HealthyLife Articles

Category: Family Life

  • Wired And Dangerous

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of sport drinks with yellow "Caution" tape wrapped around the bottles.

    Parents beware. If your tots and teens get their hands on your energy drinks, they could experience seizures, heart palpitations, or other problems that drive them to the hospital ER.

    Children most at risk appear to be those who regularly consume the increasingly popular caffeine-laden energy drinks or gulp down a relatively large amount of the liquid in a short span, according to Rutgers University’s poison control experts.

    “These drinks are made for adults. When young children drink them, they consume a large quantity of caffeine for their body mass. At the minimum, they become wired-just as an adult would-and it might be difficult for parents to console them or calm them down,” said Bruce Ruck, director of drug information and professional education for the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System at Rutgers.

    “Children also might have trouble falling asleep or experience tremors, anxiety, agitation, heart palpitations, nausea or vomiting. Of more concern, they may experience a rapid heart rate or seizures,” he said.

    Ruck also said that, in addition to large amounts of caffeine, most energy drinks contain sweeteners, vitamins, and maybe herbal products, some of which may hold hidden risks for certain people.

    *  Don’t let kids be lured by the “rock star” graphics  on the cans that look like soda pop.

    *  Store drinks on a high shelf, away from the view  of kids.

    *  Monitor and limit your teens’ exposure to these drinks. Mixing them with alcohol or a rigorous workout can cause death.

    *  The journal Clinical Toxicology has reported that children under age 6 who consumed caffeine-infused energy drinks accounted for more than half of the energy drink-related poisonings involving children. The American Medical Association is calling for a ban on marketing energy drinks to children under 18.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Caregiving Takes A Toll  On Marriage

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of son walking with elderly father.

    Caring for an aging parent puts a strain on marriage, said 80% of baby boomers. This insight is one of many garnered from a research study conducted by Caring.com to measure the impact of caregiving on marriage.

    “Raising children is a challenge, but caring for aging parents can be an even greater challenge,” said Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz. “The time spent caring for an aging parent can take a serious toll on the caregiver’s relationship with their spouse.”

    Baby boomers who are working full-time are providing financial help to aging parents and/or have aging parents living with them are at the greatest risk of marital strain.

    Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz are the authors of the book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage. They suggest these ways to cope with the care of aging parents while maintaining and strengthening your marriage:

    *  Talk openly with each other about feelings, emotions, and stresses as they relate to your care of aging parents.

    *  Make a concerted effort every day to keep the flame of your love affair with each other alive.

    *  Approach all financial challenges with teamwork and open communication.

    *  Don’t blame each other when things get tough, since casting blame never solved a problem.

    *  Don’t wallow in self-pity. It’s a wasted emotion.

    *  Enhance your love relationship by providing each other occasional time for privacy and solitude.

    *  Remember that the simple things matter in marriage, and they need to be practiced each day.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • How To Choose A Quality Hospice

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of male nurse and elderly man on a laptop.

    When a loved one is diagnosed with a serious or life-limiting illness, the questions facing an individual or a family can be overwhelming. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization recommends that people learn more about hospice as an important option before they are faced with a medical crisis.

    Hospice is not a place but a kind of care for people who have a life-limiting illness and are making the choice to focus on quality and comfort if more conventional treatments have become burdensome.

    Hospices provide high-quality care that is tailored to your loved one’s needs and that supports family caregivers.

    Your doctor and other health care providers or your company’s EAP may recommend hospice providers in your area. You can also get a list of hospice providers and more information about hospice from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization atwww.nhpco.org.

    Important questions in choosing a quality hospice include:

    *  Is the hospice Medicare certified?

    *  What services should I expect from the hospice?

    *  How are services provided after hours?

    *  How and where does hospice provide short-term inpatient care?

    *  What services do volunteers offer?

    *  How long does it typically take the hospice to enroll someone once the request for services is made?

    When should hospice care begin?

    Every patient and family must decide that based upon their unique needs. Professionals encourage people to learn about care options long before they think they may need them.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Prevent Ear Infections

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of doctor looking into a child's ear.

    “Most children will have at least one ear infection by the time they are 2 years old,” said Dr. Heather Gomes of the Boys Town National Research Hospital. “For those children who have recurring ear infections, further evaluation and treatment by an ear, nose and throat physician is recommended to avoid delays in speech and language skills.”

