SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

Life naturally slows down in winter. The days grow shorter, light becomes scarce, and we respond by planting ourselves in front of the television or hiding under the covers to stay warm. But how do you know when a seasonal slump is a more serious problem?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a category of depression that emerges in particular seasons of the year. Most people notice SAD symptoms starting in the fall and increasing during the winter months, but a few people experience a spring/summer version. Let’s take a look at some common questions you might have about this disorder.

What are the most common symptoms of SAD?

SAD symptoms are the same criteria you’d need for a diagnosis of major depression. These might include a depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness, a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep and appetite, a loss of pleasure in activities you once loved, and even thoughts of death or suicide. Persons with the winter version of SAD might also notice the following unique symptoms:

• Heaviness in arms and legs
• Frequent oversleeping
• Cravings for carbohydrates/weight gain
• Relationship problems

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Is SAD a “lighter” version of major depression?

No, even though this is a common misconception. SAD is a “specifier” of major depression, which is just a fancy word for a more specific kind, or subtype. Persons with seasonal affective disorder experience the symptoms at a particular time of year. With the changing of seasons, their depression goes into remission. If you notices this switch happening several times over two years, then you may qualify for this diagnosis.

What causes SAD?

Researchers have yet to uncover the specific cause for SAD. We do know however, that several factors are at play. The reduction in sunlight in winter can throw your biological clock out of whack and reduce levels of serotonin (a brain chemical that regulates your mood) and melatonin (a chemical which regulates sleep and mood).

If you are young and female, you are also at increased risk for SAD. People who live farther from the equator or have a family history of depression also experience the symptoms more frequently.

How do I know when to call a doctor?

Sure, everyone has days in the winter when they feel sluggish or unmotivated. But if your symptoms are causing disruptions in your life, then never hesitate to reach out to a professional. If symptoms occur for days at a time, you notice major shifts in sleeping or eating, you are withdrawing socially, or the activities that usually boost your mood don’t work, then it’s time to pick up your phone. Seek immediate help if you are using alcohol to manage symptoms or you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

How do I get the best care for SAD?

It’s never too late if you’re already experiencing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Seeking treatment can help prevent them from becoming worse. You can schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or make an appointment with a mental health professional, like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed counselor. Check to see if your workplace has an Employee Assistance Program that offers free counseling or referrals to providers in your community.

To get the best level of care, sit down and engage your brain before your appointment. Play detective, and take some notes about the frequency and nature or your symptoms, other mental and physical health concerns you have, and observations about what helps your depression or makes it worse. You can also jot down specific questions you might have for your doctor. These might include:

• What might also be causing my symptoms instead of SAD?
• What treatments have your patients found helpful in the past?
• Would you recommend a mental health provider in the community?
• Are there any behavioral changes I can make today to help my mood?
• Are there any written resources you’d recommend?

When you’re at the doctor’s office, he or she may conduct a physical exam or lab tests to rule out other physical causes for your depression. The doctor may also recommend that you see a mental health professional to receive a more thorough assessment.

What treatments might work for me?

With any mental health problem, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Here are a few options to explore with your doctor.

• Medication – Antidepressants have proven to be effective for people with SAD, especially those with intense symptoms. Medication requires patience, because it can take several weeks before you begin to feel the effects. It’s also important not to stop taking the medication if you feel better. Consult with your doctor before you change your dosage, and let him or her know if you experience any side effects.

• Psychotherapy – Talk therapy can be an invaluable option for those with SAD. A psychotherapist can help you identify patterns in negative thinking and behavior that impact depression, learn positive ways of coping with symptoms, and institute relaxation techniques that can help you restore lost energy.

• Light therapy – Phototherapy involves exposing oneself to light via a special box or lamp. This device produces similar effects to natural light, triggering chemicals in your brain that help regulate your mood. This treatment has proven effective especially for those who experience the winter version of SAD. Don’t make an impulse buy on the Internet though, as it’s important to consult with your doctor first. You want to make sure you’ve purchased an effective and safe device.

