December 01, 2003Pediatrics Blog Archives |
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Parenting ResolutionsWe often hear of New Year's Resolutions for people to start exercising more, eat healthier, stop smoking, etc., but this year, how about adding some resolutions to help make you a more effective parent? { read more }01:18 PM # Mad Cow Disease - What's Safe to Feed Your Kids?Knowing what to feed your kids has always been a struggle for parents, but the many reports of food related illnesses this year, like Hepatitis A, mercury and fish, and now Mad Cow Disease, has left even more parents wondering what's left that is safe to feed their children. { read more }10:41 AM # Teen Quiz - Am I Fat?Do you have a teen who thinks they are fat even though it seems like they are at a healthy weight? If so, you might sit down with them and take our new quiz - Am I Fat?.05:24 PM # Virus of the YearSARS, the West Nile Virus and the flu have caused a lot of fear and hysteria this year. Which would get your vote for virus of the year?12:06 PM # Terror Threat Advisory and Your KidsQuestion of the Week. My six year old recently told me that he was afraid because the Homeland Security Threat Advisory had been raised to the organge or high level. What should I do about this? { read more }08:45 PM # Flu and Flu Shot QuizAre you ready for this year's flu season? Take our Flu and Flu Shot Quiz to see if you know everything you should to keep your family safe from the flu.12:49 PM # Insurance Coverage for FluMistBecause of the current flu shot shortages, a number of insurance companies, including CIGNA, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna, are providing temporary coverage for FluMist, the nasal spray flu vaccine. If you or your children have not gotten a flu shot yet and are not able to find one, you might look into (and verify your insurance coverage) getting FluMist instead. Also remember that there is still a rebate good for up to $25 for FluMist from the manufacturer. See our FluMist Q and A page for more information.05:53 PM # Flu Shot PollDid your kids get a flu vaccine this year (2003/2004)? Take our Flu Shot Poll.12:22 PM # Alternatives to the Flu ShotWith the current shortage of flu shots, these tips can help you find an alternative to the flu shot and still not get sick. { Read More }10:14 AM # Looking for Flu Shots?Looking for a flu shot? The current reports that most available flu vaccine supplies have now been distributed to doctors, clinics, health departments and other providers, has left people wondering if they will still be able to get a flu shot this year. Here are some sources where you might be able to find a flu shot for your family. Find a Flu Shot02:42 PM # How To Get Fat Without Really TryingAn ABC News Special that aired tonight, 'How To Get Fat Without Really Trying', tried to answer the difficult question of 'Who's to blame for the obesity crisis in America?'. Did they offer any answers?Unfortunately, no. While trying to blame everything from government subsidies for farmers to the marketing of unhealthy foods and snacks to children, the special didn't come up with any good reasons for the rise in obesity in children and adults or any solutions. Is obesity only an American problem? No. While 15% of children in the United States are overweight, the percentage of overweight children in some European countries is even higher, with 36% of children in Italy, 30% in Spain, 22% in the UK, 18% in Denmark, France and Sweden being overweight (source: USAToday article). Is obesity a childhood problem? Not really. While it is a problem that so many kids are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight in the United States, a far higher number of adults are overweight and obese. Recent statistics show that 64.5 percent of adults in America are overweight and 31% are obese. So when did they become overweight? It doesn't seem like it only happened in childhood... What is most surprising is that in Europe, while large numbers of children are overweight, far fewer adults are obese. In Italy, which has the highest percentage of overweight children, only 9% of adults are obese. What happens to help these kids lose weight before adulthood? If the rise in obesity is because of increased marketing of snack foods to kids, why is obesity rising in Sweden, where direct advertising of these kinds of products to kids under age 12 is banned? If it is because of fast food restaurants, like McDonalds and Burger King, why is Mexico the country ranked second in the number of overweight citizens, when they don't have our fast food restaurants on every corner as we seem to have? Finding a cause for the rise in obesity is important so that we can find a way to combat it. If it is simply because people are eating more and are less active, then we need to find a way to motivate people to have more healthy diets and exercise more. If it is because we eat too much fast food, too many unhealthy snacks, too many high calorie drinks, portions that are too big, or because we are less active, then more aggressive means need to be taken to fix those things. But simply looking for who to blame is not the answer. This is now a global problem and research needs to extend beyond the United States to find some answers. For more information:
10:34 PM # Avoiding Getting Sick with the FluThe current flu season is living up to predictions, becoming one of the worst in recent years. In addition to an early start, widespread cases across the United States, a strain of flu going around that was not included in this year's vaccine, and multiple cases of children dying from flu, there is now a report that the two major vaccine manufacturers are already out of flu shots.If you can not get a flu shot and you are exposed to someone with the flu, you might ask your doctor about prescribing an antiviral drug to help prevent you from getting sick. These flu drugs include amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Whether or not you got a flu shot, since it isn't 100% effective, you should follow these steps to help prevent you and your family from getting sick with the flu:
01:42 PM # Twins Birthday PartyMy twins just turned one, and I thought I would show them off a bit. Here are Jordan and Braden at their 1st birthday party.09:43 PM # |
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