Radio spots for the week of 11/30/08 Broadcast on KKOY, KALN, KKOY, KIND
Topic #1
Does your fashion conscious teen have Bubble Hair? Not to be confused with Bubble Brain, which on occasion, they may seem to have, also. So, what is Bubble Hair? Well, the hair shaft breaks off unevenly. Under the microscope, the hair shaft resembles swiss cheese, with holes or cavities deep inside. This is caused by blow-drying. The gases and moisture inside the hair shafts expand due to high heat, and this weakens the hair and it will break. So how hot and how long is too hot and long to dry one’s hair? The study, reported in the September issue of the journal, Cutis, states that it occurs in dry hair at 375F for 5 minutes. They add that if the hair is wet, it may occur at lower temperatures. Now, how many of you use a hair dryer on your already dry hair? Hmmm . . . There is any easy fix: don’t get the hair so hot. This probably has an impact for folks who blow dry their hair, but never touch the hair during the process, so don’t have a feel (pun intended) for how hot the hair is really getting. If someone has normal hair, this condition will improve by changing the hair drying technique, so the hair doesn’t get so hot. Now all the study patients had normal scalp, with no flaking or otherwise irritation. If someone has a scalp problem, the hair breakage may not be due to Bubble Hair from over-heating with the blow dryer. Certainly, if any condition with the hair continues, check with your doctor to be sure you aren’t missing any other condition. Oh, incidentally there is no such thing as Bubble Head; it’s Bobble Head, and the fact I even looked this up, means I probably have some variation of Bubble Brain, which means a lot of empty space where the brain should be, however it isn’t necessarily caused by using a hair dryer . . . I don’t think? . . . Think? Ah, back to Bubble Brain! Just be sure your teen doesn’t have Bubble Hair. Give that kid a hug, I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.
Topic #2
What’s one of the best gifts you can give your unborn child or young infant this Christmas, if you are a mother or mother-to-be? It’s a flu vaccine. According to data published in The New England Journal of Medicine, young infants and pregnant women are at increased risk for serious consequences of influenza infection. Inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended for pregnant women and for babies 6 months and older. The study gave half the participants the flu vaccine and the other the pneumococcal vaccine, or pneumovax. And then analyzed how many infants and mothers developed influenza. The infants who were too young to get the flu vaccine were the real winners when their moms had gotten the vaccine, because they had much less influenza, than the infants whose moms had not received the flu shot. Many studies have shown that the infants 6 months and up don’t get the flu nearly as badly, if at all, when they get the flu shot. And, as you will recall, the CDC is strongly urging all school aged kids to get the flu shot, as it has been shown that school is a wonderful opportunity for the flu virus to grow and prosper, be fruitful and multiply, etc. And the “etcetera-ing” goes on through the winter and early Spring, so you can get that flu vaccine clear through May, especially if your child doesn’t turn 6 months old until after March. So put that Flu vaccine on your gift giving list, for anyone who is eligible, but especially for moms and mommies-to-be. Give that kid a hug, I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.
Topic #3
The good news: SIDS, that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, has been reduced by putting babies to sleep on their backs. The bad news: our babies are showing slightly delayed motor development. You’ve heard of “Tummy Time”, or spending time with babies on their tummies, while awake. A web site, called Pathways Awareness gives some great information for building Tummy Time into Baby’s daily routine. It’s at www.pathwaysawareness.org. They remind us that when babies slept on their tummies, they had many hours at night to wiggle, pulling their heads up to turn from side to side, and arching their backs, as they moved arms and legs. This all helped to strengthen arms, legs, neck and back. Today, many babies are moved from crib to car seat, to other partially reclining place, etc, with little opportunity to strengthen the neck and back. Here are ideas from www.pathwaysawarenss.org for spending tummy time with your awake infant in, at least 1 hour a day or more. When the baby is on his tummy, get down at his eye level and talk to him, show him things, and put things were he can start to reach for them. Mirrors are lots of fun at this age. After all, your baby will want to admire himself, and will have fun when you admire him, too! When he is on the floor, roll up a small towel or receiving blanket and place under the chest and armpits to raise him up just a little. This is the first step towards “Baby Push-up”. Play “airplane” by firmly holding him by the tummy and gently carrying him from place to place, as he is able to develop strength in the neck and back. After changing a diaper, add a little play time on the tummy for good measure. Keep in mind; your baby won’t like tummy time, if you don’t get him used to it on a regular basis. So Back to Sleep, and Tummy Time for play. Give that kid a hug. I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.
