Health Briefs TV on Teen Health News

Teens. We all used to be one. Some of us still are. The one thing we all have in common is the need to pay attention to our health.

Health Briefs TV takes note of some of the cool health-related news for teens.

New studies found that the more fruits and vegetables teens consume, the better chance they have of not developing cancer when older. Also, reducing the amount of soda teens drink lessens the chance of developing kidney stones and diabetes.

There are some easy ways to pack more fiber into everyday eating habits: take an apple to school to snack on, choose whole wheat bread instead of white, ask the family cook to replace white pasta and white rice with whole grains varieties. Add broccoli to it to kick up the amount of fiber in the meal. Drink water with every meal, and add a few more glasses or bottles of it during the day and right before bed.

Teens, male and female, might find that even though eating healthful foods may not be cool, it does lower the chance of getting breast cancer and other cancers, reduces the development of obesity and high blood pressure. The Health Briefs TV show producers suggest packing some whole fruit in school backpacks. If getting lunch from the school is part of the plan, choose the fresher options instead of popular ones.

There is nothing cool about being sick, and especially not with a terminal illness. It is not fashionable to test blood sugar once a day at school. It is hard to participate in activities when even a few steps can wind you. Teen health is important. Step up your health game.

Health Briefs TV Shares Good Hydration Tips for Teens

Children are active. As they become older, they tend to be more active. Too much activity and not enough good hydration can lead to nausea, dizziness and the development of kidney stones. Health Briefs TV shares some good hydration tips for teens.

The nutritional labels on sodas and caffeine drinks list the amount of water contained in each serving. Most of the time, it is not a significant amount to properly keep teens hydrated.  A study conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found that poor water intake can increase the chance of developing kidney stones.

Schools, athletic locker rooms and athletic stadiums should be equipped with working water fountains that produce clean, cold, drinkable water. When fountains don’t work or produce warm, unclear water, chances are no one will want to use it. In addition, it can be difficult to find a vending machine that sells bottled water, or one that sells it at a reasonable price. Teens are often left finding other ways to hydrate, or not hydrating enough.

U.S. federal law requires schools to have one water fountain per floor. Some schools also have water fountains near bathrooms which can relay the water is recycled from the bathroom. This is often one reason why the fountains located there are not used.

Health Briefs TV encourages teens, parents, coaches and teachers to be sure all students stay hydrated during the day and when participating in school activities. Avoid sugar-laden sodas and fruit drinks as the water in them is not sufficient for good hydration.  Perhaps invest in a smart wrist device or app that records the amount of hydration taken. A well-hydrated teen is one that will be alert, feel well and be fully functional.

Health Briefs TV Reviews Best Whole Fruits for Kids

Fruit is good for everyone and especially for children. Packed with vitamins and minerals which help kids maintain good health, it is also fun to eat and incredibly convenient.

The fall season is the season when apples in many varieties are ripening on trees everywhere. Health Briefs TV reminds that this tends to make them less expensive. Grocery stores and farmers markets are stocked well with the many types of apples. Their different shapes, colors and textures made biting into one less boring to munch.

Kids prefer whole fruit to sliced fruit. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that fruit consumption among kids and young adults rose nearly 70 percent from 2003 to 2010. A diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with a healthy weight, which reduces the chance of developing diabetes, stroke, obesity and other medical problems. Whole fruit is an easy way to be sure children and young adults up their daily intake. Bananas and melons are also favorites. Health Briefs TV suggests buying several different kinds and putting a different one each day in school lunches. Ask kids when they get home if they liked it. Be sure to enjoy some too.  No one whole fruit is the best. They are all good. 

Health Briefs TV Reviews Back to School Wellness Tips

The new school year has begun in some US states already and others are about to begin in the coming weeks. Health Briefs TV reviews back to school wellness tips for parents and school children.

• Be sure the youngest children stick to a steady bedtime every night. Remove digital devices from bedrooms. 
• Be sure they take a warn shower or bath to cool down and relax, which can promote good night’s rest.
• School lunches are healthier then ever before so be sure kids have enough money in the district accounts to buy one.
• Think fresh fruit and veggies for after school snacks.
• Schedule medical, dental, vision and hearing check-ups, if not already done. Be sure all vaccinations are up to date. Not sure, click here.  
• Stock up on anti-bacterial gel and wipes in backpack sizes so children can keep their hands clean all day. Many surfaces in schools, such as lockers, door knobs, bathrooms and lunch trays can be laden with bacteria and germs.
• Get your child a backpack that has wheels and a handle. This can prevent a too heavy backpack from straining backs and arms.
• Health Briefs TV also suggests setting up regular homework spots. These spaces should be clear of clutter, distractions and other siblings. Set a regular time to do homework.

Have a healthy new school year.

