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Health facts in Ashland OH

Did you know that antibiotics given in the first year of life quadruple a child's risk of developing ASTHMA? Antibiotics enhance allergic reactions by sidestepping the normal immune system response. The purpose of your immune system is to fight of bacterial, viral, and foreign invaders. A child's immune system does not actually fully engage until the child reaches a temperature of 102 degrees F for the first time in their life. Every time the immune system successfully deals with an infection on its own, it emerges from the experience stronger and better able to confront similar and more serious threats in the future. No parent wants to see their child suffer, but if you are always quick to interfere with an antibiotic at the first sign of infection, you do not give the immune system a chance to grow stronger.

Antibiotics kill all bacteria, even the normal bacteria that resides in the gut . We have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, meaning that it is a mutually beneficial relationship and we must have it in order to survive. Alterations in the normal intestinal bacteria, especially in infancy, allow food proteins and other particles to pass into the blood stream before they are broken down. The body then identifies these particles as "foreign" and mounts an attack; contributing to inflammation and the development of allergic responses.

Chicken nuggets, potato chips and french fries fall into just about every child's list of favorite foods. These and other fried foods, while convenient, are actually wreaking havoc in the health department. Fried foods are high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which actually suppress the immune system and promote inflammation. Sources of Omega-6 fatty acids are corn, soybean, peanut, safflower, and sunflower, all of which are common in cooking oils and processed foods.

The ultimate mediator of inflammation is the central nerve system. Science is now recognizing that there is an intimate connection between the nervous system and the immune system, and that neurotransmitters can influence the activities of the immune system. The sympathetic division of the nervous system actually regulates all aspects of immune function. This is the "fight or flight" part of the nervous system that reacts to stress. Its job is to adapt to stressful and inflammatory situations.

Postural distortions inhibit the influence of the nerve system. This in turn causes the release of stress hormones and alters immune cell function. The result: suppression of cell-mediated immune response and increase of the humoral response which means more chronic immune disorders. Proper spinal biomechanics plays a profound role in the overall health of the body. Early stress and trauma can lead to alterations in the spine, causing immune system disruption. Research provided by Gottfried Guttman, M.D., found that spinal injury was present in more than 80% of infants he examined shortly after birth, causing interference in the sympathetic nerve system. This suggests that interventions, such as c-section and vacuum extraction are very traumatic to a newborn's spine.

Restoring proper movement to the spine through specific, chiropractic adjustments removes the interference in the nervous systems and shifts away from the "fight or flight" stress response, restoring balance to the immune function.

So what can you as a parent do to ensure the best opportunity for your child's health? Recognize that the body has an inherent ability to heal and support its natural responses to the environment. This means, in some cases, giving it the chance to overcome an infection without using antibiotics. It also means supplying it with proper nutrients through nutrition. Most importantly, it means making sure your child is free of nerve system interference by getting their spine evaluated for proper movement.

Thanks to Dr. Manning for contributing to this article.