ML Interest Tag: health-risks

3 Things a Dermatologist Wishes She’d Known as a Teen

by Gabby Cullen

In our teen years, skincare meant using the St. Ives apricot scrub a few times a week and lathering on a mud mask complete with cucumber rounds for a relaxing at-home spa session. And we might have even slathered on Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil once in a while (we’re sorry! We knew nothing!). Looking back as adults, there are plenty of things we wish we hadn’t done—and we’re not the only ones. Even doctors regret how they treated their skin in their youth. In a recent TikTok, dermatologist and teen skincare expert Dr. Brooke Jeffy shared three of her biggest skincare mistakes from her teen years, and we feel seen.

@brookejeffymd

3 Things I Wish I Knew as a Teen ☀️ NOT to tan! I worked at a tanning salon and have since spent a lot of time and money repairing that damage. Now, I just have to sit and wait for my skin cancer because it feels inevitable. 💧 Oily skin doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use moisturizer. Lack of moisture can actually cause your skin to produce more oil in an attempt to hydrate itself. 🌀 Less is more with exfoliating. I remember using all sorts of scrubs and sugar on my face, which was way too harsh. #Dermatologist #Derm #TeenSkincare  #TweenSkincare #SkincareTips #SkincareRoutine #SkincareForBeginners 

♬ original sound – Dr. Brooke Jeffy

1. Tanning

This is Jeffy’s biggest skincare mistake. Not only did she tan, but she worked at a tanning salon and now says she’s spent a lot of time and money fixing the damage done to her skin. “I just have to sit and wait for my skin cancer because it’s coming,” she laments.

And she’s got reason to worry: Hours of lying out in the sun or in a tanning bed have devastating consequences for the skin. The truth is, there’s no such thing as a “safe” tan, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. One out of every five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, and if you saw the inside tanning bed before the age of 35, there’s a 75% increase in the risk of developing life-threatening melanoma.

2. Not using a moisturizer on oily skin.

With hormones working overtime, many teens have extremely oily skin. But this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t use moisturizer, Jeffy says. “Lack of moisture can cause your skin to produce more oil to attempt to hydrate itself,” she says. In previous TikToks, Jeffy has mentioned that moisturizer is one of the skincare steps teens should embrace while saying no to serums, acids, and most toners.

3. Exfoliating

Despite what’s being marketed to us (ahem, St. Ives), less is more when it comes to exfoliating, Jeffy explains. She says she’s as guilty of this skincare mistake as the rest of us: “I remember using all sorts of scrubs and sugars on my face. Way too harsh.”

What’s extra worrisome right now is that teens are embracing a bunch of unnecessary skincare products. Jeffy has commented on the safety of viral skincare products teens are using, and guess what? Not a single exfoliator or serum gained her approval. So have your kids stick with the three tried-and-true products—face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen—and they won’t be dealing with as many skincare mistakes and health risks (sunspots, wrinkles, cancer scares) as we olds are today.

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A Veterinarian Answers All of Your Questions About Your Pet’s Diet

by Kenzie Kramer
Partner Content

If you’re a pet owner, odds are your Google search has a history of “Can dogs eat this” or “what happens if your cat eats that”. To help clear up any confusion around what your furry friend can eat and get advice on the best nutrition for your pet, we’ve teamed up with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and veterinarian Dr. Kristin Wuellner—an expert on what should be going into your pet’s body and what to do if they happen to get into something else! Keep reading to see Dr. Wuellner’s answers to our user-submitted questions:

Every pet parent has a long list of questions about their furball, including how to keep them happy and healthy! Hill’s provides science-backed nutrition to help your best friend be their best self. See how Hill’s science-backed nutrition can give your best friend their best life.

Are certain types of bones unsafe to give to a dog?

I don't recommend giving your dog any natural bone to chew on, cooked or uncooked. Natural bones are associated with serious health risks, like tooth damage and intestinal blockage, among other things. I strongly recommend giving your pet a toy that is designed for heavy chewing and replacing it when it starts to fray or break.

Besides chocolate, what are some other human foods that are bad for dogs?

Chocolate is probably the most well-known food to avoid giving your dog. However, you should call your veterinarian if they eat anything with caffeine, grapes or raisins (even one!), alcohol, raw bread dough, anything containing xylitol (like sugar-free gum and candy), onions or garlic. It's important to keep in mind that any human food may cause dietary upset in your pet so try to stick to dog food and treats.

