Here's why some teens can't sleep

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome:

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Are you having an Acne Emergency? Call Soderstrom Skin Institute at 674 – SKIN… we treat acne seriously. With over 35 years of experience, Soderstrom Skin Institute will provide a personalized program to help you get your acne under control. Untreated acne can result in permanent scarring. Don’t suffer any longer! Evening and weekend appointment are available and in most cases you’ll be seen within one week.

BPA Re-evaluated

Many plastic baby bottles, utensils, plates, etc. are now Bisphenol A free after studies in animals showed the chemical in plastic may cause developmental delays in kids, among other things. Now a new study shows the chemical is causing erectile dysfunction in men who work in these plastic factories. The FDA is supposed to be re-evaluating the safety of BPA and could put bans in place after their new stance is revealed. The word could come in the next few weeks.

It seems to be pretty easy to find baby/toddler supplies that are BPA free, but I haven't found much when it comes to regular sized plates/cups. I just bought some new Munchkin plates,bowls and cups at Wal-mart. They are working out great so far. I just wish the plates were a little larger.

I interviewed a researcher last year who discovered the potential risks of BPA. Here's a link to his eye-opening findings.

FROM CNN: Bisphenol-A, a chemical found in hard, clear plastic used to make everything from baby bottles to food packaging, may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems in male factory workers exposed to large amounts of the substance, according to a study conducted in China.

The health effects of BPA have been hotly debated; although some studies have linked BPA to a risk of brain damage, birth defects, hyperactivity, heart disease, early puberty, obesity, and prostate cancer, other research suggests that the low level of exposure from plastics doesn't pose a health risk to adults. (The picture is less clear for children.)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also in the midst of reconsidering its stance on BPA. In August 2008, largely on the basis of research funded by the chemical industry, the agency issued a draft assessment on the safety of BPA in food packaging, concluding that "an adequate margin of safety exists for BPA at current levels of exposure" from those sources.

The FDA report caused an uproar in the scientific community and was soon contradicted. The National Toxicology Program (NTP), a federal agency that advises the FDA on chemicals and other environmental toxins, released its own report expressing "some" concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brains, behavior, and prostate glands of fetuses, infants, and children, as well as "minimal" concern about earlier puberty for girls.

The NTP classified its concerns over reproductive effects from workplace BPA exposure as "minimal."

Soon after, the FDA's own Science Board released a report that cited the FDA's exclusion of a large number of animal studies on BPA, and concluded that the agency may have overestimated the safety of the chemical. Following the release of these reports and a spate of media attention, the FDA announced that it would reconsider its assessment. In mid-August 2009, the agency indicated that it will continue to review the research on BPA effects in humans and will "decide next steps" by the end of November 2009.

So has anyone found adult sized plastic cups/plates that are BPA free?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Are you having an Acne Emergency? Call Soderstrom Skin Institute at 674 – SKIN… we treat acne seriously. With over 35 years of experience, Soderstrom Skin Institute will provide a personalized program to help you get your acne under control. Untreated acne can result in permanent scarring. Don’t suffer any longer! Evening and weekend appointment are available and in most cases you’ll be seen within one week.

Fruity Candy Claim

From MSNBC:
Nestle claims the new Cranberry Raisinets provide 1/2 serving of real fruit in every 1/4 cup and have 30% less fat than the leading chocolate brands and they contain free-radicals. Is it true? Are these a good snack choice according to dietitians? Dr. Nancy Snyderman says don't buy the hype. She says there is more sugar in the Cranberry Raisinets than in Snow Caps!

Cranberry Raisinets: sugar: 30g
Snow Caps: sugar: 24g

Cranberry Raisinets have the same saturated fat, fat and 20 more calories than a box of Snow Caps. So, most parents probably wouldn't consider this a "healthy" option. Good to know! I love chocolate covered raisins so I probably would have tried these thinking they are bit healthier!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Are you having an Acne Emergency? Call Soderstrom Skin Institute at 674 – SKIN… we treat acne seriously. With over 35 years of experience, Soderstrom Skin Institute will provide a personalized program to help you get your acne under control. Untreated acne can result in permanent scarring. Don’t suffer any longer! Evening and weekend appointment are available and in most cases you’ll be seen within one week.

Preservative Free H1N1 Vaccine

There are a lot of pregnant women with concerns about the H1N1 vaccine. Here is one of the emails I got this week.

Hi, I am 9 months pregnant and live in Peoria... did we get any doses of the H1N1 vacine without the thimerosal?

