“Health News, April 18: (Part 1) Autism, Teen drinking ... - Examiner” plus 3 more

Health News, April 18: (Part 1) Autism, Teen drinking ... - Examiner
Children With Autism Not At Increased Risk Of Bowel ... - dBTechno
AP - The fight over President Barack Obama's health ... - KXL
Autism in the spotlight - Daily Independent

Health News, April 18: (Part 1) Autism, Teen drinking ... - Examiner

Posted: 18 Apr 2010 07:54 AM PDT

The Week in Review

Here is Part One of the Health News for the Week ending April 18. Because of the number of stories, presented here are just those that fall within the category of "Disease and Disorders."

Many of these stories have resource information.

Part Two, to be published later today, and will focus on medical stories.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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Children With Autism Not At Increased Risk Of Bowel ... - dBTechno

Posted: 18 Apr 2010 11:07 AM PDT

April 18, 2010

A paper published in the British Medical Journal on Thursday puts more doubt to the theory that children with autism also struggle with a type of bowel disease.

Many parents of autistic children report that their kids also exhibit symptoms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, but the research suggests that no link exists.

The condition, "autistic enterocolitis" was first brought to the forefront by British physician Dr. Andrew Wakefield in a 1998 study that has since been discredited.

In the study, which was published in the Lancet, Wakefield suggested that autism as well as the associated bowel disorder was brought upon by the measles vaccine.

The new paper shows that digestive problems appear to be just as common in healthy kids as in those with autism.

As for Wakefield, he operates a clinic in Texas to treat autistic children with the supposed syndrome.

Written by admin · Filed Under Health

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

AP - The fight over President Barack Obama's health ... - KXL

Posted: 18 Apr 2010 11:21 AM PDT

Experts differ on health risk of volcanic ash (AP)

AP - Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts settling, the World Health Organization warned Friday as small amounts fell in Iceland, Scotland and Norway.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Autism in the spotlight - Daily Independent

Posted: 18 Apr 2010 12:33 PM PDT

Published: April 18, 2010 01:16 am

Autism in the spotlight

I Believe Foundation hosts family awareness event at Kyova Mall

By KENNETH HART - The Independent

CANNONSBURG — A local organization provided special-needs children and their families with an opportunity to get together and have a little fun on Saturday.

The I Believe Foundation had a family fun day for autism awareness in the former Steve & Barry's location at the Kyova Mall. The event featured inflatable rides, information booths, giveaways and other activities.

About 300 attended over the course of the day, said Mandy Kidwell, the foundation's president and co-founder.

Autism was chosen as the theme for the event because April is national Autism Awareness Month, Kidwell said. All over the country, activities are kicking off to draw attention to the disorder, which health officials say has reached epidemic proportions.

According to a report released in December by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of autism has risen to one in every 100 births and nearly one in 70 boys.

An estimated 1.5 million Americans are living with the effects of autism, according to the National Autism Society.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears in the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a set of behaviors and is a "spectrum" disorder, meaning it affects people differently and to different degrees.

Paul and Andrea Hensley of Ashland brought their 4-year-old son, Logan, who was diagnosed with autism in July 2008, to Saturday's event. The youngster seemed to be having a ball playing with a toy called a stomp and catch, essentially a flat piece of wood that flipped a ball up into the air when he stepped on it.

The Hensleys said they had been doing alternative treatments, similar to those actress Jenny McCarthy used on her autistic son, on Logan and that he had made great progress. In about a year, his autism dropped from 96 to 31 on a scale of 100, Andrea Hensley said.

The couple said they were strong supporters of the I Believe Foundation and firm believer's in the group's mission, which is to provide educational and fun activities for children with disabilities.

"We love to get together with I Believe," Andrea Hensley said. "They're wonderful people."

Ann Lunsford of Flatwoods expressed a similar sentiment, saying the organization had been a "real blessing" to her and her 9-year-old daughter, Angel, who is autistic.

One of the best things about the foundation is it provides opportunities for special-needs kids to participate in many of the same activities as non-disabled youngsters, Lunsford said.

Angel, a home-schooled second-grader, was obviously having a good time. She had a huge grin on her face and was clutching a small stuffed cow that was a giveaway item from a fast-food restaurant.

She said "buying stuff" was her favorite part of the event, although in reality, none of it cost her or her mother a cent.