Healthy isn?t something you are or aren?t. It?s a hundred little things: eating a banana, walking in the park, putting a bandage on a boo-boo, playing tag, reading up on ways to keep you and your family well and safe. It?s a balance between living well and taking care, and you can start right where you are.
A blog by Christina Elston
Healthy isn't something you are or aren't. It's a hundred little things: eating a banana, walking in the park, putting a bandage on a boo-boo, playing tag, reading up on ways to keep you and your family well and safe. It's a balance between living well and taking care, and you can start right where you are.


Archive for February, 2012

Prenatal Exposure to Ecstasy Linked to Developmental Delays

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Infants whose mothers used the recreational drug ecstasy during pregnancy balanced their heads at a later age, and showed delays in eye-hand coordination, turning from back to side and being able to sit with support at age 4 months, according to the first study to examine the impact of prenatal ecstasy exposure on babies.

The stimulant and hallucinogen, one of the most widely used illegal drugs among young people, is known scientifically as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA. The small study of 96 participants from The University of East London Drugs and Infancy Study also found that ecstasy appears to affect the chemical signaling that determines gender. More male babies were born to women who had used ecstasy while pregnant, whereas normally the ratio of boys to girls would be 50-50.

Study authors – who came from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Swansea University in Wales – note that ecstasy can deplete levels of serotonin, which carries nerve impulses between cells, regulating mood, sleep, anxiety and gross motor control. It plays a vital role in the early formation of a baby’s brain, and altering levels could have long-term impact on learning and memory.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, and appears in the Feb. 28 issue of Neurotoxicology and Teratology. Researchers will collect data on the children again at age 12 months, and hope to continue following them well into childhood, noting whether delays continue or get worse and gauging the long-term effects of ecstasy exposure in utero.

 

“Active” Video Games Not a Cure-All For Inactive Kids

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Bringing home a shiny new Wii Fit or Dance DanceRevolution game for your kids won’t make their days any more active than if you’d brought them Mario Kart. That’s the finding of a study published today (Feb. 27) in the journal Pediatrics.

Previous research has shown that children in laboratory studies using “active” games – games that require players to move their whole bodies, rather than just buttons or triggers on a controller – can get the equivalent of moderate or sometimes even vigorous physical activity. But Tom Baranowski, Ph.D., a professor of behavioral nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, wanted to test the games under “real world” conditions, to see if receiving a new active game made kids move more at home.

Baranowski’s team selected 87 children ages 9-12 who did not already have a Wii console at home, and had Body Mass Index (BMI) high enough to put them at risk for obesity as adults. Age 10 has been pegged by experts as a critical window for increasing physical activity, because that’s the age where an obese child’s risk of carrying their weight problems into adulthood skyrockets.

Researchers gave all of the participating families Wii game consoles and necessary extras such as mats, controllers and balance boards. Half of the children were then allowed to choose an active game (Active Life-Extreme Challenge, EA Sports Active, Dance DanceRevolution-Hottest Party 3, Wii Fit Plus or Wii Sports), while half got to choose an inactive game (Disney Sing It-Pop Hits, Madden NFL 10, Mario Kart Wii, New Super Mario Bros. Wii or super Mario Galaxy). After six weeks, all the children were allowed to choose another game from the same group.

Activity levels for all children were monitored during the 12 weeks they had their games using an accelerometer, a device that’s worn to measure acceleration and exertion. Researchers found that the children using the active games were no more physically active during the study than those using inactive games.

“We were quite surprised,” says Baranowski. “We expected that we would detect a modest increase in physical activity during week one [among kids with the active games], which would be lost by week six, and detect another smaller increase in physical activity at week seven (after just having received their second active video game) which would also die out by week 12.”

Baranowski and his team theorize that children receiving the active video games either didn’t play them very intensely, or they offset activity from the games by choosing to be less active at other times of the day. “I would bet a little bit of both,” he says. “We have qualitative data that indicated the kids did play the games and enjoyed them, but obviously they didn’t play them intensely enough.” He explains that without actual instruction to play the games at a certain intensity level, or for a certain amount of time each day, kids didn’t get enough physical activity from the games to make a difference.

