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Category Archives: SICKNESS

How to handle a sick baby


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ANTIDOTE TO THE DEADLIEST KILLER….MOSQUITOES

Mosquitoes are the deadliest creatures on Earth. They carry threatening diseases like malaria, West Nile and encephalitis.

Interesting stats about Mosquitoes:

• studies show that mosquitoes prefer to bite men over women;

• overweight people are at greater risk.

• Mosquitoes can hone in on carbon dioxide emitted from breath and skin from over 75 feet away.

• Scientists estimate that genetics account for about 85% of our attractiveness to mosquitoes

WHAT DOESN’T WORK

· Don’t use The Bug Zapper. A University of Delaware published a study showed that out of nearly 14,000 insects killed by six zappers in one summer, only 31 were biting fliers.

· Avoid Lemon Eucalyptus Oil. It is not recommended for young kids.

· Consumer Reports does not recommend using products that combine sunscreen with insect repellent.

· Avoid Avon Skin So Soft as a insect repellent. It protects against mosquitoes for only ~23 minutes.

· A small study from 2002 found that citronella-based repellents keep bugs away for about 20 minutes or less.

· Avoid clip on mosquito-repellent devices

· Avoid Perfumes: Female mosquitoes normally feed on flower nectar when not trying to reproduce – avoid smelling like one!

WHAT WORKS

1. Mosquitoes breed in Standing water. Clearing your home gutters of clogs, filling in sunken parts of your lawn and regularly change the water in your bird bath or kiddie pool. Inspect basements and crawl spaces. If they are flooded, drain as quickly as possible. Fix the screen on both windows and doors to block mosquitoes from coming indoor.

2. Expose as little skin as possible. Certain species of mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors like black, blue, and red. And they are all attracted to heat. So stay cool by wearing lighter colors.

3. Try to avoid being out at Dawn or dusk when they are most active

4. Position yourself near ceiling fans on patios, porches or open-air restaurants that have them. Strategically place fans around your deck or patio to get a good bug-free breeze going.

5. Plant perennial Thai lemon grass contains citronella oil.

6. Report Dead Birds to Local Authorities. Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus is circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area.

7. If you are a mosquito magnet, select blueberries, apples, watermelon, cucumbers, cabbage, and green peppers, which are relatively low in potassium, instead of potatoes, prunes, raisins, spinach, bananas, lima beans, and acorn squash, all of which are particularly high in potassium.

CHEMICAL OPTION: We don’t recommend this either:

1. DEET. According to the CDC, insect repellents that contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) or picaridin (KBR 3023) usually provide longer protection than insect repellents containing different active ingredients.

Best Repellent per Consumer Report:

• Off Deep Woods Sportsman II,

• Cutter Backwoods Unscented,

• Off FamilyCare Smooth & Dry and

• 3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8.

Concentrations up to 100% DEET can be purchased in the U.S., however Canada has barred sales of any repellent containing more than 30% DEET due to its toxicity. Use 30% DEET solution and reapply every 3-4 hrs. Like SPF, higher concentrations of DEET are no more effective for preventing mosquito bites than lower concentrations. DEET must be reapplied every three hours for maximum safety. When used in conjunction with sunscreen, DEET should always be applied to skin first before sun protection. DEET lowers the effectiveness of sunscreen;

OTHER NATURAL ALTERNATIVES:

• Garlic makes an semi-effective natural mosquito repellant. Mix one part garlic juice with five parts water. Put the solution in a spray bottle and spray on self as needed.

• Use Catnip: Nepetalactone in catnip seems to repels mosquitoes more effectively than DEET.

OUR RECOMMENDATION:

• Try Kids Herbal Armor which was voted "Best Gear of the Year" by National Geographic. Reapply every two hours. It is Water and sweat resistant and non-greasy. But the smell is strong. Also it doesn’t work with all bugs

More information:

The American Mosquito Control Association can provide advice, and their book Organization for Mosquito Control is a useful reference.


