Health and Wellness

C	Column- Perspectives from SickKids professionals
F	Feature- In-depth treatments of child health topics
N	News- Brief articles on current research
R	Research News- Updates on topics from our Resource Centres
S	Series- Multi-part features by world-leading experts

N	AboutKidsHealth receives federal funding AboutKidsHealth to build national pediatric network with new funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. (February 03, 2010)

N	How much vitamin D? What is the recommended daily intake of vitamin D for children and pregnant women? (January 06, 2010)

F	Healthy eating and physical activity before and during pregnancy Stay active and eating right before getting pregnant and during your pregnancy can have a positive impact on you and your baby (January 04, 2010)

F	Yes Toronto, there was a Virginia The Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus editorial was written over a hundred years ago, but its message rings true today. (December 01, 2009)

C	The strange case of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) OAS is a tricky allergy that can give you reactions to things you aren't actually allergic to (November 02, 2009)

R	Pacifiers not as soothing as once thought Evidence suggest a link between pacifiers and ear infections (September 30, 2009)

N	Help for depressed preschoolers Depression can be a problem for some toddlers but a novel family therapy can help (September 30, 2009)

F	Emergency birth control for teens Is providing Plan B an acknowledgement or approval of teen sexual behaviour? (September 30, 2009)

N	Preventing teenage hearing losses from iPod use Experts recommend ways to reduce the risk of teenage hearing loss from iPod use (May 20, 2009)

R	Heart disease and quality of life: what do patients, parents, and health care providers really think? Young people with heart disease, their parents, and health care providers differ in what they think most affects health-related quality of life (May 06, 2009)

R	Antidepressant drugs, pregnancy, and birth defects Despite the conflicting studies, being depressed during pregnancy is riskier that taking antidepressants while carrying (April 27, 2009)

F	Clean hands for better health The best way to prevent infectious disease is still the simplest. (April 27, 2009)

N	Active transportation More and more, children are travelling by car instead of walking, cycling, or using another form of active transportation. This can have a profound impact on their health, development, and safety. (April 13, 2009)

C	Causes and consequences of childhood obesity Obesity is a complex condition with both genetic and environmental causes. We can't change our genes, but we must change our environment (February 20, 2009)

C	Navigating the sea of nutrition information What's a good source of nutritional information? (January 09, 2009)

F	"Eli Stone" stirs up vaccine controversy Reckless irresponsibility or just good TV? A new show has some paediatricians worried. (December 31, 2008)

N	Top 10 Canadian medical advances for children in the last 100 years (December 31, 2008)

N	AboutKidsHealth becomes a national source for child health information Through partnerships with IWK Health Centre and Sympatico / MSN, AboutKidsHealth is reaching more Canadian families than ever before (December 12, 2008)

F	The iPod and hearing loss in youth Listening to music with headphones or earbuds can cause hearing loss. If it's too loud, you're at risk for hearing problems (November 13, 2008)

C	Eat Right For Your (Geno) Type Nutrients, your genes and chronic disease (November 04, 2008)

F	Deposits and withdrawals at the milk bank Human donor milk banks play a lifesaving role for babies whose mothers cannot nurse them. Safety fears shut many down in the 1980s, but efforts are underway to bring them back to Toronto. (November 04, 2008)

C	Travelling with food allergies Don’t let an allergy keep you home bound (September 19, 2008)

R	Men have a biological clock too What are the risks of advanced paternal age to the unborn child? (September 18, 2008)

F	Helping immigrant children succeed To help immigrant children reach their full potential, we first have to learn what they experience and what they need (September 12, 2008)

N	STIs up, teen pregnancy down in Canada Sexually transmitted disease rates in Canada and the United States, and how to lower them. (September 05, 2008)

C	The importance of a healthy breakfast Breakfast makes you more efficient throughout the day. (August 28, 2008)

F	Back to school in health: beyond the lunch bag Matching the health curriculum with healthy school policies requires parents and students to speak up. (August 28, 2008)

R	Oh, my aching backpack! Return to school need not mean return to back pain (August 28, 2008)

C	Attending to the health of immigrant children Immigrant children's health must be a priority if we want all children in Canada to reach their full potential. (August 07, 2008)

F	Summer safety: Preventing heat stroke and heat exhaustion To help ensure a safe, healthy summer, make sure you know how to prevent, recognize, and treat heat-related illness. (July 18, 2008)