-----------------------------------

Watch Heath Briefs TV videos on You Tube

View Heath Briefs Blogs

Read more from Health Briefs TV show

Health Briefs TV Reviews Sleep Deficiency in Children and Teens

A good night’s rest is needed by everyone and more so for children and teens. But getting enough sleep is usually not the case for America’s kids. Health Briefs TV reviews the causes and solutions in sleep deficiency.

Many parents let their children go to bed later than normal and sleep later than they should. Kids should be getting 10 to 11 hours of rest per night, but are falling short at sleeping for less than 9 hours. Lack of sleep can cause behavior problems, learning problems, eating problems and overall poor health. When children are tired in school they are not learning as well as they could be. Children from ages six to 12 who go to bed after 9 PM take longer to fall asleep, wake up more often during the night, and therefore, get less rest.  Teens also need to get enough rest.

Recommendations by health professionals suggest:

Insisting children and teenagers go to bed at the same time every night and rise at the same time every morning.

Leave digital devices in another room so to not distract from a restful sleep.

Reduce any caffeinated beverages two hours before bedtime.

Be sure homework and after school activities are completed and over early in the evening so kids are forced to study into regular bedtimes.

Health Briefs TV recommends adults set a good example for children of all ages by following the same guidelines.

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs TV videos on You Tube

View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs TV and Why Increasing Activity Can Save a Life

The World Health Organization reports that physical inactivity is identified as the fourth-leading risk factor for death around the world. Health Briefs TV wants readers to know how to increase daily movement in order to save their life.

It is not too difficult to add movement into the day. Most of us commute to work sitting down in a vehicle or train, then we sit all day at a desk, sit all the way home, sit for dinner and lounge on the couch watching TV until bedtime. But it is not hard to add some movement into the day to reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Below are some suggestions to get started easily.

Spend 30 minutes of a one hour lunch break walking. Walk around the block, around the building, or walk up and down a few flights of stairs if the weather is too cold.

Stand up every hour or two to stretch. Then walk to the break room for something to drink. Walk the long way back to the desk.

Park father away from doors when going to the supermarket or a department store.

Take a family walk after dinner.

The Health Briefs TV show urges readers to find the time during the day and evening to add some movement into lives. It all adds up in the end to a longer and healthier life. 

Health Briefs TV on Which Care Facility to Use

Where does a worried parent take a child with a sports-related injury? Where do adults go when they have a fever, body aches and congestion? Who can stitch a wound received when slicing tomatoes?  Health Briefs TV answers these questions.

Worried parents should take a child with a sports injury to the ER.  The emergency room is the best place to get CT scans, X-rays and immediate care if a child is knocked unconscious.

Adults with a fewer below 103 who feel they have the flu might want to go to a retail medical clinic such as the kind found in drug and discount stores.

A finger wound from slicing tomatoes which is not too terribly deep can be taken to an urgent care center where it can be butterfly stitched or stitched by a doctor. One can usually get in and out in about an hour.

Health Briefs TV also notes that urgent care centers are well-placed around the country where people live. They can perform a wide variety of services for less money and time than the hospital emergency room. However, if a fever spikes at 103 and up, or chest pain is felt, it is best to visit the ER. The operative word is “emergency”.  Don’t take chances with your life or anyone else’s.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs TV Warns Readers about E-Cigarette Dangers

Quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things to do. Breaking that nicotine habit is hell. There is no other way to describe it. Today, there are nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges and e-cigarettes to help people who want to quit smoking. As many could guess, some of these helpers are not all that good for you.  Health Briefs looks at the dangers of e-cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are a popular option for people who are trying to quit smoking. Shaped like a long cigarette, the item can be loaded with flavored vapors and a heavy dose of nicotine. Newer models of the e-cig allow the user to adjust the level of nicotine they get. But along with that comes a higher amount of formaldehyde, which is a probable human carcinogen. Health Briefs TV notes that cigarettes also contain formaldehyde. Researchers found that the higher the voltage chosen on the e-cigarette, the higher amount of formaldehyde. They also note that people who vaped three milliliters of e-liquid per day would inhale 14.4 milligrams of formaldehyde. This can possibility increase the risk of cancer up to 15 times.

While there are many options today to help the smoker kick the nicotine habit, our best suggestion is to ask a doctor. Most of the products on store shelves are expensive. But quitting sure beats the high cost of healthcare that a cancer diagnoses will eventually bring.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs TV on the Flu

The flu is widespread across America and there are many questions about it and the flu vaccine. Health Briefs finds and shares the answers.

Some people with the flu are contagious before they feel any symptoms. But for the most part, adults are considered contagious about 24 to 72 hours after contracting the virus and remain that way for up to five days after the onset of symptoms. Kids and people with compromised immune systems can be contagious to anyone around them for up to two weeks.