But what can I do today?

In addition to seeking help from your doctor, there are lifestyle changes that can improve symptoms and lift your mood. You might try going outside more often, getting plenty of sunlight, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting plenty of sleep, and practicing relaxation exercises.

Planning a healthier lifestyle is never a bad idea. But don’t beat yourself up if your symptoms don’t improve right away. Don’t brush them off as the January blues and simply hunker down until spring. Asking for help is a sign of strength and movement towards a better version of yourself. Consider how you can start managing seasonal affective disorder today and live a healthier life in every season.

HEALTHY EATING TO PROMOTE STRONG TEETH IN CHILDREN

The foods children eat directly affect the status of their dental health long term. One of the best things a parent can do for their kids’ teeth, outside of promoting proper oral hygiene habits, is teaching them to make nutritional and health advancing dietary choices. Foods that are high in carbohydrates, starches, and sugars can cause dental decay and have a negative impact on dental health when consumed in immoderate amounts or when left on the teeth too long after eating. Fostering a healthy and well balanced diet for children from an early age helps form habits that result in a lifetime of strong teeth and overall better health.

Making Nutritional Choices For Healthy Teeth and Gums

  In addition to brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once daily, kids should consume a well-balanced and nutritional diet, to not only promote overall health but also help build a strong healthy smile.

        Some tips for helping kids make nutritional choices to keep their teeth healthier and cleaner: • Lean meats, nuts, and proteins—These are a good source of protein for children and help strengthen tooth enamel. Consider turkey, chicken, and white fish as good examples of lean meats. Nuts are a great healthy snack and a quick source of energy for kids. Low sugar peanut butters are good snack options as well.

Fruits and vegetables—Fruits and veggies are a good snack alternative to foods rich in carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables with high water content like melons, pears, celery, and cucumbers are especially good for dental hygiene and actually help clean the teeth. Eating crunchy, raw fruits and vegetables every day helps remove some substances thatadhere to the surface of the teeth when eating, as well as promote overall health. • Cheese and low-fat dairy products—Aged cheeses like cheddar, swiss, and monterey jack help generate the flow of saliva, which aids in removing food particles from the teeth. Offer these as a snack or as part of a child’s lunch. Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt can also promote oral health. • Unsweetened foods—Buying unsweetened foods helps decrease the amount of sugar to potentially cause decay in your child’s mouth. • Calcium Sources—Strong sources of calcium are crucial to your child’s bones and for building strong teeth. Low-fat milks, cheese, yogurt, and broccoli are good sources of calcium. • Water instead of sugary juices or soda—Sodas, juices, and even milk can contain large amounts of sugar that can cause dental decay. Limit the amount of sugary drinks a child consumes and get your child in the habit of primarily drinking water. Water in general helps wash the teeth. Also, never put a baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice! • Xylitol-sweetened or sugar free gum—If your child chews gum make sure it is sugar free or sweetened with Xylitol. Xylitol actually decreases bacteria in the mouth, and the action of chewing supports saliva flow, which helps wash away food particles from the teeth.   

HEAVY METALS FOUND IN POPULAR FRUIT JUICES

Nearly half of 45 fruit juices tested had elevated levels of heavy metals, which can pose health risks for children and adults, Consumer Reports has found.

The report, released Wednesday, says that even small amounts of juice might hold risks.

"In some cases, drinking just 4 ounces a day — or half a cup — is enough to raise concern," James Dickerson, PhD, chief scientific officer for CR, says in the report.

If anything, the results simply reinforce existing concerns about fruit juices.

"I don't think we need to say you can't give your kids any juice," says Steven Abrams, MD, a professor of pediatrics at Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin. But, he says, "juice is not a product that is intrinsically healthy for children." He co-authored the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines on juice, which set limits by age.

Meanwhile, juice producers say the report needlessly alarms consumers.

How Was the Testing Done?

