Household Smoking Still Problematic For Children With Asthma

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Posted by Health News Watch on March 1, 2013 at 3:04 pm

Although fewer children and adolescents with asthma were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in recent years, too many children are still exposed to tobacco in the home, according to the results of a new survey.

Researchers from the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys reviewed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data on 2,250 patients aged 4 to 19 years who had asthma. The researchers compared data on those who had asthma during three separate time periods: 1988-1994, 1999-2004 and 2005-2010.

Despite reductions in the amount of children exposed to tobacco smoke among youth (aged 4-19 years) with asthma who did not use tobacco products, 53.2 percent were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and 17.6 percent had in-home smoke exposure. The researchers said children living in low-income homes were more likely to be exposed to smoke than those in higher income areas.

This analysis, published in the journal Pediatrics, indicates that more than one in six children with asthma were reported to live with an in-home smoker. The proportion of children with asthma in smoking homes is similar to the general pediatric population, despite the focused recommendations from national asthma guidelines for those with asthma to avoid environmental tobacco smoke.

The creation and enforcement of tobacco laws have reduced the number of areas where smoking is allowed, but it is clear that more work must be done. Even when living in smoke-free communities, children can still be exposed to tobacco in the home.

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TXT4Tots to Promote Nutrition, Exercise Tips to Parents with Young Children

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Posted by Amanda Guerrero on February 4, 2013 at 10:13 am

The Text for Tots program will target parents with children under the age of five through brief messages about health, exercise and nutrition.

ChildrenThe opportunities for reaching people through text messages about health-related topics are endless – and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken note. In efforts to improve population health by reaching people in the most effective way, the agency has invested in a variety of text messaging and mobile health programs, the newest of which is scheduled to be launched later this month.

Hot on the heels of the Text4Baby texting initiative which provides new and expecting mothers with free text messages about prenatal care, baby health and parenting, TXT4Tots will provide messages about health and wellness for parents with children ages 1 to 5. The program is scheduled to be presented at a forum in Washington on February 20 – and afterwards, the messages will be made available to the public on the HRSA, AAP and White House websites.

Some examples of nutrition and physical activity messages, which will be available in both English and Spanish, include:

  • Fighting a picky eater can be a real challenge, have your picky eater help you make the meal. Let them set the table or stir the vegetables.
  • You are a great role model. Show your preschooler the healthy choices you make by snacking on fruits and veggies together.
  • Activity idea! Play freeze dance. Put on your child’s favorite music and take turns turning it off and on!

In addition to posting the collection of messages online, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has published a formal request in the Federal Register for ideas on ways to disseminate the messages so that they can reach a broader audience.

TXT4Tots is a collaboration between the HRSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Apps That Make Chores Fun

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Posted by Suzy Mage on January 28, 2013 at 9:39 am

Apps based on getting children to do their chores may be the new parent’s helpers. Getting kids to do chores can be more work than doing the work yourself, but chores teach kids responsibility and the meaning of being part of a family.  Many parents have gone through the tired-and-true chore lists and chore charts, and while they work at first, they quickly fail due to boredom and neglect.

Research from the University of Minnesota shows kids who help with household tasks starting as young as 3 or 4 years old are more likely to succeed in adulthood. By involving children in chores, parents teach them a sense of responsibility, competence, self-reliance, and self-worth that stays with them throughout their lives.

These days, technology can help a parent teach their kids responsibility through chores. There are a number of smartphone and tablet apps designed to make kids chores fun. Below, are the top apps for getting your child to do chores:

  • iReward Chart. This app can be tried on the computer before purchasing to see if it is a good fit for your children. It is made to motivate children, and rewards kids with virtual gold stars. It is available for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. (Cost: $3.99)
  • iChores. This app deals with allowance, and tracks what kids have earned. It teaches good money habits in relation to chores and is available for the Android device. (Cost: $.99)
  • Chore Hero. This is a great app for keeping track of whose turn it is for a certain chore. It assigns points for chores, and can make chores competitive. It is available through iTunes. (Cost: $2.99)
  • Epic Win. The Epic Win app turns chores into a role playing game by turning chores into quests with rewards like experience points, leveling up, and loot for completed chores. This app is developed by Rexbox and SuperMono. The great thing about this app is it can help adults get things crossed off their chore list, too. It is available for iPhone. (Cost: $2.99)
  • Chore Master. This is a free app, but comes with advertisements and less functionality that Chore Master Pro, which has unlimited multiple profiles, chore history, and a household leaderboard. It tracks everything from homework to exercise workouts. Ot os available for the Android device. (Cost: free, but Chore Master Pro costs $4.00.)

