Asthma In Kids An Increasing Epidemic

Many believe that the majority of asthma cases are confined to adults, but this is definitely an incorrect assumption. because asthma in kids has become increasingly common in the last 20 years. We are uncertain as to why this is so, but it is an undoubted fact that in the United States alone there are 5,000,000+ children beneath the age of 18 who suffer from asthmic symptoms.

In a recent study (2004) it was discovered that the #1 cause of absenteeism in school is asthma, accounting for a whopping 14,000,000 lost days in school. According to the American Lung Association, four million kids below the age of 18 had an asthma attack during this year.

Anyone, at any age, can manifest asthmatic symptoms - even infants - but most often symptoms manifest themselves around the young age of five.

Who Is Most Vulnerable To An Asthma Attack?

1. Boys are more likely than girls to be sick in earlier childhood

2. Children of African American descent are more vulnerable than Caucasians, Hispanics or Asians

3. And, not surprisingly, children in our increasingly polluted cities are more vulnerable than kids in the less-crowded suburbs and rural areas

Symptoms Of Childhood Asthma

Childhood asthma is like adult asthma in that the symptoms are generally the same:

* Inflammation in the airways * Coughing * Difficulty in breathing * Wheezing * Rapid breathing * Shortness of breath * Symptoms that worsen at night * Tightness in the chest

There is a special problem with childhood asthma that doesn't apply to adults and that is that children are much less inclined to take care of themselves and thus the parental role is critical. Some kids are simply too young to assume this responsibility while those who are older may have various reasons for neglecting the necessary treatment. For instance, they may dislike being seen as "different" from their classmates or they may be too busy with sports and other activities to monitor their breathing. Thus, an asthma attack that could have been avoided, or at least reduced in severity, is allowed to emerge.

Parents must ensure that:

1. Their child understands and is educated about their asthmatic condition

2. Medications are ingested on a medical schedule

3. And mom and dad can do much to reassure the child so that he doesn't become panicked and afraid, thus worsening his condition.

Without monitoring, childhood asthma may seriously affect a child's general health in a very negative way, possibly even resulting in hospitalization. Asthma in kids must be taken seriously!

What to do if a Child Gets Sick Information for Babysitters

Let's look at these risks in detail:

Type II Diabetes - Diabetes is a serious condition that requires dietary restrictions, and oral or injectible insulin.

Even with appropriate treatment, diabetes has long-term health risks that include circulatory disease, an inability to heal from wounds and injuries, stress on the heart and pulmonary system, and even blindness, stroke and coma.

Diabetes in children is nearly always due to obesity and lack of proper diet and exercise.

Heart Disease - If your child is not getting enough of the right nutrients and enough exercise, they are at risk for early heart disease.

These conditions can require medication and careful monitoring and may lead to long-term heart disease.

Joint and Weight Bearing - Short term growth issues, leg bowing, hip displacement and long term deterioration and disfigurement of the lower joints and bones.

Self Esteem and Confidence Issues - Children who are overweight or obese are self-conscious and typically have low self-esteem and confidence as compared to other children.

They are less likely to TRY to meet challenges and therefore are often unaware of their own competence and skill in most areas of life.

Children will often tease or bully overweight friends and classmates. If you think this is happening to your child, involve the school administration and be sure that your child gets the support they need.

High Blood Pressure - Hypertension is a serious issue, especially in children. High blood pressure puts a significant strain on your child's growing body. It can cause headaches, dizziness, and in some cases can cause stroke and other serious health risks.

High Cholesterol - Can be difficult to control with diet alone, and may require medication. Among the risks of elevated 'bad' cholesterol: Heart attack and stroke.

Depression - Obese children often suffer from depression because of their feelings of self-loathing and/or because of the way they are treated by others.

Depression can also result from lack of exercise and inappropriate stimulation of brain chemicals that balance mood. If your child is isolated by his obesity and has low self-esteem he may experience feelings of hopelessness and begin to lose interest in normal activities. He may sleep more or less than he used to and he may be more emotional than normal.

Some children go in the opposite direction and demonstrate an emotionally 'flat' demeanor instead of being extremely emotional.

If you believe your child is depressed, you should talk with him and with your child's teacher and doctor to agree on a team approach to the problem.

In severe cases, doctors may prescribe medication to get your child through these temporarily trying times until you can get their physical and emotional health back on track.