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MOSQUITO CONTROL

Summer is officially mosquito time. Make sure that you clear away any brushes and standing water.

Here is something from the American Mosquito control association. Bet you didn’t know there was one 🙂


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NEWS FLASH: FDA warns that Tanning beds should carry skin cancer warnings

FDA warns that Tanning beds should carry skin cancer warnings

Tanning beds would be forced to warn young people of the dangers of skin cancer and face tighter oversight.

The risk of melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, rises 75 percent in those exposed to ultraviolet radiation from indoor tanning, the FDA said.

WORD FOR OUR KIDS: AVOID tanning at any cost. You are beautiful the way you are.


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TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Part 5

(DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a medical advice nor does it substitute for one. These are home remedies that has worked for us. Please consult your child’s doctor before you try them at your own risk.)

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: NOSE BLEED

1) Set upright and lean forward

2) Pinch your nose and breath through your mouth

3) Avoid hard blowing of nose

4) To prevent, increase humidity with a Humidifier or OTC saline spray

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Pink Eye

1) Use a warm moist compress over closed eyes multiple times. If allergy sis the reason, use a cool compress

2) Wash hands to avoid spreading.

3) Avoid cosmetics and contacts

4) See doctor to see if it is bacterial or allergic pink eye

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Poison Ivy

1) Wash immediately every where and all clothes

2) Do not scratch. Use OTC calamine lotion or hydrocortisone

3) Use oatmeal bath and cool water bath

4) Cover open blister with gauze

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Stomach flu

1) Eat less and sample ice chips or drink electrolyte. Avoid apple juice and instead try Pedialyte

2) Gradually get back to regular food. Avoid fatty or spicy food. Use simple starch like rice, cracker, banana

3) Take rest and avoid pain killers.

4) Check out with doctor to see if it could be food poisoning

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Sun burn

1) Apply cool moist compress

2) Use moisturizers. Avoid any –caine OTC drugs. Instead use aloe vera or 1% hydrocortisone. Try non-aspirin anti-inflamatory medicines

3) Rehydrate

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Body odor for teens

1) Take bath daily and use natural fiber clothes

2) Dry your feet . Use athletic socks

3) Use perfume free deodorant (not antiperspirant)

4) Try changing diet

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Swimmers ears for older kids, (not infant)

1) Home remedy – mix 1 part white vinegar and 1 part rubbing alcohol and apply 1 tsp and drain before and after swim to prevent bacteria and fungus growth

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Teething for babies

1) Massage baby’s gums

2) Use teething toys

3) Use cool wash cloth dry drools

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Tick bite

1) Wear long sleeve shirt and pants. Keep yard clear of brush and leaves. Use insect repellant.

2) If bitten, remove tick using tweezer over the tick’s head. Wash the area after

3) See doctor to rule out other diseases like Lyme, rocky mountain spotted fever etc.


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TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Part 4

(DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a medical advice nor does it substitute for one. These are home remedies that has worked for us. Please consult your child’s doctor before you try them at your own risk.)

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Ear Infection

1) Start with an OTC pain killer

2) Moist warm compress over ears helps

3) Cuddle and distract baby

4) Most ear infection resolve without an antibiotic but if it is recurrent or kid is <2ys you may need it

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Eczema or Dry skin

1) Try to find the irritant that triggers it (like cloth, soap, detergent etc)

2) Apply calamine lotion or 1% hydrocortisone

3) Avoid itching with a bandage

4) Use a cool moist compress

5) Take an colloidal oatmeal + baking soda bath.

