Everything You Need to Know About Norovirus

Flu season typically reaches its peak between late January and March. There is a lot of focus on Influenza which can be prevented by getting vaccinated every year. The “flu” vaccine cannot prevent Norovirus. Here is a quick look at everything a parent needs to know about Norovirus. There is no vaccine for Norovirus. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine to prevent Norovirus. Part of the difficulty involved in making a vaccine is that Norovirus can mutate and that it is a virus that lives in the gut. Some companies are working on a Norovirus vaccine, but it isn’t ready yet. … Continue reading →

Staying Safe in the Winter

Winter brings its own set of hazards to our families. For example, did you know that sledding accidents will injure 20,000 kids this year? This is only the number that are serious enough to be reported through a hospital or visit to the doctor’s office. Short of putting our kids in bubble suits or making them stay indoors all day, what can we do to make sure that our kids stay safe in the winter? Here are some winter safety tips. Make Sure Kids Have the Right Stuff Before your child heads out the door in the winter, make sure … Continue reading →

How to Keep Your Children Healthy This Winter

Sometimes no matter what you do, your kids will get ill, but there are ways to help reduce the chances. Here is what you need to know to help keep your children healthy this winter. Limit The Outings The new norovirus that causes a miserable combination of vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and exhaustion is especially harsh. Doctors tell us that a person can be contagious before they even show symptoms and for two weeks afterward. Furthermore, the virus can live on common surfaces for a long time, and regular cleaning may not even kill it. Yikes. Because it is so … Continue reading →

Avoiding the Holiday Pounds

It is now the time of year not to set your clocks back by one hour but to set your scale back by 10 pounds. Welcome to the holidays, where good food, good drink and lots of celebrating can lead to extra weight that you can potentially carry around for years. That extra weight can affect your health. Don’t Say “I Can’t Eat That” Studies show that when people think of certain foods as “don’t eat” instead of “can’t eat” they tend to avoid them and make healthy choices. The theory is that “can’t” sounds like a punishment whereas “don’t” … Continue reading →

How Safe Are Public Pools?

A friend posted an article on Facebook about a $50-million public pool that just re-opened up in one of my old neighborhood haunts in Brooklyn. The facilities look amazing in the photos, large and well-kept. The problem: recent teen violence that included two police officers getting punched in the face. I remember back to my own public pool experiences growing up. There we were, all smashed together like sardines and loving it. I also remember cutting my foot on the bottom of the pool, whether it was on a rough edge or a piece of glass. I’m not sure which, … Continue reading →

The Great Mosquito Feast

Why is it that biting insects are drawn to some people and not to others? Is there a way to change your body chemistry to make you less palatable to mosquitos, chiggers and other pests that love to suck your blood? My husband is one of those lucky people to whom bugs never seem to bother. He could walk through, sweaty, an infested swap and not get a single bite. I can walk from the parking lot to the entrance of Target, surrounded by and and concrete and arrive at the door with several bites in the summer. Coincidentally, I … Continue reading →

Smart Sun Exposure and Vitamin D

We all know that we should limit our sun exposure these days. Harmful UVA and UVB rays can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. Protecting your skin, your scalp and your eyes is important, and most of the time, you should slather on the sunscreen on a daily basis, even in the winter. With our increasing awareness of the harm that the sun can do to our bodies comes another problem: lowering Vitamin D levels. Our bodies normally make Vitamin D from sun exposure on our skin. With less exposure comes less natural Vitamin D. Vitamin D builds bone … Continue reading →

Top Summer Health Risks Part 2

Last time I talked about two top summer health risks, how to prevent them and how to treat them. While we tend to think more about preventive measures in the winter during cold and flu season, we should also be prepared to combat the health risks of summer. Summer will be a lot more fun when you can avoid getting sick or injured. Here is the rest of what you need to know to keep yourself and your family safe. Poison Ivy (and Poison Oak, Poison Sumac) No one wants to get the itchy and sometimes painful rash that comes … Continue reading →

Top Summer Health Risks

While those of us with kids all breath a sigh of relief when we get past the winter and cold and flu season, it is important to know that summer comes with its own set of health risks. Here is what you need to know to stay healthy this summer. West Nile Virus West Nile Virus causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, joint pain and headaches. It is contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito, and if you get it, you’ll come down with symptoms within two to fifteen days. Not everyone who is exposed will get sick. If you … Continue reading →

Healthy Holidays: Guest Precautions

One of the ways that you can make your guests welcomed into your home is to provide for their needs. Some needs are obvious, such as clean towels and enough to eat, while others may not be so obvious, such as ensuring that everyone stays safe. Here are some safety precautions that you can take right now to make sure that you and your guests stay safe this holiday season. For older guests Make sure that the path from the guest bedroom to the guest bathroom is clear and well lit, even at night. Consider adding a small night light … Continue reading →