Health Children

Pulse Oximeter Saves Children

The health and safety of children has been on the top of the list of priorities for parents for as long as there have been children. Parents are constantly looking to better protect and monitor the health of their children from various illnesses and diseases. They will stop at almost nothing to do anything in their power to protect their kids. There are many different illnesses affecting kids today, which range from cardiovascular to respiratory. Both of these categories can be linked to both pollution and lacak of exercise with modern day kids. One of the best medicines is preventative care. This involves monitoring their health and vital signs for any tell tale signals of illnesses. It is a proven fact that early detection is always the best practice. This is true for many different reasons. One of which being the fact that early detection leads to less of damage and possible stops the spread of any bacteria or virus.

The two most common tools used by parents to monitor their kids’ health are a blood pressure monitor and a pulse oximeter. Both of these devices are non invasive devices, which makes it easier for parents. The meaning of non invasive is that the device does not require any action that would include anything in addition to the attachment of the device. A blood glucose monitor would not be considered non invasive since it requires the patient to provide a drop of blood, which is acquired by a small cut or poke by a sharp object. continue reading »

Important Children’s Health Issues

Issues concerning children’s health are ever changing with time. Currently our children face many new challenges and problems with their health and welfare.

Obesity

Obesity is perhaps the United States’ number one children’s health issue. 16% of children ages 6-19 are considered overweight or obese (above the 95th percentile for weight in relation to height), with numbers that keep climbing. Various factors play a part in this children’s health issue: if parent(s) are overweight, socioeconomic status, inactivity, and (obviously) nutrition. Hispanic youths are more likely to be overweight. Obesity specifically in girls, depends on their socioeconomic status; if they are of low income, the likelihood of being overweight is significantly higher than if they are of middle or upper class. The challenge we are facing now is how to prevent childhood obesity and help already obese children lose weight. Unfortunately, shaming children to losing weight, as some parents do, can lead to eating disorders and emotional problems. Children and teens lose weight the same way adults do: they need to find a method that works for them, whether it is going to a nutritionist or a weight-loss camp. Most importantly, becoming active and having a support network are key factors. continue reading »

Impact of Smoking Ads on Children

A big part of keeping children smoke free is to attack tobacco’s advertising capabilities. Children have malleable minds that are easily shaped by external influences; they soak them up like a sponge, storing up the behaviors and habits that will characterize their adult life. Thus, children are much more responsive to images, cartoons, and advertising campaigns than are adults. For as long as tobacco has been advertising, they have associated smoking with independence, sophistication, beauty, and fun. While these concepts primarily target teens and adults, children are often left absorbing, consciously or unconsciously, that smoke free is not the way to be if you want to be in the in-crowd or achieve success.

While tobacco companies have always maintained that they do not target children specifically, these claims were put to the test during the 10 years that Camel’s Joe Camel reigned over billboards, t-shirts, and cigarette packages across the globe. Joe Camel seemed almost a deliberate attempt at keeping children from pursuing smoke free lifestyles; according to a 1991 report by the Journal of the American Medical Association, children were able to match pictures of Joe Camel with a cigarette just as often as they were able to match Mickey Mouse with the Disney logo. Yikes. Joe Camel’s cartoon images had imprinted into the minds of many children during the late 1980′s and early 1990′s, and the AMA study showed just how integrated he had become with the fabric of society. continue reading »