No, colds and the flu are caused by viruses; if there aren’t any around, you won’t catch a cold. Although, lower temperatures can weaken the first line of immune defense which causes a higher susceptibility to infection.

• Between 5-20% Americans catch a cold/flu every year between late fall and winter.
• People tend to stay indoors with decreased temperatures, which in turn, puts them in contact with more people.
• More people = More exposure opportunities for viruses to spread.
• When people cough, sneeze, have runny noses, or do anything that spreads droplets of secretions from the respiratory tract, these germs can spread.

• Mucous works as a protective barrier by trapping germs or particles in the air and stopping them from getting into your lungs.
• When air gets colder and dryer, like in the winter, your mucous membrane is triggered to secrete more mucous, which moisturizes the air so your nasal cavity doesn’t dry up, crack, and bleed.
• Sometimes the mucous in your nose dries out from the cold, dry air. This prevents its action as a protective barrier against germs, which in turn increases your chances for infection.
• Once germs get into your lungs, it can cause an infection called Pneumonia.

• The immune system is stimulated when people are exposed to the cold.
• The cold increases the number and activity level of the body’s defense system.
• This video shows many examples of how being in the cold doesn’t cause you to catch a cold. You can only get it if you are exposed to the virus.

*Here is a video about what is actually happening when you get sick:

• Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.
• And if you get sick, take charge in preventing it from getting worse!

References

Benaroch, R. (2015). Cold Weather Illnesses. Pediatrics for Parents, 30(7/8),4. Retrieved April 27^th, 2016 from http://library.neit.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=113994665&site=ehost-live

Cold, Flu, & Cough Health Center. (2016). Web MD. Retrieved May 4^th, 2016 from http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/flu-cold-symptoms

Simon, C. (2001.) Sickness in a Cold Climate. The Times. Retrieved April27th, 2016 from http://library.neit.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=7EH3530944369&site=ehost-live

Walles, H. (2010). You Can Catch a Cold From the Cold True/False. The Press. Retrieved April 27^th, 2016 from http://library.neit.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=CPL100612E008127147298-JB&site=ehost-live

 Childhood obesity is a national epidemic. Nearly 1 in 3 children (ages 2-19) in the United States is overweight or obese, putting them at risk for serious health problems. As parents, caregivers, brothers and sisters, leaders in schools, communities and healthcare, we can work together to create a nation where the healthy choice is the easy choice.

What Causes Obesity in Children?

Children become overweight and obese for a variety of reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by a medical condition such as a hormonal problem. A physical exam and some blood tests can rule out the possibility of a medical condition as the cause for obesity.

“Childhood obesity is not a cosmetic issue or something the child will just grow out of. Obese children tend to become obese adults, and there are many medical issues associated with obesity. Children are now taking the same type of medications as their parents to manage blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. This is frightening but true,” Dr. Rani Whitfield, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, told Medical News Today

Levels of physical activity have also reduced over the past 3 decades. The CDC state that last year, only 29% of high school students participated in the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day.

Childhood Obesity: Common Misconceptions

“My child and I deserve the blame for his weight problem.”

“My child’s weight problem needs a quick fix.”

“My overweight child will ‘grow into’ the excess pounds that he has.”

There are many misconceptions regarding childhood obesity , but most are false and have no research to prove them true.  There are no quick fixes for weight lose except portion control, exercise and decreasing calorie intake.   Children do not grow into their excess pounds.  The extra weight our children are carrying is doing damage to their organs and heart.  It also causes social and self esteem issue’s for these children during their school age years.

The following document gives great visuals regarding correct portion size.  This helpful for children to be able to use their own bodies to make better educated decisions for their own health choices.

What Diseases Are Obese Children at Risk For?

Obese children are at risk for a number of conditions, including:

• High blood pressure
• Early heart disease
• Diabetes
• Bone problems
• Skin conditions such as heat rash, fungal infections, and acne

Schools have already been subject to new guidelines for school meals, developed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2012.

In closing, we are outliving our children.  We need to make childhood obesity a priority in our homes and in our environment.   We can help by making smart health decisions for our home and be proactive in our children’s schools regarding lunch programs, extra recess to get kids moving and having better options for classroom birthday parties.   It starts at home with our teaching.  So I hope this blog helps to “GET YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN MOVING”!

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity facts, what causes child obesity?, physical activity facts, Perception of Weight Status in US Children and Adolescents Aged 8-15 Years, 2005-2012, accessed 30 July 2014.

Obesity Action Coalition, what is childhood obesity?, accessed 30 July 2014.

Information from The Obesity Society, accessed 30 July 2014.

American Heart Association, overweight in children, accessed 30 July 2014.

Information from Let’s Move, accessed 30 July 2014.