But he also notes something about the make-up of active games that could be getting in the way of extended play. “By themselves these active video games have little to no story,” he says. “Wrapping a story around these games also holds promise,” as a way to hold kids’ attention for longer periods. A colleague is working on research to test that idea.

Meanwhile, don’t count on a game to give your kids the exercise they need. “You need to do more than just purchase and provide your child an active video game,” says Baranowski, who suggests playing the game with your child on a regular basis (even daily), adding other activities like a nightly walk to the family calendar, or getting your child involved in sports teams at school or in your community.

Unemployment Is Biggest Factor In Dads’ Depression

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Experts have long understood that a mother’s depression takes its toll on the health and wellbeing of her children. After a team from the NYU School of Medicine late last year found that a father’s depressive symptoms also are linked with increased mental health problems in kids, researchers decided to try to pinpoint factors that boost dads’ depression risk.

Looking at a nationally representative sample of 7,247 households in which fathers, mothers and children lived together, the team found that 6 percent of dads were suffering from depressive symptoms. And they found some common factors:

• When living with a child with special healthcare needs, fathers were 1.4 times as likely to be depressed as those who were not.

• When living in poverty, dads were 1.5 times as likely to be depressed.

• If they were in poor physical health, fathers were 3.31 times as likely to suffer from depression.

• Living with a mother with depressive symptoms, dads were 5.75 times as likely to also have them. Previous research found that one in four children living with both a mother and father with depression have mental health problems themselves.

• Being unemployed, however, was by far the strongest link. Fathers who were out of work were 6.5 times as likely to suffer from depression as dads with a job.

It’s this last finding that surprised researchers. “The fact that fathers’ unemployment is by far the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms is a brand new and unique finding with profound implications for the health and development of children in this time of extremely high rates of unemployment,” says lead investigator Michael Weitzman, M.D.

Weitzman adds that these factors could help identify fathers who need to be screened for depression, helping them and their families. The study was published in the Feb. 23 online edition of Maternal and Child Health Journal.

A Healthy Turnaround – For You and the Kids

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

The volume of statistics about childhood obesity has exploded along with America’s waistlines. Around 20% of kids ages 6-11 are now obese, putting them at risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and a host of other health problems. And the chorus of experts raising the alarm about this situation keeps coming back to the same root cause – our diets.

“The American eating style is basically upside down from what it should be,” says Jennifer Nelson, R.D., Associate Medical Editor of The Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet (Good Books, November 2011). We eat too many fat-filled and cholesterol-laden animal products, and too little fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

Clearly, change is in order, and Nelson wants to start with our view of the word “diet.” “The origin of the word is much broader than the restriction of food,” she explains. The word comes to us from the Greek “diaita,” which means “lifestyle,” or, as Nelson puts it, “what gives you life, enjoyment, vitality.”

In their new book, she and other weight-loss experts at the Mayo Clinic suggest lifestyle changes that can help families do an about-face weight-wise, stave off diabetes and other health problems, and maybe pump up their “enjoyment and vitality” quotient.

The Most Important Meal

The book isn’t specifically targeted at children – especially the portion sizes and eating plan specifics – but Nelson says the habits suggested and types of foods recommended are all healthy and all appropriate for anyone, including kids.

Starting every day with a healthy breakfast is the first habit they suggest for all families. And every day the plan calls for four or more servings of vegetables, three or more servings of fruits, and whole grains whenever possible. Healthy fats like olive oil, vegetable oil and nuts are also encouraged.

Not encouraged are sugar (except what’s found naturally in fruit), outsize portions of meat (the size of a deck of playing cards or bar of soap is enough at mealtime), and full-fat dairy.

Moving toward a diet based on energy density – which means eating foods that are higher in nutrients, fiber and volume so that you have “the biggest bang for your bite,” will help everyone in the family maintain or achieve a healthy weight without feeling deprived.

