Two things i continue to be grateful for are the gifts of family and good health.
As parents, our greatest nightmare always comes in the form of children and loved ones who fall ill. To get our 2008 off to a healthy and bright start, here are some of the top children’s health concerns we need to watch out for this year.
Thanks to pediatric cardiologist Dr. Edgardo Ortiz, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Philippine General Hospital, our family pediatrician Dr. Joseph Regalado and Dr. Cynthia Cuayo-Juico, chair of the department of pediatrics at Manila Doctor’s Hospital and the Philippine Pediatrics Society head of the school health program, for most of the information provided here.
Substance abuse in the form of smoking and alcohol. Dr. Juico notes that there has been a marked increase in the cases of smoking and alcohol abuse among adolescents and teeners over the past year.
Stress encountered in school and family life and role-modeling, she says, are determinants of whether a child will succumb to this form of abuse. In the United States, a 1992 study conducted by Oakley, Biannen and Dodd found a positive correlation between the levels of alcohol use and abuse and the amount of daily stress and conflict within the family.
Juico attributes the rise to busier parents and the rise in OFW households where one or two parents are missing as reasons why more children and teens have turned to substance abuse. With regard to alcohol abuse, the child often turns to the parent as a role model.
“The manner by which alcohol is used within the home setting sends the child or teener very strong signals,” says Juico, who suggests that parents arm themselves with the right information so that they can educate their children about the dangers of substance abuse. “As a parent, it is important to really take time out and know your child,” she says.
Find ways to boost their self-esteem so that they have the courage to stand up against negative peer influences. More importantly, re-evaluate your family’s views towards alcohol so that you do not send your child or teener the wrong signals.
Obesity and nutritional concerns. Obesity has long been known to have links to medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and cancer. The psychological implications on the obese child such as stereotyping and bullying are very real yet difficult to measure. Both Drs. Ortiz and Juico say that the availability of sugar-heavy fruit juices, softdrinks, sugary food such as calorie-laden doughnuts and salty chips are to blame for the rise in obesity among children.
In addition, owing to the rise of computer games and lifestyle choices, more and more children are becoming less active compared to a decade ago. A 2003 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute classified one percent of young children (1-10 years old) and three percent of adolescents (11-17 years old) as overweight (5th NNS, FNRI-DOST).
Among private school children specifically, there was an even higher prevalence of obesity that ranged from 25 to 50 percent. The major reasons stated for the development of obesity in both studies were sedentary lifestyle and intake of high-calorie, high-fat food.
Drs. Ortiz and Juico advise that parents help and role-model for their kids when it comes to healthy food choices. Ortiz says that parents should encourage more physical activity by “[Cutting] down on television and hours on the computer.”
Ortiz has had cases of very young but hypertensive children as a result of poor diet and a lack of physical activity. Exercising on a regular basis and cutting down on couch potato activities will not only create healthier families, but will also generate savings in food, electric bills and potential medical expenses.
Sexual health and teen pregnancies. Sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies are again on the rise. Every year, the average age of sexual debut among our youth is decreasing. Sex education needs to be done in the light of values education. The best source for information is still one’s own parents.
However, many parents remain queasy about discussing sexual health issues. If you aren’t too comfortable about discussing the issues, take your child to a reputable clinic or request your pediatrician to initiate a discussion. Not talking about the dangers of sexual promiscuity doesn’t guarantee that it won’t happen.
A teener who is more aware of the dangers that sexual promiscuity brings will be more informed and armed against the harm that could possibly come to him or her.
Respiratory tract infections. Tuberculosis continues to be prevalent. Dr. Juico says that the practice of covering one’s mouth when one coughs cannot be overemphasized, as is the importance of hand washing. Elevators, escalators, doorknobs and many other objects are carriers of viruses and bacteria.
She says that parents need to have a hygiene kit on hand at all times. “It’s good practice to keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in one’s bag or pockets. Unless necessary, keep young children away from malls and crowded places.”
In general, maintain good hygiene and constantly drill on your kids the importance of keeping clean.
Dengue. Drs. Regalado, Ortiz and Juico confirm that hospital room occupancy broke records over the recent holidays. Historically, there are hardly any patients during Christmas or New Year, but at the PGH, Cardinal Santos Medical Center and Manila Doctor’s Hospital last December, pediatric floors were almost booked solid.
Regalado and Ortiz say that dengue is now a year-round scourge. It chooses no age, social strata or sex. Prevention is still the best way to avoid it. Clean your homes and your surroundings, advocate for cleanliness in your community and in your child’s school, stamp out mosquito breeding grounds and be vigilant about using mosquito repellant, be it organic or the commercially available ones.
If you have the slightest suspicion that your child is suffering from dengue fever, bring him or her to the nearest hospital and closely monitor the fever. It is always best to be safe than sorry
As parents, our greatest nightmare always comes in the form of children and loved ones who fall ill. To get our 2008 off to a healthy and bright start, here are some of the top children’s health concerns we need to watch out for this year.
