Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Health Tips for May 28

Health Tip: Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

Just because a person isn't a smoker doesn't mean they are immune to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of secondhand smoke, says the American Lung Association, which offers this list of how it can harm youngsters:

* They are more likely to develop bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
* They are more prone to ear infections.
* They are more likely to develop asthma.
* If already asthmatic, they are prone to more frequent asthma attacks.

Health Tip: Get Your Child Back to Bed

If your child comes to your room in the middle of the night, it may be tempting to allow the child to crawl into bed with you, especially after a nightmare.

That's not recommended, says the Nemours Foundation, which offers these suggestions for getting your child to go back to his or her own bed:

* Make sure the child understands that you are there if he or she needs you again or gets scared.
* Explain that although the dream was frightening and that it's acceptable to be scared, everything will be OK.
* Do whatever the child needs to feel safe. Offer a night light, or show the child that there are no monsters hiding in the closet or under the bed.
* Soothe the child back to sleep with talk of pleasant dreams, or a comforting blanket or stuffed animal.

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