Baylor College of Medicine Health Briefs: November 2009

Food pyramid helps build healthy habits for preschoolers

HOUSTON – Many parents understand the challenge of establishing healthy eating habits in their preschool-aged children. Now they have easy access to information and resources that can help them lay the foundation for good nutrition.

The Food Pyramid for Preschoolers is a tool that provides nutrition guidance for parents of preschool children. The site can be found at http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/.

Some of the useful sections of the site include:

-A growth chart you can tailor to track your child’s development.

-Information on raising a healthy eater by through good examples and habits.

-Help for picky eaters.

-Physical activity recommendations and guidelines.

-Safety rules.

-Kitchen activities.

-Sample meals and snacks.

“The site contains wonderful information targeted to this specific age group,” said Karen Cullen, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and a researcher at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine.

Early detection of glaucoma minimizes long-term damage

HOUSTON – Yearly screening that can lead to early detection of glaucoma can help prevent long-term damage to eye sight, ophthalmologists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston advised.

"The biggest problem with glaucoma is that it's a silent disease," said Dr. Silvia Orengo-Nania, professor of ophthalmology in the Baylor Eye Clinic at BCM. "You could have visual damage occurring over time and not know it. Once damage occurs, it is irreversible. This is why screening early is critical."

Everyone over the age of 40 should have a yearly eye exam, Orengo-Nania said. This exam includes dilation that looks at the optic nerve and measures the intraocular pressure, or the fluid pressure inside the eye.

Glaucoma tends to be more aggressive in African Americans, so it’s especially important this high-risk group get screened. Other risk factors include family history, prolonged steroid use, injury to the eye or head and advanced age.

Don’t stress over tests

HOUSTON – When children complain about upset stomachs and headaches, it could be more than a virus. This is the time of year when students are preparing for mid-term exams, and test anxiety could be causing their symptoms.

Test anxiety can be seen in students of all ages. Some will deal with it throughout their schooling because anxiety can be a genetic trait, said Dr. Megan Mooney, adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at BCM. Other students may be able to overcome their test anxiety, especially if parents respond to it in the right way, she said.

Parents should talk to their kids about anxiety being normal and introduce techniques to cope with it, rather than responding by letting their child stay home and avoiding the test.

Parents must also be aware of the messages they are sending their children, Mooney said. Schools can be high-pressure settings where there is a lot of competition, and parents can add to the pressure with their own high expectations. Mooney urges parents to talk about the importance of kids' trying their best, rather than focusing on grades.

Students of all ages must also take care of their physical health at exam time by eating well and getting enough sleep, and they should figure out what is the optimal study environment.

Banish the belly ache from holiday celebrations

HOUSTON – Food is usually the centerpiece of many traditional celebrations this time of year, but watch out for holiday heartburn, warn gastroenterologists from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

"Watching what you eat and how much is the best way to prevent heartburn," said Dr. Waqar Qureshi, associate professor of medicine and chief of endoscopy at BCM. "Avoid fried or fatty foods or acidic foods like grapefruit and tomatoes. Sometimes even chocolaty desserts cause some discomfort."

The following tips can also help stave off the holiday heartburn:

-Sit up. Lying down or reclining after a meal makes it easier for stomach acid to move up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. 

-Wear loose-fitting garb. 

-Eat in moderation. If you can't give up cheesy casseroles, then say no to the buttery mashed potatoes. If you can't give up either, then eat smaller portions. The more you eat the easier it is for acid to reach the esophagus.

-Avoid foods you know triggers heartburn. 

-Take an over-the-counter antacid for fast relief.

If you find yourself taking antacids three or more times a week, your heartburn is more than holiday-related and you should see a doctor. Frequent symptoms could signal chronic heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which afflicts more than 7 million Americans annually.