HEALTH - Vitamins for my Child?

Friday, 01 August 2014 13:30

Vitamins for my Child?

Written by  Dr. Brent Barlow

All parents want their children to be as healthy as possible and most parents do whatever they can to support their children. Many parents bring their children into see me not necessarily to treat specific medical conditions but to determine what they can do to support the health of their children. One of the most common questions they ask is, “Should my child take vitamin supplements?”

I typically recommend most infants and toddlers under the age of two get the majority of their vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other essential nutrients through breast milk and dietary intake. These are the most natural and pure sources of the essential nutrients. The exception to this is vitamin D, which all infants should get 400 IU/day. I typically recommend most children over the age of two take a daily multivitamin to enhance their nutritional intake.

Mom’s nutrition is especially important for the breastfeeding child because a great deal of essential nutrients are passed to the child through mother’s milk. At this stage, it is often more important to support mom with nutritional advice and supplementation than the child.

For children who are not breast-feeding, their dietary intake is extremely important. I always work with parents to help them devise a healthy eating strategy to ensure optimal dietary intake of the essential nutrients. However, if the child has a limited diet, digestive disorder, or another medical condition requiring higher doses of an essential nutrient I usually look at supplementing their diet with the lacking nutrient(s).

The most common supplement I prescribe to children both over and under the age of two is a multivitamin. A multi is such an important supplement because it gently supplements the deficiency of any of the most essential vitamins and minerals. The most important aspect of a multivitamin for children is its purity. I recommend avoiding any multi containing artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, binders, and fillers. There is no need for these harmful nutrients and these products may do more harm than good for young children.

I recommend multivitamins that are free of these unwanted artificial ingredients, contain age-appropriate doses, and come in a liquid or chewable form for optimal digestion and absorption. There are a plethora of vitamin products for children at pharmacies, health food stores, and big box stores. When deciding on whether your young child should supplement I recommend you speak with your naturopathic doctor or a healthcare professional well versed in natural health. If supplementation is deemed beneficial I recommend using the most pure products available and avoiding the artificial products we most often see on the shelves.

Source: http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/articles/vitamins-and-supplements/vitamins-for-my-child.html

HEALTH - How to prevent childhood allergies

Four steps you can take to help protect your kids from childhood allergies

Allergic diseases have almost doubled over the last 25 years, with an increasing prevalence in childhood allergies such as eczema, hay fever,asthma and food allergies. There are different theories as to the reasons for this. Recent findings from the University of Montreal attributed excessive cleanliness to the increase in childhood allergies.

Apparently, the more sterile a child's environment, the greater the risk of them developing allergies. Over-sterilising a child's environment not only kills off harmful bacteria but beneficial microorganisms that help build a diverse range of intestinal flora. A healthy balance of intestinal flora is needed for a strong immune system, digestion and synthesis of B vitamins and vitamin K.

Reducing allergy risk

Probiotics: These contain beneficial bacteria that help enrich babies' intestinal flora, strengthening their immune system and reducing the risk of allergies. Mothers consuming probiotics during pregnancy can also help reduce allergies in childhood.

Breastfeeding: It's not necessarily good for every woman, but for those who can, breastfeeding for at least six months, and ideally for one to two years, reduces the risk of allergies in babies. Breast milk is rich in important immune-boosting factors to protect baby against a number of infections and diseases.

Weaning: Introducing solids too early can increase the likelihood of your baby developing allergies or food intolerances. Before six months of age, infants are less likely to handle immune challenges from new foods as their intestinal flora and metabolism are under-developed.

Foods: Children are commonly allergic to milk, wheat, gluten, eggs, soy and peanuts.

Allergies have a strong genetic link. Where there is family history of food allergy, wait until your child is over one year old before introducing potentially allergenic food.

Source: http://mums.bodyandsoul.com.au/

HEALTH - Heavy school bags take toll on children’s backs

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has been calling on the education authorities for some years now to address the problem of heavy school bags.

In this University Putra Malaysia study carried out by Tamrin SBM and his colleagues, it was found that as high as 58.3% of the schoolchildren studied reported having low back pain associated with carrying heavy school bags.

