Pune: Gone are the days when parents had to just worry about their children getting minor scratches and seasonal fevers.Doctors warn that changes in lifestyle and obesity can result in hypertension (high blood pressure) among children, making them vulnerable to chronic kidney ailments. As a precaution, a simple blood pressure record of the child should now become a part of the annual health check-up , advise doctors.

“Besides excretory functions, the most important job of the kidney is to control blood pressure which it does by maintaining salt and water balance in the body. These two things, along with some hormones produced by the kidney, maintain normal blood pressure,” explains Col Madhuri Kanitkar, paediatric

nephrologist and head of the department of Paediatrics at the Armed

Forces Medical College (AFMC).

In case of sustained high blood pressure , the kidneys become susceptible to irreversible damages. Therefore, blood pressure and the kidneys are closely related and either one affects the other, said Kanitkar. “Just as sustained hypertension (HT) can cause damage to the kidney , a damaged kidney can also lead to HT among children. The most common cause of secondary HT in children is acute nephritis,” said paediatrician Jayant Navarange.

Puffiness in the face, intense headaches and vomiting are the usual symptoms. These persist for about a week or two. An obstructed renal artery supplying blood to the kidney also leads to HT among children , he added.

Again, children who are overweight usually have higher blood pressure. Some children inherit the tendency of HT from one or both parents who have high blood pressure. In the absence of a national registry , the exact incidence and burden of kidney diseases among children in India is not known. “In our institution, which has a dedicated paediatric nephrology unit, children with kidney diseases form approximately 8 to 10 per cent of total out patient attendance and 12 per cent of admission to the paediatric ward,” said Kanitkar.

The Indian Society of Paediatric Nephrology recently set up a national registry to help determine the magnitude of the problem in the country.

“But it will take some time to come up with concrete data regarding its incidence,” said Kanitkar. “Children, even infants, can have high blood pressure . The awareness that essential hypertension has its origin in childhood has resulted in increased emphasis on check-ups .

An annual check- up of blood pressure among children above three years old is highly recommended,” said Kanitkar.

“What we need in India today are more trained paediatric nephrologists and paediatric nephrology units. In a situation of limited resources, it

may be more cost effective to direct them towards preventive nephrology,” said Avinash Bhondwe, president of the city chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA). “Therein lies a greater role for the paediatric nephrologist and paediatrician to detect and treat children at risk for renal failure. This may reduce the burden of young adults requiring dialysis and transplant.”

In case high blood pressure is recorded, the child needs to be investigated for a possible kidney disorder. Simple precautions that can be taken to keep blood pressure in check are:

n weight control

n increased physical

activity

n diet with low

sodium and high

potassium

SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISORDER

n Burning or pain during urination or straining to pass urine n Significant increase in the frequency of urination n Difficulty in controlling urination in children who are mature enough to use the toilet or recurrence of nighttime bed wetting n Blood or protein in the urine n Craving for salt and excessive thirst n Rickets in the older children or pain in bones

Source: Paediatric nephrology unit of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune

.

CHECK BLOOD PRESSURE OF CHILDREN WITH

n

History of low birth weight

n

Congenital heart diseases

n

Recurrent urinary tract infection

n

Family history of congenital renal disorders

(c) 2008 The Times of India. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

A study of 16,000 people in 52 countries, reported in the current issue of Circulation, found that eating meat, fried foods and salty snacks raised the risk of a heart attack by 35 percent. Conversely, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduced the risk of a heart attack by 30 percent. A 24-year study of 88,517 female nurses, reported in the April 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, found that those who ate lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and plant-based protein were 24 percent less likely to have a heart attack and 18 percent less likely to have a stroke than those addicted to a more typical American diet.With the cost of medical care becoming a national crisis, it’s high time for each of us to assume more responsibility for our own and our family’s health by becoming more selective with our food dollars. (Copyright 2008 Lancaster Newspapers. All rights reserved.)

(c) 2008 Lancaster New Era. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

Oct. 30–Rice is often thought to settle a child’s stomach, and as such is considered a “hypoallergenic” food.But a group of Australian researchers have found that this dietary staple — per capita consumption Down Under doubled between 1994 and 2004 — can actually trigger a severe allergic reaction.

The study was small: just 31 infants, less than 12 months old with severe gut imflammation, induced by their dietary intake of protein.

