Here S to Your Health s1

HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH -

WINTER NEWSLETTER

Publication of the Braintree School Nurses Volume 7, Issue 2 February, 2017

The school nurses wish you a happy and healthy 2017!

National Children’s Dental Health Month!!

Adapted from the American Dental Association Submitted by Peggy Ciulla RN, Braintree Integrated Preschool

Did you know that proper dental health starts within days of your child being born!! If you take care of your child’s teeth when they are small, hopefully they’ll take care of their teeth when they’re older!! This month, take the opportunity to teach or review with your children dental hygiene including proper ways to brush their teeth and how to floss.

Start Early

Your child’s baby teeth are at risk fordecay as soon as they first appear—which is typically around age 6 months. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. In some cases, infants and toddlers may experience decay so severe that their teeth cannot besaved and need to be removed. The good news is that tooth decay is preventable! Most children have a full set of 20baby teeth by the time they are 3-years-old. As your child grows, their jaw also grows, making room for their permanent teeth.

First Dental Visit

·  As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to schedule a dental visit. The American Dental Association recommends that the first dental visit take place within six months after the first tooth appears, but no later than a child’s first birthday. Don’t waitfor them to start school or until there'san emergency. Get your child comfortable today with good mouth healthy habits.

Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth

·  Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean,moist gauze pad or washcloth. As soon as teeth appear, decay can occur. A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about6 months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.

·  For children younger than 3 years, caregivers should begin brushing children’s teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing to ensure that they use of the appropriate amount of toothpaste.

·  For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.

·  Until you’re comfortable that your child can brush on his or herown, continue to brushyour child'steeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When your child has two teeth that touch, you should beginflossing their teeth daily.

5 Steps to a Flawless Floss

We know we should floss at least once a day, but not everyone knows the right way to do it. Use this step-by-step guide to find out how to properly floss your teeth:

·  Once you are finished, throw the floss away. A used piece of floss won’t be as effective and could leave bacteria behind in your mouth.

**** Reminder to parents of students in grade 3 – a local dentist will be coming to your child’s class one day in February or March. The dentist will provide dental education and a screening. If you do not wish your child to have a screening, please send a note into your child’s school nurse.

Flu Symptom Check List for Families, Schools and Child Care Programs

Flu season in Massachusetts usually starts in the fall and runs through the spring. The main symptoms of influenza (flu) include fever in combination with a cough and/or sore throat. Some people may also have a runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and feel tired. Some people (especially young children) may also have diarrhea and vomiting.

To keep flu from spreading in the community it is important to keep your sick child at

home when he or she has the flu. Use this form as a guided during flu season to determine whether your child should attend school or child care.

Flu Like Illness: Should I Keep My Child Home? Yes/No

1) Has your child had a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher in the past 24

hours? (Note: 100.4° F is the same as 38° C).

If you answered Yes to the question above, keep your child home for at least another day to observe for additional symptoms.

2) Does your child have a cough OR sore throat?

If you answered YES to both questions above, keep your child home. Your child has an influenza-like illness (fever and cough or sore throat). If your child has a cough or sore throat without fever, he or she may be well enough to go to school or child care.

After the Flu: Can my child return to School? Yes/No

1) Has your child had a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher in the past 24

hours? (Note: 100.4° F is the same as 38° C).

If you answered Yes to the question above, keep your child home for at least another day to observe for additional symptoms.

2) Has your child had acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil)

to reduce fever in the past 24 hours?

If you answered YES to either question above, keep your child home for at least another day to observe for additional symptoms. Then use the check list questions

again to decide whether you should continue to keep your child home.

If you answered NO to both questions above, and your child appears well,

your child can return to school or child care.

Where can I find more information about influenza?

www.mass.gov/flu; www.cdc.gov/flu

 Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800 or Braintree Board of Health at 781-794-8094. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2015

FEBRUARY IS ALSO HEART HEALTH MONTH!

According to the American Heart Association, Heart Disease is the number 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. It doesn’t affect all women alike, and the warning signs for women are not the same in men. What’s more: These facts only begin to scratch the surface. Some of the most common signs of heart attack include: jaw pain, neck pain, arm pain, back pain and shortness of breath. Trust your intuition and seek help immediately if you have any of these symptoms.

Myths about Heart Disease

Myth: Heart disease is for men, and cancer is the real threat for women

Fact: Heart disease is a killer that strikes more women than men, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease claims the lives of one in three. That’s roughly one death each minute.

Myth: Heart disease is for old people

Fact: Heart disease affects women of all ages. For younger women, the combination of birth control pills and smoking boosts heart disease risks by 20 percent. And while the risks do increase with age, things like overeating and a sedentary lifestyle can cause plaque to accumulate and lead to clogged arteries later in life. But even if you lead a completely healthy lifestyle, being born with an underlying heart condition can be a risk factor.