    The top 5 tips to prevent ear infections –

    1. Protect your child from secondhand tobacco smoke.

    2. Reduce your child’s exposure to colds during the first 2 years of life as much as possible.

    3. Breast-feed your baby during the first 6 to 12 months of life.

    4. Bottle-feed your child by holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle.

    5. Discuss with your doctor any significant symptoms such as excessive spitting up or stomach pain because this is a risk factor.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • The Greatest Gift

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of multi-generation family about to have dinner.

    Forget that fancy wrapped gift box. The chance to spend time with loved ones can be more valuable than the most expensive gift, says Sheri Bridges, professor of marketing at Wake Forest University.

    Memories of the occasion will live on long after the contents of a ribbon-wrapped box have been forgotten or discarded.

    How to give the gift of memories this holiday? Bridges offers a few ideas.

    *Take a day trip.Go to the zoo, a favorite restaurant in a nearby city or visit a town with quaint shops. Follow-up by giving the gift of a photo book of the trip, and as the years pass, the pictures become reminders of the feelings and fun of time spent together.

    *Offer tickets to a football or basketball game, a play or a musical performance– anything that isn’t part of the recipient’s normal routine.

    *Do chores.Baking cookies, wrapping gifts, taking down decorations, straightening up the garage, cleaning out closets-any task that seems hard when performed alone can become fun when shared.

    *Relax and recharge.Take a relative or friend to get a massage, pedicure or facial. Spend time together while getting pampered.

    *Time alone, together.Unless you make a special effort, it can be hard to find time to spend with family and friends. Watching a favorite movie, sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire, playing Scrabble-these are things that require a real time commitment and focus, and say, “I am putting you first now.”

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • You Can Survive A Family Vacation With The In-Laws

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of multi-generation family at the beach.

    Instead of calling it “the 7 worst days of your life,” change the mantra to “this will be fun and interesting,” advises Wake Forest University Professor of Counseling Samuel T. Gladding, when describing a family vacation that includes your in-laws.

    Time spent together on the beach or at another vacation place can help children bond with grandparents, Gladding said. “If you don’t have some exposure to extended family, you will never truly get to know them. It takes time, effort and expense to be in the same place with them. The dividend is that you get to know them and then you can build a relationship. That’s how people grow.”

    Connecting with extended families is important because family members have skills, contacts, and abilities beyond those found in nuclear families, he said. Tapping into that family power is a good idea.

    Plan the right activities. Arrange constructive activities that involve interaction, such as cooking or playing board games. A Gladding family favorite is charades because it is silly and makes people laugh. When people laugh together, they create good memories that help build relationships.

    But don’t plan to spend every minute with the group. Set aside time to go out to eat or do some other favorite activity with your own immediate family. It’s okay to say, “For this block of time, we want to have just our small family together.”

    If you set expectations in advance, no one will be surprised when you take a break on Tuesday night to go play miniature golf. It also gives the grandparents some space they might appreciate just as much as you do.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Childproofing

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of mother with toddler.

    Chase a toddler around for a day. Now that’s exercise. Any new parent quickly learns that a toddler is into everything. It only takes a quick second for that child to get out of your sight and around something potentially dangerous.

    The nation’s emergency physicians treat children every day who are injured by something in their own home or someone else’s home. Now is the time to childproof it, advises the American College of Emergency Physicians.

    What you can do in your home right now to protect young children

    *  Use safety latches for drawers and cabinets in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms that may contain dangerous products like cleaning supplies, knives and sharp objects, and medicines.

    *  Use safety gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to help prevent children from going in areas that may have potential dangers. Make sure these gates meet current safety standards. (Gates that only press against walls, called pressure-mounted gates, are not secure enough.)

    *  Place protective childproof covers on all electrical outlets that are in reach of children.

    *  Make sure all electrical cords are out of a child’s reach and properly secure.

    *  Fasten all heavy bookshelves, televisions, cabinets, or anything that could pose a potential tipping hazard to a secure wall, making sure it cannot fall on a child.

    *  Use toilet seat lid-locking devices on all toilet seats to decrease drowning hazards.

    *  Use cordless window coverings to help prevent strangulation.

    *  Use corner or edge bumpers on anything with sharp edges, like furniture and fireplaces.

    *  Create a protective barrier around pools and spas that include at least a 4-foot-tall fence with self-closing and self-latching gates. It’s also a good idea to look into getting pool alarms as an additional layer of protection.

    But the best device of all? Make sure a responsible person is with children at all times.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • How To Make The Grade This School Year

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of a group of school children.