This “protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome” can be a major problem, not the least because the symptoms, which include vomiting and diarrhea, often prompt a misdiagnosis of blood poisoning or even an acute problem requiring emergency surgery.

Common triggers were thought to be cow’s milk or soy milk. Lately, researchers have found that a range of meats, vegetables and grains also cause the syndrome.

Now, researchers at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in New South Wales have found that among the infants they studied, rice was by far the most common cause. It accounted for 26 episodes in 14 children.

The results of their study are being published this week on an online edition of the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Children who reacted to rice were also more likely to have reactions caused by other foods, and their reactions were likely to be more severe.

Contact staff writer Sandy Bauers at 215-854-5147 or sbauers@phillynews.com.

—–

To see more of The Philadelphia Inquirer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.philly.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Problem: It’s getting colder and darker outside, but treadmills bore me to tears. Should I just buy better outdoor running gear?Solution: Fall is an ideal time to run outside; it’s cool, but there’s no ice or threat of cold-air-induced asthma. Your body naturally adapts to the terrain and weather conditions (hills, head winds or slippery surfaces), which can help prevent overuse injuries. And it’s a heck of a lot more fun than running on a ‘mill.

Winter, however, is a different story. “Running below freezing can be treacherous, and freezing cold wind coming off the water can trash your skin and burn your lungs,” said ultra endurance athlete Christopher Bergland, author of “The Athlete’s Way” (St. Martin’s Griffin, $14.95). And while treadmills use slightly different body mechanics _ your foot lands on a cushioned surface moving in the opposite direction _ most studies show there’s no difference in terms of energy use for the recreational runner.

In fact, the unwavering pace a treadmill sets can prevent lollygagging and “make people push themselves against their comfort zone,” said Bergland, who, as the Guinness World Record holder for treadmill running (153.76 miles in 24 hours) has dripped more sweat on these machines than most.

To prevent muscle imbalance and boredom, mix things up, using different inclines, speeds, intervals and distances. Bergland suggests the following sequence: a 5-minute warm-up followed by a set of 5-minute intervals (3 minutes hard and 2 minutes easy), followed by a 5-minute cool-down. Or see how much distance you can cover in a certain time.

He also suggests zoning out. “The beauty of treadmill running is that you don’t have to navigate or look for obstacles,” he said. “You can lose yourself in the rhythm of your feet and breathing. Treadmill running is a chance to shut down the cerebral and enter a dreamlike cerebellar state.”

One caveat: Hal Higdon of Runner’s World Magazine tells his runners to do some of their training on pavement (or a softer surface) if they plan to race. “Treadmills have a tendency to carry you along at an artificial pace which may not be equal to the pace you can run while racing,” he said.

___

(Contact the writer: jdeardorff@tribune.com )

___

(c) 2008, Chicago Tribune.

Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

At mealtime you should think about slowing down and try stopping before you gorge yourself if you want to avoid becoming overweight.Its well known that being overweight or obese puts you at higher risk for a bunch of diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease. It turns out that eating quickly and until you are full triples your risk of being overweight, according to a study published online in the British Medical Journal, bmj.com.

Researchers from Osaka University in Japan used surveys on cardiovascular risk to track the eating habits and body mass indexes of 3,287 Japanese men and women between the ages of 30 and 69 from 2003 to 2006.

For both men and women eating who reported that they ate until full or ate quickly doubled the likelihood of being overweight. Those study participants who had both bad habits were three times as likely to be overweight.

The researchers said that while more research is needed, their study showed a link between eating behavior and weight.

That suggests that people interested in losing weight or keeping their weight in check would be well served by pacing their meals and avoiding eating until completely full.

Contact staff writer Josh Goldstein at 215-854-4733 or jgoldstein@phillynews.com.

Chocolate cake is a popular home remedy for depression, but it comes with some unwelcome side effects. Sweet treats don’t just pack on the pounds; they give us a sugar high that’s inevitably followed by a demoralizing crash.Still, there’s growing recognition in the medical community that the right food choices can improve your mood. Though drugs are often considered the first line of treatment for depression, a dietary change might be all you need, says James Gordon, a psychiatrist who advocates non-drug approaches to depression.

Gordon, a clinical professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, believes what we eat affects how we think and feel. “It’s a wake-up call to let us know our body is out of balance.”

