Child Health
Disk hernias and alignment problems of the neck are the most common diseases that are growing rapidly in today’s world and the major cause of this is the use of mobile phones. The constant use of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and computers are increasing the stress on the spine by almost 60 degrees. In several x-ray reports of patients, it has been found that the neck curves backward. This has been termed as “text neck” because it has been found that texting causes this more than watching videos or browsing the internet. So, it is advisable to restrict the use of cell phones as far as possible.
Here’s a reason for mothers to rejoice because all your doubts have been confirmed and sealed with science! Research says that the mother’s genes are responsible for how smart her child will turn out to be. Mommies everywhere, this is your cue to yell, “I knew it!” The research confirms that most of a person’s intelligence is attached to Chromosome X – which is carried by women in a pair. While female children get one of the X Chromosomes from the father, intelligence genes aren't activated when they're passed down by a male. So the next time your child is behaving all goofy, you'll know exactly whom to blame. At least until they find out who passes on the tantrum genes.
Everyone likes food that tastes good. But what about colors, smells or textures? Ever felt like thrusting your mouth in a barrel of paint or found yourself wanting to take a crunchy bite of a vibrantly spherical piece of chalk? Then you might just be suffering from an eating disorder called ‘pica’, which makes people addicted to eating substances that aren’t food. Reasons for having symptoms of pica include a chemical disorder, a nutritional deficiency or even obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)! Health complications that may arise out of this disorder could include gastric pain and bleeding, constipation, lead poisoning or even bowel perforation.
Tired of your children throwing a fit every time you ask them to eat healthy veggies? Harness the superpowers of their superheroes to convince them! Researchers have found that invoking names of superhero role models encouraged children to eat healthier food over junk items and illustrated that when superhero cues were given, 36% more children opted for the healthier alternative! So the next time your children are going ballistic about leaving out broccoli or radishes, ask them if their favorite superhero would do that. Will you, however, have the energy to match their extra energy once they get into their “superhero” modes? Sigh! If only YOU were Batman too.
Remember the time when your milk teeth fell off and you looked like a cute little toothless bunny? Humans are diphyodonts, meaning that they grow two separate sets of teeth throughout their lives and milk teeth are naturally required by children for proper chewing and for speech development. However, baby teeth also preserve space for our adult teeth until they can grow up underneath our gums. By distributing chewing forces into our jaws, our baby teeth keep space available so that adult teeth can erupt normally into our mouths. And you thought they were only for the tooth fairy! Ha!
Some studies have found that “active” video games -- the kind that involves standing up and moving around, are more effective at conjuring intense physical activity in young children. Data from the tests suggested that participants experienced greater physical intensity when playing active video games (games that required full body participation) compared to outdoor physical activities. The study does not promote the idea of ONLY playing video games but means to provide people with options to make informed decisions while buying video games for their kids. Outdoor games should, however, always be encouraged as those would never be available on the Play Store!
Ice-cream sellers will agree with this one, obviously. A research conducted by Mr. Poortvliet, a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Neuroscience, has stated that humans are endothermic animals, meaning that we can control our body temperatures, irrespective of the weather outside. Poortvliet’s research shows that Ice Cream ends up warming the human body when eaten due to its caloric content. The initial cooling effect is rapidly replaced by heat generated by digestive processes needed to break down the calories and that leads to an increase in body temperature. The bonus? It won’t melt like it does in summers! The cold never bothered us anyway.
According to research found in the Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Science, ten million is a number of bacteria crawling on the average toothbrush right this second! Using your old toothbrush for an unreasonable period or not swapping it regularly (every 3 to 4 months) with a new one might lead to unfavorable outcomes – old brushes with frayed bristles can damage the gum tissue, they are also a host of harmful pathogens, especially if stored in bathrooms. Simply put, a dirty brush will leave your mouth dirtier with each use. We’d prefer changing our brushes over the dreaded dentist visits any day!
As dog lovers or owners, we are aware of the levels of happiness and energy that dogs bring into our lives. Apart from enriching our lives in big and little ways, being a parent to a fur baby also translates to incredible health! Several studies have shown that dog owners have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and fewer heart attacks as they tend to get more exercise. The calming effect that dogs have on humans also assists in handling stress, anxiety or loneliness. So go on, be responsible and adopt a furry companion or give your existing one a big, sloppy kiss today!