The researchers postulated that the high prevalence of low back pain associated with heavy loads can be linked to the fact that most of the schoolchildren who were studied were carrying a school bag with a weight of 15% of their own body weight. This is the upper limit recommendation advocated by many health practitioners.
 

The study also showed that female children were less efficient in carrying loads on their backs. Also, younger schoolchildren’s ability to carry loads was found to be less efficient, in terms of energy used, compared to older children who tended to use their muscles more efficiently to carry loads on their backs. These findings were consistent with the results of other authors who stated that younger children do have a problem carrying heavy school bags.

Overall, it was concluded that there was a high prevalence of low back pain among the younger school children and this pointed towards the need to evaluate whether young children should be carrying any load at all, let alone such heavy school bags, as they face the risk of lower back pain in the future.

A few years back, CAP conducted a random survey on over 200 primary school children. Our results showed that about 40% of them were carrying schoolbags that were over 20%, or over a fifth, of their own body weights. Some guidelines recommend that such weights should not exceed 10% of a child’s weight.

Excessive and uneven loads have been linked to an increased risk of back trouble and deformation of the spine. Stresses from these excess weights may cause harm and may adversely affect the growth of the musculo-skeletal system.

CAP once again calls on the Education Ministry to urgently look into the problem of heavy school bags. The adverse health effects are potentially serious - not only exerting immediate effects on children, but they may also be setting the stage where these future young adults have to bear a host of chronic back problems.

Source: http://consumer.org.my/

PERCEPTION - Why the celebration of A’s is bad

The yearly examination results announcement season is here again and as usual the nation celebrates the achievements of top scorers not realizing that Malaysians' preoccupation with "scoring" in school examinations does no one any favours.

For the high-achieving students themselves, it instills the perception that straight A’s are the be-all and end-all of school life. Co-curricular activities and simply socialising with friends -- so important in developing a child's social skills -- may thereby be neglected. Moreover, the pressure to keep on getting top marks could prove overbearing, and if the student should fare less well in a subsequent exam, there might be adverse effects on his or her emotional health sometimes resulting in depression or even suicides.

On their part, the non-top-scorers may feel as if they are left by the wayside amid the glorification of good grades, and end up having a sense of low self-worth and an inferiority complex.

Nor is society as a whole best served by the race for A’s. The prevailing exam culture has fostered a dependence on uncritical rote learning which will not help the cause of promoting creativity and innovation in the long run. And as has been well documented, many leading lights in business, the arts and science, such as Albert Einstein, James Cameron and Steve Jobs, were in fact dropouts. The examination-based education system can in fact stifle creativity, original and critical thinking as such different modes of thought usually give us varied answers.

All this is not, of course, to celebrate mediocrity; on the contrary, we should always strive to improve ourselves and pursue high achievement. At the same time, we must also recognise that achievement comes in myriad forms, not just a string of A’s on the exam results slip. While some people may be academically inclined, others may be good with their hands, have innate artistic abilities, be natural people persons ... and the list goes on. Although these life skills do not feature in our examinations, they are often more important than academic skills because working life demands these communication, interpersonal, leadership and other qualities, often more than the technical skills.

Rethink of our priorities may thus be in order. Instead of emphasising A’s at all costs, let us work towards an education system that nurtures well-rounded individuals and offers each student the opportunity to be the best they can be -- now that would be something we can really be proud off.

The celebration of academic achievements through news reports should be stopped as it only serves to strengthen our preoccupation with academic achievements. We are producing skewed students who know a lot about examination-taking but lack other real life skills.

-- Letter of Editor, 27 November 2012

Source: http://consumer.org.my/

PARENTING - Changing Your Child's Attitude

WebMD Live Events Transcript

Does your child have attitude? You know what we mean -- rude, selfish, insensitive, irresponsible, jealous, judgmental, lazy -- the list goes on! Had enough? Parenting expert Michele Borba, EdD, author of Don't Give Me That Attitude!, joined us on June 10, 2004, to offer practical advice on how you can help your child get an attitude adjustment.

The opinions expressed herein are the guests' alone and have not been reviewed by a WebMD physician. If you have questions about your health, you should consult your personal physician. This event is meant for informational purposes only.

MODERATOR:
Welcome to WebMD Live, Dr. Borba. What's up with kids and attitude? Where are they getting this?

