Health & Fitness

Cancer Prevention Tips from EWG

Posted Thu, 06/24/2010 - 15:01 by Staff

Yes, there have been alarming increases in the number of diagnosed cases of cancer, including many children. And No … we don’t have to sit by and watch this happen. We can take preventative measures to help ensure that we, and our families, are less likely to become one of those affected by cancer. Many of the suspected causes, especially environmental, have now been linked to causing cancer. The Environmental Working Group has just released a great article that defines specific things we can to do cut our chances of developing cancer. Here is a list of the tips they recommend, but we also suggest that you read their article in its entirety, from the link at the bottom of this post.

Steps you can take now to help Prevent Cancer:

* Filter your tap water
* Seal outdoor wooden decks and play sets
* Cut down on stain- and grease-proofing chemicals
* Stay safe in the sun
* Cut down on fatty meat and high-fat dairy products

Home is Where the Hurt is? Child Proofing your House

Posted Wed, 04/07/2010 - 16:00 by Staff

As a parent, you might not think of your home as a hazardous place, but through the eyes of a pediatric emergency physician, the home can sometimes seem like a dangerous booby trap for young kids. Places where children can potentially come into harm are everywhere in the home, but with the proper precautions and carefully placed childproofing equipment, you can do your best to keep your child safe.

Falls are one of the number one reasons children come to the emergency department for an injury. Stairs are a common culprit, especially for young children who may not be able to climb stairs well (or maybe not at all.)

Pink Cigarette Ads Target Teenage Girls

Posted Mon, 04/05/2010 - 12:58 by Staff

The “pinkification” of girls’ culture – their clothes, toys and accessories – is a booming and relatively recent marketing strategy, marking girls as “cute” and thus very different than boys, who are “tough.” Walk into any clothing or toy store or go online and try to buy something for your daughter that’s not pink. Check your favorite online shopping sites.

But pink has recently shown up in a more insidious and dangerous place: cigarette packaging. The “pink campaign” by Camel cigarettes was introduced in 2007 to appeal directly to pre-teen girls by exploiting a color associated with this age and gender group.

Get Ready for Spring with a Winter Detox!

Posted Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:06 by Staff

It’s not until March 20th that spring “officially” begins, but I can’t help thinking of spring as soon as the icy weather begins to thaw and I can toss my winter coat aside!

Sometimes there’s no better way to usher in a new season than with a detox of everything past. Here are 4 tips to help get rid of the winter blues:

Start Drinking More Water
With rising temperatures and more outdoor activity, I know I’ll be needing more water to hydrate (and rehydrate) myself. I try to carry an extra bottle or two with me at all times. Also, drink a glass of water with a bit of lemon juice first thing in the morning (before the coffee!) and wait a bit before eating your first foods of the day.

Look for your Summer Recipes

Psych Meds and Children—What Parents Need to Know

Posted Thu, 02/25/2010 - 13:15 by Staff

We’ve all heard the stories in the news about Rebecca Riley, the 4-year-old who died in 2006 of an overdose of psychiatric medication. She made her first trip to a psychiatrist when she was two, because she was active and had trouble sleeping. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was only three–her ten-year-old brother and four-year-old sister had already been diagnosed with the same—and put on three different medications. By the time she died, she was taking more than ten pills a day. She got sick, and her mother, who was recently convicted in her death, gave her extra pills to make her sleep. Rebecca never woke up.

Fever Fears and Facts: How Your Child’s Fever will be Evaluated in an Emergency Department

Posted Tue, 02/23/2010 - 21:16 by Staff

The highest temperature I ever saw was in Norfolk, Virginia. “110 degrees fever at home” the triage paperwork said. I looked over the chart to the smiling bouncing toddler trying diligently to dismantle our counter drawer. I asked how the temperature was taken and the grandmother said, “I put my hand on his head and said, ‘Woo, that’s hot! That must be 110!’” She explained smugly, “I had six kids.”

Fever is a common complaint in the ED (Emergency Department… they only call it “ER” on television). Depending on families’ experience, they can either be terrified that their child will have to be poked so much and so many places, or distressed that we’re doing so few tests. Here are some pointers on what to expect if your pediatrician sends you to the emergency department for fever.

Should We Change Our Eyeglass Prescribing for Children?

Posted Fri, 02/12/2010 - 16:05 by Staff

Myopia, or nearsightedness, a vision condition in which close objects are seen clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred, is extremely prevalent in our society and appears to be on the rise. A recent article estimated the prevalence of myopia in people aged 12 to 54 increased from 25 percent in the years in the early 1970s, to 41.6 percent in the years 1999 to 2004.

Now, a new study suggests that treating myopia early with bifocal lenses—glasses that use two corrective powers in each lens–instead of single-vision lenses may slow progression of the eye condition in children.

Many factors are felt to contribute to myopia, most important being genetic factors. Children who are myopic generally have parents who are myopic.However, environmental factors are possible contributors and attempts are being made to alter these to slow the progression of myopia.

Think Your Kids Are Getting Enough Exercise? Chances Are, You Are Wrong!

Posted Mon, 01/25/2010 - 21:48 by Staff

The Age of Computers and Television has also become the Age of the Couch Potato. Instead of running outside to play, our kids choose to sit down and text. This decrease in activity level is contributing to the current child obesity epidemic. One third of all children in the United States are overweight or obese and at risk for medical illness because of their weight. Is your child part of that group? If so, insufficient exercise could be partly to blame.

A new study from the British Heart Foundation revealed that the vast majority of parents overestimate the amount of time their kids exercise. According to this study, seven out of ten parents think their kids get enough exercise but only one in ten actually meets current recommendations. Most parents don’t even know what the current recommendations are! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends one hour of exercise almost every day of the week. Few children get even half that amount.

Why Water Is Exceptionally Good for You

Posted Sat, 01/09/2010 - 08:25 by Staff

We all need water. Our bodies are made of about 70% water and all of our systems and vital organs require it to function. Water carries nutrients to all of our cells, flushes toxins from our kidneys, removes waste from our bowels, aids in our digestion, regulates our temperature, and lubricates our joints.

Not getting enough water can cause headaches, constipation, dry skin, fatigue, and even water retention because your body will hold the little it is getting.

So why are most Americans not drinking enough? And why should we get our kids and spouses to drink more of it?

Don’t Forget About H1N1 Just Yet

Posted Wed, 12/30/2009 - 16:20 by Staff

In case you missed it, Margaret Chan, MD, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), yesterday cautioned the world that the H1N1 pandemic is not over, even though you’re not hearing as much about it in the media or around the watercooler. “It is too premature and too early for us to say we have come to an end of the pandemic influenza worldwide,” Dr. Chan said at a press conference.

With much less attention being paid to H1N1 these days, Thrive asked Claire McCarthy, MD, a pediatrician and the medical director of Children’s Martha Eliot Health Center, if she thought families could stop worrying about the virus—and whether people should still get vaccinated if they haven’t already. Here’s what she had to say:

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