Kim’s public health blog

From SUNY-Buffalo Behavioral treatment works as well as drugs for children with ADHD and bypasses the risk of medication’s side effects, a meta-analysis of 174 studies on ADHD treatment conducted at the University at Buffalo, has shown. The results, published in the March issue of Clinical Psychology Review, found that teaching parents and teachers how to respond when children do things the right way — as well as when they display harmful or aggressive behavior — is effective, and in some cases more effective, than medication for ADHD.

Dentists have used amalgam, an alloy of mercury with at least one other metal, in fillings for over 200 years. Amalgam fillings don’t contain enough mercury to cause potential health problems associated with larger doses, says Dr. Rod Mackert, professor of dental materials in the MCG School of Dentistry Department of Oral Rehabilitation. “The dose makes the poison,” he says, quoting 16th century Swiss physician Paracelsus. A person would need between 265 and 310 amalgam fillings before even slight symptoms of mercury toxicity could be felt. A person with seven fillings, which is average, absorbs only about one microgram of mercury daily. About six micrograms are absorbed daily from food, water and air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Comment, Yet, because of media space given to activists we continue to throw money away trying to prove nothing happens.

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All of you should have read about the ‘Polypill” by now. Look at the Medpage discussion. Despite the Hoopla this was a short test of a combination pill among people from different cultures with different diets and behaviors. The changes in blood pressure and cholesterol levels were small. One should not rush into recommending a pill that some at the College of Cardiology thought would be wonderful to foist on everyone for life. Comment: Another bow to Ivan Illich please. As noted on Medpage primary prevention focuses on lifestyle-diet, exercise, and smoking cessation-not pharmacologic therapy.” But we love the easy answer of a pill, this is simpler than changing our behaviors.