BORBA:
Attitudes are learned, and we're not talking personality temperament. We are talking about changing your child from being disrespectful to respectful, or from demanding to considerate. Also, from bad temper to more peaceful.

First, it could be from a toxic world, copying from friends, and the media is pretty raunchy these days and they're watching it. Parental guilt; we hate to say no to our kids, especially after we've worked all day long. Or keeping up with the neighbor next door; we always want our kids to have what they have. Bottom line is that there's no one reason where they are coming from. But you can turn those bad attitudes around.

MODERATOR:
Where do you start?

BORBA:
The first step is to figure out which attitude you want to change. The first mistake is being too generic and saying, "He's got an attitude." But what is he specifically doing that needs tuning up? The more specific you are, the better chance of having him turn it around. Pretend you are videoing your child the last couple of times he gave you the attitude. Write down what you heard him say or saw him do that bothered you. Now put a name to it, and that's the attitude that you want to stop.

Second step, you need a plan. You need a good plan to turn it around. Because what you are currently doing isn't working. You need a new response. Don't Give Me That Attitude will give you 24 specific makeover plans.

The third thing is you need to commit to that plan for at least three weeks.

MODERATOR:
Why three weeks?

BORBA:
Because an attitude is a habit. It's not like a behavior that's a quick time-out. These attitudes are your child's operating premise for life. So new attitudes or habits we know usually take around three weeks. The reason most of our kid attitudes don't go away is that we don't use the plan long enough. If you want a hint on this one, check out your New Year's resolution from last year. The average resolution lasts three to four days; then we quit. Your parenting goal is to completely change your child's attitude. It's not a one-stop lecture, but a good three-week plan to stay committed to it. This is doable.

A trick with some attitudes is what I call four square. This is how to figure out what's working and what's not with your child:

• Take a piece of paper and fold it into fours.
• On the first square write what it is that is bothering you. Be specific about what he is doing or saying that is bothering you.
• Move to the next square. Write down when he does it. Is there a specific time you see the attitude flaring up? Maybe it's at 4:00 in the afternoon or maybe first thing in the morning. When did it start? You may get a clue when you think about it, that it started when he first started fourth grade. Maybe the class was too hard.
• The next square is "where." Where is he doing it? Only in class? Only at home? Only at the soccer field? You may see a pattern for why he is using the attitude.
• The last square is "who." Who does he do it with and whom does he not do it with? This is a big clue also. Kids use attitude because they work. You'll discover that drives parents crazy. "He doesn't do it with so and so, only with me."
• Flip the paper over and write "how." How are you currently responding to your child? And what are you going to do differently next time?

Attitudes are learned. Children use them because they work. Pretend you're Colombo and figure out what's going on and why the child is using the attitude. It's a big part of getting rid of it. You may see a pattern that you may not have been aware of.

"Attitudes are learned. Children use them because they work. Pretend you're Colombo and figure out what's going on and why the child is using the attitude."

MEMBER QUESTION:
I thought this might be able to help me with my son. He is 12 and I can't get him to do anything. He is very lazy. It has gotten to the point that he will take his clothes off anywhere and leave them. What are a few things that I can try with him? I have taken all of his free-time things away from him and he just doesn't care. Is it OK to take all the extras way from them or does that just feed the fire that they already have? 

BORBA:
It feeds the fire. Set the consequence to the clothes on the ground, because consequences should be natural. Consequences have to fit the crime. He's lazy, he won't pick up the clothes. He's learned that leaving them on the floor works. There's no consequence to it. You set a new rule: "If I pick up the clothes, you don't get them." What happens after a while (the first few he won't care) is he won't have anything left in the closet. Pick your battles wisely, and after a while, to get the clothes back he has to fold them and do his own laundry to get them. 

A big recommendation: buy earplugs, because it's going to be a battle for awhile, but stick to the battle. You have to follow through, because he will test you. Keep up with it until he realizes you mean business. 

MEMBER QUESTION:
Should I start to give his things back to him one by one or just give them all back and say something like, "Here are all your things back; lets try to start over?" 

