Fast Food Contributes to Asthma, Eczema

We all know that our kids should be avoiding fast food heavy diets - in fact, we could probably stand to avoid the stuff too. Fast food is one of the largest contributors to the ongoing problem with childhood obesity, and we need to make sure that we are finding healthy dietary alternatives so that we are not relying the drive-through for all of our kids' meals.

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On top of having a hand in childhood obesity, fast food is also being linked to other complications that reach far beyond a child's weight. A recent study concludes that there is a strong connection between eating fast food more than three times per week and a child's risk of suffering various allergy-related illnesses: asthma, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis (runny nose/eyes). This research surveyed nearly half a million children around the world, and delivered some very interesting results. Additionally, this study indicates that we are likely to continue discovering new ways that fast food can negatively affect our health.

Here's an article from ThePediatrician.info that summarizes the study and also comments on some staggering statistics about childhood obesity. Remarking on what the study means for parenting, the article is a reminder that the behavior that we model for our children is going to be a major influence on their habits - dietary and otherwise. Hopefully this article will encourage us to be proactive in reversing the escalating trends of childhood obesity.

Kids and Allergies: Common Causes and Relief

It can take about a year to get sensitized to allergens if you are new to the south-central US. Allergies in kids particularly those who are new in the south-central US are quite common but even if they are common, parents should still be wary of them since it can be a rather irritating experience for your child.

With so many medications for allergies now available over-the-counter without the prescription of a pediatrician, many parents treat their children’s symptoms on their own especially when their kids get these allergies on a seasonal basis.

While treating your kids can be a fine idea sometimes giving them allergy medications is not enough. This means that every time your child suffers from allergic reactions, you should definitely pay the pediatrician a visit.

Here are a few allergy treatment dos and don’t’s that parents should remember:

You should ask your child’s pediatrician regarding OTC drugs you are planning to give your child and whether this is good for him or her. This is very important if you are thinking of giving your child an OTC medication you have never given to him or her before.

The best pediatricians of Plano can work up an assessment of your child’s allergies. Doing this will also give you peace of mind because your child’s allergies will be managed by a professional. This is only important however if your child is not getting any better is not getting relief from allergy medications.

According to experts, keeping track of your child’s daily pollen counts is a good idea so that you can determine what triggers the allergic reaction and which seasons meds for such a thing should be taken.

Preventative Medicine: Avoiding Cold and Flu season

Late fall and early winter is the time when you may start to feel a cold or flu coming on. But there are a few tips to avoiding illness during cold and flu season. There are simple things you can do to prevent a cold or flu before it even starts. Things like upping your Vitamin C intake to moving your toothbrush. Follow these simple tips and you may be able to steer clear of a cold or flu.

The first thing you can do and the best way to prevent a cold or flu is to get yourself vaccinated. Anyone who will be in children should absolutely get an influenza vaccine.

If you do feel like you are beginning to feel sick, don't go to work. You are sick, you don't need to get your entire department sick along with you. You need to be resting to get over your illness. If you must go in, quarantine yourself in your office and e-mail people rather than meet them face-to-face.

Another simple tip that can keep you from becoming ill is to wash your hands before you eat. Remember that germs can live on surfaces for up to 36 hours. Before you dig into your lunch, take a few minutes and wash your hands for at least at minute with hot water.

Stop touching your face. Your eyes, nose and mouth are all open to bacteria and when you touch your face you may be introducing bacteria directly into your system.

Keep an eye on your toothbrush. If you live with children or have other housemates, check your toothbrush. If you keep your toothbrush in a communal area make sure the bristles of your brush are not touching any others or move your toothbrush to another location. Think about it. You use your toothbrush daily and germs could be directly introduced to your system through your mouth! If you are just getting over an illness, put your toothbrush through a cycle in the dishwasher to sanitize it or throw your old brush away and purchase a new one.

Lastly, do not cough or sneeze into your hand. You may think that covering your mouth with your hand when you have to cough or sneeze is good manners, but it actually the easiest way to spread your germs to other people. Try coughing or sneezing into a tissue that you will throw away or try coughing or sneezing into your elbow instead of your hand.

Follow these simple tips and you can increase your chances of avoiding illness during this cold and flu season.

If you begin to feel sick, visit your local Plano, TX pediatricians at Forest Lane Pediatrics.