Consumer Reports experts tested 45 juices made by 24 brands, including well-known and lesser-known brands such as Gerber, Minute Maid, Mott's, Great Value from Walmart, Clover Valley from Dollar General, and Big Win from Rite Aid. Those tested included organic products, too, as well as store brands from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

In the report, 24 products are listed as ''better alternatives."

Still, all but one of the juices in the Consumer Reports tests had inorganic arsenic levels below the FDA’s proposed limit of 10 parts per billion, and 58% had levels below CR’s recommended cutoff of 3 ppb. Trader Joe's Fresh Pressed Apple Juice was the only product above the 10 ppb threshold. CR says its tests found three samples averaged 15.4 ppb.

There is no scientific evidence indicating that the presence of trace levels of heavy metals in juice has caused any negative health outcomes among individuals at any life stage.Patricia Faison, technical director of the Juice Products Association

What Are the Health Risks From Heavy Metals?

Depending on how much and how long the exposure is, heavy metals can pose risks to children and adults. Risks include a lower IQ, behavior problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, among many other health issues, CR says.

Experts worry about accumulated heavy metals not from only juice, but other sources. They are found not only in food and drink, but throughout the environment; plants absorb the heavy metals from contaminated soil and water, CR says.

What Does This Mean for Children and Adults?

The best advice about serving juice to children is to limit it, says Abrams, who is also director of the Dell Pediatric Research Institute. Broaden their choices, he adds. "Don't use only apple or orange."

Among the misconceptions among parents, he says, is that organic juices are lower in heavy metals. Not true, he says. "Families should not assume that choosing the organic label guarantees being free of toxins."

He also discourages serving children juice from juice boxes or pouches. "Kids will tend to sip on it, and they get a lot of juice sitting on their teeth [risking cavities]. It's convenient, I get that. But I think they tend to drink more."

What Do the Juice Manufacturers Say?

In a statement, Patricia Faison, technical director of the Juice Products Association, an industry group, accused Consumer Reports of raising unnecessary concern.

"There is no scientific evidence indicating that the presence of trace levels of heavy metals in juice has caused any negative health outcomes among individuals at any life stage," she says.

"The juice industry is committed to providing safe, high-quality nutritious juice that meets or exceeds regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food safety."

Producers of juice also conduct their own testing, Faison says.

Gerber also responded, saying in part: "At Gerber, we always go the extra mile to provide high-quality and safe nutrition for little ones. When it comes to our juice, this means regular testing of our ingredients, water and finished juices, working closely with our farmers to reduce and limit contaminants, and using some of the most precise analytical equipment and test methods available."

Sources:

Consumer Reports: "Arsenic and Lead Are In Your Fruit Juice: What You Need to Know."

Patricia Faison, technical director, Juice Products Association.

Cathy Dunn, spokesperson, Nestle.

Steven Abrams, MD, professor of pediatrics, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin; director, Dell Pediatric Research Institute.

American Academy of Pediatrics: "Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations."

They focused on levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, and inorganic arsenic, saying that these elements pose some of the greatest risks and that research has found they are common in food and drink. The juices tested were apple, fruit blends, grape, and pear.

The new testing was done as a follow-up to a study in 2011, when CR found elevated levels of inorganic arsenic and lead in apple and grape juices. The new evaluation was done to see if there's been improvement, to test other juices, and to test for other heavy metals.

What Are the Major Findings?

Overall, CR says, heavy metal levels in fruit juices have declined since their last testing. But in the new report, every juice contained at least one of the four metals tested, and 47%, or 21, had concerning levels of cadmium, inorganic arsenic, and/or lead. None had concerning levels of mercury. Other major conclusions:

• Seven of the 21 had enough heavy metals to potentially harm children who drink a half-cup or more a day, and nine of the 21 held risks for kids drinking a cup or more a day.
• Ten of the juices posed a risk to adults, too: Five were potentially hazardous at a half-cup or more a day, and five at a cup or more a day.
• The highest heavy metal levels were in grape juice and juice blends.
• Organic juices did not have lower heavy metal levels than non-organic.
• 
  
  In the report, 24 products are listed as ''better alternatives."