BORBA:
NO! You don't give it back until the child turns his attitude around. Your job is not to turn your behavior around but his. At age 12 you can have him sign a contract of what he'll do differently, like his own laundry or picking up his own clothes. Create new rules of engagement. Because the other part didn't work; he simply didn't care. The consequence must be fair, clear, fit the crime, and be consistently enforced. So for a 12-year-old, writing a contract ahead of time with both of you signing it may be helpful. 

The final part is that you have to be calm when you do it. No more nagging, no more lecturing, because that will also feed the fire.MEMBER QUESTION:
My child is very controlling with her friends and wants to boss them around. How can I make her see that she is turning them away? 

BORBA:
Ask yourself, why the need to be controlling? That's a big secret to how you will turn it around. Is it because she's insecure; doesn't know how to be a friend; her friends are passive? Has it been modeled after someone else? 

The second step is "The Talk," where you sit down and describe the reactions of the kids. "Did you see how Sally didn't like that; that she was looking kind of unhappy that she was here?" Don't assume that your child sees those cues. 

The third step is that you need to teach her how to be more considerate, and for a demanding, controlling kid, teach her old-time gimmicks like, "If you come to my house, the guest gets to choose first." That's one rule. Another rule is the sand timer. Your guest gets to play for five minutes; then it's your turn. You have to ease control from your child so there's more control for the other kids. You can even teach rock, paper, scissors, or even flip a coin. 

Then the final step is to demand she be more considerate. If those things don't work, then the friends have to go home early, because eventually this will backfire and your child will lose the friend. 

Kids pick up attitudes because they work. They start around the age of 3. All attitudes are learned because kids figure out that they work. The little manipulator at age 3 charms Daddy, and still does it at age 10. 

MEMBER QUESTION:
Our 5-year-old is often rude, selfish, and belligerent despite the application of various timeouts, loss of privileges, and spankings. He will disobey despite warnings of consequences, which vary according to each situation. He always gets three warnings. After the third warning, if the behavior repeats consequences are immediate. There are never more than three warnings and consequences are consistently applied. Why does he continue to misbehave despite the warnings? 

BORBA:
I hate warnings. First of all, for any rude child you don't get three warnings. You struck out the first time you're rude. The child is upping you. So you need to get back into control of the child. They are humans, and they will test. They want to see how far they can go. You wouldn't be able to get away with doing that as an adult; don't let your child. 

"The best approach to any flippant kid is to refuse to engage. Just simply turn and say, 'When you can talk nice, we can talk.'"

MEMBER QUESTION:
I have a 16-year-old daughter. She is negative about everything. I am constantly reminding her that when she was young I told her if she has nothing good to say, don't say anything at all. Will this pass? It's to the point I don't even want to speak to her! 

BORBA:
You are not alone. More and more kids are becoming very cynical, and negativity is learned. To change a negative thinking pattern, help her learn to catch her thinking. So stop nagging it. Use a signal. The secret is, she has to be aware of it. There's a great book called The Optimistic Child. It is wonderful for how to change negative thinking patterns. That's the first step.

MEMBER QUESTION:
My daughter is 11 going on 16 and she is always on the defensive. She back talks more and more to her dad and me. She has a huge heart and will do almost anything you ask her but then she is the opposite all in the same day!

BORBA:
Eleven is also going on preadolescent hormones, which will escalate in the next few years. Step one is to use the silent treatment. The best approach to any flippant kid is to refuse to engage. Just simply turn and say, "When you can talk nice, we can talk." But don't talk until she can talk nicely.

If needed, lock yourself in the bathroom. She's using it because she's getting away with it. Alter your response and she will begin to alter hers when she knows you mean business. Get Dad onboard with you.

MEMBER QUESTION:
My son is a superb athlete. However, he brags about his accomplishments. While he is extremely good and is told so by coaches, he shouldn't toot his own horn so much, especially with his teammates. He is turning the other boys off to him as a person. What can we do?

BORBA:
Lower the curtain on his bragging. You are right. This will turn kids off more than you know. The best approach I saw was a coach who told me that his son was the best player on the team, and benched him anytime he displayed poor sportsmanship, which was also bragging. The message was clear, not only to the child but also to the team, and he never did it again.

Keep in mind that if you don't stop this, people will remember not how good he is, but what a braggart he is. Set up a penalty in your own home for it, to clearly not allow it. Be clear to him so he knows there will be a penalty.