Adults are advised to snack only on fruits and vegetables, but Nelson says kids shouldn’t adhere to this rule. “Their energy needs are different,” she explains, adding that children filling up on plant-based foods at mealtime will not get enough energy to sustain themselves without substantial snacks, so you can add whole grains and even some nonfat dairy to their between-meals fare.

The ideal is to eat as many natural, whole foods as possible, and stay away from heavily processed foods as much as you can. As a “bonus” habit, consider keeping a food diary.

Keep On Moving

Mayo Clinic experts advise that everyone in the family walk or exercise for at least 30 minutes per day, and that 60 minutes or more is a good goal to work toward. Eating in front of the TV is a definite no-no, and it’s best to balance “screen time” with equal amounts of physical activity.

This can be easier if you do it as a family. Consider heading out the door together to walk the dog or play a game, Nelson suggests. You’re setting an example that could lead to healthier lives for your children. “Mom and Dad are kind of the gatekeepers of a lot of practices, and over time, those practices do become habits,” Nelson says. Eventually those habits impact – for better or worse – children’s health. Turning your own health around is great. “If you pass those habits along to your children, that’s even better,” she says.

A Healthy Inheritance

And because genetic predisposition to diabetes (even type 2) tends to run in families, she Nelson it is essential to address these issues across generations. If a child has a weight problem, “chances are, Mom and Dad are struggling with some nutrition issues, too,” Nelson says.

Rather than being overwhelmed by trying to make a complete lifestyle turnaround at once, Nelson suggests making just one healthy change at a time. “Over time, the cumulative effect will make a big difference,” she explains. “Also, find a way to make these lifestyle changes enjoyable. If you and your family don’t enjoy the food you eat or the activities you do, you are less likely to stick with it. So find foods that your family will enjoy, and find activities that you’ll enjoy, too!”

Despite the dire statistics about the state of America’s weight, Nelson says she is hopeful because many important efforts, such as Michelle Obama’s Get Moving campaign, are beginning to align in an attempt to address the epidemic of childhood inactivity and obesity. “It’s a very tough problem that we’re facing,” she says, “but it takes just one person at a time making a choice to change, and sharing that with their family.”

And that change is about so much more than just putting down the cookies and chips. The idea is to change your family environment and lifestyle so that you can be the best you can be, and be in better balance. “The family unit is at many people’s core,” Nelson says. “What better way of recreating your lifestyle than doing this as a family unit?”

Colic In Babies Linked to Migraines In Moms

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Moms who suffer from migraine headaches are two and a half times more likely to have babies with colic than mothers with no migraine history, according to a small study at UC San Francisco.

Experts have long theorized that colic – excessive crying in an otherwise healthy infant – is connected to digestive problems. But 50 years of research has failed to turn up a credible link.

In this study, Amy Gelfland, M.D., a child neurologist with the university’s Headache Center, surveyed 154 mothers of 2-month-old infants, checking the babies’ colic status and the mothers’ migraine history. Among mothers with migraines, 29 percent of babies had colic, while only 11 percent of mothers without migraines had colicky babies.

Gelfland and colleagues believe that colic could be an early manifestation of “childhood periodic syndromes,” a group of symptoms including cyclical vomiting and abdominal migraine (where pain occurs in the belly) that are generally thought to be precursors to migraine in adulthood. Babies with colic could be more sensitive to light, sound, motion and other sources of stimulation in their environment – just like migraine sufferers.

The team next plans to follow a group of babies with colic to see whether they develop childhood periodic syndromes. Their current research will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in April.

Spinbrush Electric Toothbrushes Can Chip Teeth, Cause Choking

Friday, February 17th, 2012

They can help prevent tooth decay, but the FDA is now warning that some electric toothbrushes – specifically battery-powered Arm & Hammer Spinbrushes – can break or come apart during use, breaking teeth and posing a choking hazard.