Food can help restore that equilibrium, Gordon wrote in his new book, “Unstuck” (The Penguin Press, $25.95). The trick is knowing which key nutrients to include, and which foods to avoid.

Nutritional changes aren’t a magic bullet; they’re subtle pieces of a treatment plan that might also include therapy, exercise_one of the most effective depression busters_and stress-reduction techniques.

But “diet can help with virtually any chronic condition” including depression, said registered dietitian Wendy Bazilian, who holds a doctorate in public health. Just remember that major depression might require an integrative approach that uses food in conjunction with other therapies, including medication and counseling. And never abruptly stop taking medication even if you’re experiencing side effects such as weight gain and sexual dysfunction; talk to your doctor about tapering down.

Eat more …

1. Salmon. Fatty, cold-water fish such as salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids, which keep cell membranes pliable and flexible, said neurosurgeon Larry McCleary, founder of a research group that looks at natural ways to treat health issues. It’s also in tuna, anchovies and sardines, but since fish fat is also a good place to store heavy metals, pesticides and poylchlorinated biphenyls (PCB), consider plant-based sources, including walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and green, leafy vegetables.

2. Oatmeal, soy milk and two scrambled eggs. This meal will give you 500 milligrams of tryptophan, an amino acid that’s a precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin, the brain’s feel-good hormone. Many antidepressants are designed to prolong the activity of serotonin in our cells, but you can actually increase the levels by eating carbohydrates (with the exception of fructose, the sugar in fruit), said Judith Wurtman, author of “The Serotonin Power Diet” (Rodale, $24.95).

3. Spinach: Low levels of the B vitamin folate, found in spinach, peas, navy beans, orange juice, wheat germ or avocado, may play a role in depression in some patients, said Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program.

4. Vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D has been shown to help with seasonal affective disorder, said Bruce Hollis, professor of pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina. It may also have an anti-inflammatory effect and increase the flexibility of cell membranes, making the brain’s neurotransmitters work better. While primarily generated after the skin soaks up the sun’s ultraviolet B rays, Vitamin D can be obtained from oily fish and supplemented products like cow or soy milk and orange juice.

But Hollis says the recommended daily allowance _ 200 to 400 international units per day_is far too low. Instead, supplement with 2,000 IU’s or higher, especially between October and April for Chicagoans. At these levels, though, food isn’t a good option, since you’d have to drink a gallon of milk a day and no one needs those calories, Hollis said.

5. Broccoli and blueberries: When combined with protein in fish, chicken and turkey, high-fiber, non-starchy vegetables help stabilize blood sugar levels, said Jack Challem, author of “The Food-Mood Solution” (Wiley, $24.95). “Our moods usually track with blood sugar levels,” Challem said. “When our blood sugar is on the rise right after we eat, most people feel pretty contented. If it goes up too high, people feel sleepy because high blood sugar turns off orexins, a family of neuropeptides involved in feeling alert.” Superfruits such as blueberries are high in antioxidants, which are substances that absorb the free radicals produced by stress. Too many free radicals cause wear and tear on the body. Challem recommends green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and kiwifruit.

6. Quinoa. Whole grains, a good source of B vitamins, break down and release sugar slowly, so you don’t get high levels of insulin and the ups and down of blood sugar, said Gordon. Quinoa, a seed that is classified as a grain, is considered one of the best sources of protein in the vegetable kingdom. Also try oats, brown rice, or whole wheat bread or pasta.

Eat less …

Red meat. As you increase omega-3’s, try to cut down on the other type of fatty acid, omega-6, which is found in beef. Though essential for brain health, omega-6’s are associated with promoting inflammation. Omega-6’s are also found in corn and vegetable oils.

Fried foods. Fat is a very important part of a cell’s membranes. But trans fats and saturated fats make the membranes rigid; then the neurotransmitters don’t work as well. Fried foods, hamburgers, french fries, butter, cheesecake, whole milk and beef are high in saturated fat. A product has trans fats if the ingredients list “partially hydrogenated oils.” Food manufacturers are allowed to list amounts of trans fat with less than 0.5 gram as 0 on the Nutrition Facts panel. To avoid it, read labels.

Gas station food. Processed foods contain refined flour and give you high doses of sugar but lack critical nutrients, said Gordon. “You’ll often experience a feeling of well-being from the sugar when levels are high, but when it’s low you experience a letdown or fatigue.” Refined sugars include white table sugar, white flour, high fructose corn syrup.

