But parental behavior remains strong influence on kids' attitudes, study says
HealthDay
By Kevin McKeever
FRIDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that parents who enforce a no-smoking ban at home are less likely to have teens who experiment with cigarettes.
The Massachusetts study, which followed more than 2,200 children, ages 12 to 17, for four years, also found that teens living in households that allowed smoking were more likely to find smoking as socially acceptable. Teens whose parents allowed smoking at home also tended to think a higher percentage of local adults smoked, compared to teens with household bans.
"This basic intervention -- implementing a household smoking ban -- has the potential to promote antismoking norms and to prevent adolescent smoking," lead study author Alison Albers, an assistant professor at Boston University School of Public Health, said in a news release issued by the Center for the Advancement of Health.
The findings are published in the October issue of the center's American Journal of Public Health.
Forbidding smoking at home appeared to reduce the incidence of smoking experimentation, although this only occurred in children who lived with nonsmokers. The teens who lived with nonsmokers but did not have a household smoking ban were nearly twice as likely to try cigarettes, compared to those whose parents banned smoking.
"This study provides evidence that even in a smoke-free home environment, parental behavior remains a strong influence on teen smoking attitudes and behavior," Mary Hrywna, manager of the Center for Tobacco Surveillance and Evaluation Research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry and New Jersey School of Public Health in New Brunswick, said in the same news release.
"These bans send a strong message to teens that it's not OK to smoke, and in the face of so many other external factors that may influence teens to smoke -- peers, advertising -- a home smoking policy is one thing that parents can control to some extent."
Copyright (c) 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Healthy Lunches Help Kids' Concentration in School
Sunday, August 24, 2008
SUNDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy foods should be included on the list of back-to-school supplies for your children, says a University of Michigan Health System expert.
Dietitian Catherine Kraus explained that a healthy, balanced diet enables neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) to function more efficiently, resulting in improved concentration and memory.
"Childhood is a crucial time when bodies are growing and brains are developing. Its so important to fuel the body with good nutrition, and teaching children smart eating habits at a young age is a great idea. It starts with the parents serving as the role model," Kraus said in a university news release.
She suggested a number of ways for parents to provide well-balanced meals and snacks to give children the energy and nutrition they need to perform well at school.
Make sure children eat breakfast. Research has shown that children who skip breakfast don't do as well in school as students who eat breakfast. A healthy breakfast includes a whole grain cereal, oatmeal or bread with a protein such as peanut butter or a hard-boiled egg. Including whole fruit instead of fruit juice adds more vitamins, minerals and fiber into the diet. Dairy products are acceptable as long as they're in the form of fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese.
While many schools are striving to include healthier items on their lunch menus, there are still plenty of unhealthy items such as pizza, nachos, and sweetened drinks.
"When children consume a high-fat, high-sugar meal, their bodies will crash, and they will become very tired and lethargic -- which is not going to help them perform at their best level in school," Kraus said.
If you're concerned about the cafeteria choices at school, give your child packed lunches that include a type of whole grain, such as bread or tortillas, with a lean protein, such as tuna, turkey or chicken. Include assortments of fruits and vegetables in various colors and sizes. Healthy beverage choices include water, fat-free or low-fat milk, or 100-percent fruit juice.
At dinner, half of your child's plate should include vegetables and fruit, one-quarter should consist of a lean protein, and one-quarter should contain whole grains, such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
"A smart dinner will help your child's brain function. If they are satisfied after dinnertime, then they will sleep through the night, and a child needs at least eight to nine hours of sleep a night in order to function while in the school the next day," Kraus said.
SUNDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy foods should be included on the list of back-to-school supplies for your children, says a University of Michigan Health System expert.
Dietitian Catherine Kraus explained that a healthy, balanced diet enables neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) to function more efficiently, resulting in improved concentration and memory.
"Childhood is a crucial time when bodies are growing and brains are developing. Its so important to fuel the body with good nutrition, and teaching children smart eating habits at a young age is a great idea. It starts with the parents serving as the role model," Kraus said in a university news release.
She suggested a number of ways for parents to provide well-balanced meals and snacks to give children the energy and nutrition they need to perform well at school.
