Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Plush Design Studio on Unsplash It’s the start of a new school year, and most kids are feeling mixed emotions this time of the year. Going back to school is exciting, but many can feel a bit anxious. The cause of anxiety at …
It’s a well-known fact that colorful foods are good for you. From green veggies to bright red berries, adding a full spectrum of color into your diet is the key to getting all of your nutritional needs. But there are some other foods that pack …
When kids go back to school in the fall, the abundance of germs comes back, too. All it takes is one cough or sneeze in the classroom for the whole class to catch a cold! Besides sitting next to a sick classmate or touching a textbook that might be covered in germs, fall is also the time when the seasons begin to change. This makes kids much more susceptible to germs, and much more likely to bring them home from school.
Germs in school are near impossible to avoid, but there are definitely plenty of precautions you can take to stop them from spreading. Hand Washing is crucial in preventing the spread of germs, but with young kids, it’s easy to forget. Supply your child with hand sanitizer and remind them to use it frequently along with regular hand-washing. Remind them not to share items with sick classmates and to always cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.
Colds. There’s no such thing as “cold season”. Colds can strike at any time of the year, and they can be caused by more than 20 different viruses. Symptoms include congestion, a runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and tiredness. Typically, a cold-ridden kid is contagious for two to three days. The best medicine? Lots of fluids and plenty of rest.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease. The viral infection causes mouth ulcers and tiny blisters on the hands and feet. Although it is contagious, it’s usually not serious. There is no set treatment, but good hygiene, like proper handwashing, can keep the infection away from your child. It can be a difficult and painful virus to get through, especially if it is caught by a baby, as they can’t express what’s wrong.
Respiratory viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which sends at least 2 million kids under age 5 to the doctor or hospital each year. RSV is known to be quite contagious, and symptoms include shortness of breath, a “seal bark” cough, fever, stuffy nose, and wheezing. If your child shows these symptoms, see the doctor right away.
Strep throat. Strep throat brings on a high fever, stomach pain, and red, swollen tonsils. Since strep-causing bacteria migrate to the nose and throat, sneezing, coughing, and shaking hands can easily spread it from person to person. Strep requires antibiotic treatment, but kids typically recover within a few days.
To keep your little ones safe this fall, make sure they’re fully equipped with hand sanitizer, tissues, and healthy snacks. A few simple precautions can keep their immune systems up and their hands as germ-free as possible!
Source: http://healthyliving.msn.com/pregnancy-parenting/kids-health/back-to-school-germs-to-avoid
Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash For many of us, acne was something we suffered from as teenagers and eventually grew out of. But for a large percentage of the adult population, persistent acne is still a major problem. Certain lifestyle factors and genetics are …
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash New research shows that kids from the inner city are more susceptible to developing allergies long-term. Previous studies have shown that children who live in urban environments are more prone to asthma and environmental allergies than those from suburban …
The medical field is always working towards discovering new ways and techniques to detect serious illnesses, especially cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an at-home colon cancer test. Cologuard is the first stool-based screening test that detects certain DNA mutations and red blood cells that could be indications of colorectal cancer, according to the FDA. The test, which is ordered through a doctor’s office, can be done at home.
The new stool-based test detects certain abnormalities associated with colorectal cancer cells. Patients who test positive with Cologuard would be advised to undergo further tests, including a colonoscopy.
Fecal immunochemical tests are previously approved screening tests that can be done once a year at home. The American Cancer Society recommends people with an average risk for colorectal cancer also have a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, or a colonoscopy every 10 years.
The downside is the new test was not as good at finding “true negatives.” Cologuard correctly identified a negative result in 87% of patients, the FDA says; the fecal immunochemical test correctly identifies negative results about 95% of the time.
This is the first time in history that FDA has approved a technology and CMS has proposed national coverage on the same day. The fecal tests we use now cost as little as $20, which means you can afford to have one done every year.
Source: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/08/14/new-at-home-test-may-detect-colon-cancer/?hpt=he_c2