EZChiro

A new analysis by the Environmental Working Group suggests Americans are being exposed to bisphenol-A through a surprising route: paper receipts.

EWG found bisphenol-A on 40 percent of the receipts it collected from supermarkets, automated teller machines, gas stations and chain stores. In some cases, the total amount of BPA on the receipt was 1,000 times the amount found in the epoxy lining of a can of food.

According to the Washington Post:

“Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst with the environmental group, says BPA's prevalence on receipts could help explain why the chemical can be detected in the urine of an estimated 93 percent of Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Research suggests that low doses of bisphenol-A can interfere with your endocrine system and cause a range of health effects, including reproductive problems and cancer. Read More

A new survey of child psychiatrists indicates that insomnia is a major problem among children in mental health treatment.  What’s more, at least a quarter of these patients are given sleep medication.

To address the issue of insomnia, an overwhelming 96 percent of the clinicians recommended at least one prescription medication in a typical month and 88 percent recommended an over-the-counter medication. The sleep medications prescribed ranged from antihistamines to sedating medications to antidepressants.

According to Eurekalert:

“The researchers report that past studies have found that behavioral treatments such as relaxation techniques, sleep restriction and cognitive behavioral therapy are effective for childhood insomnia ... [L]ittle data exists about the safety and effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for the treatment of insomnia and other sleep disturbances in children and adolescents. In addition, there are currently no medications specifically approved for use as hypnotics in children under the age of 18.” Read More

The cutest dancing baby ever! Read More

After seeing patients die or suffer serious complications following Lap-Band surgery, Dr. Neelu Pal began quietly calling patients about to undergo the procedure, telling them she feared for their safety.  She was fired weeks after hospital authorities learned about it.

During her time at NYU Langone Medical Center's Surgical Weight Loss Program, Pal witnessed two surgeons -- Dr. Christine Ren and Dr. George Fielding -- implant gastric bands into as many as 20 patients in a single day.  Fielding and Ren are also paid consultants of Allergan Inc, the Botox and breast implant maker which is the leading manufacturer of the gastric band.

And their business could soon increase even more if U.S. regulators grant permission to perform the procedure on overweight teens.

Reuters reports:

“Ren was an investigator in an Allergan-sponsored clinical trial studying the use of bands on teens. And the company has an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market the device to teens as young as 14. A decision could come any time.” Read More

Forests and other natural settings can reduce stress, improve moods, reduce anger and aggressiveness and increase overall happiness.  Forest visits may also strengthen your immune system by increasing the activity and number of natural killer cells that destroy cancer cells.

Many studies show that after stressful situations, people recover faster and better in natural environments than in urban settings. Blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and levels of stress hormones all decrease faster in natural settings.

In addition, according to Science Daily:

“Depression, anger and aggressiveness are reduced in green environments and ADHD symptoms in children reduce when they play in green settings.” Read More

For people with chronic heartburn, too much running and jumping can induce acid reflux. However, the right type of exercise may actually improve the condition.

Short bouts of fairly moderate exercise at least a couple of times a week can cut the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, in part because it reduces body mass index.

The New York Times reports:

“... [T]he specific exercise is crucial. Scientists found that aerobic exercises with the highest ‘agitation of the body,’ like vigorous running, consistently induced acid reflux, even in people who did not have chronic heartburn ...  Another factor is body position. Bench presses, leg curls or any other exercise that involves lying flat sharply raise the risk of acid reflux.” Read More

San Francisco has signed cell phone radiation labels into law -- but the industry isn’t about to accept it without a fight.

The Cellular Telephone Industries Association (CTIA) has filed a complain in federal district court, claiming the new law supersedes the FCC's authority to regulate radio emissions.

In addition, according to the CTIA’s lawsuit:

“[T]he Ordinance will ... also confuse and mislead the public ... The message conveyed by the Ordinance is that safety of FCC-compliant devices depends on their SAR level.” Read More

A new study shows that people who spend more time sitting during their leisure time have an increased risk of death -- regardless of daily exercise.

Researchers tracked the activity levels and death rates in more than 123,000 healthy people for 13 years. They found women who spend over six hours a day sitting during leisure time were 40 percent more likely to die more quickly. Men who spend more time sitting have a 20 percent increased risk of death.

According to Paging Dr. Gupta:

“Prolonged time sitting suppresses your immune system, which may increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. And your blood isn’t circulating as it should when you’re sedentary for long periods of time ... It also has metabolic consequences – increasing your resting blood pressure and cholesterol levels.” Read More