MEMBER QUESTION:
I am concerned about my children's anger. They treat my husband and me very rudely and they think everything revolves around them. I was told to try to claim back the control that the children have. How do you do it when they are ages 18, 14, and 12? They are so sassy and bold. 

BORBA:
You still have control over the car keys, their phone; it's all a matter of how much you want to get the control back. You are paying the rent and letting them have the car keys. So the consequences are ones you control only, like the phone, computer, TV, and you can remove those. Then they'll know you mean business. You have to follow through, and you must be diligent that you will follow through, or you will never turn this around. 

A lot of parents use consequences that they don't have control over. So make sure the consequence is one that you have power over. You can shut off the computer. You can put the phone away. Find the ones that you have the power over, and that means that you have the power over the child. Take the TV out of their room. Drop the instant messaging service on their computer. 

MEMBER QUESTION:
This is really hard for me to tell you, but I have a question about it, so, one day I asked my son to pick up his clothes. He told me no -- that I couldn't tell him what to do and really said something that he shouldn't have said to me and about me. Well, I backhanded him, which is something I never do. I don't smack my kids. I made his nose bleed and now here it is two months later and he says, "Go ahead hit me and make me bleed again; you know you want to." What can I try to do to make him understand that I didn't mean to hit him and get him to stop throwing that one time in my face? 

BORBA:
I don't know what you've tried before, but everyone makes an honest mistake, including (surprise, surprise) parents. So my strongest suggestion is to sit down and offer a sincere apology. Admit the mistake. And then from this moment on, clear your conscience, because your child is throwing this back in your face each time; because he knows how to push the button; and the button he's pushing is guilt. Your best defense is going to be tough, but you need to ignore it. Otherwise, he'll continually use it. 

MEMBER QUESTION:
I have a 14-year-old son with Down syndrome. How can I tell when the attitudes are due to the Downs or puberty? And are solutions and strategies the same for mentally challenged youngsters? 

BORBA:
Yes. Because he may be 14, but he may be operating at a 5-year-old level. My biggest advice to you is don't allow your child's handicap to be an excuse for bad behavior. It's easy to do, and I understand it, but it will get in the way of your child's reputation. Your best approach is to stop him immediately. Say, "Stop! That's not how we act." Now play it again, which means do it over. And your child should be able to stop when he's calm, and replay it. For the child with Down syndrome, you can hit the rewind button on your video player so he understands, then have him do it over. One of the most important things that you can instill in your children is good manners.

"A lot of parents use consequences that they don't have control over. So make sure the consequence is one that you have power over. You can shut off the computer. You can put the phone away. "

MEMBER QUESTION:
I have a grandchild (middle child, male) who appears to feel that whenever he is chastised (lectured, in his words) that we are wrong to do that to him and that it means no one but him ever does anything wrong (he has three other siblings who get chastised at least as often as he does) How do we get to a point where he will accept correction? 

BORBA:
The key thing you are doing is trying to explain things to make things fair. And life is not fair. You're putting too much into the explanation. And the child has picked up an attitude that works, in that he says, "You are picking on me." That's the secret. Someplace along the line he's picked up that notion, and you need to stop, give the criticism that's short, that addresses only the behavior and not him, and then walk away. And don't listen to anything else. 

The other thing is, you all need to be onboard with this plan, meaning parents and grandparents alike. After a while, he'll get the picture. 

MEMBER QUESTION:
My children are three years apart. My daughter being the oldest at 8 is very jealous of her little brother. It has been this way since day one. She is the first child and grandchild. She always says we love him more than her etc. It seems that no matter how much I try to correct the behavior by reassuring her that what she says is not true and that when she was his age we treated her the same, she doesn't change. She also talks to him in a voice with attitude that is very short. Any ideas of what else I can do to stop this behavior? 

BORBA:
First, you've tried to be fair for a very long time. And you've continued to try to tell her that you feel the same way about both of them. The best approach from now on is, one, no longer give the responses back when she says you love him more. Don't respond. You could respond with, "I'm sorry you feel that way," or don't respond at all. She's learned that to bait you verbally. 