6) Moisturize the skin (after bath) with strong OTC creams like Eucerin, Neutragena or baby oil

7) Avoid non-moisturizing soap

8) Use a humidifier

9) Use a humidifier

10) Use cotton or silk clothes (no wool or acrylic)

11) I have seen some use ½ cup bleach in a bathtub full of water. Soaking in it apparently kills the bacteria on skin. Use this only for older kids

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Eye Sty

1) Leave it alone and don’t pop it

2) Apply warm compress as many times as possible

3) To prevent, avoid old cosmetics, thoroughly cleaning any contact lens and washing hands

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Flu

1) Drink lots of electrolytes

2) Take rest and use non-aspirin pain medicines

3) To prevent, get whole family vaccinated

4) Wash hands or use the hand-gel

5) Eat lots of immune building veggies and fruits

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Headache (for older kids only)

1) For tension head ache, try massage, shower, relaxation, low dose pain killer, some exercise

2) Eucalyptus or peppermint oil helps ease pain

3) For migraine, try going to sleep in a dark room, meditation, relaxing music or yoga

4) Promising research is being done on herbs like feverfew and butterbur, high dose B-2, magnesium supplements and Coenzyme Q10

5) Some older kids coffee caffeine may help

6) For frequent headache, keep track of triggers and avoid it

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Hives

1) Record and identify trigger – like food, medicine, pollen, pet, insect sting or latex

2) Use OTC antihistamine to minimize itching

3) Use a cool moist compress and bandage to cover

4) Take a cool bath and wear soft natural fiber clothes

5) Try oatmeal bath

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Indigestion (for older kids, not infant)

1) Eat less and chew your food

2) Eat more easily digestible food like fruits and veggies. Avoid soda, spicy or fatty food

3) Exercise

4) Drink peppermint tea

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Jammed finger (for older kids, not infant)

1) Use ice pack

2) Keep your hand elevated

3) Use a buddy tape over injured and adjacent finger

4) If pain doesn’t subside, check out if finger is broken/cracked or bent

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Nausea/Vomiting in infants

1) In babies a little spit is not vomiting. Vomit is forceful. So give baby’s stomach a rest,

2) Give small sips to avoid dehydration

3) Try oral electrolyte


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TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Part 3

(DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a medical advice nor does it substitute for one. These are home remedies that has worked for us. Please consult your child’s doctor before you try them at your own risk.)

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: COUGH

1) Drink plenty of fluid (AVOID sodas)

2) Use a humidifier

3) Try lozenges for bigger kids

4) Honey or turmeric in warm milk helps the throat

5) Elevate head with more pillows

6) Avoid cough syrups

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Croup

1) Cuddle or distract child

2) Use cool-mist humidifier

3) Hold kid in upright position

4) Give fluids and plenty of rest

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Dandruff

1) Use anti-dandruff organic shampoo

2) If severe try medicated shampoo

3) Avoid any chemicals on hair

4) Expose head to sunlight

5) Try tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is antiseptic, antibiotic, & antifungal.

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Diaper rash

1) Change diaper frequently

2) Use warm water to clean (AVOID wipes)

3) Try zinc oxide

4) Keep it aerated/open without diaper for a while

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Diarrhea

1) Drink clear liquids (not fruit juices)

2) Add semi solid or low fiber food (like cracker, egg, rice)

3) Avoid dairy products, caffeine

4) Try probiotic yogurt or soy drinks

5) Be very careful when it is infants

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Dry eyes

1) Blink often

2) Avoid rubbing eyes

3) Try OTC artificial tears

4) Use a humidifier

5) Wear glasses to avoid wind

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Dry Skin

1) Keep baths to 15 min or less

2) Moisturize the skin (after bath) with strong OTC creams like Eucerin, Neutragena or baby oil

3) Avoid non-moisturizing soap

4) Use a humidifier

5) Use cotton or silk clothes

6) Avoid itching (may use 1% Hydrocortisone)


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TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Part 2

(DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a medical advice nor does it substitute for one. These are home remedies that has worked for us. Please consult your child’s doctor before you try them at your own risk.)

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: BRONCHITIS IN OLDER KIDS

1) Avoid 2nd hand smoke and exposure to irritants like paints/cleaners

2) Use a humidifier

3) Consider face mask for outside cold air

4) Try a different breathing method – take a deep breath, then slowly breath out through mouth (in kissing pose). Repeat. This develops lungs.

