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Photo by Mitch Lensink on Unsplash Bullying today is more than just name-calling on the playground. With the advancement of technology, bullying has been taken off of the playground and brought into your home. Generally, factors such as teasing, exclusion, rumors, public shaming and intimidation …
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It’s a well-known fact that air pollution is damaging to not only the environment, but also to our bodies and minds. Recent research has linked exposure to chemicals in the air to increased anxiety symptoms as well as a higher risk of stroke.
I Using information from an expansive database collected in the 2004 Nurses’ Health Study, researchers looked for a common link between anxiety symptoms and exposure to air pollution. Their findings showed that those who lived closer to a major road and had a higher past exposure to “fine and coarse particulate matter” were significantly more prone to increased symptoms of anxiety. The fact that this seems to be the case at all is a scary prospect, and this goes hand-in-hand with anxiety levels in the general population, cited by the study’s publishers: “Anxiety is the most common psychiatric disorder and globally affects around 16% of people at some point in life.”
How to cope with Stress and Anxiety by Jerry Hickey, R. Ph!
The study, led by Melinda Power, ScD, found that the association between anxiety and pollution depended on levels of exposure and was stronger if pollution exposure was more recent. An editorial accompanying the anxiety study, which also commented on the stroke study, suggested a possible biological explanation for the association with mental health. “Since air pollution causes systemic inflammation, it is reasonable that researchers have now turned to the arena of mental health, a leading priority for research given the relative absence of known modifiable risk factors and a high and growing disease burden,” according to Professor Michael Brauer, ScD, from the University of British Columbia’s public health school in Vancouver, Canada.
When it comes to stroke risk, the authors reviewed over 100 previous studies that included 28 countries to find a link between short-term air pollution exposure and stroke-related hospitalizations and deaths.
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For gaseous pollutants, the associations with stroke risk were:
According to the study authors, low- to middle-income countries experienced the strongest associations compared to high-income countries, and the results suggest a need for policy changes to reduce exposure in highly polluted regions such as China.
“The impact of chronic exposure to air pollution on development of carotid atherosclerosis (a precursor for stroke) remains unclear,” stated Professor Brauer. “Although this is not covered in the analysis, evidence of an association is growing.”
Source: Medical News Today
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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 the start of a new school year depends on age. Kids in middle school and high school tend to worry about grades, making sports teams, having a fun social life, SAT scores and more. The most common anxieties experienced by younger children are rooted in fear of the unknown – who is my teacher, where is my classroom, who will pick me up after school, will I know anyone, etc.
Parents tend to be nervous when their kids go back to school, too, so it’s important for them to understand their child’s temperament and how they deal with these emotions. “Some children have difficulty with transitions and need a lot of preparation and lead time to be ready,” says Dr. James Sparing, clinical faculty member in the Child Psychiatry department at UCLA.
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Anxiety over heading back to class can make kids feel physically sick. They may complain of stomachaches, headaches, nausea and dizziness, especially on Sunday evenings after having fun and relaxing all weekend. If you observe potential symptoms of stress as the start of school approaches, understanding what factors are most upsetting for your child can help both you and your child prepare more effectively for the upcoming changes.
Fear of the unknown. Kids face new classrooms, new teachers, new classmates, sometimes even a new school during this time of the year. This can be very scary for children, teens, and even college students! Starting middle school, high school, or going away to college brings up even more anxiety than simply heading back for your junior year.
Making friends and fitting in. Though schoolwork is important, children also need positive social experiences at school to truly succeed. Making friends can be difficult for some children, especially if they get nervous around strangers. Some children struggle to fit in, especially if they feel different from their classmates because of their size, physical maturity, or culture. As children mature into adolescence, friends and peer groups take on an even greater role. During the teenage years, a good social circle is crucial for developing the right decision-making skills, a sense of self-identity, increased confidence, better social skills, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to say ‘no’!
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Bullying. Bullies are a very serious issue these days, especially with kids participating in social media at younger and younger ages. Thankfully, bullying is being taken much more seriously these days. School officials act on bullying if it’s brought to their attention, and they often monitor social media as well to look out for online bullying. A child who’s being bullied becomes much more vulnerable to self-destructive behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, depression and even suicide.
Pressure to succeed. Excessive pressure to excel in both school and extracurricular activities can cause major emotional stress for a child. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to “examine your expectations for your child: are they realistic?” Not every child can be a straight-A student or a star athlete, and setting the bar too high can discourage children. Instead, parents are encouraged to support an appreciation for reading and learning overall, and to promote progress by setting up short-term, achievable goals. Parents should also support their kids in extracurricular activities, whether they prefer sports, theater, volunteer work, music, or anything else. This can help children gain skills and self-confidence, both in the classroom and on the field. Some children simply require more support than others and so sometimes finding alternative sources of information and feedback can help children to succeed.
The two most important things that parents can do to ensure their child is ready to perform at their best in school is to make sure they get a good night’s sleep and start the day with a healthy breakfast. Making sure your child eats a substantial breakfast is essential for good grades and focus in the classroom. “These kinds of healthy habits build a strong foundation around the child or adolescent,” says Murray
Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can impair learning and memory. Staying up late to play video games or watch TV can hurt school performance. A February 2013 study in the Journal of Pediatrics reported that children who watched more TV in the evening went to bed later and didn’t get the amount of sleep they need to do well in school.
Source: http://healthyliving.msn.com/pregnancy-parenting/kids-health/coping-strategies-for-back-to-school-anxiety#1