly to see what's new at Health Matters. We encourage you to leave any questions or comments you may have for us.