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: BRUISE

1) Elevate injured area

2) Apply cold pack/compress

3) Rest

4) Use OTC painkillers

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: BURNS

1) Immerse in cool water (NOT ice)

2) Use burn gel

3) Use a sterile gauze bandage

4) Take OTC painkiller

5) Don’t break blister

6) Watch for infection

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Ulcer in mouth/Canker sore

1) Apply ice

2) Rinse with salt water

3) Brush gently

4) Try milk of magnesia

5) Use OTC oragel or anbesol

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Colic

1) Try feeding the baby or giving pacifier

2) Cuddle

3) Gently rock or take a car drive

4) Use white noise in background

5) Softly massage the tummy area

6) Consider dietary/formula changes

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Common cold

1) Drink lot of fluid

2) Try chicken soup

3) Use a cool mist humidifier

4) Gargle with warm salt water

5) Use nasal saline drops & bulb suction of nose

6) Get vitamin C or Zinc

7) Get rest

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Constipation

1) Eat more veggies and fruits (especially fibrous prunes, beans, fig etc)

2) Dink lots of water

3) Increase physical activity

4) Try warm bath for small kids and stimulation to anal area

5) Avoid non fibrous food like cheese, milk and meats or processed food


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TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: Part 1

(DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a medical advice nor does it substitute for one. These are home remedies that has worked for us. Please consult your child’s doctor before you try them at your own risk.)

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: ACNE IN TEENS

1) Avoid greasy or oily cosmetics

2) Keep your face clean (including hair)

3) Get enough sleep to reduce stress

4) Don’t pick on blemishes

5) Use 5% Tea tree oil gel (has same effect as Benzoyl Peroxide) but NOT if you have Acne Rosacea

6) Zinc supplements helps wound healing

7) Naturally occurring glycolic acid (in sugar cane) helps unclog pores

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: AIRPLANE EARS

1) For infant or young kids – give fluid or pacifier during takeoff and landing. Don’t give decongestants.

2) Look for specially design earplugs that slowly equalize pressure

3) For kids – suck candy or chew gum which helps open the Eustachian tube.

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: SPRING or FALL ALLERGIES

1) Rise out your sinuses

2) Wash immediately after you come inside

3) Keep windows and doors closed in allergy season

4) Use HEPA filter.

5) Use allergen/dust blocking pillow and mattress

6) Keep indoor humidity between 30-50%

7) Wash or change air filters often

8) Avoid pets with fur/feather

9) Bath pets frequently

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: ASTHMA

1) Keep a dairy and avoid allergens that might cause symptoms (e.g. pets, particular food)

2) Clean the auto and home air filters in A/C or heater

3) Clean home and bed weekly

4) Avoid 2nd hand smoke

5) Exercise moderately (not heavy)

6) Maintain your child’s weight

7) Control the heartburn. Reflux is known to cause breathing issues.

TIP FOR MANAGING AN AILING CHILD: BED WETTING IN OLDER KIDS

1) Don’t worry. Most kids will outgrow it.

2) Limit your child ‘s fluid intake in the evening

3) Treat constipation if any

4) Initially wake them up once in the middle of the night to relieve their bladder.

5) Experiment with food that could affect bladder function


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ASTHMA CIGARETTES

THE DANGER OF BELIEVING IN ADS

This classic advertisement from the early 20th century shows how crooked companies have exploited people.

It is an ad. for a tobacco cigarette and they sell on its “Asthma curing abilities.”

Ooh! But they are considerate …. It is not recommended for children under 6!

And the kicker: It is called DOCTOR BATTY’S. Exploiting the trust consumers place on the word “Doctor”.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Don’t trust commercial speak.

Know their motives.

And on the same vein, if you come across a study, check out who funded the study.