Secondly, ask yourself if it's legitimate. Are there any ground rules that she may be correct about? If so, alter your behavior. Ask yourself what is triggering it. Could she have low self-esteem, or maybe she's insecure? One-on-one time would work, or even posting on a calendar "here's my time with you," so she can see it, could help. 

Finally, avoid any comparisons or labels. He's smart, he's athletic, etc.MEMBER QUESTION:
My granddaughter is 2 1/2 years old. She is generally a playful child, but she is at times rude and not friendly. She does not want to come and play with us; pushes us away; says "Don't want you." She is stubborn and wants to have her way. She screams in public. What do we do? 

BORBA:
Let's address each behavior. First, being rude. When she's rude, take her shoulders and stop her on the spot. Say, "That's not how we talk. My ears hear only nice things." Say it again, or go sit by yourself for two minutes (one minute per year for the child's age). 

The stubborn and wants-to-have-her-way behavior says you are letting her have too much control. Be calm but consistent, and choose your battles. Don't let her get the control; she's learning it. 

With screaming in public, you're going to have to be inconvenienced. That is, you remove her immediately. Anyplace you are in public, go home or sit in the car. She needs to know it won't be tolerated. She'll keep screaming in public because it works. Don't give in or give her something. 

The key is, for all three behaviors, to be consistent. At age 2 ½ , she's learning the behaviors, and they will escalate. One tip, if you watch her you can usually see in a 2 ½-year-old, right before the melt down or scream, that she's starting to get into that mode. Distract her before she gets there. For a temper tantrum, very often they don't have the words to say, for instance, "I'm tired." You can stop the tantrum by getting to eye level and say the words, "It looks like you're tired, or it looks like you want a cookie." And it will often stop it from going further. 

"Your attitude shapes your children's destiny and their reputation as a human being. The big mistake is thinking, 'It's just a phase,' and that it will go away."

MEMBER QUESTION:
I am a new stepmom; I have raised two children, 23 and 11. I have parameters with my 11-year-old son, but my new husband doesn't set rules with his children (12, 14, and 18). What should I do? 

BORBA:
The thing is, unless you can convince the husband to get on the same page, it will be a nightmare. You both need to be in agreement of expectations in the home, especially if the 11- and 12-year-old are living in the same house. 

Another approach is to sit down with all of you together and try to create family rules. Set up your own family contract. You will at least be hearing what everyone's views are. Good luck. 

MODERATOR:
Dr. Borba, we are almost out of time. Do you have any final words of wisdom for us? 

BORBA:
Most important is to recognize your influence as a parent. Your attitude shapes your children's destiny and their reputation as a human being. The big mistake is thinking, "It's just a phase," and that it will go away. If they're learned, you can turn them around. You need a good makeover plan. Don't Give Me That Attitude gives you 24 customized makeover plans for the attitudes that annoy parents the most. Don't read the whole book; just turn to the attitudes that you want to change, commit yourself to doing the makeover, and stick to it for 21 days. 

MODERATOR:
Thanks to Michele Borba, EdD, for sharing her expertise with us. For more information, please read her book, Don't Give Me That Attitude . And be sure to visit our message boards to talk with others and ask questions of our experts. You'll be welcomed warmly! 

Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/

MARIJUANA - Facts Parents Need to Know

A Letter to Parents

We at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are pleased to offer these two short booklets for parents and children to review the scientific facts about marijuana: (1) Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know and (2) Marijuana: Facts for Teens. Although it is best to talk about drugs when children are young—since that is when drug use often begins—it is never too late to start the conversation.

Marijuana remains the most abused illegal substance among youth. By the time they graduate high school, about 46 percent of U.S. teens will have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. Although use among teens dropped dramatically in the previous decade (to a prevalence of about 12.4 percent for past-month use in 2007), adolescent marijuana use is again on the upswing. In 2013, nearly 23 percent of high school seniors were current marijuana users, and 6.5 percent used marijuana daily. The annual Monitoring the Future survey, which has been tracking teen attitudes and drug use since 1975, shows that use of marijuana over time is directly related to how safe teens perceive the drug to be; currently the number of teens who think marijuana users risk harming themselves is declining. This, despite growing scientific evidence that marijuana use during the teen years can permanently lower a person’s IQ and interfere with other aspects of functioning and well-being.

