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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Pain Is NOT The Problem
- Electric Blanket Side Effects
Pain Is NOT The Problem - The February 2010 issue of the California Health
eNews published this enlightening story. "Many people begin chiropractic care because of an ache or a pain. (Sound familar?)
Pain can be distracting, debilitating, irritating or annoying. Pain can be chronic, acute, intense or intermittent. Pain can
be sharp or dull. And pain can be localized or general. Pain may be a pain, but pain is not the problem!
Pain is a symptom. A signal. A sign. An indicator. A warning. Pain is no more a problem than a traffic signal or
your alarm clock jarring you awake. If there's a problem, it's the meaning we attach to the pain. When chiropractors
meet patients who are in pain, our first thought is that they must have exceeded some physical, chemical or emotional limit
to which they can no longer adapt. So, while we're interested in the pain, we're even more interested in what was the
underlying cause of the pain. Did it just happen? Has it been present a long time? What circumstances brought it on?
Plus, what change(s) should be made to avoid this in the future?"
If anyone thinks pain is THE problem, check out CCA's website.
Many doctors agree that pain is never THE problem, only the symptom. The CAUSE is really THE problem! (The website also
discusses how deadly Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs - like Advil, Motrin, Aleve, etc. - are.)
Electric Blanket Side Effects - Many of us have seen articles about cell
phones emitting electromagnetic fields (EMF) that are detrimental to our brains. It turns out that electric blankets are
worse by affecting our entire body! With our devices we have methodically filled in the electromagnetic spectrum far beyond
what occurs in nature, resulting in EMF potentially being very dangerous. And behold, electric blankets are one of the
biggest sources of this danger. A little research brought me across some information presented by
Dr. Mercola and should be considered when
wanting to use an electric blanket.
To stay warm in the winter time many of us think that an electric blanket is a good idea to stay warm while the
thermostat is turned down at bedtime. Yes, electric blankets are convenient and cost effective, but realize that they can be
hazardous to our health. Besides being a fire danger if defective or worn out, there is also another health risk - the EMF
exposure while sleeping under it for many hours every night. To clarify, EMF is an invisible zone of energy that surrounds
electric devices and wiring. It is comprised of two fields - an electric field and magnetic field. The
electric field is created by voltage, which determines the force with which the electricity is pushed through wires. Most
electric fields can be shielded by the design of the appliance, or physically, by walls or other barriers. The magnetic
field is created by the current, which is the amount of electricity being pushed. And it is the magnetic fields
which are the main cause of health concerns. They travel through most barriers and for long distances, and are difficult to
block. All electromagnetic energy falls somewhere on the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from extremely low frequency (ELF)
radiation to microwaves, x-rays and gamma rays. ELF fields are generated by household appliances, including electric blankets,
and overhead power lines, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer such as leukemia. Realize that when electricity
passes through a wire, it creates an electromagnetic field that exerts force on nearby objects, including living things.
Scientists now agree that ELF fields are indeed hazardous to human health. They are now considered “probable carcinogens,”
and have been linked to cases of childhood leukemia, lymphoma, and other health conditions. The exact mechanism by which
exposure leads to cancer has not been established. But one potential mechanism may be due to ELFs ability to alter the
expression of certain genes by turning them on and off at inappropriate times, which may cause them to initiate cell
proliferation (tumors). Additionally, the BioInitiative Report,
published August 31, 2007 by an international working group of scientists, researchers and public health policy professionals,
document serious scientific concerns about the radiation emitted from power lines, cell phones, and many other sources of
exposure to radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields in daily life. It concludes that the existing standards for public
safety are completely inadequate to protect our health. The report includes studies showing evidence that electromagnetic
fields can: Affect gene and protein expression (Transcriptomic and Proteomic Research); Have genotoxic effects – RFR and ELF
DNA damage; Induce stress response (Stress Proteins); Affect immune function; Affect Neurology and behavior; Cause childhood
cancers (Leukemia); Impact melatonin production, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Breast Cancer; and Promote breast cancer
(Melatonin links in laboratory and cell studies).
So why are electric blankets a bigger threat than household appliances? Because electric blankets are so close to our body
for many hours at a time. The magnetic fields given off by various household appliances diminish sharply the farther away you
are from the appliance. In the case of electric blankets, however, a study conducted by
Dr Nancy Wertheimer in the mid-1980’s demonstrated that the
reading was 10 to 20 mG (milliGauss) next to the blanket, and 5 to 10 mG six inches away from it. While there is heated
debate as to what EMF level is considered safe, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a safety standard of
1 mG, but many experts believe even this level is too high and should be lowered to protect health. Electric blankets are
capable of creating a magnetic field anywhere from 5 to 20 times higher than the EPA’s proposed safe level of
exposure. They create a magnetic field that penetrates about 6-7 inches into your body -- for hours at a time. This qualifies
as "chronic exposure".
Epidemiological studies have linked electric blankets with miscarriages and childhood leukemia. Recent data reported in the
American Journal of Epidemiology suggests
that regular use of an electric blanket may increase breast cancer risk in some women, and according to a 2007 report
published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, using electric blankets was associated with a 15 percent higher
prevalence of endometrial cancer than never having used one. The same study also revealed that the use of electric blankets
for 20 years or more was associated with 36 percent higher prevalence of endometrial cancer. Other studies have shown that
the EMFs generated by electric blankets suppress melatonin production. Melatonin is the most important detox agent for your
brain and is also an anti-inflammatory. Electromagnetic radiation can make inflammation worse by creating more potent
mycotoxins, so reducing inflammation is vital. Research included in the BioInitiative Report mentioned above have also found
links between melatonin disruption and promotion of breast cancer. During pregnancy electric blankets should be avoided
since an unborn fetus is likely the most susceptible to this type of EMF radiation. And it may also may increase the risk of
miscarriage. Studies indicate that women who used an electric blanket around the time of conception and during early
pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to miscarry than women who did not.
In response to EMF concerns, U.S. electric blanket manufacturers now sell blankets that claim to generate no harmful
electromagnetic radiation. Although these “zero magnetic field” blankets reduce or eliminate magnetic fields, they may still
generate electric fields. So even minimal exposure poses an unnecessary risk, especially for children, pregnant women, people
who are chronically exposed to EMFs from other sources, and those with Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome (EHS).
So what is the alternative to keeping warm on those cold nights? Try using flannel sheets with an extra blanket, wearing
warm pajamas and socks to bed, using a hot water bottle, or warning up the bed with the electric blanket and turning it off
prior to climbing into bed. I suggest sharing this information with your spouse prior to making any changes to keep peace in
the house. Some of us have become very attached to electric blankets and have forgotten or are unable to cuddle!
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