How the chores are presented influences children’s abilities to become well-adjusted adults. The chores should not be too overwhelming, parents should present the chores in a way that fits the child’s preferred learning style, and children should be involved in determining the chores they will complete, through family meeting and methods such as the above apps. The earlier parents begin getting children to take an active role in the household, the easier it will be to get them involved as teens.

These apps might make chores a little more fun, and in the end, your children will be better for it, and maybe they will even thank you!

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Can Some Children Outgrow Autism?

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Posted by Health News Watch on January 18, 2013 at 11:47 am

Some children diagnosed as autistic at an early age see their symptoms completely disappear when they get older, according to a new research study.

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old. There are no known causes or cures for autism.

In a study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a team from the University of Connecticut recruited 34 people who had been diagnosed with autism early in life but now appear to be functioning normally.

The study was limited to people who had been diagnosed by autism experts — an attempt to avoid cases in which the label had been used improperly. In addition, records documented the one-time presence of the disorder’s hallmark symptoms: problems with socialization and communication, and repetitive behaviors or obsessive interests. The research subjects ranged in age from 8 to 21.

For comparison, the authors assembled two other groups: 34 people whose development was normal and 44 who have autism without an intellectual disability.

The researchers wondered whether those who lost the diagnosis still had subtle vestiges of the disorder. For the most part, the answer was no. In tests looking at socialization and communication, they performed as well as the typical children. Three, however, scored below average in facial recognition — a common difficulty in autism.

The study also reviewed early developmental history and compared the children who seemed to grow out of their autism with those who did not. The two groups had equally severe problems with communication and repetitive behaviors. But the children who shed the diagnosis started out with milder social difficulties.

To read the study, click here.

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6 ways to relieve lower back pain during pregnancy.

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Posted by RobynNazarRN on January 11, 2013 at 10:49 am

One of the most common complaints of pregnant women is also one of the most commonly ignored. Back pain effects 50-90% of pregnant women; however I have heard SO many stories from patients, in which they were told to wait to treat their back pain until after pregnancy, in the postpartum period.

This is unsound advice for a few different reasons. First of all, if you suffer from untreated back pain during a pregnancy, you will be susceptible to suffer in subsequent pregnancies too. Secondly, most women who complain of chronic back pain, link the starting point of this pain back to their pregnancy, when their pain went untreated.

Early intervention and individual advice should be given to mothers to help them manage their back pain. For, believe me, it is the little adjustments to daily activities that will make the difference to your back.

Let’s first take a quick look at WHY we suffer from lower back pain during pregnancy. There are a few different factors that come into play. As we all know, there are large changes in your hormones during pregnancy (remember those tears?). One way the hormones affects your body is by making your ligaments much softer as to prepare for labor, this in turn decreases joint support. Another large factor is that some women gain up to 25% of their body weight, their center of gravity shifts, putting more pressure on their backs. There has also been some talk in the medical community that muscle fatigue takes place, as your muscles become aggravated by the muscle imbalances of pregnancy. Hence muscles that support your back get tired and don’t do their job properly. And last of all stress. Stress finds the weak points in your body and causes pain in this area.

Here are some useful tips that I have tried and tested to relieve lower back pain during pregnancy:

  • Wear flat shoes: This sounds kind of obvious, but you would be surprised if I told you about the amount of pregnant women I see in high shoes. Albeit, although not stilettos, even a small heel can thrust your pelvis forward, put your whole body out of alignment and change your posture. All these factors put extra strain on you lower back.

 

  • Exercise: Sometimes exercise may seem like the last thing you want to do when pregnant. But gentle exercise with low impact such as swimming can strengthen and increase flexibility in your back. Check out your local swimming pool, as they often give classes especially tailored to pregnant women’s needs. Also core strengthening low impact exercise like Pilates is great. This type of exercise strengthens the muscles in your stomach (which are the muscles that play a huge role in back support). Some Pilate’s classes also have special pregnancy classes, but if not, just be sure to instruct the trainer beforehand that you are pregnant.