With puppies, when do you start increasing their food intake? We are feeding our 3-month-old puppy The Hills Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites Dry Dog Food. She gets about a cup per feeding, three times a day. But she seems to be always hungry after feeding—is that just a puppy thing?

Puppies, like babies, all grow at different rates and their nutritional needs vary as they age and grow. As a good starting point, I'd recommend checking your food's packaging—most puppy foods have a nice reference chart for age and weight. It's important to talk to your veterinarian about feeding amounts as they can determine if your pet is growing at an appropriate rate and make the best recommendation.

I have heard that grain-free dog food is not good for my dog? He seems to be allergic to a lot of dog foods so I have been buying grain-free.

Not all grain-free foods are bad and there are certain (rare) instances in which your dog may need a grain-free food. It's important to note that food allergies in dogs are relatively uncommon, but environmental allergies are prevalent. However, if you're concerned that your pet is allergic to many foods, I highly recommend talking to your veterinarian about a dietary elimination trial, which is the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies in dogs. Based on the results of the diet trial, they will recommend a food that fits your pets nutritional needs and allergy profile.
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This GoFundMe Aims to #EndDiaperNeed (& It Only Takes $18 to Help)

by Erin Lem

If you’re looking to give back and make a measurable difference in a family’s life this holiday season, but don’t know where to start, turn to The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). They recently launched a GoFundMe to help struggling families provide diapers for their children. With one in three families experiencing diaper need, it’s time to read on to find out more about this campaign and how a donation of only $18 can provide diapers for one baby for one week.

photo: Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash

It’s no secret that families are struggling—both emotionally and financially—because of the global pandemic, In fact, the NDBN estimates that they are giving out 50% more diapers now than before COVID-19.

Their solution to help increase donations and awareness? NDBN partnered with GoFundMe to launch a centralized hub with verified fundraisers to #EndDiaperNeed. All donations to this GoFundMe will go directly to the National Diaper Bank Network of more than 240 diaper banks across the country.

It only takes a modest $18 to provide diapers for one bay for one week. A donation of any amount means that babies will stay dry and less exposed to health risks and families won’t have to worry about choosing between diapers for their children versus paying for rent, food or utilities.

As of time of publication, the GoFundMe has raised close to $57,000 of the $100,000 goal. To donate and learn more visit the campaign here.

—Erin Lem

 

 

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FDA Expands Hard-Boiled Egg Recall Due to Listeria Contamination

by Erica Loop

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a Food Safety Alert for ready-made hard-boiled eggs due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Following the initial alert, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an expansion of the recall to include additional products manufactured by Almark Foods at the company’s Gainesville, Georgia facility.

According to the CDC stats, the outbreak initially caused seven cases of Listeria in five states. According to the FDA’s website, “A more recent FDA sample from the facility also matched the outbreak strain, suggesting the possibility that the strain may have remained present in the facility.”

The eggs, produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia were packaged in plastic pails for use by food service operators. The eggs were sold to retailers, and not directly to consumers. This means consumers may not know if the eggs in products they’ve purchased are contaminated. Given the new information from the FDA, Almark voluntarily expanded the recall to include all hard-boiled egg products packaged for retail made by the Gainesville plant.

The current recall includes all eggs with “Best If Used By” dates through Mar. 2, 2020. The product used by dates have a “G” prefix, indicating that the eggs were packaged in the Gainesville, Georgia facility. For a full list of recalled products, visit the FDA’s website here. The FDA has also issued additional recall alerts for retailers, such as Trader Joe’s, for products that may contain the affected eggs.

Listeria can cause fever and flu-like symptoms in pregnant women. The bacteria can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or a potentially life-threatening infection in newborns. It can also cause headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, convulsions, fever, muscle aches or confusion in otherwise healthy children and adults. Symptoms often appear within one to four weeks after eating the contaminated food. This infection is treatable with antibiotics—making it important to contact your medical provider immediately.

The CDC had advised retailers and food service operators to stop using the peeled, hard-boiled eggs and wash/sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the eggs. If you have concerns about where a product’s hard-boiled eggs came from, ask the retailer to verify they were not produced by Almark Foods. If the retailer doesn’t know, skip the egg-containing product entirely.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Mona Sabha Cabrera via Pexels

 

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How Much Do You Really Know about Kids and Vaping?

By Sarah Daren

In the United States, children as young as second graders have joined a rapidly growing body of youth who vape. Intervention by parents, caregivers and community leaders is necessary to protect kids of all ages who have developed this unhealthy habit.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared that vaping is an epidemic. Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb has expressed that the vaping problem caught the agency off-guard. According to Gottlieb, vape manufacturer Juul is the prime catalyst of the crisis.