Make sure children eat breakfast. Research has shown that children who skip breakfast don't do as well in school as students who eat breakfast. A healthy breakfast includes a whole grain cereal, oatmeal or bread with a protein such as peanut butter or a hard-boiled egg. Including whole fruit instead of fruit juice adds more vitamins, minerals and fiber into the diet. Dairy products are acceptable as long as they're in the form of fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese.
While many schools are striving to include healthier items on their lunch menus, there are still plenty of unhealthy items such as pizza, nachos, and sweetened drinks.
"When children consume a high-fat, high-sugar meal, their bodies will crash, and they will become very tired and lethargic -- which is not going to help them perform at their best level in school," Kraus said.
If you're concerned about the cafeteria choices at school, give your child packed lunches that include a type of whole grain, such as bread or tortillas, with a lean protein, such as tuna, turkey or chicken. Include assortments of fruits and vegetables in various colors and sizes. Healthy beverage choices include water, fat-free or low-fat milk, or 100-percent fruit juice.
At dinner, half of your child's plate should include vegetables and fruit, one-quarter should consist of a lean protein, and one-quarter should contain whole grains, such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
"A smart dinner will help your child's brain function. If they are satisfied after dinnertime, then they will sleep through the night, and a child needs at least eight to nine hours of sleep a night in order to function while in the school the next day," Kraus said.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Checklists Help Men and Women Stay Healthy at 50-Plus
By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
August 5, 2008
As we get ready to watch the upcoming Olympic Games, several athletes in their 40s and 50s will be taking part, including a 41-year-old U.S. swimmer and a 53-year-old Israeli marathoner.
These days, many people over age 50 are staying fit, even if they don't plan to compete at an elite level. But some men and women aren't sure how they can take care of themselves so they can stay healthy and keep doing the activities they enjoy.
My Agency, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and AARP developed two new checklists that outline the steps men and women over age 50 need to take to stay healthy and prevent disease.
The checklists are based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This is an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that reviews medical evidence to determine which tests and medicines have consistently been proven to work.
AHRQ and AARP, the leading consumer group for people over age 50, worked together on this project for a simple but important reason: the U.S. population is getting older. In the next 10 years, 77 million Baby Boomers will turn 65. As we get older, what we need to do to stay healthy changes.
For both men and women over 50, the daily steps to good health are ones we've probably heard before. The checklists remind us of these steps that have been scientifically proven to work.
Men and women age 50 and older should make sure they:
Are tobacco free. Tobacco use is a leading cause of heart disease and cancer. For tips on how to quit, go to resources that have helped other people kick the habit.
Stay physically active. If you are not active now, work up to 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Walking briskly, swimming, dancing, and mowing the lawn are good examples of moderate exercise.
Eat a healthy diet. Include generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk products in your daily diet. Limit your intake of foods that are high in fat, salt, and added sugar.
Stay at a healthy weight. Keep in mind that the calories (or energy) you consume must be burned off with activity so you don't gain weight. Check with your doctor if you start to gain or lose weight, as this can be a sign of a medical condition.
Drink alcohol moderately, if at all. This means no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. If you are older than age 65, have no more than one drink per day.
The checklists, which are available in English and Spanish, can be taken to medical appointments. In addition to providing daily health steps, the checklists can help you and your doctor talk about which preventive screening tests you need.
Unlike diagnostic tests, which help confirm if you have a disease, screening tests are used to check for problems before symptoms appear. Examples of preventive screening tests that both men and women should get after age 50 include those that check blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Women should get breast and cervical cancer screening tests, and both men and women should be tested for colorectal cancer.
The checklists can help you keep track of the date and results of your last screening tests, when you should have the test next, and questions for your next doctor visit.
Men and women over age 50 should also discuss with their doctor or nurse whether they need to take medicines to stay healthy. For example, taking an aspirin every day can prevent heart disease in some men and stroke in some women.
As you watch athletes in the Olympics compete for gold medals, remember there are steps you can take to stay healthy. The checklists for men and women over 50 can help remind you of the simple steps to follow to stay healthy for years to come.
I'm Dr. Carolyn Clancy and that's my advice on how to navigate the health care system.
