Rethinking Cold Meds for Kids

Rethinking Cold Meds for Kids

By Editorial Staff

If you haven’t already tuned out any conversation about giving your children cough and cold medication when they’re under the weather, this should do it. The Food and Drug Administration has strengthened its warning on prescription cold medicine, stating that no product containing opioid ingredients such as hydrocodone or codeine should be given to children – of any age. That’s ages 0-17, in case you’re wondering.

New language being added to warning labels on all prescription cold medicines will indicate that the risks of using the products outweigh the benefits in children and should only be used by adults ages 18 and older.

What about over-the-counter cold medication? Well, in the past decade, the FDA has already issued several warnings and required language to be added to labels limiting their use in kids. In fact, a consumer update on the FDA website titled “Most Young Children With a Cough or Cold Don’t Need Medicine” makes its position abundantly clear, especially for the youngest (ages 2 and under); while a 2016 update, “Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids,” offers additional safety information and includes alternative treatments that may work better.

What alternative treatments? The FDA mentions cool mist humidifiers, saline nose drops / spray, and drinking plenty of liquids among the nondrug options. We would be remiss if we didn’t add honey; such a simple remedy often overlooked by parents rushing to the drugstore for a quick fix to their child’s discomfort. For example, a Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine study found that children given buckwheat honey before bed coughed less and slept better than children who didn’t receive honey. And other research suggest zinc lozenges may be effective for resolving cold symptoms in children and adults, particularly if taken within close proximity to the arrival of symptoms.

Your doctor can tell you more about the dangers of over-the-counter and prescription cold medicine and why natural alternatives are safer, effective options for you and your child.

5 Resolutions You Can Keep

5 Resolutions You Can Keep

By Editorial Staff

Every December, millions of people craft lists of New Year’s resolutions for the coming year. And every January, February or month too soon thereafter, millions of people give up their resolutions until the next year. It’s a cycle of frustration that can eventually all but eliminate the likelihood of ever achieving one’s resolutions.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. No doubt you’ve already completed your 2018 resolution list, but since we’re only a few weeks in, why not start fresh with resolutions you can actually keep? It starts with worrying less about general goals (exercise more, eat better, etc.) that are too often prone to failure, and focusing instead on specific, foundational goals you can achieve and build upon day after day, month after month, year after year. Here are five simple suggestions you’ll be amazed you didn’t think about until now:

1. The Power of Hello: Too many people pass right by one another without saying hello and giving a warm smile – even co-workers, spouses and elevator sharers are guilty. Say hi to a stranger, a loved one (or both) and feel better about yourself every single day of the year.

2. The Written Word: Technology is stealing our health, our good habits and our ability to think outside of a screen. Replace at least 15 minutes of screen time a day with a good book, an engaging magazine article, or even some self-reflection in a journal. You’ll be delighted at the change you feel in yourself.

3. Deep Breaths: We live in a world of Post-It notes, schedules, deadlines and sleep deprivation. We rush from one task to the next, all the while gasping for air (in the literal and figurative sense). Sometimes all we need is a good old-fashioned deep breath or two to fill our lungs with air, our minds with purpose and our lives with a moment of peace and calm.

4. Reach Out and Touch Someone Even with text messaging, FaceTime and other modes of instant contact, there’s someone you haven’t touched base with in far too long – and it’s hurting both of you. Resolve to make contact with someone you’ve been missing on a regular basis this year. It’s worth the effort, and you’ll probably realize immediately that you should have started doing it a long, long time ago.

5. Action Required: Goals are great, but you can’t achieve them without an action plan. Resolving to lose weight, get more sleep or exercise more frequently are all doomed propositions if you don’t follow up with a specific plan of action. So follow up each goal with specific action steps that will help you accomplish it.

Don’t spend the last 11 months of 2018 feeling guilty about the resolutions you failed to keep (again). Resolve to achieve these and other steps to create a healthier, happier you that’s in a great position to achieve anything and everything moving forward!

Why Americans Love Chiropractic

Why Americans Love Chiropractic

By Editorial Staff

Findings from the most recent National Health Interview Survey providing data on the use of chiropractic and other complementary health care approaches by U.S. adults reveals why Americans utilize chiropractic and what they value most. The survey provides data on lifetime (54.6 million; 24%) and 12-month (19.1 million; 8.4%) use of chiropractic services and various sociodemographic characteristics. But the most intriguing data illuminates the primary reasons for visiting a doctor of chiropractic and the perceived health and wellness benefits received by chiropractic users. Why visit a chiropractor? Here’s why:

Reasons for Visiting a Chiropractor

• For general wellness / disease prevention: 43.6%
• To improve energy: 16.3%
• To improve athletic or sports performance: 15.4%
• To improve immune function: 11.4%
• To improve memory or concentration: 5.3%

Benefits of Chiropractic

• Improves overall health or makes feel better: 66.9%
• Helps to sleep better: 41.9%
• Helps to reduce stress level or to relax: 40.2%
• Makes it easier to cope with health problems: 38.5%
• Gives a sense of control over own health: 32.5%
• Helps to feel better emotionally: 27.4%

Overall Value in Maintaining Health and Well-Being

• Very important: 47.9%
• Somewhat important: 29.6%
• Slightly important: 13.9%
• Not at all important: 8.7%

Effectiveness in Helping Specific Health Problem

• Helped a great deal: 64.5%
• Helped some: 25.8%

Why Not Just See an Medical Doctor?

• Chiropractic combined with medical treatment would help: 64.8%
• Chiropractic treats the cause and not just the symptoms: 61.9%
• Chiropractic is natural: 37.5%
• Medical treatments do not work for specific health problem: 33.8%
• Chiropractic focuses on the whole person: 24.9%
• Medications cause side effects: 18.1%

So, let’s recap: U.S. adults visit doctors of chiropractic for a variety of health and wellness reasons (not just when they have back pain); the majority find it “very important” or “somewhat important” in maintaining their overall health and well-being, yet most all believe it is effective in helping their specific health problems; and chiropractic presents an all-natural, drug-free alternative to traditional medical care. Someone you know needs chiropractic!