If you are a regular visitor of my blog, you will notice that there is a widget (just below the Philippine flag) that bears my photo and dubbing me as one of the Top Health Bloggers of Wellsphere, at the Parenting Community. Well, that is not there for nothing or to sell something. I was chosen to be among their bloggers’ community members, and it is my honor to be one.
So what is Wellsphere?
Good question. When I knew about their site some time ago, I read very interesting posts from different bloggers and health professionals and of course, the topic is all about health. Some of the interesting topics include healthy living, skin health, fitness exercise, stress management, relationships and sex, and my favorite, parenting. Within the last few months, the site traffic tremendously reached more than 2 million monthly unique visitors.
So what is new with Wellsphere?
Wellsphere now introduces Wellpages, a comprehensive, personalized webpages that connect people with the best health knowledge from health experts, professionals, patients and healthy living professionals, and providing immediate answers to their specific health questions. According to Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge, Wellsphere’s Chief Information Officer, a Stanford Computer Science PhD and former Harvard Medical School faculty member, each page has very useful articles carefully chosen to educate readers in a way that they can easily be understood.
Now, instead of visiting numerous sites when searching for an answer about health, Wellsphere is a one-stop shop site where you can easily find articles pertaining to your health concerns. Their writers came from Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale and other top Medical Institutions.
Please do not get me wrong, I am not being paid to promote their site or even trying to sell you something through a hidden affiliate link.
With that, I am cordially inviting you to check out their site - Wellsphere and be among who gain a lot from them.
Being healthy is better than being rich.
You can also visit my latest blog - Father Blogger dot Com as it is being updated daily. Well, almost.
If you want to receive my future posts regularly for FREE, please subscribe in a reader or by e-mail. If you have concerns, please Contact Me anytime.
Article Source: Happy Family Matters
The New Wellsphere – the Next Generation Health site
What to do with a Drug Addict Family member
Drug Addiction is global issue and many families were destroyed by this problem. But if you will ask a family member who is into drugs, he will not even admit it. It is their outlet to release inner feelings and to ignore personal problems temporarily. However, we as concerned family members should take this problem very seriously. Here are some of the things we must do.
Acceptance
You cannot solve a problem if you will not accept that it exists. Self-denial will always come first and admitting that a family member is a dope addict is not easy. But if he will only realize that he has a problem, the addiction can be easier to treat. As family members, you must be among the first ones to accept them. By doing this, he will be the one to initial the withdrawal. Reality bites but the truth shall set you free.
Communication
All of us needs someone to talk to, and by simply listening can help a lot to treat him. Most of them are escaping from things that are bothering them. So instead of making judgments, why not talk to him or her? Although he may be hesitant at first, convince and assure them that you can be trusted. Dedicate a time for the occasion and be ready to be calm about it. But of course, the best time to talk is when he is not high on drugs.
Solve the problem
Simply talking does not resolve the problem although it is a good start. After listening to his complains, find the answers to the problems and make sure they are the right ones. This may take time but assuring him that you will always be there for him is a big help. Their problems are too deep and the guidance requires consistency. The problem usually involves feelings and the only solution is to bring back the happiness in the family.
Rehabilitate
Drug addiction requires rehabilitation and family members cannot do it by themselves. Besides solving his problems, he needs to be treated. Otherwise, the addiction will continue or might get worst because his body is already used to it. Drug Detox is the first major step to cure his addiction. Drugs and Alcohol Rehab is the best place to do it, although it is really not as easy as one could think. This will take a lot of sacrifice from everyone in the family.
Unconditional love
The damage has been done and you cannot bring back the time. This is not just the problem of the victim but also of the whole family, and each member must be willing to contribute to solve it. Instead of blaming him or her, help him by visiting him as often as you can do. It is this time to show that you really care, and forsaking him will worsen the situation. Do not just rely on the doctors to cure him as the best medication he can take is unconditional love.
There is still hope after dope.
You can also visit my latest blog - Father Blogger dot Com as it is being updated daily. Well, almost.
If you want to receive my future posts regularly for FREE, please subscribe in a reader or by e-mail. If you have concerns, please Contact Me anytime.
Article Source: Happy Family Matters
Understanding Breast Cancer and Helping the Victims
Poster from The Breast Cancer Site
One might think that because I am a man, I should not be aware about breast cancer. It is a fact that men can also be victims of this killing disease.
