CHOC Children's Blog - Health & Safety Archive

Chest Pain – What Parents Should Know

Published on February 14, 2012 by chocchildrens in Health & Safety

In honor of American Heart Month, check out these important guidelines to help you determine whether your child’s chest pain could be associated with heart disease. In this Q&A, Dr. Pierangelo Renella, a pediatric cardiologist at CHOC Children’s, explains the signs and causes of this common condition, rarely associated with the heart.

Q: What causes chest pain in children?
A: The most common cause of chest pain in children is pain in the muscles that make up the chest wall and not the heart itself. This type of pain is usually referred to as “musculoskeletal pain.” Another common cause of childhood chest pain is costochondritis, which is inflammation in the cartilages at the ends of the ribs. Other causes may include respiratory infections, asthma, acid reflux (“heartburn”), or a partially collapsed lung, for example. These are usually not life-threatening. However, in rare situations, there are serious forms of heart disease that can cause chest pain, and these usually require a pediatric cardiologist’s assistance to diagnose and treat.

Q: How often is chest pain in children due to a heart problem?
A: Although childhood chest pain is the second most common reason for referral to a pediatric cardiologist, it only rarely means the child has actual heart disease.

Q: How do I know when my child’s chest pain needs medical attention?
A: Chest pain that occurs with, or immediately after, exercise should be evaluated further, starting with your child’s pediatrician. In addition, for chest pain that is associated with fast heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting, or if there is a family history of sudden cardiac death, your pediatrician may refer your child to a pediatric cardiologist.

Q: How can I help prevent my child’s chest pain?
A: Again, the vast majority of childhood chest pain is not heart-related. Since the most common causes involve the muscles and bones of the chest wall, the pain should improve with rest and anti-inflammatory medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If these treatments do not work, and if the pain is significant, worsening, or associated with other signs and symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, or exercise, make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician immediately.

To learn more about the CHOC Children’s Heart Institute, please visit: http://www.choc.org/heart/index.cfm.
To make an appointment with Dr. Renella, please call 714-512-3939.

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Be Good to Your Heart – And Your Children’s Too!

Published on February 10, 2012 by chocchildrens in Health & Safety

By Katherine Phillips RD MPH, clinical dietician at CHOC Children’s

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States? In 2010, heart disease services, medications and lost productivity cost the United States $316.4 billion, making it an expensive yet very preventable disease. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure and arrhythmias. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the cause of death for one in every four adult Americans.

However, adults aren’t the only ones at risk. Children are now developing cardiovascular disease risk factors that were previously only seen in adults. Children who are obese are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. One study estimated that as many as 70% of obese children have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Prevention and early action are the keys to decreasing your risk and your children’s risk of developing heart disease. The highest risk factors for heart disease include inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol and diabetes. Here are some ways you can reduce the risk of heart disease in your family:

Know your family history
o Genetic factors can play a role in the development of heart disease.

Know your numbers (and your children’s numbers too!)
o High cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes are three of the six top risk factors for developing heart disease, so keep them under control.
o New guidelines endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics state that all children, with or without a family history of heart disease, should have their cholesterol levels tested between the ages of 9 and 11, and then again between the ages of 17 and 21. Doctors think that this early testing and control of cholesterol levels in childhood can help reduce the risk of heart disease in adulthood.

Stop smoking
o Smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by two to four times!

Improve your diet
o Diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels and promote atherosclerosis. High salt or sodium in the diet causes raised blood pressure levels.
o Choose lean meats, low-fat or fat- free dairy products; decrease foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, and salt/sodium; and watch portion sizes.
o Increase fruit, vegetable and whole grain intake.
o Plan your meals ahead of time so you aren’t scrambling for something quick and unhealthy at the last minute.
o Do not use food as a reward for good behavior or good grades.
o Limit snacking and be aware of the snack foods your children are eating.
o Know what your child eats at school.
o Eat meals as a family so it is easier to know what and how much your child is eating.

Be active
o 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity every week (or just 20 minutes each day) can decrease your risk of heart disease.
o Aim for 60 minutes of physical activity for your child every day.
o Find fun exercise activities you can do as a family.
o Limit the amount of time you and your child spend watching TV and playing on the computer.

Control your weight
o Losing just 5–10 percent of your current weight over 6 months will lower your risk for heart disease and other conditions.
o If your child is overweight and there is no illness or condition causing the obesity, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian to provide you with some resources to help your child either lose weight or control their rate of weight gain while they grow.

Drink less alcohol
o Excessive alcohol use leads to an increase in blood pressure, and increases the risk for heart disease. It also increases blood levels of triglycerides, which contribute to atherosclerosis.
o Drink no more than one alcohol drink per day if you’re a woman and two alcohol drinks per day if you’re a man.

Be a good role model for your children. Parents who model healthy eating and physical activity can positively influence their children’s health.

For more information:
Harvard School of Public Health-The Nutrition Source: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/index.html
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm
American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

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Easy Substitutions for a Healthier Heart

Published on February 7, 2012 by chocchildrens in Health & Safety

In honor of American Heart Month, try these smart substitutions recommended by the American Heart Association, for a healthier heart for the entire family.

