What’s making your child sick? Find out quickly – or at least zone in on possible reasons before checking with your doctor – at BabyCenter’s Symptom Guide. Simply choose one of four tabs based on your child’s age (baby, toddler, preschooler or big kid) and select a symptom to see a list of conditions. By clicking on one of the conditions, you’ll see a comprehensive list of common symptoms and, when necessary, an alert to call 911 or go to the emergency room. If your child has more than one symptom (you can select as many as you want), the Symptom Guide will provide a shorter list of cross-referenced conditions. Source: babycenter.com/symptom-guideCLEAN WATER ON THE GO
Whenever we think about keeping your family safe and healthy, we usually picture our loved ones near home: at work, in school, at the mall and so forth. But what about when you and your brood are traveling overseas, perhaps in countries where it’s difficult or impossible to find clean drinking water? Weighing only 8 ounces, the SteriPEN uses ultraviolet light to kill viruses, bacteria, cholera and a host of other microscopic buggers than can ruin a trip. Press the button and stir it in your water bottle or glass. When the light turns green after 90 seconds, you have clean water. It retails for $69.95 to $99.95. Source: steripen.comA MILK MALADY
Lactose intolerance, a condition that affects 30 million American adults by age 20, develops when the small intestine doesn’t produce enough of an enzyme called lactase. This enzyme is necessary to digest lactose. According to the National Institutes of Health, symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal bloating or cramps, diarrhea, gas or nausea. Alternative milk products include buttermilk, cheeses, yogurt, goat’s milk, ice cream or milkshakes, and lactose-free milk. In addition, older kids and adults can opt for lactase-treated cow’s milk, and infants younger than age 2 can drink soy formulas. Those who are lactose intolerant can also add lactase enzymes to regular milk or take lactase in pill form. Source: nih.govBANISH THE BURN
Your children need to be protected from the sun whenever they’re outdoors, particularly between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please remember the following as the days get longer and warmer:
Seek shade – In lieu of keeping your kids indoors (good luck!), encourage them to stay under a tree or umbrella.
Cover up – At the very least, keep them in a T-shirt whenever they’re not in the water. Also, cover their heads with a hat that protects the ears and neck.
Wear sunglasses – Look for a pair that blocks as close to 100 percent of UVA (long-wave) and UVB (short-wave) rays as possible.
Use sunscreen – Use a product with at least a 15 sun-protection factor. Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before your kids run outside. Source: cdc.gov‘STOP ... SIT ... BREATHE’
Only half an hour of daily meditation can significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety, according to a review study published by Johns Hopkins University. The benefits, say the study’s authors, were roughly equal to those derived from an antidepressant. In addition, pain levels caused by irritable bowel syndrome and arthritis were lowered. How this regular meditation practice works is still unknown, says Dr. Madhav Goyal, the study’s co-author. It’s possible that the gentle focus necessary to meditate helps the brain tune out negative emotions or symptoms. Source: jhu.eduPROTECT YOUR PEEPERS
If you spend too much time in front of a screen – and who doesn’t these days? – you may suffer from a malady that the American Optometric Association calls Computer Vision Syndrome. Symptoms include, either alone or in combination: eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain. What causes this? Poor lighting, screen glare, improper viewing distances and/or poor posture. Then again, say the folks at the AOA, maybe you simply need glasses. See your doctor, who will refer you to an eye specialist, if you think you have this digital-age disorder. Source: aoa.org
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