N	Your child the vegetarian Can your family adapt to your child's vegetarian requests? (July 04, 2008)

N	Another bad health report card (May 30, 2008)

R	Heart surgery: Are large hospitals better? Find out what makes the best heart hospitals stand out from the rest. (May 16, 2008)

C	Fibre at any age Why fibre is important in your child's diet, and how you can help your child get enough of it (May 08, 2008)

N	Teen suicide: with limited mental health resources, parents must be vigilant and advocate Suicide resources across Canada are often scarce and often inconsistent but parents can still do things to keep their child from harm (May 02, 2008)

N	Modern signs of childhood obesity Childhood heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes are on the rise (April 04, 2008)

N	New Canadian data about teen sex Parents have more influence on their teen children’s sexual behaviour than they might believe (April 04, 2008)

R	Pregnancy and body image Celebrity moms are turning pregnancy into a beauty contest. Shouldn't we be focusing on healthy babies instead? (March 28, 2008)

C	Prebiotics and probiotics What can probiotics do for you? And what are prebiotics, anyway? (March 20, 2008)

N	Crying foul at the Centers for Disease Control What do you do when someone poos in the pool? (March 20, 2008)

F	Growing consequences of not enough sleep The list of reasons for your child to get enough sleep is getting longer. Learn how how much sleep your child should be getting. (March 14, 2008)

N	Insomnia in teenagers Normal body changes, late-night activities, and sometimes depression can add up to a serious sleep problem (February 21, 2008)

F	Cutting, burning, and smashing Are teenagers who harm themselves more likely to commit suicide? (November 21, 2007)

N	Nutrition labels have the answers Finding vitamin D and other nutrients in foods is easy thanks to informative food labels. (October 03, 2007)

N	Of parents, children, food, and rats Early food experiences may set a pattern that's hard to break, according to research in rodents. (August 27, 2007)

N	Summer safety: Avoiding harm from heat To help ensure a safe, healthy summer, make sure you know how to prevent, recognize, and treat heat-related illness. (August 02, 2007)

R	Mouse research explains influenza's connection to brain disorders Infection during pregnancy may raise risk of autism, schizophrenia. (July 30, 2007)

R	Breastfeeding without pregnancy Women who have babies through adoption or surrogacy can still breast feed. Here's how. (July 09, 2007)

R	Of pesticides and premature births Researchers have linked premature births with exposure to pesticides and nitrates. (May 25, 2007)

N	A new look for AboutKidsHealth! We offer two new Resource Centres and make it easier to find the answers you need. (May 11, 2007)

N	Canada’s new Food Guide launched The new Food Guide places more emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (February 09, 2007)

R	Obesity, overweight, and awareness Is it getting harder for parents to recognize normal weight? Screening children for obesity can raise awareness. (November 02, 2006)

R	Pain, disease, and quality of life How severe a chronic illness is and how much pain a child is feeling is not a measure of how depressed and anxious they are. If patients and families feel they are coping well, they usually are. (October 26, 2006)

F	Psychology pursues happiness Rather than treating depression, some psychologists maintain teaching people how to be happy might be a better idea. (October 05, 2006)

R	Pain relief during needles Reassuring a child when he gets a needle can increase a child's pain. (September 29, 2006)

S	The Rights of Children Part Three: Child sexual exploitation and the age of consent In efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation, is the age of consent the right place to start? (September 07, 2006)

N	Dental amalgam in children: does the mercury in the amalgam injure the child's brain? Two large studies have found that the neurotoxic metal in many dental fillings has no effect on children's mental functions. (August 31, 2006)

R	Reducing procedural pain: another reason to breastfeed Breast milk, breastfeeding, and sucrose can be used to alleviate procedural pain in newborns. (July 27, 2006)

N	Slip! Slap! Slop! The happy sounds of summer Sunburn has serious consequences for your child's skin. (June 30, 2006)

R	Tracking chronic pain The recent development of an electronic pain diary improves adolescent reporting of chronic pain and, ultimately, pain relief. (June 23, 2006)

N	Cracking down on egg allergies People with egg allergies can still enjoy a wide range of foods. (June 15, 2006)

F	Recent intelligence on the evil triad of allergy, asthma, and eczema Genes are not the whole story — there is a lot you can do to help children with overactive immune responses. (May 25, 2006)

R	Fontan operations have later effects on patients' physical and social health Problems with learning and behaviour show up later in international study of children with successful heart surgery, living with one pumping chamber. (May 18, 2006)