 

  • Sleeping: Being pregnant can be difficult enough without losing your sleep due to back pain. Do you have a soft mattress? This will just aggravate your back more. Don’t worry, no need to buy a new one, a good trick is just to slip a hard board under your mattress and support your waist with a towel or pillow. Investing in a few more pillows is a good idea. Pillows can be used to support the top of your legs and abdomen, to relieve pressure off your back when sleeping.

 

  • Lifting: When pregnant you should not be lifting heavy objects. If you do need to lift something always bend your knees and keep your back straight. Also when lifting objects like grocery bags try distributing the weight evenly, so that one side of your body is not under more stress than the other.

 

  • Sitting/Standing: Most women work through their pregnancies. Make sure if you are in a fixed position, like sitting down, for an extended amount of time at work that you have a well-supported chair. The same goes if you are standing for long periods. Ensure that you are not stopping over to do your work.

 

  • Physiotherapy: Sometime you will follow every tip for lower back pain and nothing will work. If suffering from very painful back pain during pregnancy you should contact a physiotherapist. Many clinics today are tailored specifically for pain relief. My friend for example underwent physical therapy in St. Paul. It really helped her, as she really needed a physiotherapist’s expert guidance to help her get through back pain.

 

I wish you all the best ladies and just remember,  if you are in pain there is always a solution. Do not suffer in silence.

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New Year’s Resolutions for Parents

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Posted by Suzy Mage on January 2, 2013 at 4:37 pm

With every New Year, comes New Year’s resolutions. It seems like there are New Year’s resolutions for every aspect of one’s life; money, health, goals – but not so often for a family. Below are some great resolutions to take on as family:

1. Leave work at work. Many working parents continue their work day long after the clock strikes 5pm – whether it be taking calls at home or checking work email. This year, try to put a cap on the work day when you get home, so you can spend your time and attention on your family.

2. Go green. Going green together, as a family, can be a fun and great way to create bonds and help the environment. Some options include recycling paper material to use as birthday cards, making a backyard compost, and educating your children about ways to preserve water and energy in your home.

3. Get fit. Even if your children are not into sports, there are other ways to get active together. Competitive and non-competive physical activity are great ways to bring the family  together. Taking long walks, biking, swimming, and  dancing are great ways to have fun and stay in shape!

4. Read together. Make it an evening tradition to read to your children, and have them read to you as well. The National Institutes of Health has shown that the period between birth and 3 years of age is crucial for language development, and reading to your child is a big contributor to that development.

5. Get organized. It may seem like a pain at first, but an organized home is a happy home. Especially when it comes to food. It can be overwhelming to come home after a long day at work and then try to figure out what to make for dinner. This can easily turn into making bad choices for family meals. Instead, plan out meals in advance. An easy way to start is by stocking the pantry and refrigerator full of whole foods and staples. Then, create a weekly menu based on those ingredients.

6. Eat healthy. Make this the year for your family to start eating healthy. No more fast foods or vending machines. Focus rather on healthy, whole food options that taste great! A great way to make sure your family is getting healthy is to make sure that everyone packs their lunch for school and work each day. Not only is it healthier to pack lunch and snacks, it is also much better on the environment and the family budget.

7. Eat together. Depending on the age of your children, eating dinner together as a family may be occurring less and less as the days go by. However, eating dinner as a family has been linked to lower incidence of teen smoking, drinking, and drug use. Additionally, research shows that kids who eat with their family also get better grades. What’s more is that meals at home cost less than eating out, and this way you can ensure that your family is eating healthier. This year, make a resolution to sit down and eat dinner together as a family.

8. Limit media. Technology is great and we certainly can’t live without it. However, if your family is always on the computer, watching TV, or playing video games, it’s time to take a break and reconnect with each other. And this doesn’t just apply to your children, you should unplug as well! One great way to limit media use is to dedicate one day per week to turn off computers, TVs, cell phones, etc. Use this day to get back to basics with your family. Another option is to limit daily use by setting “media hours” for your children and yourself.

It may seem like you have all the time in the world to spend with your child, when in fact, the rough-and-tumble of daily life can cause it to fly by. If you plan out these resolutions with your children, you can make it fun and lasting!

Set goals for each month (i.e. read 10 books) and have rewards for each goal. That way, your child can mark their progress and celebrate success. There are many different reward systems to chose from – be creative! Whether it’s gold stars leading up to a bigger reward, or dinner at their favorite restaurant or with their favorite meal, any child will have fun participating in these resolutions throughout the year!

