Friday, March 28, 2008

Health Tips for March 28

Health Tip: Help Your Child's Cognitive Development

Cognitive development refers to fostering a person's ability to think and reason. In a child's case, it's an important part of his or her emotional and mental growth.

The Lucile-Packard Children's Hospital offers these suggestions to encourage your adolescent child's cognitive development:

* Talk to your child about adult, complex topics such as politics, world issues and current events.
* Encourage discussions where the child can express thoughts, ideas and opinions.
* Encourage the child to develop personal goals, opinions and ideas.
* Recognize and praise the child for making good, well-planned decisions, and help the child learn from mistakes.
* Teach the child to think about and plan for the future, the possibilities that lie ahead, and how to best reach personal goals.

Health Tip: Facts About Ovulation

Ovulation is part of a healthy woman's monthly menstrual cycle, and usually occurs in the middle of the cycle. Ovulation refers to the release of a mature egg that is available to be fertilized.

The American Pregnancy Association offers the following information about ovulation:

* Once an egg has been released from the ovary, it can live for 12 hours to 24 hours.
* Women are born with millions of immature eggs. Typically, only one egg that has matured is released each month.
* Ovulation can be affected by factors such as stress, anxiety, illness, or an interruption of usual lifestyle and routine.
* Ovulation may cause feelings of aching, tenderness or soreness in and around the ovaries.
* Each egg that is unfertilized is absorbed by the uterine lining.

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