The CDC says only 12 percent of the H1N1 injectable vaccines are preservative free. However, it doesn't sound like any of the vaccines obtained by Peoria County are preservative free. I haven't gotten a clear cut answer on this, but most of the time I have been told the injectable vaccine DOES contain thimerasol (mercury.) (at least in Peoria County)

The nasal mist vaccine does not contain thimerasol. It carries a live, attenuated virus. Pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems cannot take the live virus. What a nightmare for a lot of pregnant women. Many would like to avoid injecting themselves with a known neurotoxin like mercury while they are pregnant. I am not saying the small amount of mercury in the vaccine will hurt the fetus, but I can understand why pregnant women would want to avoid it. Many pregnant women won't even take Tylenol.

The Peoria City/County Health Department says they are giving out 1,000 doses of the vaccine at each clinic this week. So if you want to get the shot before they run out, get to the clinics early. However, you don't have to be at one of the first clinics of the week. They won't be running out before Friday. Also, the health department is supposed to get another 5,000 doses at some point.

If you want your child to get a mercury-free dead virus, you are out of luck. Most kids, unless their immune systems are compromised, will be getting the live nasal vaccine. "Mom or Dad don't feel comfortable with that" will not be accepted as a reason to give your child a shot instead. The nurses are asking a series of questions. Your answers will determine which vaccine you get. You do not get to choose.

The PCHD says some doctor's office will be getting the vaccine for their patients. However, there is no list available to the public.

It sounds like we will see a lot more people getting seriously ill from the swine flu at the same time more concerns are raised about the vaccine. Did anyone get the vaccine today?

Oh and it looks like we aren't the only ones having trouble getting a preservative free swine flu vaccine. Here is an article out of Atlanta.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Are you having an Acne Emergency? Call Soderstrom Skin Institute at 674 – SKIN… we treat acne seriously. With over 35 years of experience, Soderstrom Skin Institute will provide a personalized program to help you get your acne under control. Untreated acne can result in permanent scarring. Don’t suffer any longer! Evening and weekend appointment are available and in most cases you’ll be seen within one week.

Did you give your kid a good name?

I really thought a lot about what to name each of my children. My husband and I both have common names (Jen and Kevin.) I wanted the kids to have unique names that didn't make people ask, "What are you saying? What is the name?

A recent article in Parents looks at what goes into a name. Does the name you give your child influence the person he/she will become? Did having 3-4 Jennifers in every class make me the person I am today? Some psychologists say yes. Believe it or not, there are actually baby naming consultants who get paid ($25-$400) to help you choose the right name for your child! Which names promote shyness, power, etc. Would you consider doing this?

These names will be hot in 2019 says Laura Wattenberg, author of the Baby Name Wizard.
Girls: Lila, Peyton, Lucy, Violet, Aubrey, Amelia, Pipe, Ruby, Juliet, Harper
Boys: Miles, Rowan, Lincoln, Eli, Jude, Cooper, Wyatt, Ryder, Lucas, Henry

Parents has these tips for choosing a name:
1. Don't name your kid after a movie star
2. Avoid names that can be for a girl or boy, especially if it's a boy
3. Don't give your child a super-duper long name. Take into consideration the last name.
4. Use a common spelling of the name
5. Decide whether you would like to have the name yourself to determine if it's the right fit

I didn't follow most of these rules, but they do make some sense I guess. I am happy with the names I chose even though one of them is becoming really popular with a million different ways to spell it. Ugh!
Did you follow the tips above when naming your child?

-NewsAnchorMomJen

Are you having an Acne Emergency? Call Soderstrom Skin Institute at 674 – SKIN… we treat acne seriously. With over 35 years of experience, Soderstrom Skin Institute will provide a personalized program to help you get your acne under control. Untreated acne can result in permanent scarring. Don’t suffer any longer! Evening and weekend appointment are available and in most cases you’ll be seen within one week.

Adults with Autism Town Hall Meeting

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism

University of Illinois Chicago Forum

725 West Roosevelt Road

Chicago, Illinois

November 13, 2009

Check in: 9:30 a.m.

Program: 10:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Website: autismtownhall.blogspot.com

§ The Participant Guide is now available online and will provide a sneak peek into discussion topics and goals; you will receive a hard copy upon arrival.

§ Parking is available for $8.00 in lot 5C at the northeast corner of Roosevelt Road and Morgan Street.

§ Please view this video to learn more about the town hall process.

If you have questions, please call our office: The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) at 217.525.8332.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Are you having an Acne Emergency? Call Soderstrom Skin Institute at 674 – SKIN… we treat acne seriously. With over 35 years of experience, Soderstrom Skin Institute will provide a personalized program to help you get your acne under control. Untreated acne can result in permanent scarring. Don’t suffer any longer! Evening and weekend appointment are available and in most cases you’ll be seen within one week.