In a safety alert issued Feb. 16, the agency, which regulates both manual and electric toothbrushes, said it had received reports of parts of the toothbrushes breaking off, causing chipped or broken teeth, cuts to the mouth and gums and injuries to the face and eyes. In some cases, people swallowed or choked on the broken pieces.

Several models of the Spinbrush, which was called the Crest Spinbrush before 2009, are mentioned in the alert:

• Spinbrush ProClean

• Spinbrush ProClean Recharge

• Spinbrush Pro Whitening

• Spinbrush SONIC

• Spinbrush SONIC Recharge

• Spinbrush Swirl

• Spinbrush Classic Clean

• Spinbrush For Kids

• Spinbrush Replacement Heads

The Spinbrush models for adults include a removable brush head that can be changed, but FDA says consumers have reported the head popping off during use, exposing a metal piece underneath and causing injuries.

Models for children, where the handles feature characters such as Spiderman or Thomas & Friends, do not have replaceable heads, but have still caused injuries – including cuts to lips, burns from the batteries that power the brush, and bristles from the brush head coming loose and lodging in a child’s tonsils. The FDA advises consumers and caregivers to:

• Inspect Spinbrushes for damage or loose bristles, and test it outside the mouth to make sure the brush head is tightly connected to the handle before use. Do not use a damaged brush. Report it to the manufacturer, Church & Dwight, at 1-800-352-3384 or 1-800-561-0752.

• Be careful not to bite down on the brush during use.

• Supervise children and others who might need help while brushing.

• Replace the brush or brush head every three months, as directed by the manufacturer.

Problems with the brushes can be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch reporting program online at www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch.

Arsenic Found In Infant Formula, Cereal Bars

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

If you buy infant formula or cereal or energy bars for your family, take the time to read the ingredient lists on these products. Dartmouth College researchers are reporting high levels of arsenic in formula or cereal/energy bars fortified with some rice products or sweetened with organic brown rice syrup.

That’s the syrup manufacturers have turned to as a replacement for high fructose corn syrup, which health-conscious consumers have increasingly shunned.

While the study did not list brand names, two of the 17 infant formulas that researchers tested had organic brown rice syrup listed as a primary ingredient, and those had arsenic levels 20 times greater than the other formulas. The two contained inorganic arsenic (the most toxic form) at 8.6 parts per billion (ppb) and 21.4 ppb respectively.

Of the 29 cereal bars tested, 22 listed rice products – including organic brown rice syrup, rice flour, rice grain and rice flakes – among their first five ingredients. Those with no rice ingredients contained 8 to 27 ppb of arsenic, while those containing rice ingredients had levels of 23 to 128 ppb.

The United States currently has no regulatory limit for the amount of arsenic in food, but does limit the amount in drinking water to 10 ppb. Researchers point out that this limit does not account for the lower body weight or the delicate developmental stage of infants who might be consuming arsenic-laden formula.

Arsenic is a natural element found in soil and minerals. It has been used commercially to preserve wood, and in pesticides for crops such as cotton. Rice in the U.S. is often grown in fields formerly used to grow cotton, and the plants are especially efficient at taking up arsenic from the soil. This is true even of organically grown rice. And at high enough levels, arsenic exposure can cause death.

Until the government acts to regulate the amount of arsenic in food, parents can protect themselves and their families by avoiding infant formulas and baby foods in which organic brown rice syrup is the main ingredient. Also be on the lookout for organic brown rice syrup and other rice ingredients in baby foods, and in cereal and energy bars. An occasional cereal bar won’t pose much risk, but because food is the main source of arsenic exposure for most people, it’s important to remember that small exposures from a variety of foods could add up.

The Dartmouth study was published today in Environmental Health Perspectives, and reported in Consumer Reports.

5 Ways To Predator-Proof Your Child

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Charges of child sexual abuse at Penn State in November, and early this year at Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles, serve as vivid and horrible reminders of a simple fact: It can be tough to keep our kids out of harm’s way. After all, if your child isn’t safe with a storied football coach, or with their own teacher, where are they safe?