Survey results show that we still have a long way to go in our efforts to prevent marijuana use and avoid the toll it can take on a young person’s life. NIDA recognizes that parents have an important role in this effort and can strongly influence their children’s attitudes and behaviors. However, the subject of marijuana use has become increasingly difficult to talk about—in part, because of the mixed messages being conveyed by the passage of medical marijuana laws and legalization of marijuana in some States. In addition, many parents of today’s teens may have used marijuana when they were younger, which could make talking openly and setting definitive rules about its use more difficult.

Talking to our children about drug use is not always easy, but it is crucial. You can also get involved in your community and seek out drug abuse prevention programs that you and your child can participate in together. Sometimes, just beginning the conversation is the hardest part. I hope these booklets can help.

Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse

Source: http://www.drugabuse.gov/

FOOD SAFETY - Baby foods, cereals and crisps found to contain raised levels of cancer risk chemicals

Baby foods, cereals and crisps found to contain raised levels of cancer risk chemicals

• FSA conducts annual test for acrylamide - substance linked to cancer risk
• Chemical develops in cooking process as a result of the 'Maillard reaction' 
• 2013 report, published this week, shows worryingly high traces in range of popular products
• Culprits included baby food items from Organix and Heinz 
• 
  

By SEAN POULTER FOR THE DAILY MAIL

PUBLISHED: 00:29 GMT, 6 September 2014 | UPDATED: 07:23 GMT, 6 September 2014

Three baby foods as well as crisps, cereals and chips contain raised levels of a chemical linked to cancer.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) found higher than expected levels of acrylamide in a range of popular products.

The substance, which develops during the cooking process, has been linked to a higher risk of cancer.

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Three baby foods as well as crisps, cereals and chips contain raised levels of a chemical linked to cancer according to research from the FSA (file picture used above)

The watchdog is investigating why the levels are raised and what can be done to reduce them, but has not advised consumers to stop eating the affected foods. 

More...

• Veteran CBS, CNN newsman Bruce Morton dies at 83 after a battle with cancer
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The FSA conducts annual tests for acrylamide in food products. Its survey for 2013, published this week, found high levels of the chemical in apple rice cakes from Organix, Sunny Start baby wheat flakes and Heinz breakfast banana multigrain for babies.

Also affected were crisps, cereals and some frozen potato products, which were found to be likely to develop too much acrylamide if cooked to package instructions.

When food is cooked at high temperatures, a process called the Maillard reaction makes it brown and adds taste and crunch. However, the reaction creates acrylamide.

The chemical is also used in industry to make polymers for applications in paper making, water treatment and sealants. 

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Table shows which brands were tested for the chemical acrylamide - which has been linked to cancer

The FSA’s guidelines say that consumers should cook chips only to a light gold and should toast bread ‘to the lightest colour acceptable’ to reduce exposure to acrylamide.

This week, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued similar guidelines, including warning against storing potatoes in the fridge. This increases the sugar level, which is linked to browning, it said.

It added: ‘Tests show that acrylamide in the diet causes cancer in animals. Scientists conclude that acrylamide in food potentially increases cancer risk.’

The World Health Organisation has said the chemical ‘indicates a human health concern’ when found in food.

Dr Diane Benford, an FSA specialist who heads EFSA’s committee on food contaminants, said that when acrylamide breaks down in the body, another substance called glycidamide is formed.

She added: ‘Glycidamide is the most likely cause of gene mutations and tumours seen in animal studies.’

The British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, said acrylamide levels in food are falling. It added: ‘Retailers will continue to work with suppliers to limit the occurrence of acrylamide in foods.’

Cow & Gate, maker of Sunny Start, said safety is ‘incredibly important’ and it is investigating the ‘anomalous’ result.

Organix said it has reduced levels in its rice cakes since the tests and there is ‘no cause for concern’. Heinz said its affected baby cereal has been discontinued.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

9 CHILDHOOD ILLNESS - Get the Facts

As a parent, you've probably handled enough ear infections, colds, and stomach bugs to feel like an expert. But here are nine other illnesses you should know about.

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an infection of the airways. It usually isn’t serious,  but if your child is under 2, or has a heart or lung disease or a weak immune system, it can inflame the lungs and cause pneumonia.

