26 February, 2013

‘Don’t admit taking drugs before children’

Researchers warn that people who take drugs should never admit it in the presence of their children, or they might be tempted to experiment with narcotics themselves. Although previous studies may have suggested that parents should be open about their addiction to prevent their children from taking drugs themselves, the latest study shows the reverse is the case.

Jennifer Kam from the University of Illinois, US, based her findings that involved more than 500 high school kids. They were asked about chat with parents about alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana, the journal Human Communication Research reports. The report said that even when parents spoke about negative experiences; it increased the chances of their children also using drugs, according to the Telegraph.

However, children whose parents did not talk about drug use but delivered a strong anti-drug message were more likely to exhibit anti-drug attitudes themselves.

Kam adds: ‘Parents may want to reconsider whether they should talk to their children about times when they used substances in the past.’

Source: http://health.india.com

26.02.2013

Babies born through C-section likelier to get allergies!

Babies born through Caesarean surgery are five times more susceptible to allergies by the age of two years, a new study suggests. ‘This further advances the hygiene hypothesis that early childhood exposure to microorganisms affects the immune system’s development and the onset of allergies,’ says Christine Cole Johnson, head of the Henry Ford Department of Health Sciences, who led the study. ‘We believe a baby’s exposure to bacteria in the birth canal is a major influencer on the immune system,’ adds Johnson, according to a Henry Ford statement. Johnson says C-section (Caesarean) babies have a pattern of ‘at risk’ bugs in their gut that may make them more susceptible to developing the antibody Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, when exposed to allergens. IgE is linked to the development of allergies and asthma.

For the study, Henry Ford researchers sought to evaluate the role of early exposure to allergens and how this exposure affects the association between C-section and the development of IgE. Researchers enrolled 1,258 newborns from 2003-2007, and evaluated them at four age intervals – one month, six months, one year and two years. Data was collected from the baby’s umbilical cord and stool, blood samples from the baby’s mother and father, breast milk and household dust. The study was presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in San Antonio.

Source: http://health.india.com

26.02.2013

Expect nothing and accept everything and you will never be disappointed

Laurence Overmire