Health : Health Buzz: More than 7,500 Babies a Year Injured in Cribs |
| Health Buzz: More than 7,500 Babies a Year Injured in Cribs Posted: 18 Feb 2011 08:23 AM PST 26 Children Suffer Crib-Related Injuries Each Day Nearly 10,000 infants and toddlers a year are injured in cribs, playpens, and bassinets—alarming parents who think of them as safe havens where they can leave their children unattended. More than 80 percent of the accidents are crib-related, sending 26 children to the hospital daily and killing more than 110 kids annually, according to a study published Thursday in Pediatrics. The findings are from an analysis of babies and toddlers ages 2 and under who were treated in emergency rooms between 1990 and 2008; the numbers are likely low, since children are often taken to private physicians and urgent care centers. Particularly striking: Just 5.5 percent of the injuries occurred when a child became caught or wedged in the crib's protective bars, but such accidents were the major cause of fatalities. More than 60 percent of the injuries involved falls, and 40 percent affected the head or neck. The researchers said that their study, which was the first to look at injuries suffered in cribs, bassinets, and playpens, suggests the need for new safety measures. In the meantime, parents should select cribs that meet all current safety standards, do not have a drop side, and are not old or broken—and they shouldn't assume that a child left alone in a playpen or bassinet is safe.
8 Ways to Stick to Your Diet While Friends Indulge Your boyfriend offers you a gargantuan bowl of his butter-soaked fettuccine alfredo. Your friends hand you a fork and beg you to share the chocolate tower truffle cake at the Cheesecake Factory. It's tough to stick to a healthy eating plan when those around you are indulging, fitness blogger Chelsea Bush writes for U.S. News. It's even tougher when they're bent on making sure you indulge, too. But don't stress it. These eight tricks will help you stay on track without alienating the not-so-healthy eaters in your life. Heck, you may even inspire them to join your cause. 1. Go on, take a bite. Indulgence loves company, so expect a guilt trip if you pass on a temptation your friends gave in to. Make it easy on yourself, then: Pick up your fork and have a small piece of whatever is being served. If you say, "I'm stuffed, but this looks so delicious I can't pass up a bite," you'll avoid peer pressure by turning the situation around—you're indulging, not depriving yourself. And you won't make your friends feel bad by rebuffing their generosity. Besides, one bite of dessert won't dent your diet, says Lacie Peterson, a registered dietitian with the University of Utah. 2. Create a diversion. Can't enjoy a bite without whetting your appetite for the whole cake? You needn't explain why you're skipping dessert—engage in a little misdirection.. As the serving dish goes around, tell a funny story or excuse yourself to make a phone call. Better yet, bring along a bag of almonds and say you're craving a handful of those instead. Again, you'll put others at ease by having a treat along with them. By creating a distraction, you'll fare better, too: Making a fuss over food restraint often intensifies cravings, which can lead to overeating, according to a 2005 University of Toronto study. [Read more: 8 Ways to Stick to Your Diet While Friends Indulge.] Can Mindful Eating Help You Lose Weight? If you're anything like the average American, your meals are rarely a contemplative experience. But being more mindful about your eating—in other words, paying close attention to what you are putting in your mouth and how it makes you feel—may be a method that can help with weight loss, U.S. News reports. Mindfulness wasn't developed in a psych lab but instead traces its origins to Buddhism. In the medical and behavioral realm, it's been looked at as a way to promote better health in general, lower stress, decrease anxiety, and alter unwanted behaviors, like drinking too much—or overeating. Brian Shelley, wellness director for First Choice Community Healthcare in Albuquerque, N.M., noticed its potential application to eating behaviors while teaching workshops on mindfulness as a stress reduction technique. When it came time for a midday break, "people had a mindful lunch in silence for an hour. They enjoyed the food, didn't overeat, didn't rush, and were very aware and meditative when they sat down to start the meal." [Read more: Can Mindful Eating Help You Lose Weight?]
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