"It's the most common viral respiratory infection that causes hospitalization in young babies," says Kathryn M. Edwards, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program.

Symptoms:

• Cold-like symptoms
• Irritability and breathing problems in infants

There is no treatment for RSV, but talk with your doctor about ways to ease your child’s symptoms.

Fifth Disease

Another viral illness, fifth disease is common in kids ages 5 to 15.

"In most children, it's benign," says James Cherry, MD, a specialist in children's infectious diseases.

A child with sickle cell anemia or a weak immune system can become very ill from fifth disease. It can also be serious in pregnant women.

Symptoms:

• Low fever
• Cold symptoms (like runny nose)
• Swollen joints

A few days later…

• a bright red rash appears, usually on the face, then spreads down the body.

By the time the rash appears, the illness is no longer contagious, Cherry says.

It can take 1 to 3 weeks for the rash to go away. In some children, the rash may itch, and the joints may ache. Your doctor can recommend ways to ease these symptoms.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

This contagious viral illness usually isn’t serious.

Children under age 5 are most likely to catch it, through coughs, sneezes, and fluid from blisters.

Symptoms:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Poor appetite

A few days later…

• Painful sores may develop in the mouth.
• Skin rash  

It usually clears up in 7 to 10 days without treatment.

Croup

Croup inflames the lining of the windpipe and voice box. It is most often caused by viruses, and lasts for a week or less.

Symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Fever
• Other cold-like symptoms

A few days later…

• Hoarseness
• Barking cough that gets worse at night

Run a hot shower, and sit with your child in the steamed-up bathroom for 10 minutes. "Breathing in moist air is always good," Edwards says.

If your child is having trouble breathing, having noisy breathing, or not eating or drinking well, call the doctor. Steroids are sometimes given to decrease airway swelling.

Scarlet Fever

This bacterial infection was once a deadly disease, but now it’s easily treatable.

Symptoms:

• Sore throat
• Itchy, scarlet-colored rash around the neck and face that may spread to the rest of the body.

If your child has a sore throat and rash, call the doctor. It is important to treat it with a round of antibiotics to prevent rare but serious complications.

Impetigo

This skin infection is most common in younger children. It starts when staph or strep bacteria gets in a cut, scratch, or bite. 

It can affect any area of the body but happens most often around the mouth, nose, and hands. Babies sometimes get the irritation in their diaper area.

Symptoms:

• Tiny blisters that burst. Fluid from the sores creates a crust that looks like a coat of honey.

Touching or scratching the sores, which can be itchy, spreads impetigo to other parts of the body and to other people.

An antibiotic ointment, and sometimes an oral antibiotic, can treat it.

Kawasaki Disease

This childhood illness inflames the blood vessels. It is very rare, and the cause is unknown. Boys under age 5 of Asian or Pacific Island descent are most likely to get it. Most get well within weeks. But if it affects the arteries to the heart, it can cause serious problems.

Symptoms:

• Fever that lasts 5 or more days
• Red eyes, red lips, and redness on the hands and feet
• Rash
• Swollen lymph nodes

There is no way to prevent this disease, but it is not contagious. Early treatment is key.

Reye’s Syndrome

This very rare illness can come on suddenly. Children under age 15 who are getting over a viral illness like chickenpox or the flu are most likely to get it. It can be serious and cause damage to the liver and brain.

Symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Lack of energy
• Irritability or aggression 

Later…

• Irrational behavior
• Confusion
• Seizures

The best way to treat Reye's syndrome is to prevent it. It is strongly linked to aspirin, so never give your child or teen aspirin, especially for a viral illness.

If you suspect your child has it, get medical help right away.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Anyone can catch this bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes, but infants are the most likely to get seriously ill from it.

Symptoms:

• Cold-like symptoms

A few days later…

• The cough gets worse, and a “whooping” sound may be heard as child gasps for air.

Antibiotics can sometimes help by easing the symptoms, if treated early. Babies are often hospitalized so staff can monitor their breathing.

It is very easy to catch. Your baby should start getting vaccines at 2 months old. Parents and older children need to get vaccinated to protect the baby. A woman should also get a pertussis shot every time she is pregnant.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/