How to Overcome Feeling Old and Weak and Rid Body Aches
Feeling old, tired and weak lately? Does your body ache and feel depressed? Here are solutions, even if you’re over 60.
Women Who Sleep Poorly and the Risk for Heart Attack
If you’re a woman who struggles with poor sleep or insomnia, this may mean you’re at high risk for a heart attack.
One Great Exercise for Fall Prevention You Can Do Anywhere
If you’re older and worried about taking a bad fall, there’s just one exercise for fall prevention you can do anywhere, says Barbara Bergin, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at and co-founder of Texas Orthopedics, Sports & Rehabilitation Associates. (more…)
Really Hungry All the Time but Normal Test Results?
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Surgery vs. Acupuncture for Knee Pain Osteoarthritis
Just how well can acupuncture work to snuff out the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee? This common condition afflicts millions of Americans and can be quite disabling. (more…)
How Safe Are Blood Thinners After Joint Replacement Surgery?
Just how safe or potentially dangerous are the potent blood thinners for joint replacement surgery? There’s something you need to first consider about these important drugs.
Hip Fracture Is a Major Death Risk in People Over 65
It’s not the actual broken bone itself that kills a hip fracture patient.
The high death rate is caused by the ripple effect that a broken hip generates. (more…)
How Many Days After Hip Replacement Does Death Risk Last?
Are you scheduled for hip replacement surgery and wondering how many days the mortality risk is after the procedure?
How Can Hip Replacement Surgery Lead to a Stroke?
Here’s a thorough explanation for how a hip replacement surgery can lead to a stroke, described by an orthopedic surgeon.
Can Obesity in Your Child Cause High Blood Pressure?
If your child is overweight, this is more than a matter of self-esteem. It’s a matter of high blood pressure.
Even if an obese child can play tag, jump on a trampoline and ride a bike, high blood pressure is a real threat to his or her body.
Obesity is a major risk factor for hypertension. This dangerous condition doesn’t care how old — or young — the victim is.
This single fact alone is why it’s NEVER okay, NEVER acceptable, for a child to be clinically obese.
This means at least 20 percent over his or her ideal weight relative to height.
Even for children who are overweight but not in the obese range, this needs to be addressed, as “just a little chubby” is often a gateway to obesity, which can then lead to morbid obesity.
The Scourge of Obesity in Children
“Obese children are at risk for high blood pressure, early cardiac (heart) disease, type 2 diabetes, injuries, sleep apnea and social problems with peers,” explains Lisa Lewis, MD, a board certified pediatrician in Fort Worth, Texas, and author of “Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World.”
“This does not mean ‘all’ obese children will have these problems, but the risk is significantly higher.
• Childhood obesity is a well-established epidemic in the U.S.
• Thirty percent of very overweight adolescents have obesity associated with high blood pressure and also have other risk factors.
• The prevalence of premature heart disease in young adulthood will more than triple from five percent to 16 percent for currently big adolescents when they reach 35 years.
Promoting Healthy Habits Is Not Body Shaming
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- This isn’t about “fat shaming.”
- It’s about hypertension shaming.
- High blood pressure needs to be shamed because it kills so many people.
“We see high blood pressure in obese children commonly in the clinic, starting around school age,” says Dr. Lewis.
“Typically obese toddlers won’t have a problem with high blood pressure, but blood pressure must be checked to ensure this is not a problem.
“If obesity related blood pressure is not critical, steps are taken to ensure the child does not diet (deprive themselves of food) to lose weight, but rather, learn to eat healthy to stop the excessive weight gain.
“The treatment plan for obesity in children and obesity related complications such as high blood pressure entails a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, low-fat meats and dairy, healthy grains and increased fiber.
“Sugar drinks should be eliminated or at the very least reduced to once per week as a treat.”
This isn’t about teaching your child to embrace their body. It’s about teaching your child to embrace the concept of HEALTH and FITNESS.
- Serve up more salad and less ice cream to your children.
- Learn to say “No.”
- Learn to ignore the pestering and whining for cookies and the balking at apples and yogurt.
Read it again: Obesity can cause high blood pressure in kids!
Having 20+ years’ experience, Dr. Lewis completed her pediatrics residency at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Scott and White Memorial Hospital. For two years afterward she was assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Texas A&M University Health Science Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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