  Still, all but one of the juices in the Consumer Reports tests had inorganic arsenic levels below the FDA’s proposed limit of 10 parts per billion, and 58% had levels below CR’s recommended cutoff of 3 ppb. Trader Joe's Fresh Pressed Apple Juice was the only product above the 10 ppb threshold. CR says its tests found three samples averaged 15.4 ppb.

  There is no scientific evidence indicating that the presence of trace levels of heavy metals in juice has caused any negative health outcomes among individuals at any life stage.Patricia Faison, technical director of the Juice Products Association

  What Are the Health Risks From Heavy Metals?

  Depending on how much and how long the exposure is, heavy metals can pose risks to children and adults. Risks include a lower IQ, behavior problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, among many other health issues, CR says.

  Experts worry about accumulated heavy metals not from only juice, but other sources. They are found not only in food and drink, but throughout the environment; plants absorb the heavy metals from contaminated soil and water, CR says.

  What Does This Mean for Children and Adults?

  The best advice about serving juice to children is to limit it, says Abrams, who is also director of the Dell Pediatric Research Institute. Broaden their choices, he adds. "Don't use only apple or orange."

  Among the misconceptions among parents, he says, is that organic juices are lower in heavy metals. Not true, he says. "Families should not assume that choosing the organic label guarantees being free of toxins."

  He also discourages serving children juice from juice boxes or pouches. "Kids will tend to sip on it, and they get a lot of juice sitting on their teeth [risking cavities]. It's convenient, I get that. But I think they tend to drink more."

  What Do the Juice Manufacturers Say?

  In a statement, Patricia Faison, technical director of the Juice Products Association, an industry group, accused Consumer Reports of raising unnecessary concern.

  "There is no scientific evidence indicating that the presence of trace levels of heavy metals in juice has caused any negative health outcomes among individuals at any life stage," she says.

  "The juice industry is committed to providing safe, high-quality nutritious juice that meets or exceeds regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food safety."

  Producers of juice also conduct their own testing, Faison says.

  Gerber also responded, saying in part: "At Gerber, we always go the extra mile to provide high-quality and safe nutrition for little ones. When it comes to our juice, this means regular testing of our ingredients, water and finished juices, working closely with our farmers to reduce and limit contaminants, and using some of the most precise analytical equipment and test methods available."

  Sources:

  Consumer Reports: "Arsenic and Lead Are In Your Fruit Juice: What You Need to Know."

  Patricia Faison, technical director, Juice Products Association.

  Cathy Dunn, spokesperson, Nestle.

  Steven Abrams, MD, professor of pediatrics, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin; director, Dell Pediatric Research Institute.

  American Academy of Pediatrics: "Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations."

ORAL HYGIENE FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS

Training children to prioritize and practice good oral hygiene habits early can result in a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Even as the very first baby teeth begin to erupt through the gums around 6 to 8 months of age, the infant’s state of oral health has the potential to affect their future adult smile.

RISK OF DECAY STARTS EARLY.

The risk for decay increases as soon as the child’s first baby teeth appear. Some infants experience such severe tooth decay, that their teeth are unable to be repaired and must be extracted. This usually occurs when a baby is in the habit of being put to sleep with a bottle. Typically, the upper front teeth are most affected but decay can occur in other teeth as well.
When a baby tooth is lost prematurely due to accidents or oral decay, among other reasons, crowding and spatial problems can occur with the eventual eruption of the permanent teeth. The healthier the primary set of teeth stays, the less risk exists for the permanent teeth to “come in” incorrectly or experience decay. Consequently, prioritizing an infant’s oral health from the beginning can aid in preserving a healthy smile for decades.

TOOTH DECAY IS PREVENTABLE.MONTHS 

Tooth decay is preventable through practicing good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist regularly and as recommended! It is recommended that parents take their child to the Pediatric Dentist within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth and no later than their first birthday. The Pediatric Dentist will advise the parents on how to care for their baby’s mouth, check for decay, and inform them of any possible problems.