C	Food: Friend or foe? Making sense of media messages about food, nutrition, and health (May 03, 2006)

R	MRI as a pain management tool Using special MRI machines that can be monitored in real-time, researchers have taught patients how to reduce chronic pain. (April 20, 2006)

F	Talking about sex with your children Why an ongoing conversation about sex starting at a very young age is a better strategy than one big birds and bee lecture (April 20, 2006)

F	Electromagnetic radiation and cancer fears Do power lines or cell phones cause cancer? For almost 30 years, scientists have been struggling to answer this question. It sounds simple, but it's not. (March 22, 2006)

R	Teens with epilepsy exercise less Teens with epilepsy may be missing out on the health benefits of exercise, as well as on the social interaction that comes with group activity. (March 15, 2006)

F	Children, pets, and allergies Kids and pets go well together. But what happens if a beloved pet and a child's health come into conflict? (March 08, 2006)

R	Low saturated fat diet keeps boys' arteries healthy A diet low in saturated fat has been shown to help keep the inner lining of the blood vessels working properly, and reduce cholesterol levels in boys. (March 08, 2006)

C	Ontario's new privacy law and its impact on your child's care Striking a balance between privacy and disclosure (February 22, 2006)

N	Simplifying a soy allergy Many foods can cause allergic reactions in people with a soy allergy. This article lists foods that commonly contain soy and discusses what you can eat with a soy allergy. (February 08, 2006)

R	Exercise can help children with serious heart defects Cardiovascular rehabilitation improves exercise function in children born with serious heart defects (January 25, 2006)

N	Iron-clad solution: Sprinkles A new dietary supplement has the potential to improve the health of millions of children worldwide by treating or preventing iron deficiency. (January 25, 2006)

R	Why do women stop breastfeeding? Only half of new mothers breastfeed past the first four weeks after birth (January 18, 2006)

R	Cancer in the family Survivors of childhood cancer, and their families get attention in recent quality-of-life research. (December 07, 2005)

R	Post-operative pain: barriers still exist towards total pain relief Despite advances in pain medication and pain management in general, post-operative pain remains an issue for many patients. Here are some suggestions that can help avoid the problem. (November 30, 2005)

N	The perfect toy The cardboard box was recently inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. What makes the lowly cardboard box such a great toy? (November 30, 2005)

R	Treating depression during pregnancy It may be less risky for mothers to continue depression medications during pregnancy than to try to wean themselves off the medications. (November 23, 2005)

C	Understanding the nutrition label Canada has a new nutrition label. Here are some tips on how to read it. (November 09, 2005)

R	Too much body fat leads to stiffening of arteries in teens Teens with excess body fat are at higher risk of developing stiffening of the arteries, which can cause cardiovascular problems later in life. (November 02, 2005)

R	Writing away chronic pain Chronic pain, especially when it is unexplained, can have extremely disruptive effect beyond the pain itself. Narrative writing has been shown to improve health and diminish the effects of pain. (November 02, 2005)

F	Homework: some is good, more is not better Too much homework may be worse than not enough. Here's how to check up on your child's workload. (November 02, 2005)

F	Protecting youself and your family: Bird flu update, October 2005 Updated information as of October 2005 on Avian Influenza (bird flu) and how to protect your family from getting infected should a pandemic occur. (October 20, 2005)

F	Starved for attention: pro-anorexia websites glorify eating disorders Pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia websites provide flawed and often dangerous information in support of eating disorders (October 05, 2005)

C	Soy what? Products made from soybeans, such as tofu, tempeh, soy milk, and roasted soy nuts, are a healthy and tasty source of complete protein. (September 28, 2005)

F	Child-friendly neighbourhoods How does where you live affect your children’s health? (September 16, 2005)

N	Canadian paediatricians encouraged to promote active, healthy living for all children The 82nd annual meeting of the Canadian Paediatric Society featured a workshop on healthy eating and lifestyles and a presentation on migraine prevention. (July 22, 2005)

C	Tips on healthy eating for teens Teens don't always eat the best foods. Here are some helpful tips on how to meet a growing body's needs. (July 15, 2005)

N	Breast feeding leads to lower blood pressure in childhood and adolescence Another long-term health benefit for breast fed babies (July 08, 2005)

