KidsHealth’s® Annual List Spotlights Important Trends Affecting Families in the Year Ahead
|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Wilmington, DE, — As 2010 begins, Nemours’ KidsHealth.org, the #1 website devoted to children’s health and development, looks ahead with its annual list of “10 Kids’ Health Issues to Watch.” The physicians and editors of KidsHealth have sifted through scores of health issues affecting children and families to choose 10 important trends to keep tabs on in 2010. The issues chosen represent a wide range of concerns — some may hit close to home while others may be more far reaching. Of course, these are not the only important issues affecting children’s health — far from it — but the physicians and editors at KidsHealth feel that in the midst of many, these are notable:
10 Kids’ Health Issues to Watch in 2010:
Earliest Signs of Autism Identified in Babies: With about 1 in every 150 children being diagnosed with a condition in the “autism spectrum,” there’s been an upsurge in autism awareness and research. New research, which finds that the earliest signs of autism can be detected in babies, will help improve screening efforts for autism. Babies who get an earlier diagnosis get the interventions they need sooner.
Obesity and Kids: What Parents Should Understand: Why are so many kids today overweight or obese? Many factors are involved, from out-of-control portion sizes and eating on the go to sedentary lifestyles and parental uncertainty about what kids should weigh. It’s important for parents to be good role models for their kids by eating well and exercising often. But beyond that, moms and dads also need to educate themselves regarding where kids should fall on a growth chart and how their child compares with peers on these charts.
Many Kids Missing Out on CHIP Benefits: A recent study concluded what seems obvious — kids who lack regular pediatric care often don’t get the medical services they need. Although it’s uncertain how well current health care reform initiatives will help meet kids’ needs, there is help available for millions of uninsured children via the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. So what’s the problem? Most of the 11 million eligible kids still haven’t been enrolled.
H1N1 Flu Pandemic Affecting Kids the Hardest: Worry over H1N1 virus has let up a bit in recent weeks and the peak of the outbreak appears to have passed, but experts caution that cases could surge again. So it’s important for parents to remain vigilant and do their best to protect their families, especially since kids and teens were especially hard hit by the recent H1N1 pandemic.
Texting & Driving: Just Say No: As irritating as cell phone and texting proficiencies can be for “old-school” parents, they can be more than just annoying. On the road, these distractions can be deadly. One report estimates that teens are four times more likely than adult drivers to get into an accident related to cell-phone use. Another found that texting was, by far, the most potentially dangerous and lethal activity related to cell phone use on the road.
The Importance of Vitamin D: Most of us know that vitamin D is crucial to bone health, but now it’s been shown that insufficient levels can cause or increase the risk of developing a number of health problems. Recent studies report that about 70% kids in the United States have low vitamin D levels. Traditionally, milk has been the main source of vitamin D for kids, but fewer kids now drink much milk every day. Another likely risk factor is the 3-4 hours of TV and computer time many kids get each day. Ultraviolet rays absorbed by the skin help the body make a usable form of vitamin D — so kids who are parked inside day after day aren’t getting these natural “doses” of vitamin D the way kids did in the past.
The Toll of Constant Social Networking: Does it seem like your kids are always online? Are their status updates on Facebook seemingly a matter of life and death? If so, you’re far from alone. And what was once the domain of older kids and teens is skewing younger and younger. Most experts think that kids are smart enough by their early teens to know what, and who, to avoid. Younger kids, though, need more parental supervision.
The Impact on Concussions: In the wake of head injuries among some of the NFL’s most high-profile players, concussions and their treatment have become big news. Because the treatment of concussions relies heavily on symptom reporting by those who incur them rather than more obvious signs, many athletes have been encouraged to “play through” head injuries. This is especially troubling for younger athletes, in whom repeat concussions can be serious. So it’s important to prevent concussions from happening in the first place and, if they do, to know the signs and how to make sure a child recovers completely.
Pregnancy, STDs Increasing Among U.S. Teens: The CDC reports that, following declines from 1991 to 2005, birth rates among U.S. teens are increasing, and more than 25% of 14- to 19-year-old girls had one of four sexually transmitted diseases in 2008. And in a new study, the AAP reports that many parents aren’t talking to their kids about sexual development until it’s “too late” — more than 40% of kids already had sexual intercourse before any discussion with their parents about STDs, condom use, birth control, or what to do if a partner refuses to use a condom.
Smoking: Good News and Bad News: The U.S. smoking rate has dropped sharply, from around 40% in the mid-1960s to a little over 20% now. That’s the good news. The bad news is that according to the American Lung Association, each day 6,300 American kids try their first cigarette and nearly 2,000 of them will become daily smokers. But it’s not just conventional cigarettes and other tobacco products that parents need to watch out for. Gaining traction are electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes), marketed as the “healthier alternative” to regular smoking, with many brands offering free trial kits through online promotions that kids can easily access.
To read more on each topic, visit: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/issues_2010.html#
Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and be eligible for Health News, discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
HealthNewsDigest.com
We videotape Press Conferences, produce SMT’s, B-rolls, PSA’s, – all with distribution: HealthyTelevisionProductions