Dr. Steve: Monday
Dr. Steve & Tiffany McElroy take a moment to stay healthy & toss the POWERHIT workout ball.
Do you have a question for Dr. Steve, CLICK HERE
Today, the good doc told us about healthy snacks, birth control, blood pressure & children's talking progress among other things... Dr. Steve was chock full of medical tidbits today, read on...
7:00am Segment Info:
If you're a parent and you try to get your kids to eat healthy, you know how tough it can be. Now federal lawmakers are considering a national ban on selling candy, sugary soda and salty, fatty food in school snack bars and vending machines.
They're proposing legislation that will offer what they consider to be the best chance to get control of the mountain of high-calorie snacks and sodas available to school children because leaders in the food and beverage industry have had a hand in creating the new standards. Cafeteria food is a separate issue that is controlled by the department of agriculture.
What would be allowed?
In elementary school and middle school they would allow only plain bottled water and eight-ounce servings of fruit juice or plain or flavored low-fat milk with up to 170 calories. Snacks must have no more than 180 calories per serving. High school students would be allowed to buy diet soda or sport drinks in school gyms. Food for sale would have to be limited in saturated and trans fat and have less than 35 percent sugar. Sodium would be limited, and snacks could only be 200 calories
Speaking of teenagers, there's an interesting study about the teenaged brain.
As our kids grow we need to let go a little, but that can be tough for parents, and this research won't make it any easier. Researchers say the teenage brain is like a car with a good accelerator but a weak brake. With powerful impulses under poor control, the likely result is a crash.
the juvenile brain is still maturing in the teen years and reasoning and judgment are developing well into the early to mid 20s. They are more likely to show a lack of maturity and an underdeveloped sense of responsibility than adults, which can result in impulsive behaviors.
What about peer pressure?
There's always peer pressure even at 40. The difference is teenagers are more vulnerable and more susceptible to negative influences and outside pressures, which causes them to have less control and do stupid things. This doesn't mean that adolescents can't make a rational decision or appreciate the difference between right and wrong. It's just that when they're confronted with stressful or emotional decisions they may act without fully understanding the consequences of their actions, and they're more likely to take risks.
In other news, there's a warning for people taking a popular diabetes drug.
According to a mouse study in the journal nature medicine the diabetes drug Avandia may increase the risk of osteoporosis or thinning of the bone. Researchers say Avandia increases the activity of the cells that degrade bones. GlaxoSmithKline, the company that makes Avandia already acknowledged a separate study that found a higher risk of fractures among women who take the drug, but this report study that explains a link between the drug and fractures.
8:00am Ask The Doctor Info:
1. My son just turned 17 months and he doesn't really talk. Should I be concerned?
Norma from Hackensack, NJ
Norma, speech and language comprehension is a major pediatric milestone. Your pediatrician checks these during every visit. Here's the breakdown: most children vocalize by one month - by 4 months, they try to imitate sounds - by 12 months, they should say at least one word - by 18 months, they should have about 15 words and by 2 years, two-word sentences. Remember, your child is not considered developmentally delayed until he reaches the upper limit of normal.
2. If a woman is on birth control for many years, will she have difficulty getting pregnant at a later time?
Natalie from New York
Natalie, you can get pregnant immediately after stopping the pill. Birth control pills these days are pretty low dose. They don't affect fertility later on. In general though, women are often advised to wait about 2 to three months before trying to get pregnant after stopping the pill because it can take a few months before you become regular. If you're lucky enough to get pregnant right away, you should know there's no risk to you or your baby.
3. How do I control my high blood pressure without taking any medications?
Lawrence from CT
Lawrence, there are 5 basic things you can do to lower your blood pressure naturally. Cut your salt intake, get some exercise - about 30 minutes a day - lose some weight, as little as 10 pounds can make a difference. Limit your alcohol to no more than 2 drinks a day and follow the dash diet. That's a 2 thousand calorie diet that's low in fat and sodium and high in fruits and vegetables. If you do these things, you can lower your blood pressure. If you're on blood pressure medications don't stop taking them without speaking to your doctor.
4. I was wondering how long it will take for your lungs to clear after you're done smoking?
Kenny from NYC
Kenny, when you quit smoking you immediately reap the benefits. You instantly decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. Your symptoms of shortness of breath and asthma, if you have it, will improve in 2 to 4 weeks and your risk of lung cancer will drop up to 50% after 10 years of quitting. During the first week of quitting you may notice you're coughing more. That's normal. It's your lungs finally being able to clear themselves. Start today. You won't regret it.
