Topic #1

Does being exposed to violence affect over-all health?  The answer, in an article in the November issue of Pediatrics, is yes.  The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth from 1997 through 2004, studied over 8000 kids ages 12 to 18 years of age at baseline, following them for 8 years.  At baseline, 75% had excellent or very good health, 21% had good health, and 4% had fair or poor health.  They compiled cumulative violence exposures, including witnessed gun violence, threat of violence, repeated bullying, feeling unsafe, and being a victim of a crime.  The kids who had 5 or more forms of cumulative violence exposures had almost 5 times more likelihood of poor health issues.  And for each additional violence exposure, the risk of poor health increased by 38%.  Now violence comes in all shapes and sizes.  We are becoming more aware of verbal abuse, or bullying, belittling, yelling, or verbally disrespecting others.  Many grow up with this type of family interaction, and don’t think much about it, but growing up with any type of violence, verbal or otherwise, can affect what choices a child will make.  Sometimes this becomes an on going cycle from generation to generation.  Often if kids are in a home with violence or at least verbal disrespect, they will learn to do the same, and later seek out spouses who act the same way.  Often the adults think they are shielding the kids from the verbal and physical abuse.  Don’t kid yourselves:  the kids know something isn’t right.  The Holidays are coming up and with them, more stress, and for some, the potential for violence.  Don’t let this happen in your family.  Be willing to break the cycle if it exists.  Check with your mental health agency or your doctor.  Don’t teach your kids that violence is OK, by ignoring it yourself.  Give that kid a hug.  I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.

Topic #2

Thoughts on sports injury prevention from the American Academy of Pediatrics, in the November issue of AAP News, in the Parent Plus edition, and I paraphrase.  Most sports injuries are in the muscles, involving only soft tissue and not bones.  However 5% of injuries involve broken bones.  Sports injuries are serious in kids due to rapid bone development.  Here are tips to reduce injury.  1) Players should wear appropriate protective equipment such as pads, helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups and eyewear. 
2) Athletes should do appropriate warm-up and stretching to increase flexibility of muscles and ligaments.  3) Conditioning exercises during practice and before games is encouraged to strengthen muscles. 4) Proper technique should be enforced throughout the season and throughout each practice and game period.  And 5) Athletes should take rest periods during practice and games to reduce the risk of overuse injuries.  Overuse injury is damage to a bone, muscle or tendon that has been subject to recurring stress without time to heal.  The risk of overuse in children and adolescents is greater than in adults because youths’ bones cannot handle as much stress as mature adult bones.  Parents should take notice of overuse injury symptoms:  1) Pain in the affected area after physical activity.  2) Pain during the activity, and 3) Chronic unremitting pain even at rest.  Overuse injury, can be due to overtraining and burnout.  Overtraining can be limited by doing only one sport 5 days per week and take at least one day per week off from any organized physical activity.  Burnout is defined as a series of psychological, physiologic and hormonal changes that result in decreased sports performance, and often is due to over-training.  Help your child participate in sports in a healthy way for mind and body.  And give that kid a hug.  I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.

Topic #3

Some topics just need to be revisited, and one of these is using seat belts.  An article from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine was excerpted in the AAP News, and I paraphrase:  Only 42% of U.S. high school students ages 16 years and older reported always wearing seat belts as passengers compared to 59% of all-aged, drivers according to data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys for 2001 and 2003.  Motor vehicle crashes account for nearly 5,000 fatalities a year and more than 400,000 injuries among 16-19 year olds.  While seat belts have been shown to reduce crash deaths, little is known about the differences in use among teen drivers and passengers.  The study population included a nationally representative sample of over 12,000 black, white and Hispanic high school students.  Results showed that only 38% of students always wore seat belts as both drivers and passengers.  Seat belt use was lower for males, blacks and students with poor grades.  Nearly 67% of female drivers always buckled up compared to 52% of males.  When in a passenger seat, 46% of females and 38% of males clicked that buckle.  About 60% of white and Hispanic drivers always wore seat belts, compared to 47% blacks.  Similarly, about 43% of white and Hispanic passengers buckled in compared with 37% black passengers.  Variations also were seen among school grades:  71% of drivers and 50% of passengers who earned mostly A’s buckled up compared with 44% of drivers and 32% of passengers who got C’s and lower.  Finally, seat belt use was lower among those who reported drinking and driving or riding with a drinking driver.  Enforce seat belt use.  Give that kid a hug.  I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.