Showing posts with label autism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autism. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Methylmercury in Seafood

Ok...pass this on to everybody today and look like a hero:
Methylmercury is a form of mercury found in various types of seafood.  Methylmercury can damage the developing nervous system of a fetus or young child.  It can affect sensory, motor and cognitive functions.  The additive levels over time in a younger person can create severe effects.  So, if you are a pregnant or nursing woman, or have a young child, it would be prudent to avoid ingesting foods that contain a high level of methylmercury.  For everyone else out there, try to limit the amount of foods you ingest that contain methylmercury.
Why Fish?  Methylmercury is a naturally occurring substance in the environment, but industrial pollution that runs off mercury in rain, water, streams, lakes rivers can mix with various types of bacteria.  This causes a tranformation of mercury into methymercury.  Fish absorb the methylmercury that's in the water through their respiratory and digestive systems.  As longer living species exist in such an environment, their levels of methylmercury increase dramatically.  Therefore, when we eat these types of fish, we also ingest the methylmercury accumulated in their muscle and connective tissue.  Get it now????  Cooking the fish doesn't help, so when you eat these species, don't worry if it's sushi or sauteed.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day: 
Types of fish that might have a higher level of methylmercury are:  king mackarel, shark, swordfish, tilefish.
Fish low in methylmercury are:  catfish, clams, cod, crab, flounder/sole, haddock, herring, ocean perch, oysters, rainbow trout, farmed salmon, wild salmon, sardines, scallops, shrimp, spiny lobster, tilapia and trout (farmed).
Special thanks to Whole Foods Market

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Adult Vaccines You Might Want to Receive

Today's blog is courtesy of Prevention Magazine...
"Millions of American adults forgo lifesaving vaccinations, so Prevention asked top infectious disease experts which shots you need most. Consult this list, then talk with your doctor about caveats: Certain vaccines aren't right for pregnant women or anyone whose immune system is compromised.


Tetanus and diphtheria (Td), plus whooping cough (Tdap)
You may have gotten Td before, but immunity wears off, so you need booster shots. Tdap also protects against whooping cough, which is highly contagious. Though not usually serious in adults, it can be deadly in babies, who typically catch it from adults. You need it if...It's been 10 years since your last Td vaccine.  You're under 65 and have never had a Tdap. Get one instead of your next Td.  You're around infants and it's been 2 years or more since your last Td. Get a Tdap now.

Measles, mumps, and rubellaThough these diseases had almost vanished in the U.S., international travel and reduced vaccination rates have resulted in outbreaks in recent years, making the MMR vaccination essential.
You need it if... You were born between 1957 and about 1975 and/or have never had an MMR series--especially if you're around infants (who aren't immunized until after age 1).

Pneumonia, and its complications, such as meningitis
It's critical because the pneumococcal vaccine fights pneumonia and its complications, which can be life threatening in the very young, the very old, and those with underlying health problems.
You need it if...You're 65 or older.  You have asthma, diabets, heart disease, liver disease, or other serious health problems.  You smoke.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Be smart!  The world has grown into a very small place and international travel has led to many diseases thought long erradicated from this country making a fierce comeback (bedbugs aren't a disease, but they seem to really dig NYC as their hot tourist destination these days).  Protect yourselves.  Speak with you M.D. about appropriate vaccinations.  On another note:  there's much talk about childhood vaccines possibly being the cause for rampant autism.  I disagree.  If this were true, why aren't more adults autistic??  I have a patient who caught polio at 9 months of age and has been living with full body braces for over 40 years.  Now, this person's upper body is steadily fatiguing from the burden it has had all these years struggling with crutches.  A vaccine could have prevented this.  Did you know that denying a male child from the mumps vaccine can lead to orcchitis (inflamation of the testes) which will lead to certain infertility?  As a parent, everyone wants to do what's best for their child....think of how your child would live a life crippled or infertile because of your decision....