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How to Talk to Children About Tragedy

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Posted by Health News Watch on December 19, 2012 at 9:48 am

It is an unfortunate fact of life that tragedy does and will occur. With the shock of the Newtown, CT, school shooting highlighting the media, many parents do not know the best way to tell their children what happened and how to help them cope.

Children have the ability to sense the feelings of anxiety and tension in adults around them. Similar to adults, children experience the same feelings of helplessness and lack of control that tragedy-related stress can bring about, but unlike adults, children have little experience to help them place their current situation into perspective and how to deal with their feelings.

Each child responds differently to tragedy, depending on his or her understanding and maturity. However, it is easy to see how a tragic event can cause a create a great deal of anxiety in all children because they will interpret it as a personal danger to themselves and those they care about.

Whatever the child’s age or relationship to the damage caused by tragedy, it’s important that you be open about the consequences for your family, and that you encourage them to talk about it and their feelings. Below, are some ways Empowering Parents says can help your family cope with tragedy:

  1. Be informed, but limit exposure. It is important for everyone to stay connected and informed, but watching images and hearing the news over an extended period of time isn’t good for anyone. Seeing images or hearing in depth about a certain tragedy can be disturbing to many children. Rather, stay informed, but turn off the TV and radio and find other things to focus on.
  2. Keep communication open. Listen to the concerns your children have and what they are most afraid of. Reassure them that they are safe and let them know that tragic incidents are rare. Acknowledge that sometimes bad things happen, but remind them of all the people who are working to keep them safe. If your child doesn’t seem to know about the tragedy yet, it is best to watch for signs that they are being affected and be prepared to talk about it as needed. Let them know they can come to you with questions. If your children seem anxious or upset, support them in finding something comforting or familiar to do.
  3. Lead by example. As upsetting as a story or event is, it is important to remember that our children will take their lead from watching the grownups in their lives, so approaching this quietly and gently will be more effective and hopefully help relieve some of the fear and anxiety they may be feeling. It is ok to be upset. For example, if your children ask, you might say something like this: “I’m okay.  I’m feeling sad about what happened, but we are okay.” Spend some extra time taking care of each other this weekend. Be aware of how you talk about this tragedy with other adults, as children often overhear conversations and they can affect their emotional state. Keep this in mind as you are discussing the events with other friends and family members
  4. If needed, reach out for more help and information. Talk with your children’s teacher, principal, school psychologist or school counselor about any concerns you may have. School officials are trained in helping children cope with tragedy and will be able to address this in context. Keep in close communication with the school in regard to how your child is doing. There may be an opportunity for communities to do something to help in response to a tragedy. Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do in times like these is support each other and model open communication.

For more information on how to help children cope with tragedy, please click here.

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Monitoring Concussions in Youth Sports

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Posted by Amanda Guerrero on December 7, 2012 at 9:24 am

Knowing the signs of a concussion can help parents seek medical attention for their children. Doctors using electronic medical record software can diagnose head injuries and monitor symptoms.

kids soccer teamGetting children to participate in sports is a great way to inject physical activity into otherwise TV- and video game-heavy routines. Sports teach children about commitment, promote teamwork, and help build lasting friendships. However, they can also lead to concussion injuries with lasting side effects if not identified and treated properly. Therefore, it is important for coaches and parents to familiarize themselves with the symptoms of a concussion and to know when it is necessary to seek medical attention for their child. Through the use of electronic medical record software and concussion testing equipment, doctors can effectively diagnose concussions in children and let parents know when it is okay for their child to get back on the field.

How will I know if my child has a concussion?

Concussions are most commonly caused by hard impacts to the head. These injuries are common in high contact sports such as soccer, football and basketball, but can also occur in other sports. In some cases, the cause of a concussion might not even be noticed. For example, a soccer player might head several balls during the course of a game, but one of them may have come at the player with more force than normal and could be the cause of a concussion.

While a concussion can cause different symptoms, some are more obvious than others. Therefore, it is important to know what to look for. These are some of the more common symptoms you can look for in your child:

  • Memory loss
  • Dizziness or confusion
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Vision or hearing impairment
  • Difficulty concentrating

Seeking Medical Attention

If your child has any of these symptoms, they should be removed from game play. They should also get a lot of rest and avoid activities that tax the brain. For more serious injuries, parents may consider visiting their child’s pediatrician. Physicians can perform memory, concentration and balancing tests to evaluate the severity of a child’s concussion and determine whether the child is ready to return to school and sports. Doctors will also document data in their electronic medical record software to refer back to in case the child requires further testing or suffers another concussion in the future.