N	Planned home birth with certified midwives: safe for mother and baby Midwife-assisted, planned home births for low-risk pregnancies were just as safe as hospital birth for both mother and baby, says a large North American study. (July 08, 2005)

N	Sex, TV, and the young teen Teens’ ideas about when to make their sexual debut are related to television watching (June 30, 2005)

N	Omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy A recent study suggests that some pregnant women are not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. (June 17, 2005)

F	Choosing fast foods wisely How to make the healthiest choices when eating out (June 10, 2005)

C	Energy drinks, whey protein, and more: Dietary supplements and teen athletes As many as 40% of teenage athletes may take dietary supplements like creatine or caffeine. Here's what to consider beforehand. (June 10, 2005)

F	Understanding Medical Information Understanding medical research is the key to acquiring reliable medical information (June 03, 2005)

N	This week is National Sun Awareness Week Protect your child from sunburn and skin damage (May 27, 2005)

N	Protecting women and their babies against rubella Hospitals are doing well at vaccinating pregnant women after they give birth, but there is room for improvement. (May 20, 2005)

R	Infant sleep habits are learned early Parents influence the development of their baby's sleep patterns. Simple techniques can help a baby sleep well. (May 13, 2005)

C	Sports nutrition: Fuelling the athlete In this month's nutrition column, Alisa Bar-Dayan discusses the foods you need to get the most out of your body. (April 22, 2005)

N	American chickenpox vaccination program a success New data shows universal vaccination saves lives (April 08, 2005)

N	More calcium needed for pre-adolescent girls There is an increased need for calcium in pre-adolescent girls, according to a recently published long-term study. Daily calcium intakes of 1500 mg were found to produce significant positive effects. (March 18, 2005)

N	Does birth weight influence intelligence in children? Reviewing the evidence for links between birth weight within the normal range and intelligence. (February 25, 2005)

C	Herbal remedies: use with caution In this month's Paediatrician's Corner, Dr. Hugh O'Brodovich points out that natural products can still have powerful effects (February 04, 2005)

F	Understanding Genetics: Part 1 of 2 How, exactly, did you get your mother's eyes? (January 21, 2005)

N	Was that a Pap smear or not? A new study suggests that many girls are poorly informed about gynaecological care and may not be getting the health care they need (January 20, 2005)

N	Athletics in the schools: Making choices School physical education programs should focus more on fitness and less on competitive sports to encourage all children to become physically active. (January 06, 2005)

C	Getting tough on second-hand smoke Children are still at risk from second-hand smoke; it's time for action, says Dr. Hugh O'Brodovich (December 15, 2004)

R	Anaesthetics ease pain of circumcision If newborn boys are circumcised, it should always be with adequate pain relief (November 16, 2004)

N	Waiting to cut the umbilical cord may help premature babies A new systematic review suggests that clamping the cord immediately is not always helpful (November 11, 2004)

N	Adolescents' beliefs about "light" cigarettes Teens believe "light" cigarettes are safer and less addictive (November 05, 2004)

C	Addressing the national shortage of paediatricians In this month's Paediatrician's Corner, Dr. Hugh O'Brodovich asks who will care for our children and our children's children (October 18, 2004)

N	Teen drinking linked to problem drinking in adulthood Teen drinking habits predict drinking patterns later in life (October 12, 2004)

C	Food preparation: It can be a family affair! Involving children with meal planning encourages them to develop good eating habits — and makes mealtimes fun (September 27, 2004)

N	Parental influence and limited media exposure may help curb teen smoking Studies find link between teens watching movie stars who smoke and higher incidence of teen smoking (July 19, 2004)

N	Predicting preschooler obesity Children more at risk if mother is obese during pregnancy (July 19, 2004)

N	Get up and get moving! How to get the whole family active and healthy (June 16, 2004)

C	Why Canada needs a national immunization strategy Vaccinations have had more impact in reducing infectious diseases than any public health endeavour other than making clean drinking water available. (June 15, 2004)

N	Dieting common among pre-teen girls Girls as young as 10 are dieting. (May 31, 2004)

F	Promoting positive body image in our kids Dieting and body image problems are becoming an issue for younger children. (May 31, 2004)

R	Breastfeeding and type 1 diabetes prevention Longer breastfeeding may help prevent type 1 diabetes (May 26, 2004)

R	Vaccinations and type 1 diabetes Childhood vaccinations do not lead to type 1 diabetes: study finds (May 06, 2004)

Starved for Attention? Some websites glorify anorexia and bulimia