Alcohol and caffeine. Though alcohol is a stimulant in low doses, it also depletes the brain’s mood elevator, serotonin. Caffeine blocks the soothing effects of the brain’s “feel-good” messenger called GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) that can calm mood and the digestive tract, said Molly Siple, author of “Eating for Recovery” (Lifelong, $17.95). “Refined foods and caffeine tend to raise the blood glucose,” she said. “The drop is a route into depression.”

___

___

(Contact the writer: jdeardorff@tribune.com )

___

(c) 2008, Chicago Tribune.

Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Despite financial crunches, outdated federal standards and children who simply think vegetables are yucky, Long Island school food directors strive to make improvements.Elwood’s Delia Neitzel puts snacks in a separate room of the high school cafeteria, so students can’t get them on the lunch line. In the elementary schools, a snack cart comes around only after kids have had time to eat their meals.

About five years ago she banned French fries as an a la carte item. Now kids get fries only when they’re part of a standard meal. “Students freaked out,” she said.

In 2005, fries were banned from all South Huntington cafeterias. “Even if they’re baked, there’s still a coating of oil,” said food service director Charlie McTiernan, who removed fries despite complaints from students and parents.

“They got over it,” he said. “I said if you really have to get your French fries, wait till 2:37 and walk over to McDonald’s.”

South Huntington has been featuring hash browns, which have less fat. But now McTiernan wants to replace those with roasted potatoes.

Each year Neitzel removes another snack item. So far, she’s eliminated ice cream, Gatorade and nachos with cheese.

To help filter out junk food, many local districts have adopted some form of Choose Sensibly, a New York School Nutrition Association campaign with limits on fats, sodium and sugar for snack items.

West Babylon is the only Long Island district participating in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The program is a partnership between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation with stricter guidelines for cafeteria snacks.

Snapple, SunnyD and Yoo-hoo no longer are allowed. Otis Spunkmeyer cookies are banned.

Southampton’s school food director buys produce from local farmers despite the extra cost. Every Monday morning a pickup truck arrives, carrying crates of apples from Milk Pail, a farm in nearby Watermill.

As a school custodian wheels in four crates of Brayburns, Fujis and Gold Rushes, food service director Regan Kiembock compares costs: The Watermill apples are 30 to 33 cents apiece, while fruit purchased through a bidding process can cost as little as 14 cents.

Two to three times a year, Kiembock goes to the Zaluski farm stand in Watermill and loads her Ford Explorer with about 300 ears of corn.

“I’d like to do it more,” she said. “It really is a cost factor, unfortunately.”

Some directors make changes collectively. Eight districts formed a cooperative association in 1989 to increase purchasing power. Now the alliance has 38 members. Food service directors are responsible for certain bids. For example, one person is in charge of beverages, another handles bread.

“The costs were exorbitant,” recalled Three Village’s Lois Chait. “We needed to find a way school lunch programs could survive as a self-sustaining program.”

Three Village saves $29,400 yearly on milk costs by being part of the co-op, Chait said last school year.

Banding together “is very innovative,” said Tom Osterhout, director of food distribution and warehousing for the state Office of General Services.

His office awarded the co-op a $5,000 “best practices” award last year. The money will be used to buy new equipment for member districts. Osterhout said the co-op is seen as a model for districts in the lower Hudson and Buffalo areas.

HEALTH ISSUES

A look at the state of American children’s health:

KIDS AT RISK

Obese kids are at risk for CVD (cardiovascular disease), high cholesterol and blood pressure.

60 percent

Of overweight kids 5-to-17 years of age had at least one risk factor for CVD

25 percent

Of overweight kids 5-to-17 years of age had two or more CVD risk factors.

DIABETES

In the U.S. during the mid-1990s, type 2 diabetes in youth went up tenfold

206,000 cases of diabetes among those under 20 were reported by the Centers for Disease Control in 2002

NUTRITION

20 percent Of students eat the recommended five servings of fruits and veggies per day.

SOURCES: Centers for Disease Control; American Diabetes Association

COMPILED BY JOIE TYRRELL

—–

To see more of Newsday, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsday.com

Copyright (c) 2008, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:MCD,

© YellowBrix, Inc. Copyright 1997-2008