Harvard School of Public Health, sugary drinks and obesity fact sheet, accessed 30 July 2014.

Starting Your Day Right!

• Eating breakfast is KEY!
• It will help them be more productive during the day, more attentive, & less tired.
• Breakfast helps you preform better!
• Knowing correct portion size is KEY!
• Kids are more likely to try new foods if they help prepare them.

Portion Control is Key

• Eating too much makes focusing hard in school.
• Variety is important!
• 1/4 of the plate is fruit (eat plenty of colors)
• 1/4 of the plate is veggies (the more the better!)
• 1/4 of the plate is grains (whole pasta, whole wheat bread, brown rice)
• 1/4 is protein (fish, chicken, beans, nuts, limited red meat)

Why Does Eating Healthy Really Matter? – Childhood Obesity

According to the Center for Disease Control

• Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children in the past 30 years
• The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012.
• The percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period
• More than 1/3 of children and adolescents are overweight or obese

Immediate health effects:

• Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease
• Obese adolescents are more likely to have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes
• Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem

Long-term health effects:

• Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and at risk for adult health problems like DM type 2, stroke, cancers, and osteoarthritis.  
• Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma

It Is Never too Early to Encourage Healthy Dental Hygiene for Kids

Even though you have been brushing and flossing your teeth for years and years, many of you would be surprised to learn you are not doing it properly.

• Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, ahead of asthma and hay fever
• Oral health care is the most prevalent unmet health need among U.S. children.
• The tooth brushing behavior most strongly associated with children being cavity free at four years of age was the onset of brushing by the parent before age two
• Brushing teeth more than once a day, versus less often, reduces the occurrence of cavities
• Cavities can be prevented through regular use of fluoridated toothpaste
• Visit your dentist every six months for an oral exam and professional cleaning

Healthy Looking Teeth and Good Dental Habits Should Start at a Young Age

• Baby teeth erupt between 6 months and 1 year old and has full set of baby teeth by age 3
• A baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in the jaws at birth
• Not only do primary teeth help children chew and speak, they also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are growing under the gums
• Parents should brush their child’s teeth twice a day using a soft bristled child size brush and a dab of fluoride tooth paste

Oral Health Practices for Children

• Brush twice a day for two full minutes with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste
• Floss safely and correctly
• Visit your family dentist regularly
• Drink a lot of water each day
• Healthy snacking especially those containing high amounts of calcium to support strong teeth
• Encourage child to drink from a cup after six months of age

Preventing Early Childhood Cavities

• Hold your baby while feeding him/her. If your baby falls asleep, remove the bottle and put him/her in bed.
• Avoid putting your baby to sleep with a bottle.
• Avoid letting your toddler walk around with a bottle.

Habits for Children to Avoid

• Thumb sucking leads to cavity-growth and can cause structural deformities
• Consuming too much candy and sweets
• Sharing cups, spoons and other utensils may lead to cavity growth

Proper Technique Strategies

• Try this game: Play dentist with your child and grab a favorite toy preferably one with hard, plastic teeth. Use a clean toothbrush and pretend the doll is going to the dentist for the first time. While the doll lies back on a pillow, pretend to examine its teeth and talk about proper tooth brushing. Start by using short back-and-forth strokes directly at the gum line. Give your child the chance to be the dentist; reminding him or her to brush the fronts and backs of the doll’s teeth. This will encourage them to use the same method on their teeth.
• “Toothsavers— which is available free on the web at 2min2x.org/Play Toothsavers and as a downloadable app for iOS and Android (both smartphones and tablets)— makes tooth brushing fun by encouraging kids to save an entire kingdom of characters with the swipe of their toothbrush” (New Game; 2014

How to Brush Correctly

How to Floss Correctly

Work Cited:

Colaizzi, L. R., Tomar, S. L., Urdegar, S. M., & Kass, S. H. (2015). Does the Structure of Dental        Hygiene Instruction Impact Plaque Control in Primary School Students?. Journal Of Dental      Hygiene, 89(3), 180-189 10p.

Curtis, J. (2012, November 15). Teeth Brushing for Kids: Three Strategies for Proper Technique.  Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/brushing-  and-flossing/article/teeth-brushing-for-kids-three-strategies-for-proper-technique-0714

Huebner, C., & Milgrom, P. (2015). Evaluation of a parent-designed programme to support tooth  brushing of infants and young children. International Journal Of Dental Hygiene, 13(1), 65-73  9p. doi:10.1111/idh.12100

New game helps kids brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day. (2014). Dental Assistant,  83(1), 42-44 3p.

Smigel, I. (2015, October 18). Starting Early: Oral Care for Kids. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from    http://www.supersmile.com/smile-care/starting-early-oral-care-for-kids