Six seeds to boost vitamins and fiber
Posted on April 8, 2012 by vickibalint | 1 comment
This week is National Public Health Week.
Since 1995, the American Public Health Association has encouraged communities across the country to observe National Public Health Week (NPHW) each April.
The big push this year is to highlight prevention and wellness.
One major theme of the campaign is to encourage healthy eating and regular exercise for families. Making small, everyday changes can go a long way toward decreasing the risk of preventable death from causes such as heart disease, cancer and stroke, says the APHA.
Adding seeds to the diet in moderation is one way to boost vitamins and fiber, says nutrition expert Michelle Gorman, RD, of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Gorman, who has served as a nutrition supervisor for the Chandler School District, encourages families to give these six seeds a try in recipes and for snacking: Continue reading →
Reacting to an autism diagnosis: what’s next?
Posted on April 1, 2012 by vickibalint | 3 comments
Posted in Autism, Developmental issues
Tagged 100 day kit, Academy of Pediatrics, ACCEL, ASD, aspergers, Autism, autism diagnosis, autism speaks, autism spectrum disorder, autism what next, az autism coalition, AZAAP, azautism, Bryan Davey, CDC, daniel b kessler MD, Family health, parenting, parenting style, Pediatrics, raising arizona kids, Raising Arizona Kids magazine, ruth letizia md, SARRC, southwest human development
Bike safety rodeo this Saturday, March 31
Posted on March 27, 2012 by vickibalint | Leave a comment
Every three days a child in the United States is killed while riding a bicycle. Every single day, 100 children are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle-related head injuries.
Proper helmet use reduces the risk of brain injury from these accidents by about 90 percent.
Why don’t more kids wear helmets? For some, it’s the cool factor. For others, it’s the expense.
This weekend, Cardon Children’s Medical Center along with Safe Kids Maricopa County will give away free helmets to the first 300 people to attend their Bike Rodeo.
It’s a chance to practice bike safety skills and to find out more about helmet use. Plus, there’s an opportunity to win a new bike.
More on how to fit a bike helmet
Cardon Children’s Bike Rodeo details:
9 a.m. to noon
Cardon Children’s Medical Center
1400 S. Dobson Road, Mesa 85202
For ages 3-16
Bring your bike or scooter
Watch injury prevention specialist Tracey Fejt, RN, of Cardon Children’s talk about an outreach program she designed that provides safety curriculum and free helmets to schools that agree to “helmet required” policies for students.
Posted in Bicycles, Family safety
It’s the fourth Tuesday in March, which means it’s time for Diabetes Alert Day.
Held by the American Diabetes Association, Alert Day is a one-day “wake-up call,” asking Americans to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes affects nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States. About one-quarter of them—7 million—do not even know they have it.
An additional 79 million, or one in three American adults, have prediabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
What is prediabetes?
Pre-diabetes, says Dr. Floyd Shewmake, M.D., J.D., senior medical director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSA), refers to a blood sugar level which is higher than normal but not yet high enough to result in the diagnosis of diabetes. Almost all type 2 diabetics go through a period of time when they meet the criteria for pre-diabetes.
The only way to determine if you are pre-diabetic is to have a fasting blood sugar test done, he adds. Pre-diabetes has no symptoms but there is evidence that even at this early stage damage to critical organs such as the heart and kidneys can begin.
So, who’s at risk?
Adults and children who have one or both parents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, says Shewmake.
Women who developed elevated blood sugars during pregnancy are also at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes as they get older, and should be monitored more closely for diabetes.
Shewmake says that the risk for developing diabetes can be delayed, or even avoided. Healthy dietary habits, maintaining a normal weight, and an active lifestyle with regular exercise can help.
Type 2 diabetes occurs more often in adults with high blood pressure, so Shewmake encourages regular checkups to make sure that blood pressure stays in the normal range.
What’s normal blood pressure?
Recent research shows a link between type 2 diabetes and the development of colon cancer. This association has been identified in several studies though it is not yet understood exactly why this link exists.
Colon cancer screening is important for all adults, says Shewman, and especially important for individuals with type 2 diabetes because of this link.
“We have known for years that the better the sugar is controlled, says Shewman, “the less likely secondary complications such as heart, vascular and kidney diseases will occur.” New drug therapies developed over the last ten years are helping type 2 diabetics better control their blood sugars.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona encourages families to follow the “5-2-1-0” plan for staying healthy and active. Aim for:
FIVE fruits or vegetables per day
TWO hours or less of screen time
ONE hour of physical activity
ZERO sweetened drinks.
The role of an ECG in all sports physicals remains a debated topic within the United States. It is, however, very important to ask specific questions (use the attached screening tool) for risk factors and then refer to a pediatric cardiologist for further assessment.
What should parents or caregivers do if they believe a child might be at risk?
Once an individual is identified as having any of the conditions listed above, it is very important for first degree relatives to also be evaluated by a pediatric cardiologist even if they are not experiencing symptoms.
Sudden Cardiac Death is devastating to not only the families of those affected but to the communities in which they live. Educating families, schools, sports leagues, and primary care providers about quick and effective screening for children at risk for SCD is a first step in prevention.
Increased community awareness and the availability of AEDs in schools and sporting venues will help avert a tragedy.