Instances like these are rare, but child predators are real. Pattie Fitzgerald, a child safety awareness educator who has shared her Safely Ever After (safelyeverafter.com) program with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and the child advocacy group “Parents for Megan’s Law,” approaches child safety as a series of rules, because that’s what children are used to. “That’s how kids get through their day,” she says.

One reason the events at Miramonte, especially, were disturbing to many is that the abuse didn’t involve the “strangers” or “bad touch” parents might have warned their children about. “This guy was playing secret games,” says Fitzgerald of one of the Miramonte teachers arrested and charged with multiple counts of committing lewd acts on a child. “One of the most important things is that parents teach their kids the ‘no secrets’ rule really early on.”

Teach your child that secrets are never OK. Statistically, kids are most vulnerable to predators around ages 9-12, when parents start to give them a bit more freedom. But the children abused at Miramonte were only in second and third grade, an age where Fitzgerald says they are vulnerable “because they are very susceptible to keeping secrets.” So kids need to learn that even if Grandma wants to slide them an extra cookie on the sly, they should tell you about it – and they won’t get in trouble for doing so. “If a child hears the word ‘secret,’ it should be like an alarm going off in their head,” Fitzgerald says. “We don’t do secrets.”

Teach your kids to trust their gut. This goes beyond “bad touch” and “private parts.” Your children need to know that anything that gives them that “yucky uh-oh” feeling is wrong, and they can say no – even to an adult in charge. Anything they don’t like, even just someone putting an arm around them, is a “thumbs down” and they should tell the other person to stop and tell you all about it. “We don’t want to raise kids who are rude and obnoxious, but if we tell them always do what the grown-up says, that’s where we get into trouble,” says Fitzgerald.

Be visible in your child’s life. You don’t need to show up at every soccer practice or PTA meeting, but you should introduce yourself to every adult who is close to your child and let them know that you are watching. “That’s a deterrent,” says Fitzgerald, because predators know they can more safely target kids whose parents aren’t paying attention. So introduce yourself to the coach and let her know you’ll be stopping by to watch practice now and again. Meet the teacher and tell him you can’t wait to hear, every night at dinner, about all the activities going on in his classroom. “Your message is, ‘I’m involved, and we talk about stuff,’” Fitzgerald says.

Monitor who your child is close to. Your child’s teachers should be involved with her during classroom, and maybe some after-school, activities. Your child’s soccer coach should be involved with him during practices and games. Be wary of anyone blurring the normal boundaries of their relationship with your child, i.e. a teacher offering to take your child to the movies alone on a Saturday, a coach offering to “reward” his star player with a trip to the beach, or a custodian offering rides home from school. Set up rules for who is allowed one-on-one access to your child, and look out for anyone providing “disguised” favors that are over-the-top or not really appropriate. “It’s not about not trusting people,” says Fitzgerald, “it’s about not giving someone carte blanche with your child.”

Keep communication flowing at home. It’s a tall order, but your kids will be more likely to tell you about something that’s wrong if they are in the habit of talking to you about their day. Fitzgerald uses a game she calls “High-Low” to help make this happen. On the way home from school, over dinner, or at some other regular time, have everyone (you included) take turns sharing something about their day that was great, and something that wasn’t so great. Let the conversation flow from there.

If your child tells you about something that sounds suspicious, stay calm. “If your child sees you upset, they will think they did something wrong,” Fitzgerald says. Thank them for telling you, and ask gentle questions to see if you can get a bit more detail. “Did that bother you?” “It sounds like you didn’t like that game.” When you’ve got the information you need, head right on down and check it out. Did your child’s account of a classroom activity bother you? “Go to the school and very firmly say, ‘I’m not comfortable with this,’” Fitzgerald advises. That is a powerful statement and puts people on notice. If the activity is truly innocent, that should be the end of it. “A safe adult is going to stop.”