CLEANING YOUR INFANT OR TODDLERS TEETH.

Oral hygiene practices change and increase with age so here are some tips to caring for your child’s dental heath from birth through toddlerhood.
BIRTH TO 6-MONTHS:
Dental hygiene begins at birth. Implementing healthy habits from the start can make all the difference in reducing and preventing tooth decay in infants and kids. Clean an infant’s gums lightly after every feeding with a moistened washcloth or damp clean gauze pad. Never put a baby to sleep with a bottle, prop a bottle in a baby’s mouth, or let a baby feed “at will.” As dental decay is a communicable and infectious disease, try not to ever test the temperature of a bottle with your mouth. Also keep from sharing utensils or washing a pacifier or bottle nipple by putting it in your mouth. Sticking to these practices helps stop the spreading of bacterium that generate tooth decay.
6 TO 12 MONTHS :
Usually the first tooth erupts through the gums between 6 and 8 months of age. Practicing increased healthy habits from the moment teeth begin to appear, once again, reduces and prevents the chance for tooth decay. After feeding, continue to clean the infant’s gums with a wet washcloth or clean damp gauze pad. As the infant begins to eat more solid foods and is able to drink from a cup, start weaning the baby from the bottle one step at a time. Usually by 12 to 14 months, babies can drink from a cup, so it is a good idea to start slowly offering them cups of water or juice instead of a bottle at that time. At this point, do not allow the baby to walk

 around carrying his/her bottle, and practice healthy habits by restricting the amount of sweet food and beverages the child consumes.
It is also important to know what the normal appearance of a child’s gums and teeth look like. Regularly check for new small white or brown spots on the child’s teeth, which may indicate tooth decay. If any questionable or strange looking spots of this sort appear, contact the Pediatric Dentist for an appointment immediately. Schedule the child’s first dental appointment at this stage, as it is recommended for a child to be examined by a Pediatric Dentist no later than the first birthday.
12 TO 18 MONTHS:
By one year of age, a child should undergo an oral examination by a Pediatric Dentist. At this stage, brush a child’s teeth for them twice a day with plain water. Keep checking regularly for suspiciou


s white or brown spots on the teeth, which can denote tooth decay, and make an appointment with the Pediatric Dentist immediately if any such spot are noticed. Also continue to avoid spreading decay causing germs to the child by refraining from any practices that might transmit saliva, such as drink sharing.

18- MONTHS TO 5-YEARS :

At 24 months, start brushing the child’s teeth twice a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure that the child does not swallow any of the toothpaste, and teach him/her to spit all of it out after brushing. Begin teaching the child how to brush his/her own teeth, but typically children need help until they possess the hand coordination to sufficiently brush their own teeth. Children should be capable of brushing without supervision around age 6 or 7. By 30 months, most of the primary (baby) teeth should be in, and by 3 years old toddlers should no longer be using their pacifiers and/or sucking their thumbs. If a child is over the age of 3 and regularly still uses a pacifier or sucks his/her thumb consult the Pediatric Dentist. At this point, the child should be visiting the Pediatric Dentist for regular checkups. Also remember to continue to check for suspicious white or brown spots on the teeth, which
may indicate tooth decay. Anytime uncharacteristic or suspicious spots appear in a child’s mouth, dentist should be contacted.white or brown spots on the teeth, which can denote tooth decay, and make an appointment with the Pediatric Dentist immediately if any such spot are noticed. Also continue to avoid spreading decay causing germs to the child by refraining from any practices that might transmit saliva, such as drink sharing.
18 months-5 years:
At 24 months, start brushing the child’s teeth twice a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure that the child does not swallow any of the toothpaste, and teach him/her to spit all of it out after brushing. Begin teaching the child how to brush his/her own teeth, but typically children need help until they possess the hand coordination to sufficiently brush their own teeth. Children should be capable of brushing without supervision around age 6 or 7. By 30 months, most of the primary (baby) teeth should be in, and by 3 years old toddlers should no longer be using their pacifiers and/or sucking their thumbs. If a child is over the age of 3 and regularly still uses a pacifier or sucks his/her thumb consult the Pediatric Dentist. At this point, the child should be visiting the Pediatric Dentist for regular checkups. Also remember to continue to check for suspicious white or brown spots on the teeth, which

 may indicate tooth decay. Anytime uncharacteristic or suspicious spots appear in a child’s mouth, the dentist should be contacted.