Flu symptoms are: headache, fever, chills, runny nose, muscle aches, sore throat, warm, flushed skin and watery eyes. The virus is spread when respiratory moisture droplets from an infected person are spread through sneezing, coughing, touching common surfaces and clothing.

Health Briefs suggests keeping a good supply of tissues in the home or classroom and making a visit with a healthcare professional if flu symptoms seem to be apparent. The flu vaccine is helpful in prevention of catching the virus, even though this year’s strain is not the same strain in the vaccine. Stay well.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs TV Reviews Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Factors

People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS are exceptionally tired no matter how much sleep they get and for more than six months. It is often not diagnosed and sometimes dismissed by healthcare workers. Health Briefs TV wishes to review the factors of this debilitating medical concern.

When a patient visiting a family doctor complains of being exhausted all the time and for a prolonged period of time, the physician may not know what to do. There is no blood test for CFS nor is there brain scan which can identify the condition. A recent study conducted on 15 patients with CFS and 15 without it – all the same age and gender – found less white matter in the brains of those with CFS. The white matter contains the brain’s communication material which allows parts of the brain to communicate with each other. Other tests conducted in the research included looking at the right hemisphere of the brain of each participant group. Researchers noticed that the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome had thicker connection points than those of the healthy patients. The study was small but shows us that if the doctor is willing to prescribe the brain scan and the patient is willing to pay for it, it may be helpful in determining what’s wrong with someone who is constantly overly tired. Health Briefs TV learns this may be a useful tool for patients whose complaints are often met with accusations of being a hypochondriac or just ignored.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs TV Reminds Readers of the More Common Viruses

Please cover your mouth much better than this.

There are several viruses which are more worrisome than the Ebola virus. Health Briefs TV reminds readers of what they are and how to prevent catching one.

The Flu – Droplets from an ill person’s sneeze or cough can travel up to six feet away.  Please remember to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing around others.

Enterovirus – This is the virus that is mostly affecting young children. It can be passed by touching an infected person or surface. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer. Don’t touch the face anywhere.

Norovirus – This virus spread when an infected person touches a surface, food or water and other people tough or eat the same surface or food. Again, wash hands thoroughly before touching food or any common surface.

HIV – HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids and shared needles. To prevent transmission, don’t shares needles and wear condoms or other items to block transmission during sex.

Hepatitis – The virus is transmitted through sharing dirty needles. Don’t share needles and be sure any medical worker is using a clean, sterilized one on you, if needed.

RSV – RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It mostly affects very young children and the elderly. It is spread through coughing and sneezing.  Health Briefs TV urges readers to teach young children to cover noses and mouths when coughing and sneezing, and reminds seniors to do the same.

These six viruses are more contagious and easily spread than the Ebola virus.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs Reports on Dangers with Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are pretty common when school starts up again after the summer break. Health Briefs reports on the dangers student athletes face when they are on the practice and playing field.

The most common sports injuries are noted as sprains, concussions and dehydration. The watchdog Safe Kids Worldwide reports that one in four coaches they surveyed said they don’t to anything in particular to prevent injuries in young players during practice or games.  Less than half of those coaches said they had any certification on how to prevent and recognize sports injuries. Ninety percent of the athletes who took part in the survey said they had been hurt while playing a sport.

Since the school year has started already in most U.S. states, and school athletic programs are already in full swing, Health Briefs TV encourages parents, coaches and student athletes to meet as one and discuss safety and injury prevention. Dirty moves on the play field, such as a hard foul, should be discouraged. Urge players to speak up when they are hurt and take them out of the game for examination. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that in 2013, 1.24 million children were sent to the emergency room for a sports-related injury. Let’s make 2014 the year when those stats are reduced.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs

Health Briefs Warns about the Risks of Using Caffeine Power

(This is considered an overdose of caffeine powder)

Caffeine powder is a popular supplement that can be bought over the Internet and added to drinks to give the buyer an added jolt of energy. However, it is a much stronger form of caffeine and can produce fatal results. Health Briefs reminds readers of the risks of using caffeine powder.

Recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports state that caffeine powder is nearly 100% pure caffeine. One teaspoon gives people as much caffeine as 25 cups of coffee. A tiny amount of five to 10 grams could be fatal to any adult. The symptoms of caffeine toxicity are: diarrhea, disorientation, lethargy and vomiting. One dose of the powder is 1/16^th of a teaspoon, about as much as in two large cups of coffee, and is difficult to measure using regular kitchen utensils

Health Briefs TV learns that the powder is used as a weight loss booster. But a recent news report tragically recounts the death of a teen that had more than 20 times the amount of it in his system. If caffeine is needed as an energy booster before exercise, drink a cup or two of coffee. It not only loosens things up but will provide the needed boost to get and stay motivated when exercising. Caffeine powder is not the best choice for young adults.

***********************************************

Visit Health Briefs on Google+
Watch Heath Briefs videos on Youtube
View Heath Briefs Blogs