A commonly used group of chemicals, perfluorinated compounds (PFC's), have been shown in a recent study to decrease the antibody production certain vaccines are expected to produce. Perfluorinated compounds are used in manufacturing food products, food packaging, surfactants, repellants, and textile impregnation - basically they're everywhere. Since PFC's and antibodies can both be measured in blood serum researchers were able to identify a correlation between a high level of PFC's in the blood and lower levels of antibodies in over 500 children, testing them at age 5 and 7 years. While the effects of PFC's on the human body are poorly understood these results are consistent with similar studies done in the U.S.

Dear Anti-Vaccine Activist,

I saw my brother today who told me a sad story. The small child living next door to him had just passed away from the flu. He also told me that another nearby neighbor was very much against vaccines and likely influenced the parents of the deceased child not to get a flu shot.

As I lay in bed that night, thinking of the tragedy, my beautiful autistic five year old climbed into bed with me and fell asleep in my arms. I thought of the heartache and suffering a family was going through, grieving for their lost child. I wondered if the incident would change the neighbor's view on vaccines. I wondered if the parents of the dead child would somehow hold this family responsible - if there would be animosity. I wondered if they would fear for their own unvaccinated children now that a deadly flu virus is circulating their neighborhood. But most of all, as I lay there, I wondered, if conclusive evidence was revealed that vaccines caused autism, if the government and the vaccine manufacturers openly admitted it, would I be sorry that I had vaccinated my autistic child?

Dear anti-vaccine activist, I want you to know that the answer is no, I would not be sorry I had vaccinated my child even though she is autistic. My daughter is not high functioning, she has many, many problems and we have been down a rough road paying for therapy out of our own pockets. While I do hope that new treatments and possibly a cure will help her in the future I must accept the fact that I will likely physically and financially care for her for the rest of my life and pray fervently that someone else will care for her when I am gone. That said, my child is alive! She is wonderfully, exquisitely alive and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just thought you should know,

Kristin

There's nothing more disappointing than catching a cold during Christmas break. If you're dealing with a sore throat this holiday season here's some tips for keeping your holidays happy.

• you can use both acetaminophen and ibuprofen OR naproxen according to the directions on package
• menthol cough drops are often helpful as are numbing sprays like Chloroseptic
• studies have recently show that garlic is more effective than echinacea when it comes to beating a cold
• if you have symptoms of strep throat you should see a doctor to avoid serious strep complications

For more tips on soothing a sore throat read:

Readers Respond: Home Remedies for Tonsillitis and Sore Throat

Managing Throat Pain

Not sure what's causing your sore throat read:

What Causes a Sore Throat

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TMJ, or temperomandibular joint disorders can result in lock jaw, difficulty opening your mouth, facial pain, headaches and more. This condition is often associated with teeth grinding or jaw clenching so its no surprise that people who suffer from anxiety are more likely to develop TMJ disorders. To prevent and treat TMJ most doctors recommend relaxation, at least 30 minutes a day with special focus on relaxing the muscles in the face. Depending on the severity of your condition you may need to talk to a therapist about relaxation techniques.