CHOLESTEROL --THE MYTH.

*Cholesterol* is finally officially removed from Naughty List
The US government has finally accepted that *cholesterol* is not a _nutrient of concern_. doing a U-turn on their warnings to us to stay away from high-cholesterol foods since the 1970s to avoid heart disease and clogged arteries.
This means eggs, butter, full-fat dairy products, nuts, coconut oil and meat have now been classified as *safe* and have been officially removed from the _nutrients of concern_ list.
The US Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for updating the guidelines every five years, stated in its findings for 2015: "Previously, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that cholesterol intake be limited to no more than 300 mg/day.
"The 2015 DGAC will not bring forward this recommendation because available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum (blood) cholesterol, consistent with the AHA/ACC (American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology)
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will, in response, no longer warn people against eating high-cholesterol foods and will instead focus on sugar as the main substance of dietary concern.

US cardiologist Dr Steven Nissen said: _It's the right decision_. _We got the dietary guidelines wrong. They've been wrong for decades_."
"When we eat more foods rich in this compound, our bodies make less. If we deprive ourselves of foods high in cholesterol - such as eggs, butter, and liver - our body revs up .
The Real Truth about Cholesterol
The majority of the cholesterol in you is produced by your liver. Your brain is primarily made up from cholesterol. It is essential for nerve cells to function. Cholesterol is the basis for the creation of all the steroid hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and corticosteroids. High cholesterol in the body is a clear indication
which shows the liver of the individual is in good health.
Dr. George V. Mann M.D. associate director of the Framingham study for the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors states: _Saturated fats and cholesterol in the diet are not the cause of coronary heart disease_. _That myth is the greatest deception of the century, perhaps of any century_
*Cholesterol is the biggest medical scam of all time*
There is no such thing as *bad Cholesterol*
So you can stop trying to change your Cholesterol level. Studies prove beyond a doubt, cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease and it won't stop a heart attack. The majority of people that have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels.
OUR BODY NEEDS 950 mg OF CHOLESTEROL FOR DAILY METABOLISM AND THE LIVER IS THE MAIN PRODUCER.
ONLY 15% OF CHOLESTEROL IS BEING DONATED BY THE FOOD WE EAT. If the fat content is less in our food we eat, our liver
Got to work more to maintain the level at 950 mg. If the cholesterol level is high in our body, it shows the liver is working perfect.
Experts say that there is nothing like LDL or HDL.
…………..
….. *Cholesterol is not found to create block any where in human body*.
Please share the recent facts about CHOLESTEROL

NAMASTE,
DR PADAMJEET GULIA,
CONSULTANT PEDIATRICIAN.

THE LINK BETWEEN SCREEN TIME AND EYE SYMPTOMS IN KIDS.(GUIDELINES)

The guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are based on consensus statements. We recommend that children under 18 months of age avoid all digital screen time, with the exception of video chatting with apps such as FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, and similar types of programs. This is to make sure that we are stimulating them with natural visual stimuli in order to support visual development.

For children aged 18-24 months of age, it is recommended that parents and families slowly introduce digital screen time to their children. Parents should be actively involved with what is being watched, monitoring what is being seen, and educating their children about the program and the content.
For children who are 2-5 years of age, we recommend limiting screen time to about an hour a day. It is important to remember that this includes TV, computer, iPad, tablets, iPhones, and other types of electronic programming, with the exception of video chatting. It is really important to try to make sure that parents are showing their children high-quality programming and are still actively involved in terms of what is being watched and teaching their children about what is being seen.