Sleep Disruption - Lack of exercise can impede production and stimulation of the brain chemicals that control sleep and appetite patterns.

If it is difficult for your child to breathe in certain positions, your child may also suffer from sleep disruption due to conditions like apnea.

If your child is not getting enough sleep to help them grow and to give them mental clarity during the day, you will find that these abnormal sleep patterns will disrupt healthy growth and mental clarity.

Pulmonary Problems - Asthma, wheezing, and shortness of breath are just some of the complications seen in obese children.

Skin Disorders - Overweight and obese children have a tendency toward skin conditions and inflammation, especially if the child has deep skin folds on their body on the abdomen, legs or arms.

Disorders include heat rash, dermatitis and acanthosis nigricans, which may indicate the onset of Type II Diabetes.

Increased Chance of Adult Obesity - An obese child is much more likely to become an obese adult, with lifelong health and emotional problems to match!

There is certainly more to the story but if what we have told you already doesn't frighten you into action, you are probably not paying attention!

Numbers don't lie:

25% of obese children have high blood pressure.

85% of children diagnosed with Type II diabetes are obese

Among grade 9-12 students surveyed in 1999

16% were in the 85th percentile (17% male, 14% female)

10% were in the 95th percentile (12% male, 8% female, )

30% thought of themselves as overweight (36% female, 25% male)

37% of Hispanic students considered themselves overweight

29% of White students considered themselves overweight

25% of Black students considered themselves overweight

43% said they were trying to lose weight (59% female, 26% male)

51% of Hispanic students were trying to lose weight

43% of White students were trying to lose weight

36% of Black students were trying to lose weight

58% used exercise within the past 30 days to lose weight or control weight

67% of girls reported using exercise to lose weight or control weight

49% of boys reported using exercise to lose weight or control weight

40% said they ate less food, consumed fewer calories, or ate foods low in fat to lose weight or control weigh

56% of girls reported eating less food, consuming fewer calories, or eating foods low in fat to lose weight or control weight

25% of boys reporting eating less food, consuming fewer calories, or eating foods low in fat to lose weight or control weight

13% reported fasting (going without eating for 24 hrs or more) to lose weight or control weight

19% of girls reported fasting

6% of boys reported fasting

o8% reporting taking diet pills, liquids or powders WITHOUT consulting a doctor to lose or control weight

11% of girls reported taking diet pills, liquids or powders

4% of boys reported taking diet pills, liquids or powders

5% reported vomiting or taking laxatives to lose or control weight

7% of girls reported using these techniques

2% of boys reported using these techniques

We hope you now understand the risks of your child being overweight or obese.

And you can see from the results of the high-school student survey that adolescents employ many ways (both healthy and unhealthy) to try to cope with their weight.

If your child is younger, you can't wait that long to get them back on track.

If your child is already an adolescent, give them the tools, information and support to get healthy and to lose weight the RIGHT WAY!

Does my child have migraine 5 things to consider

Maybe you have migraine yourself, or someone you know does. You start to wonder if your child is going through the same thing. They might be complaining of headaches, or going through cycles of symptoms that are familiar to migraine sufferers. Here are 5 things to keep in mind as you try to help your child:

1. Migraine can strike in children

More than half of the adult migraineurs (migraine sufferers) report that they had their first headache as a child. Of children with migraine, it's estimated that about a third get their first attack before the age of 5. We know that children as young as 2 deal with migraine, and possibly even infants, although we still don't understand exactly how infants interact with pain.

2. Don't assume your child is just looking for attention

Sometimes it's hard to tell if children are really suffering, or if they're trying to get out of something. Some children of migraineurs may simply imitate the behavior that they've seen in a parent. Dr Sarah Cheyette, a pediatric neurologist and a mother herself, suggests that you not focus on the pain but tell your child they will "feel better soon". At the same time, keep a close watch for yourself and try to see the patterns.

3. Remember that migraine is different in everyone

We're all familiar with the headache pain that often goes along with migraine. But sometimes migraine attacks do not involve pain at all. Some people only see flashing lights. There's nausea. Weakness. Pain in different areas, even the abdomen. Watch for overall patterns in your child that may be related. Look for times when their behavior changes. When they're sick to their stomach. It's up to you to watch for symptoms that your child may not even realize are there.

