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Show Page 8 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue VI March 2000 Let’s Pretend Better Health by Better Thinking By Dr. Lew Harper The way we think about health care can have a devastating effect on how our body’s immune system fights infection. By changing the way we think, we can change our health status. Antibiotics can be lifesaving in numerous situations, but the way they have been used indiscriminately has led to the emergence of a number of highly resistant bacteria. Among these are streptococcal pneumonia resistant not only to penicillin, but also to all of its newer powerful derivatives. This type of bacteria is the leading cause of many ear and sinus infections encountered today. It has also been found to cause meningitis and other potentially lifethreatening illnesses in adults and children. Many doctors routinely write antibiotic prescriptions for colds, bronchitis and other respiratory infections, despite the fact that they know that 90 percent of them are caused by viruses, which antibiotics have no effect on. A recent study suggests that this is primarily because of the pressure doctors feel from their patients wanting to take “something” for their ailment. Another problem develops when an antibiotic is prescribed to treat a condition and then, feeling better, the patient fails to complete the prescribed medication before the infection has been completely eradicated. The patient may be feeling better because a portion of the bacteria have been killed. But the hardiest bacteria survive and multiply, and in turn allowing the bug to build up a resistance to the drug. Many patients state that once they felt better, they decide to save some of the medication in case their symptoms return, but when the symptoms do return they are often caused by the bugs that have built up a resistance to that antibiotic. Research has shown that children living at or below poverty levels have fewer incidents of chronic ear, sinus and respiratory infections, compared to others that are more affluent. One *Call For Details* This article is provided courtesy of Old Firehouse Child Care. It is taken from FamilyFriendly Communications for Early Childhood Programs, published by the NAEYC. Deborah Diffly and Kathy Morrison, editors 1996. Morning or Afternoon Classes Full Day Care Available & More =CALL TODAY-745-5600= *Call For Details* Make believe play is not only one of the great joys of childhood; it also offers abundant opportunities for children’s development. Children develop interpersonal skills, particularly cooperation and conflict resolution, and improve their language and problem-solving abilities in pretend (dramatic) play. Around the age of two, children begin to pretend to cry, sleep and eat. They soon include a stuffed animal, doll or favorite toy in their play. They also begin to transform objects into symbols—a simple block becomes a fast racecar or a stick makes a fine racehorse. As children approach three, they begin participating in make-believe play with other kids. Dramatic play gradually becomes more elaborate and complex. Four and five-year-olds engage in socio-dramatic play, which provides opportunities to rehearse adult roles. Such play helps children make sense of the world. These first dramatic experiences often focus on home experiences. Kids pretend to cook, clean, and care for younger children. That’s why our dramatic play area has props and equipment that represent the home setting. These stimulate children to act out roles familiar to them. Dramatic play fosters emotional development as children work through fears and worries in a safe context. Social skills are promoted as children communicate and negotiate their roles and actions. Another plus is that children use language more frequently and more elaborately in make-believe play than they do in virtually any other activity. Parents can actively encourage dramatic play at home by capitalizing on their children’s interest at the moment, developing themes from stories their children have heard or movies they have seen, and Receive a FREE Week of Preschool or Day Care providing props for pretend play. PRESCHOOL Providing a home environment that is LEARNING TIME conducive to play KINDERGARTEN stimulates intellectual READINESS PROGRAM and social • Early Start Phonics Reading Program development. At the • Pre-Math w/Shapes & Numbers same time, parents will • Creative Learning Projects be developing rich • Self-Esteem Builders memories of their Reasonable Rates children at play— Family Discounts memories that last a Flexible Schedule lifetime. 2-5 Days Per Week Now Introducing Sunshine Generation Dance & Singing Classes explanation of this paradox is that they are less likely to receive antibiotics for every cold or upper respiratory complaint, this in turn allows their own immune systems to fight the infections naturally and develop more resistance to future attacks. What better way for the body to fight infections than by natural means? With the immune system functioning at its best, the body will not only build resistance to various strains of viral and bacterial organisms, but will recover more rapidly when the body is attacked. Many times a patient will consider chiropractic care as a “last resort” to help their body be healthy. This is the farthest from the truth. In 1998 at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, it was found that manipulation of the spine not only enables the entire body to communicate with the brain on a higher level, but also boosts the immune system itself. The study evaluated the effects on the levels of basophils (an infection fighting white blood cell), the number of circulating red blood cells and other blood values. The results revealed an elevation in basophils by 746%, which lasted up to four hours following treatment when compared to a control group receiving no treatment. With the ability to increase the numbers of natural infection fighting cells to theses levels via chiropractic treatments, why would someone choose to hinder this natural process by using something like antibiotics which is unnatural to the body. The answer to this question in the way the American population thinks. When we feel a little under the weather, our current thinking process tells us to take something that is foreign to the body (a drug) to fight another substance that is also foreign to the body. Why not let our bodies do what they are designed to do and fight the problem naturally? When we let our bodies immune system function and attack the bacteria or virus that is affecting our system without being hindered by drugs, we allow it to build a natural resistance to that specific bug. With the use of regular chiropractic care, a person can stimulate an increase in natural infection fighting cells and build immunity to numerous infectious agents. And when our bodies have had the opportunity to build immunity to many different bugs, our general health and well being also improves. In changing the way we think, and using chiropractic first to strengthen our immune system naturally, before trying synthetic drugs, we can improve our overall health status. Lewis D. Harper, D.C. How about a Parent’s night out? St Patrick’s Day Party will be held Enjoy your evening knowing your kids are in a fun and safe environment. Awesome activities, dinner provided !!! Friday, March 17th “Quality & Learning You Can Depend On” A Trusted Name in Preschool & Childcare Serving Ogden Valley Families Since 1996 Receive a FREE Week of Preschool or Day Care 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Old Fire House Child Care L.C. and Preschool Call for more details 745-5600 Reservations required |