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Each year, approximately 7,037 children younger than 18 years old experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. No less than 40,000 US infants are affected by cardiac congenital heart defects each year; and of these, about 25% require invasive treatment in the first year of life.
Congenital cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death resulting from birth defects
as 24% of infants who die of a birth defect have a heart defect.
According to the
American Heart Association's 2016 Children & Cardiovascular Diseases Update
,
23.7 million US children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese
. Each year, about 15,000 people under 20 years of age are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes; and healthcare providers are finding
more and more children with type 2 diabetes
, a disease usually diagnosed in adults 40 years of age and older.
Engaging in regular physical activity is a major factor in the prevention of heart disease, but research shows that over 90% of U.S. high school students don't get enough exercise to stay fit and healthy.
What can parents do to ensure good heart health in kids? Two words: nutrition and exercise.
Nutrition
- Teach and practice healthful family eating habits. Limit fast food & serve vegetables and fruit at meals and snacks daily. Model healthful eating yourself.
- Develop the family table. Eat together as a family, turn the TV off, stay at the table until everyone finishes eating, and encourage conversation. Don't miss this opportunity to get to know each other.
Exercise
- Get outside with your child. Take a walk in the neighborhood, go fishing, go cycling, play a recreational sport, plant a garden . . .
- Model an active lifestyle. Work around the house, exercise regularly, and don't be a "couch potato" (limit your screen time as well).
Click here for more information on heart disease prevention in children or view the resources below.
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Children's Dental Health Month
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About 20% of American children aged 5 to 11 and 13% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Of children aged 5 to 19, the percentage of children and adolescents with untreated tooth decay is twice as high for those from low-income families (25%) compared with children from higher-income households (11%).
One of the best ways to protect your child's teeth from decay is by minimizing your child's sugar intake, especially artificial sugars found in many candies, cake snacks and soft drinks. Parents should also ensure that their children receive adequate amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A in their diets.
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Calcium
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Vitamin D
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helps body get the most out of calcium
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Good sources include certain fish and fortified milk and orange juice; also, naturally acquired through exposure to sunlight
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Vitamin A
For more information
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Personal & Family Goal-Setting #WeeklyBlogPost
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Setting and achieving goals as a family can help build character and resilience in your children and help the relationships within the family-between spouses, between siblings, and between parent and child-grow closer as a result.
For tips and practical ideas on setting goals as a family,
and
please, leave a comment!
We love to hear from our readers and hope to receive your feedback!
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Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions and comments. We look forward to hearing from you.
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