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What Is Embryo Adoption?

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Posted by Health News Watch on November 30, 2012 at 1:20 pm

More and more infertile, yet hopeful, parents are deciding to adopt embryos that have already been created.

When a woman undergoes in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, typically more embryos are created than are actually required for the treatment. These ‘left over’ embryos, despite not being used, are viable and are placed in storage – they are cryopreserved (maintained in frozen storage). The couple can then use these embryos in the future for additional IVF treatments, either in the case that the current cycle fails or if the couple decides that they want to have more children.

After a couple has successfully conceived via IVF and has decided that they are finished having additional children, they must decide what to do with the remaining embryos. One option is to destroy the embryos or donate them to science. A third option, which has been gaining popularity in the media and press, is for the couples to donate their left over embryos so that they can be used for embryo adoption.

Embryo adoption is a new adoption alternative for infertile couples. It is similar to adopting a child after it has been born, in that neither parent will be biologically related to the child, but different in that the mother who receives the embryo will physically carry and birth the child. The resulting child born will legally be the recipient’s child, and no further adoption process is required.

Once a couple has decided to donate their stored embryos to a fertility clinic, another infertile person or couple can then adopt these unused embryos. The adopted embryo will then be used in an IVF treatment and transferred into the adopting woman’s uterus. From their, the normal birthing process progresses; the adopting woman will carry and birth the child.

Many couples are shocked to hear that the cost of embryo adoption is much less than the cost of traditional adoptions. Most embryo adoptions cost between $7,000 and $10,000, including the IVF treatment and transfer of the embryos into to the recipient’s uterus. This is much less than traditional adoptions, and even most IVF procedures, which cost approximately between $20,000 and $30,000.

Near 500,000 embryos are currently stored in fertility clinics worldwide. However, although this number sounds large, the waiting list for adopting embryos continues to grow. Recently, many religious organizations have been promoting adopting embryos, as it will not only to save embryos from destruction, but can also help couples build a family. These groups believe that life begins at conception, and that every embryo deserves a chance.

However, even after a donated embryo is adopted, there is no guarantee of successful birth. The embryos must first survive the thawing process. Then, they must last through IVF procedure and transfer into the uterus – at this point, the embryos face the same challenges of any typical IVF assisted pregnancy. According to national statistics, there is about a 40 percent chance of surviving the thaw and a 50 percent chance of successful IVF transfer.

 

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Hopeful Parents Turn To Craigslist Adoptions

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Posted by Health News Watch on November 26, 2012 at 2:27 pm

In addition to finding jobs, buying furniture, and searching for apartments, hopeful parents can now use Craigslist for adoptions. More and more parents are either posting want-ads for children, using the site to find children up for adoption, or both.

Craigslist is a classified advertisements website with sections devoted to different categories, such as jobs, housing, personals, for sale, items wanted, and services. One does not need to register in order to use the site. Anyone can post, and many post or search anonymously.

Many hopeful yet infertile parents will turn to a local IVF center or adoption center in order to make their dream of having a family come true. However, with failed IVF treatments and the hurdles that one must jump over in order to adopt a child – not to mention the high cost of IVF treatment and adoption services - leaves parents turning from these traditional approaches to more innovative ones, like Craigslist.

However, adoption online is not as easy as posting an ad and going to pick up a child, as if it were a bike. Prospective parents can only advertise directly to birth mothers in a handful of states and once connected, they still need support from an adoption agency or an attorney.

In addition to Craiglist, hopeful parents can now create websites with a 1-800 number for birth-mothers interested in adoption to call. Whats more, is that there are online communities solely dedicated to adoptions and building families. The sites act as “match makers” for would-be parents and the birth mother. According to a 2012 study by the organization Families for Private Adoption, 40 percent of private adoptions were successfully matched online.

According to statistics collected by the US Department of Health and Human Services, near 700,000 children each year are placed through private domestic adoptions – although the exact number resulting from online services is unknown. But as more people get turned off from assisted reproduction and expensive adoption agencies, it seems that searching the web rather than the egg donor database is becoming a more common alternative.

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