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FOLK WISDOMS WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD …for Healthy Living

COMMON SENSE LIVING

· If it came from a plant, eat it; If it was made in a plant, Don’t

· The whiter the bread, the sooner you will be dead

· Avoid foods grandma wouldn’t recognize

· Don’t eat cereals that change the color of milk

· Eat when you’re hungry, not bored

· Avoid long lists of ingredients

· Eat slowly

· It’s not food if it has the same name in all languages

· Buy smaller plates and glasses

· Try not to eat alone

· Stop eating before you are full

· Shop at the edges of a supermarket

· Avoid ingredients you don’t recognize.

Source: Multiple Sources


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SIMPLE STEPS TO PREVENT ALLERGY

Does your little one sniffles after a play in the park outdoor?

It is spring allergy time.

Prevention is the best approach to allergies.

Before you head out, check out the POLLEN COUNT at

http://www.weather.com/health/pollen/forecast/75023

Don’t go outside on windy, dry, and sun shiny days: This is when the Pollen counts are highest.

Morning are worse than in the afternoon.

If you don’t want pollen entering the home, keeping your windows closed at all times.

If you head out, wear a hat and a oversized and wraparound glasses to keep pollen away from your face.

Change clothes immediately and shower before bed.

If you have older kids, try the neti pot to clean up the sinuses.


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FOODS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE CANCER

  1. Hot dogs : Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can’t live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.
  2. Processed meats and bacon: Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.
  3. Doughnuts: Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures.
  4. French fries: Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process.
  5. Chips, crackers, and cookies: All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.
  6. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.
  7. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

INSTEAD TRY

  • A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.  To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
  • Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water–best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water.
  • Some supplements build up the immune system (anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
  • Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
  • Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

Source: multiple sources


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RIGHT WAY TO MANAGE YOUR SICK KID (1)

  • USE A DIGITAL THERMOMETER: Of the five basic types of thermometers on the market, a digital thermometer is the most accurate because it uses electronic heat sensors to determine body temperature. Digital thermometers are best used orally or, in infants, rectally.
  • LOW GRADE FEVER: Most parents believe a fever is any reading above 98.6˚. Not doctors. They use the actual medical definition of 100.4˚. Call a pediatrician if an infant younger than 3 months old has a temperature of 100.4˚ or higher. If they’re 3-6 months old, the threshold is 101˚; 103˚ if older.

Don’t head for the medicine cabinet to snuff out the first signs of rising body temperature. Fever is a good sign of a robust immune system. Fever actually speeds recovery from viral infections, according to a clinical report published last year in the medical journal Pediatrics.  Parents “can and should try a fever reducer” if their child:

  • Is behaving out of character
  • Seems uncomfortably cranky or tired
  • Has muscle pain with his fever
  • Or you just have a gut feeling he’s not well
  • DON’T USE CHILDREN’S MULTI-SYMPTOM COLD MEDICATION: there’s no evidence that cold medications do anything to relieve cold symptoms in children under 12, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For younger children, they’re potentially hazardous. Cough and cold medications are among the most common reasons for calls to poison control centers, according to a Stanford University study updated in 2011.

Our advise to parents to handle a cold:

  • Use humidifiers (warm or cool mist) to keep airways moist so that kids can breathe easier.
  • Apply saline nose drops and sprays to reduce the inflammation in nasal passages for better breathing. Buy these over the counter or make your own with 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a cup of water.
  • Use bulb syringes to clear out babies’ noses so they can breathe. Put a few drops of saline nasal solution in one nostril at a time, then use the bulb syringe to suction out the mucus.
  • Give kids lots of fluids to loosen congestion and prevent dehydration.
  • Use acetaminophen/ibuprofen to reduce achiness and high fevers.
  • Try buckwheat honey, which quiets a nighttime cough, according to a study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Give 1 teaspoon before bedtime – but only to children over age 1. (Never offer honey to infants under 12 months old. It can cause infant botulism.)
  • DON’T PRESSURE YOUR PEDIATRICIAN FOR ANTIBIOTICS: If you’re begging for an antibiotic to knock out your kid’s cold or flu, save your breath. It’s not that doctors are holding out on you, it’s that antibiotics work only on bacterial infections.

