by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
When you become a parent, you immediately inherit a whole new set of worries. You fret over every decision, from what baby wash to use to if that jacket is warm enough. As they get older you pour over parenting magazines for tips on helping your child succeed in school and scour the Internet in search of the best pre-K to enroll them in. From the moment they are born until, well, forever you just want them to be happy and healthy and not totally screwed up by your parenting. Heart health is one of the few things most parents never really worry about. I mean, they’re kids; heart disease is for old people like us, right? Increasingly, that’s not the case. A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that at least 60 percent of children and young adults have hardened artery damage. That’s certainly something to worry about. How can you help strengthen your child’s heart? Read on!
Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in our country and one of the key reasons why kids are developing heart issues.
“We all are aware that obesity is a big risk factor for heart disease later in life,” said Dr. Valerie Miles, one of the pediatricians at Progressive Pediatrics. “It might surprise you to know, though, that many 3-year-olds have the beginning stages of coronary artery disease (fatty streaks in the arteries) and people as young as 12 actually have plaques in their arteries. Because of these facts and the prediction that we will soon be seeing heart attacks in teenagers due to rising obesity rates in children, we need to turn this crisis around.”
That means changing our lifestyles, and by “our” I mean grown-ups as well as kids. Being a positive role model is your first task. Eat your veggies, drink more water and less soda, get up and exercise. If your child sees you practicing healthy habits, they will follow.
One thing you may want to consider implementing now is Family Activity Night. Clear your calendar one night a week and do something together that gets the whole family moving. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming or challenge your neighbors to a game of kickball. Another idea is to make dinnertime a family affair. Let the kids help prepare the meal and eat it together. They’ll be more likely to eat their veggies if they helped cook them. And you’ll be able to monitor their portions and before-dinner snacking.
For more tips on how to make healthier choices and how to significantly reduce your family’s risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, head to Bally Total Fitness on Phillips Highway this Saturday at 4 pm. There, Dr. Miles will be presenting “How to Raise Healthy Kids in an Unhealthy World.” RSVPs are required so call (904) 230-8986 to secure a spot.
You read right. Good oral health could help keep your kids from having heart problems.
“Recent research is demonstrating that heart disease as we age may in fact have its roots in the mouth from overgrowth of bacteria or inflammation and antibodies that are initiated by these bacteria in the mouth,” explained Dr. Carolina Ceron-Canas, also from Progressive Pediatrics. “These initiate a cascade of inflammatory byproducts called acute phase reactants that cause blood vessels to swell. So in the future, we may need to visit the dentist to prevent heart disease.”
It’s recommended that children have their first trip to the dentist within six months of their first teeth appearing and no later than their first birthday. Kids should have regular check ups every six months. There are many terrific pediatric dentists in the area, so be sure to ask your pediatrician for a recommendation your next visit.
A lifestyle change requires consistency and if your child is eating healthy at home but gorging on junk food at school, your hard work is all in vain. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is working toward halting and reversing the trend of childhood obesity by 2015. Their Healthy Schools Program is one way the Alliance is making that goal a reality. Tell your child’s school about the program and encourage them to implement it as soon as possible. For more information on the Alliance and their work visit healthiergeneration.org.
Article Published in the 2-21-08 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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