According to National Breast Cancer Foundation estimation, over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer yearly and over 40,000 die. For men, around 1,700 men will be diagnosed and 450 die every year.
With this, here are some important facts about this killing disease that we might not know yet.
A lump in the breast is NOT a breast cancer
Some women do not seek help from a doctor because they are afraid to know that they have breast cancer. According to data, eight out of ten lumps are not cancerous. Although there are ways to self-check if you are at risk of this disease, it is better that you visit your doctor regularly. Mammography is so far the best way to check for breast cancer and earlier detection means it is more curable. It is also false to say that mammography can spread the cancer.
Breast cancer is for everybody
Ninety percent of breast cancer causes are due to aging that causes genetic abnormalities while only 10% can be inherited from parents. This means that the risk is getting higher as they grow older. It can also be considered as a heterogeneous disease, which means that it is a different disease in different women and in different age groups. However, having a risk factor does not necessarily mean you will get the disease.
Breast cancer cannot cause immediate death
While breast cancer is the most common disease for women, it cannot kill you immediately. The fact is if detected early, the five-year survival rate is 96%. Although it has yet been really proven that smoking and eating fatty foods can cause breast cancer, it reduces the survival rate once you are detected of this disease. In addition, 85% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease and it is not a communicable decease.
With this, according to The Breast Cancer Site dot Com , we can help victims by clicking the banner below. It will not cost us anything but it can give free mammograms to breast cancer patients.
I was not tagged by anybody and I am not tagging anybody either. It is enough for me that you help and spread this news to reduce the disease to spread.
If you want to receive my future posts regularly, please feel free to subscribe in a reader or by e-mail. If you have concerns, please Contact Me anytime.
Article Source: Happy Family Matters Click Here to Read More..
Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival – My First Taste of Fatherhood
Photo by Guardian Angel
I would like to reserve this post as my first entry to Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival. I am a father of 2 wonderful children and I am here to share my first taste of fatherhood.
The year was 1996 and the place is Quezon City, Philippines. My wife gave birth to our eldest child, a cute and lovable tiny baby girl in a private, but cheap hospital. She was all white and I thought she had a skin problem. The nurse calmed me down and told me it is normal because she is a mestiza. My wife has an American blood, lucky me!
But unfortunately, I lost my job 2 weeks before that very special day, but I had some money because of the separation pay. Yes, the company closed literally and in front of my face.
After 2 days, we decided to rest at my cousin’s house since we are living in Laguna then. But the day was not yet over when my cousin noticed that my baby turned yellowish and as a mother and a former nursing student, she knew my daughter is in deep trouble. We immediately rushed her to a well-known hospital to make sure proper attention will be given to my poor little angel.
During the 4-day stay in the hospital, nurses kept on doing numerous laboratory tests and frequently getting blood from my daughter’s arm. Imagine the size of a needle compared to her arms! Four hot fluorescent lamps were also placed on top of her bed. My wife and I wish that we will wake up from this nightmare!
According to the doctors, my first baby had an infection on her navel possibly due to contaminated surroundings when she was born. My wife somehow agreed because she observed that the delivery room was not really clean that time. She even noticed that there was rust on her bed.
But because only a few hundred bucks were left from my separation pay, we did not bother to file a complaint. In addition, I have to prioritize finding a new job and we were just so lucky because our landlady was kind enough not to get our apartment rent, which is 4 months after when I was finally hired again.
After almost 12 years, that little baby who almost died instantly is now blooming into a young lady. Yes, my daughter is now the most charming and talented girl I ever saw. She is even helping her mother in watching over her brother.
Sometimes, we must learn the hard way.
If you want to receive my future posts regularly, please feel free to subscribe in a reader or by e-mail. If you have concerns, please Contact Me anytime.
Article Source: Happy Family Matters
Is your Child Clumsy?
Does your child find it hard to ride a bike? Or he cannot speak or write well? Then he may be suffering from DYSPRAXIA. According to Irene Helen Zundel , dyspraxia is difficulty with thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory/motor tasks. It is caused by an underdevelopment of the brain, and takes many forms. Some of these are:
1.0 Ideomotor Dyspraxia: the inability to perform simple, single motor tasks, such as combing hair or waving goodbye.
2.0 Ideational Dyspraxia: Difficulty with multi-level tasks, such as brushing one's teeth.
3.0 Dressing Dyspraxia: difficulty with dressing and putting clothes on in order.
4.0 Oromotor Dyspraxia: Difficulty with speech.
5.0 Constructional Dyspraxia: Difficulty with spatial relations.
Signs:
Ages birth-pre-school:
1.0 Late rolling, crawling, and walking;
2.0 Difficulty with steps and climbing
3.0 Difficulty putting together puzzles
4.0 Abnormal eye movements - a tendency to move the head instead of eyes
5.0 Difficulty in learning new skills
6.0 Slow speech development
In older children:
1.0 Difficulty in dressing and tying shoelaces
2.0 Difficulty using cutlery
3.0 Poor balance, awkwardness in gait, general clumsiness
4.0 Difficulty riding a bike
5.0 Difficulty in physical education classes due to difficulty with hopping, skipping, and throwing/catching a ball
6.0 Poor reading skills
7.0 Illegible handwriting due to an inability to grasp a pen or pencil properly
8.0 Trouble remembering/following instructions, suffers from a poor short term memory in general
9.0 Difficulty copying from the blackboard
Speech problems and difficulties in general with self-expression
10.0 Impatience
11.0 Poor social skills, emotional immaturity
12.0 Phobias or obsessive behaviors
13.0 Sensitivity to touch, intolerance to having hair and nails cut, or teeth and hair brushed
14.0 Poor sense of direction
15.0 Confusion as to which hand to use for a task
16.0 Difficulty in muti-step tasks such as brushing teeth due to an inability to remember the order of steps that need to be taken .
How to help your child:
1.0 Don't pressure your child to communicate. This will only frustrate him and inhibit him further. Instead, use repetitive verbal activities such as songs, poems and nursery rhymes to develop language skills.
2.0 Use sign language or picture board when necessary.
3.0 For motor difficulties, practice tasks with your child. Do them slowly and in the proper order each time.
4.0 Start with simple tasks and slowly increase difficulty over time.
5.0 Encourage physical activities to build coordination and confidence.
6.0 Be patient. Don't create an anxious atmosphere. It will only hinder learning and increase frustration.
7.0 Encourage friendships. Socialization increases confidence and rapport with peers.
My only son is now 6 years old, but he still cannot talk well. He was suffering from asthma during his early years. However, he is very good in writing and spelling, so if we could not understand what he is saying, he simply spells it or writes it.
Article Source:Effective Parenting Tips
10 Ways on How to avoid your Child to be Obese
We all know that an obese child is a child who has eating disorder habits. But what is really child obesity and how will parents prevent their child to be obese? Here are some facts that I have gathered:
A child is obese if their weight is more than 20% higher than the ideal weight for a boy or girl of their age and height. Therefore, parents should monitor the weight of their children, and seek for the
doctor's advice.
EFFECTS OF CHILD OBESITY:
1.0 Many obese children have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.
2.0 One of the most severe problems for obese children is sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping). In some cases this can lead to problems with learning and memory.
3.0 Obese children have a high incidence of orthopedic problems, liver disease, and asthma.
4.0 Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
BAD NEWS: None of the new medicines to treat obesity are approved for children or adolescents to use. They may affect your child’s growth and development, and the risk of dangerous complications is far greater than any benefit they might have.
But there are a lot of ways on how to avoid your child to be one:
1.0 Be the role model. Obese parents will tend to have obese children.
2.0 Be supportive. Children know if they are overweight and don't need to be reminded or singled out. They need acceptance, encouragement and love.
3.0 Set guidelines for the amount of time your children can spend watching television or playing video games.
4.0 Plan family activities that involve exercise like go hiking or biking, wash the car, or walk around a mall or park. Offer choices and let your children decide.
5.0 Be sensitive. Find activities your children will enjoy that aren't difficult or could cause embarrassment.
6.0 Eat meals together as a family and eat at the table, not in front of a television. Eat slowly and enjoy the food.
7.0 Don't use food as a reward or punishment. Children should not be placed on restrictive diets, unless done so by a doctor (for medical reasons). Children need food for growth, development and energy.
8.0 Involve your children in meal planning and grocery shopping. This helps them learn and gives them a role in the decision making.
9.0 Keep healthy snacks on hand. Good options include fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables; low-fat cheese, yogurt or ice cream; frozen fruit juice bars; and cookies such as fig bars, graham crackers, gingersnaps or vanilla wafers.
10.0 Focus on small, gradual changes in eating and activity patterns. This helps form habits that can last a lifetime.
REMEMBER: NOT ALL FAT CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY.
Article Source:Effective Parenting Tips