Giving children antibiotics when they’re not needed helps breed drug-resistant bacteria, so they’re less effective when they are needed.

Plus, antibiotics can trigger other problems, such as diarrhea, yeast infections and allergic reactions.

Normally, we say you can wait a few days with fever, but not if it’s flu season. If the flu is in the area and your child has a high fever and body aches, they should absolutely see the pediatrician, especially if they have a chronic health condition like diabetes or asthma, or they’re under 5.

  • USE THE RIGHT MEASURE:
  • DON’T MAKE YOUR KIDS VOMIT AFTER SWALLOWING A POISONOUS SUBSTANCE: Caustic substances like Drano – which, oddly enough, has a sweet taste that children love – can damage your child’s esophagus when swallowed. If you force her to vomit it back up, the esophagus gets burned twice. If your child swallows any potentially toxic substance – including over-the-counter and prescription medications – call the national Poison Control hotline at (800) 222-1222 immediately. Operators will give you precise instructions on what to do. (The hotline operates 24/7.)
  • DON’T PUT COLD PACK ON BURNS:
  • DON’T TREAT NAUSEA WITH PEPTO-BISMOL: This go-to upset-tummy remedy has the aspirin compound bismuth subsalicylate, and giving aspirin to any child under 18 when they have a virus (particularly chickenpox and flu) can cause a potentially fatal liver infection called Reye syndrome. For tummy aches, the better remedy is Maalox, a mild laxative and antacid.
  • BE CAREFUL OF BRAT DIET FOR DIARRHEA:

Source: http://www.lifescript.com


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TRUTH ABOUT VACCINES

For the record, we have vaccinated our kids.

Now read to understand the truth behind vaccines.

  1. MERCURY: Thimerosal, a preservative containing about 50% mercury, prevents contamination by bacteria. It can be found in most flu shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, since 2001, thimerosal has not been present in routine vaccines for children younger than 6. And, both the flu shot and some vaccines for adults and older children can be found in thimerosal-free versions, or with only trace amounts.
  2. AUTISM: A small 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield claimed to find a link between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism, setting off a panic that led to dropping immunization rates, and subsequent outbreaks. Since then, the study’s been deemed flawed, and it’s been retracted by the journal that published it. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine released a report that found no scientific evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. In September 2010, the CDC published similar results.
  3. SIDE EFFECTS: Vaccines aren’t risk free. The most common side effects are soreness at the injection site and fever, which are best treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Less common are seizures (defined as “jerking or staring”), and risks vary depending on the vaccine. For example, 1 in 14,000 children suffer a seizure after receiving the DTaP shot; it’s 1 in 3,000 with the MMR vaccine. Some kids are at higher risk for side effects than others. In these cases, it may be best to proceed with caution or skip them, according the CDC.
  4. PROTECTION; Vaccines are not a 100% guarantee you won’t get sick. But they are a huge help. Take the flu vaccine; you may still get the flu if you get the jab, but it is likely to be less severe. Or, take the chicken pox vaccine. Dr. Brown says it is 80% effective against preventing infection and 100% effective in protecting against serious illness. For the best protection, experts rely on “herd immunity”—the more people who are vaccinated in the population, the better chances of protecting everyone, including people who can’t get shots due to age, health, or religious reasons.
  5. IMMUNE SYSTEM: Too many shots does not weaken the immune system. “Each dose allows the body to mount an immune response and make defense [antibodies] so the body can fight off a real infection if it showed up,” she says. Children are given multiple vaccinations at a time to provide as much protection as early as possible. Both the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that vaccinations be given to children simultaneously when appropriate.
  6. NOT JUST FOR KIDS: There are numerous vaccines that can help keep adolescents and adults, both young and old, healthy. Most obvious is the flu shot, which is given annually. College students should get a meningitis vaccine before living in a dorm, and elderly adults can benefit from pneumonia vaccines. Adults also need boosters for tetanus and pertussis. Children aren’t fully immunized against pertussis until age 4, Dr. Nelson says; smaller babies are at high risk, and pertussis can be transmitted to babies by adults with waning immunity.
  7. NATURAL IMMUNITY: Dr. Nelson says infections are more likely than vaccines to trigger lifelong immunity. (An exception is the flu; it changes strains every year.) But you may think twice about taking your little one to a chicken pox party. The problem with natural immunity is the risk of complications. Chicken pox can lead to encephalitis, pneumonia, or, if kids scratch too much, skin infections like MRSA. A polio infection can cause permanent paralysis; mumps, deafness; and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), brain damage. The only infectious human disease that has been eradicated worldwide is smallpox, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Even today there are outbreaks of conditions like measles, mumps, and pertussis. Vaccines can protect you when you’re around those who aren’t vaccinated, either in the U.S or elsewhere. According to the WHO, less than 95% of people in many parts of Western Europe receive vaccines, and that’s where 82% of measles cases occurred in 2009.
  8. DOCS LOSE MONEY OFF VACCINES: Vaccines aren’t a cash cow for docs. “It’s probably more of a money loser than anything,” says Dr. Nelson, because they’re labor intensive. Some doctors do receive financial incentives from HMOs, but “the bonuses are there to support high-quality practice and help the physicians justify the manpower that goes into administering them,” she says. Vaccines are about 1.5% of total pharmaceutical revenues, says VaccineEthics.org, a website run by the Penn Center for Bioethics. “We’ve had problems with vaccine supply because so few pharmaceutical companies are making vaccines anymore,” Dr. Nelson says. (Three decades ago, more than 30 companies produced vaccines; today about five companies account for 80% of the market.)