In an interview, Gottlieb recalled delaying a process that would have placed vape products under increased FDA scrutiny. Now, however, Gottlieb believes he may have made a mistake.

Today, parents and caregivers must protect children from a range of potential dangers. Vaping is the latest addition to this unfortunate list. You can learn how to protect children from the latest addition to one of the many things that threaten their welfare by understanding a few facts about the product.

In 2015, Juul quickly captured 40% of the vape market. Unfortunately, a large segment of its consumers encompasses teens. Approximately 3 million high school students used a vape product in 2018, according to government research.

According to Stanford scientist Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, her research shows that Juul products contain an astronomical level of nicotine. Most vape products contain nicotine levels that vary between 1% to nearly 2.5 %. Juul vape products, however, contain a nicotine level of 5%. Since the study, the company has introduced vape products with 3% nicotine.

In a CNBC documentary, Juul CEO Kevin Burns has apologized for his role in contributing to the vaping epidemic. During an interview for the documentary, Burns empathized as a fellow parent.

He expressed that his company has responded to the problem by ceasing all social media promotions and recalling fruity vape products that appeal to teens. Nevertheless, criticism of Juul continues, and in the company’s San Francisco base of operations, government officials have banned vape products entirely.

How Big Is the Problem?

Statistically, if someone doesn’t start smoking by the age of 26, they never will. Every day in the United States, over 3,000 teens smoke their first cigarette, and over 2,000 of them decide to start smoking daily.

As a parent, guardian or even a community leader, there are ways that you can help to prevent vaping among youth.

Youth are at risk due to a range of products, including vapes, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco. Many tobacco products are now flavored and marketed in the same fashion as candy – making them appealing to youth.

In 2018, one study showed that 30% to nearly 40% of high school children used vape products, and a 2017 study showed that more than 30% of youth who used vape products started smoking cigarettes, compared to a little over 8% of those who didn’t vape.

Contrary to manufacturers’ claims, a Yale study shows that vaping does not help people quit smoking. Instead, vaping increases the risk of smoking, and consumers face the same health risks when they vape as they do when they smoke cigarettes – if not more.

Case in point, a Children’s Hospital study has revealed that vape products contain chemicals that pose a greater risk of causing cancer than cigarettes. The same study also found that teens often use vape products to hide the smell of marijuana.

Vape manufacturers countered the commercially adverse effects of the studies by launching products in a range of enticing flavors. Resultantly, 43% of high school and middle school students have tried the product. Due to this outcome, the Surgeon General declared vaping an epidemic in December of 2018.

Juul’s marketing practices have specifically targeted the youth population. In September 2018, the US government seized thousands of the company’s documents detailing its marketing and advertising practices.

On November 2018, Juul responded by announcing through its social media channels that it will discontinue any social media engagement with the public. This announcement was an abrupt about-face from 2015 when Juul launched a $1 million scholarship contest awarding those who wrote the best essays about the benefits of vaping.

How Can I Make a Difference?

American Heart Association (AHA) spokespersons express that public health campaigns reinforced by parental guidance have proven effective at stymieing teen vaping. AHA representatives recommend that parents start talking to children about the harmful effects of nicotine products as early as kindergarten.

However, they warn parents not to pressure children into accepting their point of view. Instead, suggests representatives, parents should maintain an ongoing two-way dialogue about the topic.

Also, parents should prepare their children to deal with peer pressure. Role-playing may help in this regard.

Furthermore, suggest AHA spokespersons, parents should refrain from punishing teens who vape. Instead, guardians should express that they understand the lure of the product and how it causes addiction. Empathy, as it turns out, may prove more productive instead of punishing teen smokers.

More importantly, parents should show rather than tell, when it comes to teaching their kids that smoking is a bad idea. Parents who don’t want their kids to smoke should lead by example and not smoke themselves. AHA officials also suggest that parents maintain a smoke-free home and prohibit smoking in their house and vehicle.

You can find out more about teen smoking cessation by visiting the American Heart Association website.

Sarah Daren has been a consultant for startups in industries including health and wellness, wearable technology, and education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life, including her position as a yoga instructor and raising her children. Sarah enjoys watching baseball and reading on the beach. 

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5 Healthy Snack Alternatives for Kids on the Go

By Nathan Sheets

School is out for summer, and for millions of families that means an increase in extracurricular activities. Parents are busy mapping out the logistics of camps, practices, tournaments, and more, so any time savings are usually encouraged and taken.

