Stars for Kids

Archive for the ‘childrens health’ Category

Most of us, whether we are medical doctors, chiropractors, other health professionals, or laypeople know by now that one in three US children are obese. But, did you also know that studies have found that nearly one in five children becomes overweight or obese by age 6, and that more than half of obese children become overweight before the age of 2? And, if those statistics don’t shock you, try this: Nearly 6 percent of infants younger than six months are overweight today, up from 3.4 percent between 1980 and 2001. The “chubby baby” that, back in the day, epitomized good health (as opposed to malnutrition) is now a dangerous sign that childhood obesity is happening “from the start.”

First lady Michelle Obama, our country’s children’s health advocate, who released 70 goals as part of the government’s campaign against childhood obesity, said that panel found that women could help reduce childhood obesity by 1) maintaining a healthy weight when they become pregnant and 2) by breast-feeding their babies. “For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family and one community at a time,” Mrs. Obama said.

Obese and overweight children are at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other illnesses, and some public health experts say, if this trend isn’t remedied, children today may live shorter lives than their parents. Mrs. Obama said that the goal is to solve the problem so babies born today will come of age at a healthy weight. Of course, there’s much to be done, but the problem is urgent indeed. And, though over dozen federal agencies, including the Education, Agriculture, Health, Interior and Transportation departments, participated in the Childhood Obesity Task Force, it holds an “advisory only” position.

We can all become children’s health advocates by writing to our government representatives and letting them know that that we want action, in addition to advice, when it comes to the health of our country’s children, such as the proactive step that Congress has taken to begin the process of updating the guidelines for foods served in schools, including what is offered by vending machines.

Technorati Tags: breastfeeding, childhood obesity, Childhood Obesity Task Force, childrens health

Did you know that over the period of a decade, medication side effects have sent over half a million American children to outpatient clinics and emergency rooms annually? As a pediatric chiropractor who believes in a conservative, natural, drug-free chiropractic approach to children’s health whenever possible, I find that figure very disturbing. The statistic comes from a group of researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston. Their findings were recently published in the journal Pediatrics. The study found that between the years 1995 and 2005, a total of 585,922 incidents of adverse drug events occurred annually among children 18 years and younger. Although most of these children received treatment at outpatient clinics, 22 percent resulted in a visit to a hospital emergency room.

The study analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics and found that as many as 13 outpatient visits per 1,000 children occur due to drug-related adverse events; an indication that medication complications are common in pediatric care. The greatest risk of medication side effects was discovered to be among children ages four and younger, accounting for approximately 43 percent of all events. The second highest risk was found to be among teens between the ages of 15 and 18 at a total of 23 percent.

For more valuable information regarding this important study, go to healthnews.com.

Technorati Tags: Children's Hosptial in Boston, drug-related adverse reaction, medication side effects

As a chiropractor I treat many children. Pediatric chiropractic can help boost a child’s immune system, get rid of headaches, improve gait and posture, and even help with bedwetting. Unfortunately, severe illness can’t always be prevented and sometimes children need special medical treatment in a hospital. If you’ve been with a hospitalized child then you know how frightening it can be for him or her. So I was thrilled to read that Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA has a new mobile tool to deliver music therapy and help pediatric patients cope with the fear, isolation and pain associated with being in the hospital.

Music therapy is used to help alleviate pain, improve a young patient’s mood, stimulate movement and communication, calm anxieties and fears, promote relaxation, and make the hospital feel more like home. The Music Rx unit is a high-tech, interactive studio on wheels that includes everything necessary for music therapy, both in group settings and one-on-one. It holds a variety of instruments, including drums, keyboards and guitars, as well as Apple GarageBand software for recording music, a custom-built iPod docking station with 10 iPods to loan, and a large LCD screen that plays hundreds of music videos.

The Music Rx cart was donated to UCLA’s Child Life/Child Development Services department by the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), with support from the Starlight Children’s Foundation. UCLA is one of first hospitals to participate in the CCA’s nationwide expansion of the Music Rx program, which began in Portland, Oregon. A CCA study of Music Rx showed that the program had a positive effect on a child’s mood, family bonding and pain scores, compared with those who did not receive the music therapy.

A second component of the Music Rx program features a live music element, with professional harpists, cellists, flautists and other community musicians playing soothing music in the pediatric hallways.

When children are seriously ill, they need more than conventional medicine. Music therapy may be the answer.

For more information, go to: medicalnewstoday

Technorati Tags: hospitalized children, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, music therapy

As a chiropractor and children’s health advocate I was very excited when I read the article in the New York Times this morning about the crackdown by the Food and Drug Administration on the sale of flavored cigarettes. The announcement was made by Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of food and drugs. The ban is intended to end the sale of tobacco products with chocolate, vanilla, clove and other flavorings that lure children and teenagers into smoking. The agency will study regulating menthol products and hinted that it might soon take action against the far larger market of flavored small cigars and cigarillos. “These flavored cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular smokers,” Dr. Hamburg said in announcing the ban.

Laws are required, and should be strenuously enforced, when there seems to be no conscience on the part of big business, especially when it comes to the health of our children. This ban is wonderful news as studies show that every day 3,600 children and teenagers start smoking and 1,100 become daily smokers.

Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, hailed Tuesday’s announcement and said it clearly applied to flavored small cigars that are virtually identical to cigarettes. “The F.D.A. demonstrated that they’re serious about enforcing the ban on flavored cigarettes and serious about preventing tobacco companies from circumventing that ban with other tobacco products that appeal to children,” Mr. Myers said.

For the full article and sources, go to: nytimes.com

Technorati Tags: childrens health, flavored cigarettes, Food and Drug Administration