The list of dangers for acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, just grew substantially. JAMA Pediatrics recently reported that acetaminophen use by women who are pregnant can double the risk of behavior disorders in their children. This new report adds to the growing list of acetaminophen dangers.
The Problem
If you visit www.drugs.com and search “Side Effects of Tylenol” you will see 12 pages of side effects ranging from unpleasant digestive issues, mood swings, seizures and dizziness to list a few. The FDA warns that too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage.
Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever during pregnancy in many countries. Research data suggest that acetaminophen is a hormone disruptor, and abnormal hormonal exposures in pregnancy may influence fetal brain development. A study of over 64 thousand families in the Danish National Birth Cohort revealed that acetaminophen use during pregnancy is strongly linked to an increase as much as 30 percent of ADHD cases in children during the first seven years of life. 37 percent of children are at greater risk of Hyperkinetic Disorder if exposed to acetaminophen before birth. According to the study, 20 or more weeks of acetaminophen use nearly doubled the risk of Hyperkinetic and Attention Deficit disorders. The study’s authors state “it is possible that acetaminophen may interrupt brain development”, and “should no longer be considered a safe drug for use in pregnancy”.
Tylenol is not candy and neither is any acetaminophen-filled medication, whether it’s available over the counter or in prescription strength. During pregnancy what a woman puts in her body directly affects her unborn child by becoming the building blocks used to develop the baby’s eyes, ears, lungs, heart, muscles, skin and brain.
The Solution
Instead of taking drugs, many women are flocking to chiropractors for relief from discomfort and pain associated with pregnancy as well as to keep their pelvis aligned and balanced which supports a healthy delivery. A study published in 2012 by Chiropractic and Manual Studies stated, “All patients found chiropractic treatment to be effective and that it helped relieve them of their lower back pain and associated symptoms. Patients reported that chiropractic treatment had improved their daily living activities and their mobility, while it decreased their overall pain and discomfort.”
There are many chiropractic techniques that are gentle on pregnant women and their babies and provide great results. There is even one specialized technique that can assist in turning a breech positioned baby into its normal position. Dr. Larry Webster developed a gentle chiropractic adjusting technique (called the Webster Technique) to restore movement and alignment in the lower spine throughout pregnancy. During his career of working with over 1,000 pregnant moms, Dr. Webster reported that over 90 percent of the babies optimized their positioning in utero when the mother received this adjustment.
Rather than risk the immediate and long term effects of acetaminophen, contact us and experience how Chiropractic Care can help you enjoy a healthy drug free pregnancy and live the healthy drug free lifestyle you and your family deserve.
References:
JAMA Pediatr. Published online February 24, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4914
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2012, 20:32 doi:10.1186/2045-709X-20-32 http://www.chiromt.com/content/20/1/32
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