Thanks to pediatric cardiologist Dr. Edgardo Ortiz, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Philippine General Hospital, our family pediatrician Dr. Joseph Regalado and Dr. Cynthia Cuayo-Juico, chair of the department of pediatrics at Manila Doctor’s Hospital and the Philippine Pediatrics Society head of the school health program, for most of the information provided here.
Substance abuse in the form of smoking and alcohol. Dr. Juico notes that there has been a marked increase in the cases of smoking and alcohol abuse among adolescents and teeners over the past year.
Stress encountered in school and family life and role-modeling, she says, are determinants of whether a child will succumb to this form of abuse. In the United States, a 1992 study conducted by Oakley, Biannen and Dodd found a positive correlation between the levels of alcohol use and abuse and the amount of daily stress and conflict within the family.
Juico attributes the rise to busier parents and the rise in OFW households where one or two parents are missing as reasons why more children and teens have turned to substance abuse. With regard to alcohol abuse, the child often turns to the parent as a role model.
“The manner by which alcohol is used within the home setting sends the child or teener very strong signals,” says Juico, who suggests that parents arm themselves with the right information so that they can educate their children about the dangers of substance abuse. “As a parent, it is important to really take time out and know your child,” she says.
Find ways to boost their self-esteem so that they have the courage to stand up against negative peer influences. More importantly, re-evaluate your family’s views towards alcohol so that you do not send your child or teener the wrong signals.
Obesity and nutritional concerns. Obesity has long been known to have links to medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and cancer. The psychological implications on the obese child such as stereotyping and bullying are very real yet difficult to measure. Both Drs. Ortiz and Juico say that the availability of sugar-heavy fruit juices, softdrinks, sugary food such as calorie-laden doughnuts and salty chips are to blame for the rise in obesity among children.
In addition, owing to the rise of computer games and lifestyle choices, more and more children are becoming less active compared to a decade ago. A 2003 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute classified one percent of young children (1-10 years old) and three percent of adolescents (11-17 years old) as overweight (5th NNS, FNRI-DOST).
Among private school children specifically, there was an even higher prevalence of obesity that ranged from 25 to 50 percent. The major reasons stated for the development of obesity in both studies were sedentary lifestyle and intake of high-calorie, high-fat food.
Drs. Ortiz and Juico advise that parents help and role-model for their kids when it comes to healthy food choices. Ortiz says that parents should encourage more physical activity by “[Cutting] down on television and hours on the computer.”
Ortiz has had cases of very young but hypertensive children as a result of poor diet and a lack of physical activity. Exercising on a regular basis and cutting down on couch potato activities will not only create healthier families, but will also generate savings in food, electric bills and potential medical expenses.
Sexual health and teen pregnancies. Sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies are again on the rise. Every year, the average age of sexual debut among our youth is decreasing. Sex education needs to be done in the light of values education. The best source for information is still one’s own parents.
However, many parents remain queasy about discussing sexual health issues. If you aren’t too comfortable about discussing the issues, take your child to a reputable clinic or request your pediatrician to initiate a discussion. Not talking about the dangers of sexual promiscuity doesn’t guarantee that it won’t happen.
A teener who is more aware of the dangers that sexual promiscuity brings will be more informed and armed against the harm that could possibly come to him or her.
Respiratory tract infections. Tuberculosis continues to be prevalent. Dr. Juico says that the practice of covering one’s mouth when one coughs cannot be overemphasized, as is the importance of hand washing. Elevators, escalators, doorknobs and many other objects are carriers of viruses and bacteria.
She says that parents need to have a hygiene kit on hand at all times. “It’s good practice to keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in one’s bag or pockets. Unless necessary, keep young children away from malls and crowded places.”
In general, maintain good hygiene and constantly drill on your kids the importance of keeping clean.
Dengue. Drs. Regalado, Ortiz and Juico confirm that hospital room occupancy broke records over the recent holidays. Historically, there are hardly any patients during Christmas or New Year, but at the PGH, Cardinal Santos Medical Center and Manila Doctor’s Hospital last December, pediatric floors were almost booked solid.
Regalado and Ortiz say that dengue is now a year-round scourge. It chooses no age, social strata or sex. Prevention is still the best way to avoid it. Clean your homes and your surroundings, advocate for cleanliness in your community and in your child’s school, stamp out mosquito breeding grounds and be vigilant about using mosquito repellant, be it organic or the commercially available ones.
If you have the slightest suspicion that your child is suffering from dengue fever, bring him or her to the nearest hospital and closely monitor the fever. It is always best to be safe than sorry
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1 comment:
Chantix is a fairly new drug designed to help people quit smoking. It also has the ability to help people with other addictions such as alcoholism. Chantix works by targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain. http://www.chantixhome.com/
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