Myth: Heart disease doesn’t affect women who are fit

Fact: Even if you’re a yoga-loving, marathon-running workout fiend, your risk for heart disease isn’t completely eliminated. Factors like cholesterol, eating habits and smoking can counterbalance your other healthy habits. You can be thin and have high cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends you start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20, or earlier, if your family has a history of heart disease. And while you’re at it, be sure to keep an eye on your blood pressure at your next check-up.

Myth: I don’t have any symptoms

Fact: Sixty-four percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms. Because these symptoms vary greatly between men and women, they’re often misunderstood. Media has conditioned us to believe that the telltale sign of a heart attack is extreme chest pain. But in reality, women are somewhat more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Other symptoms women should look out for are dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen and extreme fatigue.

Myth: Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do about it

Fact: Although women with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, there’s plenty you can do to dramatically reduce it. Simply create an action plan to keep your heart healthy. Because of healthy choices and knowing the signs, more than 670,000 of women have been saved from heart disease, and 300 fewer are dying per day. What’s stopping you from taking action? There are several misconceptions about heart disease in women, and they could be putting you at risk.

Please see the following link for more information: https://www.goredforwomen.org/fight-heart-disease-women-go-red-women-official-site/about-heart-disease-in-women/facts-about-heart-disease/

Heart-Healthy Recipes-Believe it or not, eating heart healthy can be equally as delicious as it is good for your body. And if you could save your heart by improving your diet, wouldn’t you at least want to try it?

https://www.goredforwomen.org/fight-heart-disease-women-go-red-women-official-site/live-healthy/heart-healthy-recipes/

Keeping heart healthy is not only for women and men!

As a young person, if you start doing small things every day that keep your body healthy, you have a better chance of living a longer, happier and healthier life.

The things that you do to keep your heart healthy will also make you less likely to develop many other types of diseases, like type 2 diabetes and cancer. These small steps are not expensive or difficult to take, and taking them can go a long way toward helping you feel your best.

Make small choices every day to keep your heart healthy

You make many choices every day, like what color socks to wear or how to fix your hair. When it comes to making decisions that keep you healthy, it may seem difficult to choose better options when so many things seem easier or just more fun. You just need to take small steps in a healthy direction and that begins by knowing the healthy choices! Then it gets easier to make choices every day that help keep you healthy. Submitted by Mary Ann O’Rourke, RN & Ellen Wright, RN, East Middle School

Teens and Stress

You may think “Teens, stressed…wait until they are older – then they will know real stress.”

Stress isn’t just a problem for adults. Young people (13 to 17 years old) also can experience unhealthy levels of stress. The teenage years are marked by physical, cognitive and emotional changes. Our youth are also facing changes in their peer relationships, demands at school, and safety issues in the community. Stress can lead to both emotional and physical symptoms. In a 2013 APA (American Psychological Association) survey, more than one quarter of the teens, reported symptoms including feeling overwhelmed, having negative thoughts, changes in sleeping habits, and neglecting their responsibilities. More than one third reported feeling tired, anxious, or experiencing irritability and anger.

The things that may cause adolescent stress are different from the things that stress adults. Teens cite school pressure, college admission and career decisions as sources of stress. Other things that may cause youth stress include after school or summer jobs, dating and friendships, pressure to experiment with drugs, alcohol, or sex, pressure to be a particular size or body shape, family and peer conflicts, being bullied or harassed and their busy schedules (school, work, sports, and after-school activities, social and family life.)

Stress can affect the entire body, from head to toe. Increased complaints of headaches, stomachaches, muscle pain and fatigue are often signs that an adolescent is feeling overwhelmed or stressed about something. Other signs and symptoms a teen might be experiencing stress include feeling anxious or nervous, trouble concentrating, and changes in eating habits: eating too much or too little. Crying more often, feelings of hopelessness and increased irritability can also indicate that a teen is experiencing a stressful situation or time.

Almost everyone is affected by stress and it can feel overwhelming at times. The right tools can help you manage daily stress and enjoy a more positive outlook on your life and well-being. It is best to help teens address stressful situations immediately if possible.

Stress Management Skills

1.  Get adequate sleep: Sleep is key for both physical and emotional well-being. Decrease T.V., computer use, video games and cell phone use in the late evening hours. Don’t drink caffeine late in the day.

2.  Physical Activity: Physical activity is one of the most effective stress busters. Even better management of stress is being with friends, such as in a team sport or walking with one or two people. Find an activity you enjoy and make it a routine part of your schedule.