When cooking your favorite recipes, you can use these lower-fat ingredients, which can help cut down on saturated fats and cholesterol, without having to substitute the taste:

Instead of butter (1 tablespoon) — Use 1 tablespoon soft margarine (low in saturated fat and 0 grams trans fat) or 3/4 tablespoon liquid vegetable oil

Instead of whole milk (1 cup) — Use 1 cup fat-free or low-fat milk, plus one tablespoon of liquid vegetable oil

Instead of heavy cream (1 cup) — Use 1 cup evaporated skim milk or 1/2 cup low-fat yogurt and 1/2 cup plain low-fat unsalted cottage cheese

Instead of sour cream — Use low-fat unsalted cottage cheese plus low-fat or fat-free yogurt; or just use fat-free sour cream

Instead of cream cheese — Use 4 tablespoons soft margarine (low in saturated fat and 0 grams trans fat) blended with 1 cup dry, unsalted low-fat cottage cheese; add a small amount of fat-free milk if needed

Instead of Egg (1) — Use 2 egg whites; or choose a commercially made, cholesterol-free egg substitute (1/4 cup)

Snack healthier, too, with these yummy substitutions:

Instead of regular potato or corn chips — Enjoy pretzels or low-fat potato chips (reduced sodium version)

Instead of ice cream bars — Enjoy frozen fruit bars

Instead of a doughnut — Enjoy a bagel or toast

Instead of high-fat cookies and crackers — Enjoy fat-free or low-fat cookies, crackers (such as graham crackers, rice cakes, fig and other fruit bars, ginger snaps and molasses cookies)

The CHOC Children’s Heart Institute brings hope to children with heart disease and their families, providing state of the art diagnosis and treatment for an entire spectrum of cardiac conditions in newborns to adolescents. For more information on programs and services at CHOC Children’s Heart Institute, please visit: http://www.choc.org/heart/index.cfm

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Teaching Children Good Sportsmanship

Published on February 3, 2012 by chocchildrens in Health & Safety

It’s Super Bowl Time! – A great opportunity to spend time with friends and family, and to teach kids about the importance of good sportsmanship.

Parents and kids alike love sports, and it’s easy to get caught up in a game and become focused on winning. Yet there is much more to be gained from the sports experience than a winning record. When children and teens are involved in sports, they are able to learn and put into practice values that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Good sportsmanship is one of the life lessons that children can learn from sports. You can help your children understand and value good sportsmanship while making sure they have a safe and fun sports experience. Here are some important principles to instill in your children:

• If you lose, don’t make up excuses.
• If you win, don’t rub it in.
• Learn from mistakes and get back in the game.
• Always do your best.
• If someone else makes a mistake, remain encouraging and avoid criticizing.

Parents are important role models, so let your children see you upholding these principles, whether you play a sport yourself or root for your child’s team from the sidelines.

Good sportsmanship also includes following certain guidelines for good behavior. Share these concepts with your children:

• Avoid arguing. Stay focused on the game instead of giving in to anger with teammates, coaches, or referees. Always avoid using bad language and negative words.

• Everyone should have a chance to play. In youth sports, it’s important to encourage even those players who are the least skilled to have fun playing in the game. Parents, coaches, and even other players have an important role in allowing less talented teammates time to participate.

• Play fair. Good sportsmen want to win because they followed the rules and played the best game they could. Never support any effort to win that attempts to go around the rules. Cheating is not acceptable.

• Follow directions. Emphasize the importance of listening to coaches and referees and following their directions while on the field and involved in team activities.

• Respect the other team. Whether your team wins or loses, it’s important to show respect for the effort of the other team. If the other team wins, accept defeat, acknowledge their abilities, and move on. If your team wins, resist bragging—that’s what it means to be a gracious winner.

• Encourage teammates. Team sports work best when each individual supports the team. Praise teammates for what they do well and encourage them when they make mistakes. Avoid criticism and unkind actions. Parents should model this behavior for children by praising them for specific things they have done well, even if they made a mistake or may not have played as well as hoped.

• Respect the decisions of referees and other officials. These people are charged with making difficult decisions about plays in the game. Good sportsmanship requires that you accept a call, even if you disagree with it. Remember that it’s only one call in a long game—get back into play and focus on the game.

• End with a handshake. Good sportsmen enjoy sports and know how to end a game on a positive note, whether or not they won. Threats, anger, criticism, and other negative expressions are not acceptable.

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Protect Your Little Ones From Sun Damage

Published on January 27, 2012 by chocchildrens in Health & Safety

With more sunshine coming our way this weekend, it’s important to keep your family safe from the effects of over-exposure to the sun. We all need a little sunshine of course, it’s a source for vitamin D, which helps us maintain a healthy immune system and absorb calcium to maintain strong bones. However, excessive exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause skin and eye damage, and can lead to the development of skin cancer.

A recent study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, that examined data for more than 300 children, found that at least 50 percent of those children experienced sunburns before age 11. Melanoma is one of the two most common cancers of young Americans, and children who have had a sunburn at an early age are at a higher risk for developing melanoma in adulthood.
Check out these safety tips to help keep your family protected:

Use sunscreen with a SPF # of at least 30! Sunscreen not only protects against sun damage but also against wind damage by acting as a shield against irritants.
No tanning oils or salons! Tanning increases the risk of melanoma and accelerates skin aging.
Apply sunscreen every two hours to make sure you’re protected.
Remember the sun is everywhere, protect your entire body, even your hands, nose and ears.
Try to limit your time in the sun during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Make sure your family drinks plenty of water throughout the day.

For more sun safety tips from the experts at CHOC, please click here:
http://www.choc.org/community/index.cfm?id=P00374
http://www.choc.org/publications/index.cfm?id=P00303&pub=KH&aid=522

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Chest Pain – What Parents Should Know

Be Good to Your Heart – And Your Children’s Too!

Easy Substitutions for a Healthier Heart

Teaching Children Good Sportsmanship

Protect Your Little Ones From Sun Damage

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