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X-RAYS AND PROZAC....
NOT SO GOOD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN'S FOETUS????
From Canadian
Globe and Mail:
Pregnancy warnings Two studies this week raise warning flags for expectant
moms.
One of them found that pregnant women exposed to dental X-rays were more likely
to give birth to babies who were below normal weight. The researchers were
surprised by their findings because low-dose X-rays of the head and the neck
were thought to have no effect on a developing fetus. They speculate in the
Journal of the American Medical Association that the X-rays might be affecting
the function of the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck and helps
regulate the body's energy level.
The second study suggested that pregnant women taking the antidepressant Prozac
(or fluoxetine) were more likely to have underweight babies. As well, the
newborns tended to be sleepier, or more jittery, or have more respiratory
problems than normal. The Prozac study, basically a review of existing research,
was done for the U.S. National Toxicology Program.
Researchers suggest pregnant woman postpone optional dental X-rays. But the
Prozac study presents more of a dilemma because depression is a serious
condition and other studies indicate the mood of a pregnant woman may influence
the fetus.
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