Fitzgerald points out that the kind of horrific abuse that is alleged at Miramonte is rare, and that the abuser chose his victims with care. “He knew exactly which kids he could target and which kids he could not target,” she says. Educate your children and stay visible and involved in their lives, and they won’t look – or feel – like a target.

New Vaccine Info For CA Preteens

Friday, February 10th, 2012

As part of their ongoing campaign to get older kids – think tweens and teens – to get the immunizations they need, public health experts have declared Feb. 12-18 Preteen Vaccine Week. Here is some information from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health about updated vaccine recommendations and changes to state law that apply to this age group. Ideally, these vaccines are given as part of routine doctor visits, to give healthcare providers a chance to discuss other health issues.

Recommended Vaccines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending the following for all 11-12 year olds:

  • One dose of meningococcal vaccine;
  • One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine;
  • Annual seasonal influenza vaccine;
  • Three doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

The CDC previously recommended the HPV vaccine only for girls, but is now recommending it for boys in the same age group. Children over the age of 12 who may not have received vaccine or who have missed doses can get caught up at any time.

Recommendations for older teenagers include a second dose of meningococcal vaccine between ages 16 and 18. Everyone, six months of age and older and medically eligible, should receive a flu shot every year.

Middle School Pertussis Immunization Requirement

In 2011, a California law went into effect requiring all students who entered 7th-12th grade in the 2011-2012 school year to show proof of a Tdap vaccine. For the 2012-2013 school year and beyond, only students entering 7th grade – at public, private, charter, and home schools – will need to show proof they received an adolescent Tdap vaccine.

In 2011-2012, schools and parents were given a grace period to comply with the Tdap booster vaccine requirement. A grace period has not been approved for the 2012-2013 school year. Parents and guardians with students entering 7th grade in 2012 will need to ensure their child has been vaccinated with Tdap in order to avoid a delay in starting school.

Minor Consent Law

A new California law that went into effect Jan. 1 allows anyone 12 years of age and older to consent to medical care related to the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The new law allows minors to consent to receive HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines.

Resources for Vaccinations

Anyone without a regular health care provider or health insurance coverage for vaccines can call the L.A. County Information Line at 2-1-1 from any cell phone or land line in the county, or visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip, for referrals to providers offering vaccines at no charge or a reduced charge.

For more information about adolescent immunization recommendations, vaccine safety information, and information about the Tdap school entry requirement, visit:

Where All the Salt Comes From

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Nine out of 10 people in the U.S. eat too much salt, and most of it comes from food we buy in restaurants or packaged foods from grocery stores, according to a report released Feb. 7 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Looking at more than 7,000 participants ages 2 and older in a national health and nutrition survey conducted in 2007-2008, researchers noted that 44 percent of the sodium they consumed came from 10 food categories:

• Bread and rolls

• Cold cuts and cured meats

• Pizza – more than 51 percent of it from fast-food restaurants

• Poultry – more than 26 percent of it from fast-food restaurants

• Soups

• Sandwiches like cheeseburgers

• Cheese

• Pasta dishes like spaghetti with meat sauce

• Meat dishes like meat loaf

• Savory snacks like chips and pretzels

The average person consumed 3,266 mg of salt per day, not counting what they added at the table. Most of it (65.2 percent) came from foods purchased in supermarkets or convenience stores. Just over 13 percent came from fast food, and a little more than 11 percent from sit-down restaurants (though food from restaurants tends to have more sodium than food purchased in grocery stores). Only 5-6 percent of salt in most people’s diets is added during cooking at home, and another 5-6 percent at the table.

Government health guidelines recommend that most people have no more than 2,300 mg of salt per day, and that some have much less than that. Consuming too much salt raises your blood pressure, increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke.

The CDC estimates that cutting the salt content of the top 10 categories by one fourth would prevent 28,000 deaths and save $7 billion in healthcare costs each year. But you don’t have to wait for restaurants and food manufacturers to take action. Steer your family toward whole foods cooked at home, and read labels carefully, and you can help protect the hearts of those you love.

Learn more here …