Archives for September 2009

The European Union said Monday it is launching a public relations blitz designed to boost the eating habits of the continent's young people and reduce the number who are overweight.

It is estimated that as many as 22 million European kids are overweight.

The EU plans to launch a website that informs European girls and boys about what constitutes proper eating habits, as well as sending three roadshows to dispense information and invite kids to participate in a series of activities to highlight healthy eating.

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From the moment it begins beating until the moment it stops, the human heart works tirelessly. In an average lifetime, the heart beats more than two and a half billion times.

Like a pumping machine, the heart provides the power needed for life. Researches have removed much of the mystery surrounding the heart, but there is still an air of fascination and curiosity about it.

To provide the people a better understanding of the subject, the World Heart Federation, in partnership with World Health Organisation (WHO), has been celebrating the World Heart Day on September 27 for the last 10 years. The theme of this year's celebration was 'Work with Heart'.

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As we look back at a legislative session engulfed by an economic downturn, where legislators had to make tough decisions, we can celebrate one true victory. With a last minute legislative deal and a signature by the Governor this past week, nearly one million children will be able to keep their health coverage through California’s Healthy Families Program.  So why is this program so important?

Four-year-old Tadd was born with a rare condition known as Vaters Syndrome.  This required an emergency procedure to reroute his intestines through a colostomy and other related surgeries.  While Tadd appears quite healthy, his condition requires routine care and specialized treatment now and for the rest of his life.  As his parents attend college to improve their lives, they worry about Tadd and how he will continue to get the care he needs. Today, they can rest easier knowing that health coverage for Tadd is still available.

Tadd receives his health coverage from Healthy Families, which provides affordable health coverage for children in low-income, working families in California.  State and federal dollars help to defray the cost of health coverage for these children. Families also contribute by paying premiums and co-payments for services.  This isn’t a hand-out; it’s a helping hand.

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A University of Victoria researcher hopes to prove that when kids are taught the health facts behind sugary beverages they will opt for healthy alternatives, such as milk or water.

Patti-Jean Naylor, assistant professor of exercise science and physical and health education, is now crunching the data taken from 500 surveys of children in Grades 4 to 6, before and after their participation in an education program about the health issues of sweetened drinks.

The education program, called Sip Smart! BC was an initiative of the government-supported B.C. Health Living Alliance, which aims to support healthy eating and exercise. The group said a reduction in the consumption of sugary beverages is possibly the single best chance to combat the current obesity epidemic in B.C., where one in four kids is classed as overweight or obese.

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Children with health insurance coverage are more likely to miss necessary health-care services if their parents are uninsured, new research shows.

These children are at greater risk of having difficulty seeing a doctor, getting dental care and accessing prescription medications than kids in families where children and parents are insured. They're also less likely to receive counseling on healthy eating, routine exercise, use of a safety or booster seat, and use of seatbelts and bike helmets, the study found.

The findings highlight the need to improve the current model of extending health insurance to children, but not necessarily to their parents, the study authors said.

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Join certified nutritionist and holistic health counselor Betty Murray on Thursday for "How Nutrition Plays a Role in Behavior, Attention & Autism." The free presentation will be 7 to 8 p.m. at Allen Public Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive. For information, call 972-930-0260.

Prostate power: Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano will hold a free seminar Friday on prostate cancer, including screenings and interpreting results. The session will be from noon to 1 p.m. at Baylor Plano, Conference Room A/B, Garden Level, 4700 Alliance Blvd.

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"It was an agitated frenzy until they would pass out," Genevieve Skory recalled. The weary parents broke up fights between their bickering children. The next morning, the house would be chaotic again. "I don't think it's good for kids to stay up until they fall asleep -- that's three hours later than they needed to go to sleep," she said.

Setting bedtimes can improve sleep quality and quantity for infants and toddlers, according to a growing body of research. Not getting enough sleep affects children's behavior, memory, attention, and emotional well-being, experts said.

Tired of the chaos in the house, the Skorys started to enforce bedtime every night at 9. About an hour before bedtime, she restricts her children's use of TV and computers and instructs them to prepare for bedtime.

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Back to school can be challenging time for any household. And this year's comes with increased concerns namely a possible flu virus, and protecting your kids' health.

In addition to educating youngsters about regular hand-washing, now is the time to boost their immune systems. With a lunch-box full of healthy, tasty foods and snacks, you can do so naturally.

Step 1: Get Kitchen-ready. Clean-out your kitchen cupboards and fridge, removing nutrient-void foods such as processed meats, white bread, cookies and sugar-filled goodies.

Step 2: Load-up on these all-natural, immune-boosting lunch foods: 100 percent whole grain breads, pita and wraps: Rich in fiber, vitamin B, folic acid and other nutrients, these slow-burning carbs will keep kids' energy steady for hours.

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An all-out vaccination program that would target children first could mitigate the impact of an H1N1 swine flu pandemic this fall, new research indicates.

Such a concerted vaccination effort could lead to coverage of 70% of the U.S. population, say researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute.

Their analysis, aided by computer modeling, is published in the Sept. 11 issue of Science Express, an early online edition of the journal Science.

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 The current generation of Ontario children won't live as long as their parents because of poor eating habits and lack of physical activity unless something is done soon, a report released yesterday by the Heart and Stroke Foundation warns.

"It should serve as a wake-up call that our children are not making the grade in terms of heart health," said Dr. Robert Hegele, a foundation spokesperson, researcher and professor of medicine at the University of Western Ontario. The survey repeated a landmark national survey done in 1998.

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