Family Health Articles

Giving The Gift Of Health This Holiday Season

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:35:18 -0600

A bottle of cologne, a new pair of pajamas or a video game are all quick and easy gifts to buy and wrap for the upcoming holiday season. But this year, why not give something more healthy and beneficial to a loved one? Why not give the gift of health?

Staying healthy around the holidays can be challenging, and this year, many Americans are faced with extra hardships due to our tough economy.

Children Will Get Fit If It's Fun

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:32:40 -0600

An independent study at the University of Cumbria found that nine in every ten youngsters want to play video games at the same time as exercising. The games reduce the boredom of exercise.

Fifty children aged 11 and 12 were asked to use exercise equipment combined with video games provided by a company called Gamercize.

The children could play their games only while they maintained movement on the fitness machines. If they stopped exercising, the games paused.

Researcher Jack Tyson said: "The results of this study show that 90% of children like combining video games with exercise.

Make Sure Children Have Supervision During Holidays

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:09:21 -0600

As the holiday season begins, the Georgia Department of Human Resources wants to remind parents not to allow a time meant for family to turn into an opportunity for family tragedy. Make sure your children have proper supervision at all times. Know where your children are and what they are doing.

At this time of year, families are busier than ever with work, holiday events and shopping. Possibilities increase of children being left unsupervised at home or even forgotten by busy parents rushing from one event to another.

Consumers Warned Of Lead Hazard From 'Mood Chain' Anklets, Necklaces

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:58:13 -0600

Health Canada is advising consumers that excessively high levels of lead have been found in Mood Chain jewellery pieces. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

This series of jewellery contains necklaces and anklets with charms that change colour with changes in temperature.

Approximately 12,000 pieces of the jewellery were sold from 2006 until November 2008 at various dollar and discount stores within Canada. Consumers should immediately take these items away from children's reach. The jewellery may be disposed of in normal household waste.

Physicians Consider Ending Vaccinations Because Of Low Reimbursements

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:36:37 -0600

About one in 10 physicians who provide vaccinations for privately insured children are considering dropping the services because reimbursements are too low, according to a survey published in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Iowa University Updates Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:36:40 -0600

The University of Iowa has released an updated version of its Pandemic Influenza Response Plan with the recommendation that emergency planning efforts should be standardized and expanded to meet a broad range of threats.

Check Your Smoke Alarms This Winter

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:36:36 -0600

During winter months, the risk for home fires increases significantly, so now is a good time to inspect home smoke alarms, say injury prevention experts at the University of Iowa.

"Fire risk rises as temperature falls," said Jingzhen (Ginger) Yang, UI assistant professor of community and behavioral health in the UI College of Public Health. "The risk of a house fire can increase by more than 20 percent during the winter months because of defects in heating appliances."

The Debate About ADHD, Parents Need To Do More

hareyan — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:22:39 -0600

Attention Deficit Disorder can be helped greatly if it is diagnosed in the early years. Unfortunately, since schools are cutting down back on many of their services, a good work-up by an educational psychologist may not be done and the child may fall farther and farther behind in school.

Many of these kids drop out, join gangs, and eventually may end up in prison unless they get adequate help. Seventy-five percent of dropouts end up in prison; a scary statistic.

Secrets, Lies Of Holiday Season

ruzik_tuzik — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:33:55 -0600

Most people think of the holidays as a time for joy and togetherness. However for many Americans, women especially, the season can be an emotionally trying time. The buildup of the pressure to create the ideal holiday experience can trigger social and emotional stressors that have negative consequences, such as depression, anxiety and substance dependency.

Americans Encouraged To Know Health History

ruzik_tuzik — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:19:14 -0600

When family members are together sharing memories this Thanksgiving, some of those memories could help the family be healthier in coming years. Those memories are the family health history.

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., has declared Thanksgiving 2008 the fifth annual National Family History Day. He encourages everyone to use the occasion to discuss, identify and make a record of health problems that seem to run in the family. The Office of the Surgeon General has an updated Web tool to help create that health history.