More Information
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHRQ and AARP Team to Help Adults Over 50 Stay Healthy
http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2008/ppip50pr.htm
Men: Stay Healthy at 50-Plus: Checklists for Your Health
http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/men50.htm
Women: Stay Healthy at 50-Plus: Checklists for Your Health
http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/women50.htm
Current as of August 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Citation:
Checklists Help Men and Women Stay Healthy at 50-Plus. Navigating the Health Care System: Advice Columns from Dr. Carolyn Clancy, August 5, 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/cc/cc080508.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 5, 2008
As we get ready to watch the upcoming Olympic Games, several athletes in their 40s and 50s will be taking part, including a 41-year-old U.S. swimmer and a 53-year-old Israeli marathoner.
These days, many people over age 50 are staying fit, even if they don't plan to compete at an elite level. But some men and women aren't sure how they can take care of themselves so they can stay healthy and keep doing the activities they enjoy.
My Agency, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and AARP developed two new checklists that outline the steps men and women over age 50 need to take to stay healthy and prevent disease.
The checklists are based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This is an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that reviews medical evidence to determine which tests and medicines have consistently been proven to work.
AHRQ and AARP, the leading consumer group for people over age 50, worked together on this project for a simple but important reason: the U.S. population is getting older. In the next 10 years, 77 million Baby Boomers will turn 65. As we get older, what we need to do to stay healthy changes.
For both men and women over 50, the daily steps to good health are ones we've probably heard before. The checklists remind us of these steps that have been scientifically proven to work.
Men and women age 50 and older should make sure they:
Are tobacco free. Tobacco use is a leading cause of heart disease and cancer. For tips on how to quit, go to resources that have helped other people kick the habit.
Stay physically active. If you are not active now, work up to 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Walking briskly, swimming, dancing, and mowing the lawn are good examples of moderate exercise.
Eat a healthy diet. Include generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk products in your daily diet. Limit your intake of foods that are high in fat, salt, and added sugar.
Stay at a healthy weight. Keep in mind that the calories (or energy) you consume must be burned off with activity so you don't gain weight. Check with your doctor if you start to gain or lose weight, as this can be a sign of a medical condition.
Drink alcohol moderately, if at all. This means no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. If you are older than age 65, have no more than one drink per day.
The checklists, which are available in English and Spanish, can be taken to medical appointments. In addition to providing daily health steps, the checklists can help you and your doctor talk about which preventive screening tests you need.
Unlike diagnostic tests, which help confirm if you have a disease, screening tests are used to check for problems before symptoms appear. Examples of preventive screening tests that both men and women should get after age 50 include those that check blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Women should get breast and cervical cancer screening tests, and both men and women should be tested for colorectal cancer.
The checklists can help you keep track of the date and results of your last screening tests, when you should have the test next, and questions for your next doctor visit.
Men and women over age 50 should also discuss with their doctor or nurse whether they need to take medicines to stay healthy. For example, taking an aspirin every day can prevent heart disease in some men and stroke in some women.
As you watch athletes in the Olympics compete for gold medals, remember there are steps you can take to stay healthy. The checklists for men and women over 50 can help remind you of the simple steps to follow to stay healthy for years to come.
I'm Dr. Carolyn Clancy and that's my advice on how to navigate the health care system.
More Information
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHRQ and AARP Team to Help Adults Over 50 Stay Healthy
http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2008/ppip50pr.htm
Men: Stay Healthy at 50-Plus: Checklists for Your Health
http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/men50.htm
Women: Stay Healthy at 50-Plus: Checklists for Your Health
http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/women50.htm
Current as of August 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Citation:
Checklists Help Men and Women Stay Healthy at 50-Plus. Navigating the Health Care System: Advice Columns from Dr. Carolyn Clancy, August 5, 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/cc/cc080508.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Birth Defects Prevention Study Finds Pre-pregnancy Diabetes Increases Risk for Multiple Types of Birth Defects
July 30, 2008
Study first to show range and severity of birth defects associated with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Women who receive a diagnosis of diabetes before they become pregnant are three to four times more likely to have a child with one or even multiple birth defects than a mother who is not diabetic, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The article from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS), “Diabetes Mellitus and Birth Defects,” shows that pregnant women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (pre-pregnancy diagnosis of diabetes, such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes) are more likely than a mother with no diabetes or a mother with gestational diabetes mellitus (pregnancy-induced diabetes) to have a child with various types of individual or multiple birth defects. This includes heart defects, defects of the brain and spine, oral clefts, defects of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract and limb deficiencies. This study is the first to show the broad range and severity of birth defects associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
“The continued association of diabetes with a number of birth defects highlights the importance of increasing the number of women who receive the best possible preconception care, especially for those women diagnosed with diabetes,” says Adolfo Correa, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., lead author and epidemiologist at CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “Early and effective management of diabetes for pregnant women is critical in helping to not only prevent birth defects, but also to reduce the risk for other health complications for them and their children.”