It was a long time before I was actually diagnosed with headaches. For a long time I just had a vague idea that I "didn't feel well" at various times, though I couldn't really explain it. Your child may be dealing with something similar. Write down what you observe and share it with your doctor.

4. When to contact a doctor

Contact a doctor right away if there is a sudden change in the headaches your child is experiencing. This is especially important if your child gets any of the following symptoms: stiff neck, fever, dizziness, problems breathing, blurred vision, or headaches that are made worse with exertion. Your doctor can guide you through further observation and testing.

5. Learn about the available treatments

There's no reason to panic if you think your child may have migraine. Even if you've struggled with migraine for years yourself, treatments for your child may be different and more effective.

Don't assume that your medication will work for your child. Many adult drugs have not been tested for children and are not known to be safe. The same goes for natural therapies.

However, there are very effective treatments for children. Many common painkillers may be sufficient, as long as they're not taken too often (in many cases twice a week should be the maximum). For many, lifestyle changes can make a huge difference - more exercise, better eating habits, for example. One natural treatment that seems to work very well for children is biofeedback. When it comes to specific migraine drugs, recent trials have found certain doses of Imitrex to be helpful for children.

Children with migraine can look forward to treatments that were not even thought of ten years ago, and they live in a world where we have a far better understanding of migraine every year. Migraine does not have to ruin the life of a childHealth Fitness Articles, but can be an important challenge that you can help them through.

Parents Teach Thought Stopping! Fix Crooked Thinking Caps

Does your child pout, blame and brood? Does he gripe, groan, and grumble? Do you worry about your child’s attitude? If so, maybe your child’s thinking cap is crooked. If it is, you can help. First, understand what’s going haywire under that cap. Second, learn how too many crooked thoughts create crummy thinking habits. Third, teach your child how to straighten his thinking cap and grow into a person of character.

Does your child look, talk, and, feel sad? Perhaps you said “No” to watching TV, or didn’t buy a toy she wanted, or you had to cancel a fun event. It’s perfectly OK for your child to feel sad. It’s not OK when your child broods and feels deeply depressed over every hurt and disappointment. It’s time to help her adjust her thinking cap.

Perhaps your child looks, talks, and feels angry. Maybe you restricted him because of fighting, or told him to quit sassing, or caught him bullying his little brother. It’s natural for a child to feel frustrated when things don’t go his way but it is not all right for him to fuel his frustrations with grudges and hateful thoughts. It’s time to help him adjust his thinking cap.

Let’s say your child looks, talks, and feels worthless for making mistakes. Maybe your child tries to be too perfect and feels regretful when she is not. Maybe she thinks you’ll be disappointed if her report card isn’t excellent, or if she breaks a dish or spills her milk. It’s OK if she feels regret but expanding her regrets into crushing guilt is not. It’s time to help her adjust her thinking cap.

Does your child look, talk, and feel worried? Does he play it safe and avoid challenges? Is he unwilling to try new things? Does he care too much how others think of him? It’s OK for him to feel concern about taking tests, speaking before his class, or when trying to make new friends but inflating his concerns into a habit of worry and fear is not. It’s time to help him adjust his thinking cap.

Occasionally your child may slip into depression, anger, guilt or fear. To stay depressed, angry, guilty or fearful, your child will have to think a lot of negative thoughts. Lots of negative thoughts create a crooked thinking cap.

Perhaps you know adults with “bad” attitudes. Maybe they pity themselves and blame others. Perhaps they look for insults and exaggerate hurts. Maybe they belittle themselves and apologize for every tiny mistake. These adults definitely have crooked thinking caps. To avoid this kind of future for your child and all the pain such thinking causes, let’s find out two ways to adjust your child’s thinking cap.

First, use your good judgment and know there are times when you need to go to your child’s feelings. When your child seems too sad, too angry, too guilty, or too fearful, put your arm around your child and ask, “What’s really wrong?” Listen. Don’t try to change, correct, or put down your child’s thoughts. Just listen. Let your child pour out her heart and listen. When your child is almost done, ask, “Is there more?” Then listen. Congratulations! You’ve probably relieved your child of painful emotion and cleared the air for a new beginning.

