Category: Medical Mondays

An Epidemic in America: What Can Parents Do To Stop Childhood Obesity?

In 1970 1 in 20 children were considered obese (defined as weighing 20% or more than their ideal weight)

NOW, 1 in 5 are considered obese and 1 in 3 are overweight!

The complications from this problem are not only physical but social and emotional for our kids.

The cause is simple, our children are eating too much and exercising too little.

We can fight this epidemic!

Seven Steps To Healthier Children:

  • Model healthier eating: eat healthy by example and show them how to pay attention to when you are full.
  • the home environment: change what you keep in the house to healthy, non processed foods, and limit the sweets.
  • Use appropriate rewards: never use a food reward for recognizing an accomplishment and find reasons to praise their efforts.
  • Monitor behavior: kids have feelings, be non-judgemental in the way you bring attention to the good and the bad.
  • Sit down meals: reclaim control of what your kids are eating early on.
  • Exercise is wise: do this by example, as a family unit, and through encouraging school activities and sports.
  • Limit TV/recreational computer use: limit this and other sedentary activities to less than 2 hours a day.

Are You Suffering From Allergies, This Time Of Year?

Although there are not many blooming flowers this time of year there are plenty of pollen and spores causing you to suffer:

  • The Big One: RAGWEED begins pollenating in August with the warm days cool nights and is in peak season NOW.
  • Molds: As we pile up dead leaves they will contain moisture, basements will have excess moisture, bathrooms may have moisture, all lead to mold.
  • Dust mites: Microscopic spider-like insects that are stirred up with turning on the furnace.
  • Children: Not as the cause, but kids suffer as they are exposed to dust mites, molds in ther schools from the summer heat, chalk dust.
  • Food allergies: Always a threat for kids in the cafeteria with possible peanut butter, eggs, milk, and heaven forbid HALLOWEEN CANDY allergies!

The symptoms of allergies:

  • Runny nose.
  • Watery eyes.
  • Cough.
  • Itchy eyes and nose.
  • Dark circles under eyes.
  • Asthma.
  • Hives.

Easing the effect of fall allergies:

  • Stay indoors.
  • Clean the heating ducts.
  • Use a HEPA (High Efficiency Particilate Air) filter in your heating system.
  • Use a humidifier.
  • Wear a filter mask raking leaves.

Avoiding food allergies:

  • Pack your kids lunches, insist no sharing.
  • Inform their school of the allergies.
  • Don’t let kids eat their HALLOWEEN CANDY until inspected!

Treatment:

  • Steroid nasal sprays.
  • Antihistamines.
  • Decongestants.
  • Eye drops.
  • Allergy shots.
  • Salt water nasal spray.

How can you protect yourself from flu?

Each year over 200,000 Americans are hospitalized for the serious complications from the flu and there were over 14,000 deaths resulting from the flu last year!

How can you protect yourself?

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
  • While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.
  • The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic.
  • Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the 2011-2012 vaccines are available.
  • Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
  • People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
  • Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
  • Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.

What’s Stopping You From Getting Vaccinated!

  • There are now hundreds of Pharmacies in Denver and many in your city that offer flu vaccines.
  • Many offer walk-in customers.
  • Many have evening and weekend hours.
  • Most accept the major insurance plans.
  • And after your shot, you can get discounts on groceries and other goods or even free doughnuts and coffee!

Over-The-Counter Pain Medications: What’s Safe and Effective For You

More than 75% of us take an OTC pain reliever at least once a month.

What is safe and effective and for what types of pains:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

  • Reduces fever.
  • Relieves mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain.
  • Relieves mild to moderate back pain.
  • Relieves mild to moderate headaches.
  • Often helpful with colds, sore throat pain, toothaches.
  • Cautions: Alcohol and Tylenol in excess can damage the liver; can interact with the blood thinner Warfarin (Coumadin).

Aspirin (Bayer, Excedrin, Ecotrin, St Joseph, Bufferin)

  • Reduces fever.
  • Relieves mild toothaches.
  • Relieves moderately sore muscles.
  • Relieves mild to moderate back pain.
  • Relieves mild to moderate headaches.
  • Cautions: DO NOT TAKE if less than 18 years old; must stop prior to any surgery; taking other NSAIDS may make aspirin less effective to prevent heart attacks.

Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) and Naproxen (Aleve)

  • Relieves pain from acute muscle injury.
  • Relieves arthritis pain.
  • Relieves low back pain.
  • Relieves moderate to severe headaches.
  • Relieves moderate to severe menstrual cramps.
  • Cautions: May worsen asthma; must stop prior to any surgery; DO NOT TAKE if you have an stomach ulcer history; prolonged use increases your risk for a heart attack.

How to avoid problems with OTC pain relievers?

  • Always read and follow the instructions for amount to use per dose, and not to exceed daily on the label.
  • Use them as breifly as possible and if pain lasts more than 10 days, consult your Doctor.
  • Do not use NSAIDS daily for chronic pain lasting more than 10 days as you are more likely to experience serious side effects.
  • Know when to consult your Doctor if you have health problems or take numerous other medications including supplements.

WATER: Do You EAT Enough Water?

Water is the single most important nutrient we consume and a person cannot live more than a week without it.

The old way of thinking was “drink 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water daily”, 8 X 8=64 ounces.

The truth is you can get almost all the water you need from FOOD? Yes!

Myths and Truths About Water Consumption:

  • Myth: need to drink 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water daily.
  • Truth: most individuals can get all the water they need from their diet alone.
  • Myth: increasing water consumption can facilitate weight loss.
  • Truth: consuming more water through water rich foods can reduce hunger, lowers calorie intake by feeling satisfied from hunger.
  • Myth: you can not drink TOO MUCH water.
  • Truth: if you drink too much water you can cause some very serious health problems.
  • Myth: forcing yourself to drink more water during the day is healthy for you.
  • Truth: our own thirst mechanism adequately tells us when we need more water intake (with two exceptions).

The New Guidelines on Getting The Water You Need To Stay Hydrated:

  • Eat greater proportions of water rich foods, fruits and vegetables (most are 90% water!) and this will help you stay hydrated.
  • Replace caloric beverages, particularly those with a high sugar content, with water rich foods which is much healthier for you.
  • Consume more foods high in water content and have significant health benefits, and it will make you feel full faster.

So, EAT your water and stay healthy!