Researchers also found that some of the pregnant women with gestational diabetes were more likely to have a child with birth defects. Because birth defects associated with diabetes are more likely to occur during the first trimester of pregnancy and before a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made, the observed associations suggest that some of the mothers with it probably had undiagnosed diabetes before they became pregnant. However symptoms went unnoticed until pregnancy.
Further, the associations of gestational diabetes with various birth defects were noted primarily among women who had pre-pregnancy obesity, which is a known risk factor for both diabetes and birth defects. Preconception care also should be considered and promoted for women with pre-pregnancy obesity to prevent birth defects and reduce the risk for health complications.
The NBDPS is a population-based, case-control study that incorporates data from nine birth defect centers in the United States—Arkansas, California, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Utah. These centers have been working on the largest study of birth defects causes ever undertaken in the United States. Researchers have gathered information from more than 30,000 participants and are using this information to look at key questions on potential causes of birth defects.
Birth defects affect one in 33 infants and are a leading cause of infant mortality. For some birth defects, some risk factors or causes have been identified; however, for the majority of birth defects the causes remain unknown.
In the United States, the prevalence of gestational diabetes has been increasing in recent years and currently affects about seven percent of all pregnancies, resulting in more than 200,000 cases annually. While it is usually resolved shortly after delivery, women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
For more information about birth defects, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/facts.htm. For more information on diabetes, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/, or call toll-free 1-800-CDC-INFO.
###
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Study first to show range and severity of birth defects associated with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Women who receive a diagnosis of diabetes before they become pregnant are three to four times more likely to have a child with one or even multiple birth defects than a mother who is not diabetic, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The article from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS), “Diabetes Mellitus and Birth Defects,” shows that pregnant women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (pre-pregnancy diagnosis of diabetes, such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes) are more likely than a mother with no diabetes or a mother with gestational diabetes mellitus (pregnancy-induced diabetes) to have a child with various types of individual or multiple birth defects. This includes heart defects, defects of the brain and spine, oral clefts, defects of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract and limb deficiencies. This study is the first to show the broad range and severity of birth defects associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
“The continued association of diabetes with a number of birth defects highlights the importance of increasing the number of women who receive the best possible preconception care, especially for those women diagnosed with diabetes,” says Adolfo Correa, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., lead author and epidemiologist at CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “Early and effective management of diabetes for pregnant women is critical in helping to not only prevent birth defects, but also to reduce the risk for other health complications for them and their children.”
Researchers also found that some of the pregnant women with gestational diabetes were more likely to have a child with birth defects. Because birth defects associated with diabetes are more likely to occur during the first trimester of pregnancy and before a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made, the observed associations suggest that some of the mothers with it probably had undiagnosed diabetes before they became pregnant. However symptoms went unnoticed until pregnancy.
Further, the associations of gestational diabetes with various birth defects were noted primarily among women who had pre-pregnancy obesity, which is a known risk factor for both diabetes and birth defects. Preconception care also should be considered and promoted for women with pre-pregnancy obesity to prevent birth defects and reduce the risk for health complications.
The NBDPS is a population-based, case-control study that incorporates data from nine birth defect centers in the United States—Arkansas, California, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Utah. These centers have been working on the largest study of birth defects causes ever undertaken in the United States. Researchers have gathered information from more than 30,000 participants and are using this information to look at key questions on potential causes of birth defects.
Birth defects affect one in 33 infants and are a leading cause of infant mortality. For some birth defects, some risk factors or causes have been identified; however, for the majority of birth defects the causes remain unknown.
In the United States, the prevalence of gestational diabetes has been increasing in recent years and currently affects about seven percent of all pregnancies, resulting in more than 200,000 cases annually. While it is usually resolved shortly after delivery, women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
For more information about birth defects, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/facts.htm. For more information on diabetes, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/, or call toll-free 1-800-CDC-INFO.
###
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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