The second way to help your child straighten his thinking cap is called THOUGHT-STOPPING. It’s best to teach this technique when your child is not upset and is in a mood to talk with you. The first step is to encourage your child to notice his negative self-talk, like “Everybody hates me.” “It’s not my fault.” “I can’t do it.” The second step is to help your child recall three powerful images of him having done something good that felt great. Here are a few examples of images that may be powerful for your child:

Playing with her pet

Catching his first fish

Learning how to swim

Laughing so hard her sides ached

Doing a great job on his homework

Make sure your child is the one who chooses the positive images. Tell your child that each image must be more powerful than the negative thought.

Teach and practice the following several times when your child is in a good mood. That way your child will know how to use THOUGHT-STOPPING when she needs it.

When your child catches herself brooding on negative thoughts tell her to switch them to one of the positive images by yelling, “Stop!” inside her head to the negative thoughts. Tell your child to stay with the positive image for 30 seconds. (This prevents her from switching back to her negative thinking.) Time the 30 seconds so she’ll know how long it is. Then have your child sayFind Article, “I am in control.” Your child will be too. She’ll be in control of her thinking cap.

You have just explored what goes on under crooked thinking caps. You have learned how crooked thinkers grow into unhappy adults. You have also discovered two techniques to help your child straighten his/her thinking cap. Now it’s time to teach these techniques to your child so that your child grows into a positive person of character.

Jean Tracy has created Thought-Stopping Charts for your convenience.

Making The Child With Juvenile Diabetes Eat The Right Kind Of Food

When a child comes to know that s/he has diabetes, it could be the shock of their life. Give them the proper brief and counseling. Develop a sense of confidence in your child and tell them that there are many delicious recipes that s/he can eat even with diabetes.

The children used to waste lots of water from the Community Well. It was a problem for the old man, who had the responsibility of looking after the well. He knew that physical punishment is not the solution for this problem. He solved the issue with a song:

Children, children listen to me,

Waste no water, waster no water,

There is a ghost near this well,

If you spill the water, it will drag you to hell!

The children stopped spilling water.

Children are very difficult to deal with in the matter of their food habits. They can be changed with love and understanding. Never, by hard and fast rules!

When a child comes to know that s/he has diabetes, it could be the shock of their life. Give them the proper brief and counseling. Develop a sense of confidence in your child and tell them that there are many delicious recipes that s/he can eat even with diabetes. You can indeed inspire the child to learn the secrets behind the making of these wonder recipes.

These recipes will help the curing of the diabetes! Your child will love the freedom that you are willing to give them in using the kitchen. But before that, give your child proper training in using the kitchen appliances.

To begin with, the kid can start with salads. S/he can learn to cut it, arrange it, put lemon juice on it. Some other items they can try at the initial stages are: Bruschetta Turnovers, Dude Ranch Dip, Mushroom Pizza, Bread Snacks, Stuffed Mushroom Caps and the likes.

As you have given your child the kitchen-freedom, it does not mean that you will shut your eyes and enjoy it. Encourage the child to experiment with the new food items, but in tune with the treatment of the diabetes.

In the meantime, do not hesitate to tender piece-meal advice and pep-talks. Tell them: How its soda drinking was wrong, in place of fresh milk. How juice is good for their health, than the colas that contributed to the factor of diabetes. The sure way to deal with the extra weight is that he has to get up early and start the day with the glass of lukewarm water with honey and lime juice. How Indian gooseberry is good for calcium in bones. How cold drinks and cold coffee, has large amounts of caffeine, which is the root cause several dangerous diseases?

Understand the psychology of the child in its proper perspective and let its learning process be continuous and educative from the point of view of diet.

And lastly, the fact you should tell the child about diabetes. The main cause of diabetes is the impaired metabolism. After proper digestion of the food that we consume, glucose travels to the bloodstream, to be available as energy for the cells for growth and proper maintenance of the body, in its day to day functions. SoArticle Search, the recipes of the kids with juvenile diabetes need to conform to this basic objective.

Parenting Guide Helping A Child To Cope With Acne

Don't blame the child for its acne. You, by experience or education, know how to handle your acne. But the child does not know much about this new development on the skin.

It won't be harsh to say that acne erupts on your skin like a bolt from the blue. You don't wish to accept acne. You just tolerate it with great difficulty. What ails you most now, is that your child too has acne. This suffering for your child has caused more anguish in you. You, by experience or education, know how to handle your acne. But the child does not know much about this new development on the skin. The kid is just irritated. What you need is to prevent them from doing something rash and negligent.

