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SALT LAKE CITY — Helping your child stay healthy early in life builds a solid foundation for his or her health into adulthood — and a big part of the equation is heart health. Here are few suggestions for keeping your child's heart healthy.
Question:
How do I help my child have a healthy heart?
Answer:
Children rarely if ever have heart disease. If a child does suffer from the condition, it is usually related to a birth defect. But it is important to remember that how children take care of their hearts and health today will greatly impact the health of their heart in the future.
Ask Nurse Suzy
Do you have a question for Nurse Suzy, or maybe a topic you'd like her opinion on? Email her at <a href="mailto:nursesuzyksl@gmail.com">nursesuzyksl@gmail.com</a>.
The American Heart Association says childhood obesity is the No. 1 health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking. Because of obesity, the medical community is seeing a broad range of health problems which previously weren't seen until adulthood, as well as the problem of early-onset heart disease.
Parents and caregivers are essential decision makers when it comes to the health needs of children. I found the American Heart Association has the best information related to children's heart health. Some of the suggestions the organization recommends are:
Develop healthy habits
"You can help your child develop healthy habits early in life that will bring lifelong benefits," the article "Help Children Develop Healthy Habits," states. "As a parent, you can encourage your kids to evaluate their food choice and physical activity habits."
The article then lists several suggestions on how to do so, all of which have one common theme: be involved. Walk the walk when it comes to feeding your family and creating family activities.
Find healthy foods that are affordable
Try some healthy foods under $1 to keep your family on track while sticking to your budget. The article "Healthy Foods Under $1 Per Serving," gives several suggestions, including apples, canned beans, yogurt, eggs, brown rice, etc.
Related:
Mommy Medicine: Heart attack or panic attack — how do you tell?
Determining the difference between the symptoms of a heart attack and those of a panic attack can be difficult to do — even for medical professionals. But here are some clues that may help.Encourage physical activity
Experts recommend kids get no more than 1-2 hours of TV and video games a day, but most children consume an average of 4-6 hours daily. The article "Limit Tube Time and Get Your Kids Moving" lists the following suggestions:
- Have a plan (alternative activities to watching TV)
- Be active with your kids
- Limit tube time
- Plan TV watching in advance
- Practice what you preach
The American Heart Association has several other suggestions to keeping your kids healthy, including tips for dealing with a picky eater and staying active with your pet. Visit the association's How to Make a Healthy Home online information section for more details.
These are a few suggestions, but I would also recommend we not be so hard on ourselves as parents. I think there is enough self-degrading behaviors out there, and we do not need to add another one. There is no place for letting down your guard when it comes to raising healthy, well-balanced individuals, but just do the best you can.
Contributing: Jordan Ormond
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
