Community Magazine June 2009

70 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE CALMKIDS BECOME HEALTHY ADULTS Seven-year-old children who stayed focused on tasks, were even-tempered and reacted less negatively had better general health and fewer illnesses 30 years later, according to as study from the Harvard School of Public Health. The research provided evidence that behavior and emotions linked to certain temperaments play a crucial role in long-term health. These findings were published in the American Psychological Association’s journal, Health Psychology. SLEEP PREDICTS BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS Kids who don’t sleep long enough may have increased risk for the behavioral symptoms of ADHD. An estimated one-third of children in the U.S. suffer from inadequate sleep. Researchers at the University of Helsinki and National Institute of Health and Welfare in Finland examined whether decreased sleep leads to behavioral problems similar to those caused by attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sleep patterns were tracked using parental reporting as well as devices worn on the wrist. The chil- dren whose average sleep duration was shorter than 7.7 hours had a higher hyperactivity and impulsivity score and a higher ADHD total score, but similar inattention scores than those sleeping for a longer time. The researchers concluded that sleeping difficulties were associated with hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, and that maintaining adequate sleep schedules among children is likely to be important in preventing behavioral symptoms. ONE IN 12 KIDS ADDICTED TO VIDEOGAMES Pathological patterns of video game addiction were found among 8.5 percent of players according to research from Iowa State University as excessive game playing among youngsters caused family, social, school or psychological damage. The research was published in the journal Psychological Science. Game play habits were compared to the symptoms established in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for pathological gambling. Gamers were classified as “pathological” if they exhibited at least six of 11 symptoms. The pathological gamers played video games 24 hours per week, about twice as much as non-pathological gamers. They were more likely to have game systems in their bedrooms, reported having more trouble paying attention in school, received poorer grades, had more health problems, were more likely to feel “addicted,” and even stole to support their habit. EARLY STARTS FORHEALTHY HEARTS Children as young as 11 years old, assigned to daily exercise lessons reduced their risk of obe- sity, improved their exercise capacity, increased their levels of good cholesterol, and lowered their blood pressure in ongoing study reported at the EuroPRevent 2009 conference. Children were assigned to either a daily supervised exercise program, which included at least 15 minutes of endurance training, or a regular school routine of two sports lessons a week. The proportion of overweight and obese children decreased from 13 percent to 9 percent in one year in the daily activity group, while the rates in the regular group increased from 11 percent to 13 percent. Levels of good cholesterol, triglycer- ides, and systolic blood pressure all improved in the exercise group. KIDS DO LISTEN TO ADULTS ON SMOKING Adults who make a commitment to stop their children from using tobacco can prevent their kids from smoking. Researchers from Umea University in Sweden investigated a long-running program called Tobacco-Free Duo that used adult help to convince adolescents to avoid tobacco. Smoking declined among both boys and girls involved in the program which paired adults and teenag- ers together. Interviews with teens in the program found that they expect grown-ups to intervene against their smoking, and they describe close relationships with adults as a reason for their reduc- ing smoking or efforts to quit. Parents can persuade their children not to smoke by not smoking themselves, and by not permitting their children to smoke at home. The results contradict the notion that teens ignore or negatively perceive their parents’ attempts to counteract the use of tobacco. CIGARETTE SMOKE LOWERS ANTIOXIDANTS Children who are exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke have lower levels of antioxidants, which help the body’s defense against many biological stresses, according to research from the University of Rochester Medical Center. The study was presented at the Pediatric Academic Society Meeting. The researchers don’t know whether these children required antioxidant supplemen- tation, but advised feeding kids an abundance of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants and other nutrients. Antioxidants are believed to play an important role in protecting the body’s cells against free radicals, which can damage cells. The study also looked at vitamins that were not antioxidants and found that these compounds did not seem to be reduced with smoke exposure. • Health

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