Finding ways to prepare meals and snacks ahead of time presents a potential shortcut for hectic lifest‌yles, but healthy fare can sometimes seem burdensome or out of reach in favor of processed alternatives, which are often cheaper. It’s tempting to grab a box of prepackaged, processed snacks off the grocery shelf, but a little planning can actually help you save money in the long run—not to mention the real-life health benefits you can reap from eating fresh, high-quality food.

How We Got Here

The prevalence of processed foods in our pantries has been a shift many decades in the making, and many factors have combined to create it. Daily trips to the market for fresh produce have become weekly errands. To improve the sustainability of processed products, we’ve needed to produce foods that can survive the journey from factory to distribution warehouse to store shelf, where foods will sit for even more time.

To remain edible during the long wait from creation to consumption, processed foods are infused with preservatives such as sugar, sodium, and fat. Science has found that the downside is steep, and it’s well-known that eating too much of these nutrients can increase health risks. In generations past, we simply didn’t eat these types of foods like we do today, and we’re really feeling the detrimental impact in ourselves, our families, and our communities.

These are reasons enough to limit our consumption of processed foods, but they’re still staples in our kitchen and on the go, especially with our overloaded lifestyles. We all do so much. Whether as individuals or as families, schedules are packed morning, noon, and night. Trying to find the time to create nutrient-rich foods and snacks can seem like a barrier to the pace of life.

Budgets are also a factor in choosing processed foods. Inexpensive food is hard to pass up when looking at a lengthy grocery list. Processed foods are also easily accessible and on virtually every corner at retail and grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies. Understanding how to access and create healthy meals and snacks that are affordable is a critical component to overcoming this challenge. Natural ingredients can be delicious, and once you include them in your cooking and lifestyle, the energy and enrichment you gain often outweigh hard-to-resist processed foods.

Quick and Better-for-You Alternatives

One easy way to combat the adverse effects of processed foods is by focusing on simple, fresh, nutritious options that won’t monopolize your time or break the bank. Knowing where to start can help get the ball rolling, so here are a few ideas that we like to share from our honey farm:

• Berries. No doubt one of the most versatile foods, berries are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C. Toss a handful of blueberries over your cereal, whip up a bowl of balsamic strawberry salsa or mix together a variety of berries with a dollop of honey, and you’ve just added a kick of vitamins to a snack, dessert, or meal.

• Yogurt. Most people turn to coffee for a midday pick-me-up. But what if I told you there’s a better option? Natural yogurt contains calcium, protein, and probiotics, which help boost energy. Throw in some berries, and the added fiber keeps those engines running even longer. Just make sure to read the labels, as some brands are loaded with added sugar.

• Grapefruit. Sure, grapefruit may be seen as grandma’s meal of choice for breakfast—but the wise lady was onto something. For one, it’s packed with vitamins A and C. It’s also loaded with water. Grapefruit helps the body ward off many illnesses and aids in hydration. Instead of sprinkling grapefruit with sugar, try drizzling it with honey to boost its sweetness.

• Smoothies. You’ve probably heard the saying “never drink your calories,” but I’d like to add a caveat: smoothies. Unlike juices, smoothies contain fiber to help fill you up. And you’ve got a vitamin-packed, grab-and-go snack if you choose nutrient-rich ingredients like dark, leafy greens; berries; squash; or protein powder.

• Bagels. While not all bagels are healthy, those of the whole-grain variety can provide you with nearly one-third of your recommended daily intake of fiber. You can build an even better version by topping your bagel with nut butter, bananas, and a bit of honey for a truly delicious energy-boosting snack or meal.

Convenience will always be a big thing with food choice, and each one of these alternatives to processed foods provides that—plus many of the vital nutrients your body needs. As with anything in life, it’s all in the preparation. If you plan ahead and add healthier food options in your kitchen, you’ll find yourself gravitating away from those easy-to-choose processed foods.

Making these changes don’t have to be extreme shifts in your lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing commitment. Start small! Find easy recipes for meals at home and on the go through a blog that you enjoy or an influencer who connects to your cooking preferences and lifestyle. Begin to make easy substitutions and slowly make changes that will be lasting in your house.

If you slip up one day, week or month, don’t consider it a failure. This is a lifetime journey, and you can expect bumps along the way. Just give yourself a little grace and get back to those healthy choices when you can. This summer, power those activities and long days through natural food and see the difference it can make in yourself and your family.