Source: http://www.health.com


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HOME REMEDY FOR COMMON AILMENTS (1)

  1. HONEY: chapped, cracked lips & cold sores in mouth. Research found that honey helps heal minor to moderate burns, and a recent Dutch study identified a protein called defensin-1 that gives the goo its antibacterial action.
  2. SALT: Sinus congestion, sore throat. For a sore throat, dissolve half a teaspoon of non-iodized salt in an 8-ounce glass of water, and simply gargle the water. To flush out your sinuses, fill a clean squeeze bottle or neti pot with the solution, lean over a sink, and squeeze or pour it into your nostril. Use only sterile bottled or tap water that has been boiled and then cooled, in your nose.
  3. PEPPERMINT TEA: Indigestion, stomachache. The oil found in the peppermint leaf and its stems calms the muscles of the digestive tract, allowing gas to pass more easily and relieving indigestion. Steer clear of peppermint tea, though, if your pain is caused by reflux—you’ll know from the acidic, burning feeling in your chest.
  4. OATMEAL: Eczema, sunburn, hives. Oats pack phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties that soothe itchy and inflamed skin, a study in the Archives of Dermatological Research shows. If you’re using regular oatmeal, grind it into a fine powder.
  5. OLIVE OIL: Dry skin. When your skin feels extra parched, you can dab a thin layer of organic extra-virgin olive oil under your moisturizer for an extra dose of antioxidants and good fatty acids.
  6. MUSIC: Music activates sensory pathways that compete with pain pathways. Research shows that music is especially effective for palliative care and cancer pain.
  7. DOGS: 10 to 15 minutes of interaction between pain-clinic patients and therapy dogs reduced patients’ chronic pain — and the benefits seemed to last for hours.
  8. BREATHING: slow breathing significantly reduced pain perception and negative emotions. Slow, deep breathing is the simplest form. Breathe in deeply on the syllable re, then exhale on the syllable lax. Keep repeating.
  9. MEAT TENDERIZER; Bee stings, nonpoisonous spider bites. Meat tenderizer contains papain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins (like the ones in your T-bone steak). But papain can also break down toxins from bug bites and cut back on itching. Use tenderizer only on mosquito bites, bee stings, and nonpoisonous spider bites. If the child experience symptoms such as nausea, difficulty breathing, or cramping in your abs or lower back, seek medical help immediately.

Source: http://www.health.com