Friday, August 21, 2009

Health Tips for August 21

Health Tip: What's Behind My Low Blood Pressure?

Many people worry about high blood pressure and how to bring it under control. But low blood pressure also can be a medical problem, perhaps leading dizziness, fainting or fatigue.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these common causes of low blood pressure (medically called hypotension):

  • A side effect of medications, such as certain antidepressants, diuretics, painkillers or heart medicines.
  • Alcohol use.
  • Heart failure or heart attack.
  • Dehydration.
  • A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
  • Advanced diabetes.
  • Going into shock.
  • Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

Health Tip: Back to School, Back to Sleep

The end of summer signals back to school. And preparing for the school-year routine means getting into a back-to-school sleep schedule.

Children aged 6 to 9 require about 10 hours of sleep each night, and older children need at least nine hours, the Federal Citizen Information Center says. It offers these suggestions for making sure children get enough sleep:

  • Create a regular bedtime schedule, and make sure your child sticks to it.
  • Make sure your child avoids large amounts of food just before it's time to sleep.
  • Don't let your child have anything with caffeine at least six hours before bedtime.
  • After dinner, allow for play and relaxation time to begin winding down.
  • Create a bedtime routine that's relaxing and calming for your child.

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