For kids age 6 years and over, the limits are a little less clear. We understand that it can be very difficult to limit screen time based on the amount of homework that is being prescribed and the time that children need to spend on the computer to successfully accomplish their schoolwork. With that being said, it is important to really encourage children to do other things with their time. We still recommend limiting screen time in general to 1-2 hours a day, if possible.
This is important because we know that adults develop symptoms associated with a computer vision syndrome when they spend excess time on the computer or screens of any kind. These symptoms include headaches, fatigue, and asthenopia. We would assume that children are at risk of developing these same symptoms. That is why these limits are in place.
Interestingly enough, these [recommended] limits and [expectation of types of symptoms that may occur] are not based on any hard and fast science. However, more and more research is being done that tells us there is probably a correlation between these symptoms and screen time. A paper published in 2017, found that children with more than 3 hours a day of total screen time are at a higher risk of developing asthenopia, headaches, motor tics, and potentially even refractive error.
This study was retrospective and observational, with a small cohort, and thus highlights the fact that we need more research in this area. We would really like to understand this a little better.
The flip side is that more work is being done examining the role of video games and dichoptic computer games to treat amblyopia which, for decades, has been treated with patching, eye drops, and glasses. I think this is an interesting area of research because children would much prefer to play a video game to having to wear a patch on their eye.
The research is showing us that all of these modalities used together potentially could treat amblyopia equally as effectively and improve compliance..

Namaste,

Dr Padamjeet Gulia,

Consultant Pediatrician,

www.thepaediatricin.blogspot.com

BLOOD PRESSURE; SIX SUMMER FOODS FOR MANAGING BLOOD PRESSURE.

HIGHLIGHTS,

 • Blood pressure is one of the most common conditions in India

 • All berries are loaded with heart-healthy compounds called flavonoids

 • Skimmed milk is rich in calcium and vitamin D helps reduce BP

Blood pressure is one of the most common conditions in India. It is said that one in every three Indians are suffering from hypertension and heart ailments. High blood pressure is a silent killer; in fact, according to the National Centre For Biotechnology Information (NCBI), blood pressure shows seasonal variation. It is the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. It tends to damage the body's blood vessels, thus causing kidney diseases, heart afflictions and other health problems. Blood pressure should be taken care of, especially during summers as it tends to fluctuate more often. We give you some expert tips on managing blood pressure with healthy summer foods.

"The hypertension diet should have foods with high magnesium, potassium and fibre content in it. They should be necessarily low in sodium."

Here are the summer foods for managing blood pressure;

1. Berries

All berries are loaded with heart-healthy compounds called flavonoids. The antioxidant rich fruit may help lower blood pressure, as per a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Add blueberries, strawberries, et al to your daily diet.

2. Skimmed milk

Skimmed milk is rich in calcium and vitamin D, two of which work as a team to help reduce blood pressure naturally. According to National Health Service, UK, drinking a glass of skimmed milk a day can cut blood pressure by upto a one third. So gulp down a glass of skimmed milk daily in order to reap maximum benefits.

3. Yogurt

According to a study presented at the American Heart Association (AHA), women who consumed five or more servings of yogurt a week had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than similar women who hardly ever ate yogurt. So load up on chilled yogurt every day and enjoy a healthful life.

4. Watermelon

According to a study published in the American Journal of Hypertension, watermelon could significantly reduce blood pressure in overweight individuals both at rest and while under stress. The pressure on the aorta and on the heart reduced after the consumption of watermelon.

5. Bananas

This tropical fruit is super rich in potassium and even more easy to include in your daily diet. One banana provides one percent of calcium, eight percent of magnesium and 12 percent of potassium that you need every day.

6. Kiwi

According to a report presented in the American Heart Association (AHA), kiwis may naturally lower blood pressure. Three kiwis a day could keep high blood pressure at bay. So toss kiwis in your salads and stave off any risk of high blood pressure.

This summer, ensure that your blood pressure is regulated and well-maintained.

Namaste,

Dr Padamjeet Gulia,

Consultant Pediatrician,

www.thepaediatricin.blogspot.com