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Health

Teaching Teens About Drugs

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Teenagers are well known for rebellious behavior and nothing screams rebellion more than drug and alcohol abuse. You can talk and talk to your teenagers about the bad things that drugs can do to them, but in the end it is up to them. You can’t watch them 24/7, so all you can do is hope that your words and love are enough.

teens and drugs

The words you use are important though, because if you just assume they’ll do them whether or not you talk to them you may find yourself with a drug addicted teen. It may not seem like it, but kids do listen to their parents. It may seem like it is all in one ear and out the other, but sometimes something sticks, and if you don’t talk to them at all about the hard topics you aren’t doing your job as a parent.

Teens and Drugs Statistics

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, while the use of illicit drugs has dropped, as of 2014, they are still out there. Their studies found, though, that there has been less availability of certain addictive substances to the teenagers, which could equate for the approximately 7 percent drop since its peak in 1997. [Read more…] about Teaching Teens About Drugs

Originally posted on April 22, 2015 @ 2:00 pm

5 Tips for Staying Healthy During Pregnancy

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pregnant-woman

Pregnancy presents a multitude of challenges for soon-to-be mothers. You are faced with a changing body, changing health and huge impending life changes. Facing motherhood can not only take a toll on your mental health, but also on your physical health. While a loving support system can help ease the stress and worry, you can take steps to make your daily physical transition easier; not to mention, many of these tips have been said to make labor easier. Included here are a few tips for staying healthy during your pregnancy. [Read more…] about 5 Tips for Staying Healthy During Pregnancy

Originally posted on December 21, 2015 @ 7:37 am

Filipina Girl Needs Help for Cochlear Implant

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A child is always a blessing no matter her condition. To parents, the birth of a baby is a priceless event worth celebrating. Whether it’s the first, second or third child, moms and dads are always excited to hold their new member of the family in their arms after waiting for nine months.

There are instances, however, when parents face unexpected challenges with their bundle of joy such as when they find out something’s wrong with their very young child. It can be hard to accept at first but with faith in their hearts and support from family and friends, parents are able to gain strength and find solutions to their woes.

Rhyka Tiangco

One parent in a very trying situation right now is Rhyan Tiangco, father of two-year-old Rhyka. Born on May 5, 2013, Rhyka passed the newborn screening test but her parents noticed she was unresponsive to sound in her first months of life. She was later diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. She is now using a hearing aid to help hear sounds in her surroundings but this is not enough. The best solution recommended by her audiologist and ontologist is a cochlear implant for her condition. [Read more…] about Filipina Girl Needs Help for Cochlear Implant

Originally posted on May 3, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

5 Home Problems to Look for to Protect the Family

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When looking for a new home for your family, you can’t merely settle for the first affordable structure that you come across. Without examining the potential of the house or apartment, you could inadvertently put your children at risk. Although you would like to live in a perfect world, the fact remains that not everyone repairs damages to the home in a safe manner. This could be dangerous for your little ones. [Read more…] about 5 Home Problems to Look for to Protect the Family

Originally posted on January 30, 2015 @ 1:25 pm

4 Things to Consider When Choosing a Pediatrician

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Preparing for a new baby is a lot of hard work. Not only do future parents need to prepare their home and buy things such as clothes and food, but they need to find a good pediatrician. Finding a pediatrician for a new baby or even an older child is not that different from choosing any good health professional. There needs to be some compatibility between the doctor and the patient, the doctor has to have strong credentials and references, and the practice needs to accept the patient’s health insurance. All of this is true for choosing any doctor, but choosing a pediatrician has its own considerations. Here are just four that parents should keep in mind.

visiting a pediatrician

Choosing a Hospital or a Private Practice

According to Peter H. Short, M.D., FAAP, solo practices are smaller and more intimate. However that means when the doctor is away on vacation, or when they are not on call at night, a stranger may have to answer any questions or see the patient in the original care provider’s absence. That accurately sums up the advantages and disadvantages of a private practice. A pediatrician with a private practice will get to know patients and their families better than the staff of a hospital practice, but that pediatrician is also only one person, and they may not be available at all times. [Read more…] about 4 Things to Consider When Choosing a Pediatrician

Originally posted on April 4, 2015 @ 5:45 am

Protecting Children’s Health With Biotechnology & Traditional Precautions

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childrens health

When it comes to preventing or treating disease, stem cell research has led to major breakthroughs in the medical field. Parents who have young children can take advantage of cord blood banking, a type of stem cell technology that could effectively treat dozens of illnesses that may be acquired at any stage of life. Blood that is extracted from umbilical cords of pregnant women can be used as a legitimate source of stem cells.

When properly manipulated and activated, the blood cells could then differentiate into specific types of cells that would be typically be damaged by degenerative diseases. Decades after a baby is born, its umbilical blood can be utilized in treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Cord blood cells are stored safely in laboratory environments that are precisely controlled in regards to temperature, humidity and other conditions. [Read more…] about Protecting Children’s Health With Biotechnology & Traditional Precautions

Originally posted on December 9, 2014 @ 10:20 am

3 Easy Steps to a Great Medical Appointment

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Making the most of your child’s medical exam takes a little preparation. When visiting a new medical provider, you not only have to reassure your child, but you also need to make sure the provider truly understands your child and his or her needs. You can take a few easy steps to make sure that you are prepared to do both.

medical-appointment

Understand Why You are Visiting the Provider

New medical professionals are sometimes frightening to a child. If you understand why you are visiting this new person, you may be able to better explain it to your child. You can either ask your referring professional or reach out to the new provider. You’ll need to know if the new provider is a specialist. If you don’t understand what the provider actually does, you can consult an online list that shows you the provider’s specialty. You’ll also want to understand why your child was referred to this provider, if he or she was. Knowing what you hope to gain from the visit to the provider will also let you explain the need for the visit to your child. [Read more…] about 3 Easy Steps to a Great Medical Appointment

Originally posted on March 3, 2015 @ 2:19 pm

Switching Your Children to an Organic Diet

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Every responsible parent wants their children to grow up to be strong and healthy. Unfortunately, many of the food choices offered to children these days leaves much to be desired. Food manufacturing plants load their food products with all kinds of harmful chemicals and other nutritionally deficient ingredients. For this reason, many parents find themselves having to do a lot of research into food manufacturers to figure out which companies produce the best food products, like chicken, to serve their children at mealtime. [Read more…] about Switching Your Children to an Organic Diet

Originally posted on February 6, 2015 @ 12:11 pm

Three Common Preventable Childhood Diseases Parents Should Be Looking Out For

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The most common diseases and illnesses encountered by children and adults such as colds, cough, and flu are not exactly easy to prevent but they can be. Successful prevention would entail awareness and hygiene practices based on common sense. There are many childhood diseases that are sought to be prevented through vaccines but for illnesses that strike much more frequently than others, there are some precautionary measures that can be taken that will ensure more protection especially for young children.

teddy is sick

[Read more…] about Three Common Preventable Childhood Diseases Parents Should Be Looking Out For

Originally posted on September 30, 2013 @ 6:47 am