    Start talking about the upcoming school year. Listen closely for fears or concerns, advises Dr. Amie Duncan of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “It is important that parents listen to and respond to their child’s potential anxieties about the new school year, especially if they are making a big transition such as from an elementary school to a middle school. It is perfectly normal to experience first day jitters,” she said. These feelings can be relieved with some of these suggestions.

    Preschoolers and kindergartners need to know what will happen.

    *  Visit the school together. Let them play on the playground, walk through the classroom, and meet new teachers.

    *  Go on a school shopping trip for a backpack and supplies. Assign a school prep area at home for supplies and lunchboxes.

    *  Tuck a small family picture in a backpack or lunch.

    *  Set bedtime and wake-up routines 4 weeks before school starts.

    *  Be positive and excited for the new school year.

    Elementary and middle-school children will need to adjust to new beginnings.

    *  Expect that your child may want trendy or “cool” school supplies.

    *  Take a quick trip to school before classes start to help find classrooms, lockers, the cafeteria, and the bus drop-off location.

    *  Right from the start, help your child get and stay organized. Choose places to store their backpack and a distraction-free area to complete homework.

    *  Talk to your child about high-risk behaviors, such as drinking, drug use, and sexual activity. Have this talk early and often.

    *  Encourage your child to choose to take part in at least one school club, sport, or other activity outside of school hours.

    *  Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the school counselor right away if you have concerns about how your child is adjusting to school. Keep the lines of communication open.

    High schoolers need and thrive on positive reinforcement.

    *  Help your teen set realistic goals on how to earn the best grades and complete assignments.

    *  Stay organized. Buy a daily planner and teach your teen how to use it correctly or teach them how to organize their schedule with a tablet computer or laptop.

    *  Encourage your teen to get involved in at least one extracurricular activity or sport because it will help them meet people.

    *  Continue to support and encourage good study habits with regular homework/study times. Search for ways to offer positive support.

    *  Ask about what’s going on in your child’s life. (Use open-ended questions, rather than those that require only a “yes” or “no” response). Be an active listener without judging your child.

    *  Stay involved in your child’s school life and you will know what is going on, and how they are doing.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Prevent Kids From Choking

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of father and daughter eating oranges.

    Food-not toys-are the most common culprit of choking accidents in kids under 5. The reasons have a lot to do with a child’s anatomy.

    “Young children have underdeveloped swallowing mechanisms, immature teeth and narrow airways, which put them at a higher risk for choking on food,” said Dr. Nina Shapiro, a professor of head and neck surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine. “Plus, the diameter of a child’s airway is about the size of their pinky, so high-risk foods can easily block their tiny airways and prevent their ability to breathe.”

    The list of high-risk foods for children under age 5 years includes many kid favorites:

    *  Cheese sticks

    *  Chewing gum

    *  Chunks of meat or cheese

    *  Chunks of peanut butter

    *  Chunks of raw vegetables

    *  Dried fruit

    *  Grapes

    *  Hard or sticky candy and lollipops

    *  Hot dogs

    *  Nuts

    *  Popcorn

    *  Seeds such as pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds

    Here are some tips:

    *  Vegetables should be cooked and cut into small pieces.

    *  Hot dogs and cheese sticks should be cut lengthwise, then widthwise, and then into the shape of small moons.

    *  Grapes should be peeled and cut in half or quarters.

    *  Nut butters should be spread thinly onto crackers or bread.

    *  Young children should always be attended to by an adult when they eat and only eat developmentally appropriate foods.

    *  Children should sit up straight and not play or run while eating.

    If a child does choke and is unable to breathe, call 911 and perform the Heimlich maneuver. Even if the child seems to choke but then coughs and appears fine, the object may have become lodged, and the child should see a doctor.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • The One Question Parents Need To Ask

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of gun and bullets.

    Before you let your child play at another person’s house, you may ask some safety questions. For instance, you’ll probably want to know if adults are there, when they will be home, and what they will be doing.

    There’s another question that may be harder to ask, but your child’s life may depend on it: “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”

    The American Academy of Pediatrics says half of all U.S. homes contain firearms. More than a third of all accidental shootings of children happen in the homes of friends, neighbors or relatives.

    Follow these gun safety tips to help keep loved ones safe:

    *  Never keep a loaded gun in the house or in a car.

    *  Keep guns locked up and unloaded. Lock ammunition up in a separate location. Be sure your kids can’t get the keys.

    *  Put trigger locks on all guns.

    *  Know how to operate a gun before you load it.

    *  Don’t point a gun at another person.

    *  Unload the gun before setting it down.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine