Dec
01
2012
Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day.
This may sound like a lot, but don't worry! Your child may already be meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. And, you'll soon discover all the easy and enjoyable ways to help your child meet the recommendations. Encourage your child to participate in activities that are age-appropriate, enjoyable and offer variety! Just make sure your child or adolescent is doing three types of physical activity:
Aerobic Activity
Aerobic activity should make up most of your child's 60 or more minutes of physical activity each day. This can include either moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or vigorous-intensity activity, such as running. Be sure to include vigorous-intensity aerobic activity on at least 3 days per week.
Muscle Strengthening
Include muscle strengthening activities, such as gymnastics or push-ups, at least 3 days per week as part of your child's 60 or more minutes.
Bone Strengthening
Include bone strengthening activities, such as jumping rope or running, at least 3 days per week as part of your child's 60 or more minutes.
How do I know if my child's aerobic activity is moderate- or vigorous-intensity?
Here are two ways to think about moderate- and vigorous-intensity:
Want examples?
As a rule of thumb, on a scale of 0 to 10, where sitting is a 0 and the highest level of activity is a 10, moderate-intensity activity is a ...
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Sep
23
2012
Juices provide many essential nutrients, but consuming untreated juices can pose health risks to your family. The FDA has received reports of serious outbreaks of foodborne illness that have been traced to drinking fruit and vegetable juice and cider that has not been treated to kill harmful bacteria.
While most people's immune systems can usually fight off the effects of foodborne illness, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems risk serious illnesses or even death from drinking untreated juices
Warning Labels
Since 1999, the FDA has required juice manufacturers to place warning information on product containers about the health risks of drinking untreated juice or cider. Only a small portion of all fruit and vegetable juices sold in supermarkets is not treated to kill harmful bacteria. These products are required to carry the following warning label:
WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.
You should note that the FDA does not require warning labels for juice or cider that is fresh-squeezed and sold by the glass, such as at apple orchards, at farm markets, at roadside stands, or in some juice bars. If you're unsure if a glass of juice or cider has been treated, be sure to ask.
2 Simple Steps to Juice Safety
When purchasing juice, take these two simple steps ...
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Sep
08
2012
What is the best way to protect myself and my family from the flu?
Everyone 6 months of age or older should get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available in your area.
What everyday steps can I take to stop the spread of germs?
There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
Are there medications I can take to prevent getting the flu?
If you are healthy but exposed to a person with the flu, antiviral drugs can prevent you from getting sick. The sooner you are treated with an antiviral, the more likely it will prevent the flu. Antiviral drugs are 70% to 90% effective at preventing the flu. Talk to your health care provider if you think you need antiviral drugs.
Vaccination
Everyone 6 months of age ...
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Sep
08
2012
Hello everyone and welcome back to the start of the school year 2012-2013. Back to getting up early, back to packing lunches with lots of fruits and veggies, and back to the cold and flu season. This year’s forecast is again lots of colds, viruses, infections and influenza. So what do you need to know? Well my friends, here it is-everything you need to know about the flu season, brought to you by flu.gov –in a two part article. Print this out and put this on your refrigerator or bulletin board or where ever you can keep checking it. Every family member (and teachers-every child in your class) needs to read this. Remember this information is meant for educational purposes; always consult with your medical provider regarding any and all medical questions.
Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. Approximately 5-20% of U.S. residents get the flu each year.
Flu season typically peaks in January or February.
Getting the flu vaccine your best protection against the flu.
Flu-related complications include pneumonia and dehydration.
Illness from seasonal flu usually lasts one to two weeks.
What is the seasonal flu?
Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It spreads between people and can cause mild to severe illness. In some cases, the flu can lead to death.
When is flu season?
In the United States, flu season occurs in the ...
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Jul
16
2012
Hello my friends, and welcome to the Summer of 2012. I usually write about nutrition and fitness, but this year I am going to stray a bit and write about a serious killer: lightning. According to the National Weather Service (noaa.gov), summer is the peak season for one of the nation's deadliest weather phenomena— lightning. Each year in the U.S., there are about 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes- each one of these a potential killer. During the last 30 years, lightning has killed an average of 73 people per year in the U.S. This is more than the 68 that are killed by tornadoes or the average of 16 killed by hurricanes. Because lightning only claims one or two victims at a time, and because it does not cause the mass destruction left in the wake of hurricanes or tornadoes, lightning generally receives much less attention than the more destructive storm-related killers. Lightning also injures 300 people a year; however, undocumented injuries caused by lightning are likely much higher. While many people think they are aware of the dangers of lightning, the vast majority are not. Lack of understanding with regard to the dangers of lightning continues to be a significant problem in the U.S. Many people do not act to protect their lives, their property and the lives of others in a timely ...
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Jul
01
2012
It’s summer and that means the start of camp and sports programs. The weather is hot and getting hotter! So that usually means playing outdoors in the 90 degree heat! Staying well hydrated is a problem for many children during these hot months. Dehydration is a real concern for children because they tend to forget to drink enough to properly re-hydrate themselves before, during or after a long day of outdoor activities. Children loose vital minerals and electrolytes not only through sweat, but through breathing as well. In hot weather the water loss goes up dramatically. Many sports programs have long practice sessions. Contrary to popular belief it is also possible to become dehydrated while swimming or participating in outdoor water activities. If children do not consistently drink throughout the day to replenish lost water, electrolytes and minerals they can suffer serious injury in the form of heat exhaustion or more severe heat stroke. These are potentially dangerous conditions, and if untreated, can be life threatening.
Staying well hydrated is easy to do, and you don’t need those fancy sugar drinks to do it. Remembering to drink is the key. Keeping a water bottle handy at all times is advised, when participating in outdoor sports. Parent tip: If it’s a group activity, as in a school or afterschool sports program, be sure to question the coaches as to how often they ...
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Jun
25
2012
NIH-Funded Study Finds Some Caregivers Unsure About When to Give Epinephrine
Young children with allergies to milk and egg experience reactions to these and other foods more often than researchers had expected, a study reports. The study also found that severe and potentially life-threatening reactions in a significant number of these children occur and that some caregivers are hesitant to give such children epinephrine, a medication that reverses the symptoms of such reactions and can save lives.
“This study reinforces the importance of doctors, parents and other caregivers working together to be even more vigilant in managing food allergy in children,” said Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
The study results appear online in the June 25 issue of Pediatrics and are the latest findings from the Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR), a network established by NIAID to conduct clinical trials, observational studies and basic research to better understand and treat food allergy.
The research is part of an ongoing CoFAR observational study that enrolled 512 infants aged 3 to 15 months who at study entry were allergic to milk or egg, or who were likely to be allergic, based on a positive skin test and the presence of moderate-to-severe eczema, a chronic skin condition. The investigators are carefully following these children to see whether their allergies ...
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Jun
10
2012
Obesity is the Second Leading Cause of Preventable Premature Death, Killing 5,800 New Yorkers Annually, and is the Only Major Public Health Issue in America that is Getting Worse!
The Mayor’s Task Force on Obesity has proposed initiatives – including limiting the size of sugary drinks, significant contributors to the epidemic – with the goal of reducing the percent of obese adults by 10 percent and children by 15 percent over the next five years. Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx is at the center of the obesity epidemic, where obesity and diabetes rates are the highest in the city. The Mayor was joined by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, Montefiore Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Steve Safyer, Montefiore Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Pediatrics Chair Dr. Philip Ozuah, Director of Montefiore School Health Program Dr. David Appel, Director of Montefiore B'N Fit Program Jessica Rieder, Chairman of the Montefiore Department of Family and Social Medicine and Director of Community Health and Wellness Doctor Peter Selwyn, President of the New York Health and Hospitals Corporation Alan Aviles, HealthFirst President and CEO Pat Wang, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland, Food Policy Coordinator Kim Kessler and Department of Education Deputy Chancellor for Operations Kathleen Grimm.
One in Three Adult New Yorkers Has Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes
“In New York City nearly 60 percent of ...
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Jun
03
2012
Here are some interesting, shocking and very real statistics and definitions about obesity that you should know. Data is taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Let’s Move (Letsmove.gov), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and from Canada, the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).
In 2007–2009, the prevalence of obesity in Canada was 24.1%, over 10 percentage points lower than in the United States (34.4%). The prevalence of obesity is significantly higher among U.S. adults than among their Canadian counterparts.
Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are obese: 33.9% (2007-2008)
Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are overweight (and not obese): 34.4% (2007-2008)
Percent of adolescents age 12-19 years who are obese: 18.1% (2007-2008)
Percent of children age 6-11 years who are obese: 19.6% (2007-2008)
Percent of children age 2-5 years who are obese: 10.4% (2007-2008)
An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine childhood overweight and obesity. It is calculated using a child's weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a reasonable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens.
Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980.
In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of ...
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May
21
2012
Our Overweight Teenagers Are At Risk For Serious Health Problems
Okay, so this does not come as a surprise. More than half of the overweight teens (ages 12 through 19) in the United States (and probably the world) have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar and this places them at a very high risk for heart attacks and many other serious heart problems. In fact, according to the study published in the journal Pediatrics (May 21, 2012), “the percentage of adolescents who were diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, went from 9% to 21%.” Much more needs to be done to get our kids back on the healthy track. Even more needs to be done to identify teens with potential health risks. Bottom line: have your kids get a check up at your medical provider. If they are obese, overweight or even just a bit over their BMI, make sure you get the blood sugar (glucose), cholesterol and blood pressure checked also.
Regular Eating Times Are Important In A Healthy Diet
It seems that eating at a regular interval is very important to maintaining a healthy weight. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies found that “regular eating times and extending the daily fasting period may override the adverse health effects of a high-fat diet and prevent obesity, diabetes and liver disease in mice.” According to senior author Satchidananda ...
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