Nathan Sheets, the CEO and chief steward of Nature Nate’s Honey Co., embarked on a mission to nourish lives by creating high-quality products for a higher purpose. Nathan has also turned his entrepreneurial spirit to contributing to communities in need through a “give to grow” business. 

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This New Study on Sunscreen Chemicals Will Surprise You

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s time to replenish your sunscreen stockpile. Before you hit the store, however, you’re going to want to see the results of a new study on the health risks of common sunscreen ingredients.

A new study published in JAMA and conducted by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research found that the blood concentration of four of the ingredients found in sunscreen continued to rise as daily use of the product continued. These ingredients were also found to remain in the body for at least 24 hours after using the sunscreen.

photo: Ashley K Little via Pexels

The study did not look at the health impact this absorption has if any, on users––only that it occurs. The study points to the need for more research on the impact of these specific ingredients once they are absorbed into the body.

Four ingredients were tested: avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule. Out of these, oxybenzone stood out above the rest with an absorption rate of “about 50 to 100 times higher concentration than any of these other three chemicals they tested,” according to David Andrews, a senior scientist at the EWG.

photo: iStock

Previous studies have shown a potential link between oxybenzone and lower testosterone levels in adolescent boys and shorter pregnancies and disrupted birth weights in babies. Oxybenzone is also known to be one of the most common cause of contact allergies. The ingredient has also been banned in several parts of the world due to the fact that it can cause coral bleaching and pose a danger to marine life when it’s introduced into the ocean.

So does this mean you should stop using sunscreen? No. Instead, consumers should more vigilant about reading labels and researching the ingredients in the sunscreens they use. Check out our detailed list of sunscreens here, many of which contain safer ingredients.

The American Academy of Dermatology urges people to apply at least one ounce of sunscreen to all exposed skin every two hours or after swimming. In addition, you should always talk to a board-certified dermatologist if you are concerned about the safety of a sunscreen’s ingredients.

“Studies need to be performed to evaluate this finding and determine whether there are true medical implications to absorption of certain ingredients,” said Yale School of Medicine dermatologist Dr. David Leffell, a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology. He added that in the meantime, people should “continue to be aggressive about sun protection.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

featured image: quinono via Pixabay

 

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Could Viagra Become a New Treatment for Children of Mothers with Preeclampsia?

by Erica Loop

Researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center may have found a new way to protect the heart health of children born to mothers with preeclampsia. And the mainly male-used medication in the experimental therapy may surprise you!

A preeclampsia diagnosis is one potential pregnancy problem that no mama-to-be ever wants to hear. As if the excessive swelling isn’t painful enough, add in the skyrocketing blood pressure (and of course, protein-filled pee) and pregnancy can go from sweet to scary. Given the possibility of serious complications, for both mother and baby, there’s no shortage of research into this pregnancy-induced issue.

photo: 3907349 via Pixabay

Even though science is looking for causes, cures and any other treatment that could work, there are still plenty of what if’s. Along with the potential for immediate complications, children born to mothers with this condition are often at more risk for developing high blood pressure and suffering a stroke later in life.

Doctoral student and lead author of the study, Hannah Turbeville, said, “The ultimate goal of our work is to improve the long-term health of women and children affected by preeclampsia.” Turbeville also added, “There are limited guidelines for addressing the health risks to these groups, and we hope not only to bring attention to these risks but also to propel research forward that will inform preventative interventions.”

So what did Turbeville’s research find? Using rat models (not human subjects), Turbeville and her team lowered blood pressure in the offspring by acting on the nitric oxide pathway. If you’re wondering what this means, how the researchers did it and what the rat modeling has to do with humans, here goes: The theory is that by reducing blood pressure in rat offspring, the same could be true for human offspring of mothers with preeclampsia. To do this, the researchers used the drug sildenafil citrate. If that sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because you’ve probably heard about the medication before by its brand name—Viagra.

Yes, the research proposes that the ED drug Viagra (it also has other uses already) may help to reduce potential cardiovascular risks in children born to women diagnosed with preeclampsia. But don’t expect to see this treatment immediately. As of now it’s still in the rat-modeled trials.

—Erica Loop

 

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How to Help Your Kids Build a Healthy Relationship—With Their Health

By Caesar Djavaherian

Sixty two percent of teenagers say they feel lonely according to recent research. While many point to the negative effects of social media and the next generation spending six or more hours a day on their screens as obvious culprits, there’s a lot more at play when it comes to understanding what’s affecting our kids’ mental health and wellbeing.