Naturally, the child looks forward to you, for remedy from this suffering. If you are in a position to convince him with genuine explanation about the possible time acne will take to disappear, the child will naturally happy. You need to give your child the authentic information. For that you must have up to date knowledge on the subject.

At the early stage itself, try to provide the child with the best possible treatment. The very fact that you consult the doctor and provide proper medications helps to soothe the agitated and upset child. Children love the assurance of the man with stethoscope dangling on his neck.

Don't blame the child for its acne. It is no fault of his. It is no fault of his diet. Ensure the kid that acne is not due to the result of his negligence. Tell him to ignore the rumor mongering of other children and the myths they try to build around acne. The psychological effects of acne are more than the actual physical effects. Do not allow the child to get depressed.

Somehow, the child begins to develop a sort of inferiority complex on being attacked by acne. Your child wishes to avoid company and would prefer to sit in the last bench in the class. He prefers not to take part in extra curricular and cultural activities of the school. This is the time, when you need to prevent the child from becoming a loner. He needs to mix freely with his friends and teachers, as if nothing has happened to him.

Please be emphatic in convincing the child, that physical appearance alone is not everything. Pay special attention to his other achievements, and tell him how happy you are about his sterling qualities and achievements.

Never get impatient, if acne recovery in your child takes time. It is very important for you control your temper, given the stressful period through which your child is passing through.

Behave with the child normallyFind Article, as if nothing has happened to him!

10 Easy Ways to a Healthy Diet for Kids

Creating a Healthy Home can be easier than you think.

Creating a nutritionally healthy home is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the health of your child. To start, make smart food choices, and help your child develop a positive relationship with healthy food. Your children will learn their food smarts from your example.

Here are the top 10 tips for getting children to eat healthy food:

1) Do not restrict food. Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can also have a negative effect on growth and development. Also by restricting food you will actually increase the risk of overeating later in the day which will cause weight gain.

2) Keep healthy food at hand. Children will eat what's readily available. Keep fruit in a bowl on the counter, not buried in the crisper section of your fridge. Remember, your child can only choose foods that you stock in the house, by limiting ‘junk food’ you will, by default, teach your child how to choose healthier foods.

3) Don't label foods as "good" or "bad." Instead, tie foods to the things your child cares about, such as sports, academics and hobbies. Let your child know that lean protein such as turkey and calcium in dairy products give strength to their sports and academic performance, the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables add luster to skin and hair and the carbs in whole grains will give them energy to play.

4) Praise healthy choices. Give your children a proud smile and tell them how smart they are when they choose healthy foods. Kids thrive on positive reinforcement!

5) Don't nag about unhealthy choices. If your child chooses unhealthy foods infrequently, ignore it. However, if your child always wants fatty, fried food, redirect the choice. You might try roasting potato sticks in the oven (tossed in just a bit of oil) instead of buying french fries. Or, if your child wants candy, you might make fresh strawberries dipped in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy? Then keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for quick snacks. With consistent effort taste buds change and soon your child will be craving healthy foods.

6) Never use food as a reward. This could create weight problems in later life. Instead, reward your children with something physical and fun -- perhaps a trip to the park or a quick game of catch.

7) Sit down to family dinners at night. If this isn't a tradition in your home, it should be. Research shows that children who eat dinners at the table with their parents have better nutrition and are less likely to get in serious trouble as teenagers. Start with one night a week, and then work up to three or four, to gradually build the habit.

8) Prepare plates in the kitchen. There you can put healthy portions of each item on everyone's dinner plate. Your children will learn to recognize correct portion sizes. Too often people go for seconds and even thirds just because the food is right there. You might notice that you need less food to feel full!

9) Give the kids some control. Ask your children to take three bites of all the foods on their plate and give it a grade, such as A, B, C, D, or F. When healthy foods - especially certain vegetables -- get high marks, serve them more often. Offer the items your children don't like less frequently. This lets your children participate in decision making. After allPsychology Articles, dining is a family affair!

10) Consult your pediatrician. Always talk with your child's doctor before putting your child on a diet or making any significant changes in the type of foods your child eats. Never diagnose your child as too heavy by yourself. If weight change is recommended seek the help of a Dietitian.