In fact, what parents say, the behavior we model and how we interact with our kids has a far more significant impact on our children’s health than most people realize. As both a dad and a doctor, I’ve found a few important tips that parents can use to have meaningful conversations with their kids about their health which will inspire kids to adopt healthy lifest‌yle habits.

Create a Supportive Environment & Listen to Your Kids

Your mental health impacts your physical health and stress, depression and anxiety often exacerbate or aggravate physical conditions, especially in kids. Across the board, when I look at the healthiest children, I find them to be those who are supported by parents who foster open communication with their kids while at the same time, establishing healthy boundaries. In fact, this 2015 study found an “authoritative parenting st‌yle accounted for 81 children (93 percent) with positive behavior.”

This doesn’t mean becoming a helicopter parenting st‌yle or Tiger Mom—quite the opposite. It’s means encouraging and empowering your kids to pursue their own interests, whether it’s reading a book or acting in their school’s play. Perhaps your child is an introvert or doesn’t fit the gender binary. Regardless of who your kid is, the more space you give them—and the more you make it clear that your home is a safe space for them to come to you with problems—the less stress you place on your kids and the more likely they are to come to you with a health issue or concern.

Watch How You Talk about Yourself & Others

Did you know that there is a high correlation of developing eating disorders if your parent has an eating disorder? Many studies have shown that when a parent describes themselves as fat or struggles with dieting and weight loss themselves, this directly impacts their kids, their perceptions of themselves and their value system around their body image.

But how we talk about ourselves and its impact on our kids isn’t limited to eating disorders—think of how many times you’ve said something that mirrored what you heard growing up from your parents. Whether it’s stigmatizing depression and mental health or someone’s sexual behavior, how we describe ourselves and others shapes how our kids want to interact with us, open up to us and frames how they see the world.

The more conscious you are of the judgmental behavior you display, the less likely you are to create a division between you and your children.

Modeling Healthy Eating & Physical Activity

While I’ve discussed many approaches to improving parent and child relationships, communication and mental health, I can’t overstate how important it is to help your kids develop healthy eating habits and engage in regular physical activity that they enjoy. For starters, simply stocking your refrigerator with fruits and vegetables and making it a point to serve a healthy dinner can go a long way in decreasing future health risks linked to obesity like diabetes or hypertension.

Also, nearly 40 percent of kids ages 6 to 17 do not engage in regular, vigorous physical activity. Encourage your kids to go on walks with friends, pick up a sport they enjoy or go dancing.

In the meantime, model that behavior yourself, whether it’s heading to the gym a few days a week or going on a long walk during your lunch break. Or, if your family is up for it, you can make physical activities like hiking a regular family outing to stay active while having fun and building your connection.

Instead of forcing “healthy habits” or bringing up topics that make you and your kids uncomfortable, there are some simple tips that every parent can adopt to foster trust and build healthier families. By supporting your kids, listening to them, watching what you say and modeling healthy eating and physical activity, you are helping your kids develop a better relationship with you and a better lifelong relationship to their health.

Caesar Djavaherian
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I'm a co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Carbon Health, a modern, tech-enabled healthcare company transforming the primary care and urgent care experience. I received my BS and MS in Biological Sciences at Stanford University, and graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

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Here’s Why Doctors Want Women to Wait a Year Between Pregnancies

by Shahrzad Warkentin

All parents-to-be have two big wishes: a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Now experts are saying there is one thing you can do to help lower health risks for both babies and moms. According to a new study, women should wait a year between pregnancies.

New research published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that pregnancies with shorter intervals less than 18 months apart were at increased risk for adverse fetal and infant outcomes, as well as higher risk of maternal mortality and severe morbidity. The study included 123,122 women of various ages and 148,544 pregnancies.

photo: KathrinPie via Pixabay

For women 35 and older, the risk of maternal mortality was 0.62 percent when there were only six months between pregnancies (between the birth of one and the conception of another), versus only 0.26 percent with an 18 month interval. For younger moms (those 20 to 34) the increase in maternal mortality was not as significant, however those moms had a higher risk of spontaneous preterm delivery, 5.3 percent at a six month interval versus 3.2 percent at 18 months, and adverse fetal and infant outcomes, 2.0 percent at six months, compared with 1.4 percent at 18 months.

“My main takeaway is that this association between short interpregnancy interval and poor pregnancy outcome is well-known, but this shows that it’s for all maternal ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or you’re 40,” said Dr. Laura Riley, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian, who was not involved in the study.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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