MORE KIDS DEVELOPING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
More Kids Developing High Blood Pressure
Considered primarily an affliction of the middle-aged and elderly, high blood pressure is a leading cause of a host of health problems, including heart attack and stroke -- the nation's top killers. A recent study by Morehouse School of Medicine reports that the rate of health-threatening high blood pressure is on the rise among American children. In addition to putting children at risk of chronic health problems later on, high blood pressure can have more immediate effects, requiring constant monitoring, according to researchers, who went on to note it was their belief that rampant obesity amongst the nation’s children to be the main culprit.
“Our nation’s children have entered a prefect storm of consuming diets that are high in fat, sugar and salt, while engaging in an increasingly sedentary lifestyle where television, video games and computers have replaced biking, swimming, slides, swings and monkey-bars, “ said
“Kids NEED TO MOVE! The simplest, most user-friendly, and cost-effective means of achieving physical activity is WALKING. Fun, easy to do, and free makes walking just about the best health bargain around, and just about everyone can do it. And a great way to get kids walking is by walking to school.”
Each October, millions of children, parents, teachers, and community leaders across the globe walk to school to celebrate International Walk to School Day. This year communities can choose to celebrate for a day during International Walk to School Day on October 3; International Walk to School Week October 1-5; or the entire month of October with International Walk to School Month.
Sponsored by the US Department of Transportation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Partnership for a Walkable America (a national coalition working to improve the conditions for walking in America and to increase the number of Americans who walk regularly), Walk to School Day was established in the U.S. in 1997 with the purpose of promoting health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment. In 2000, the
School Day. In 2003, the event was expanded to International Walk to School Week, offering schools around the world the opportunity to increase their efforts, such as incorporating safety programs into classroom curriculum and hosting safety-themed events. In 2006 the entire month of October was named International Walk to School Month.
“There are plenty of great reasons to walk to school – less traffic, cleaner air – but one of the best is that children and parents will be healthier. With obesity rates skyrocketing and only one-quarter of Americans are currently getting the Surgeon General's recommended daily dose of exercise (just 30 to 45 minutes), it's an ideal time to encourage children to walk to school for their own health and well-being.”
How to Participate: Students are encouraged to walk for all or part of their way to school. If a student’s commute is too long or not pedestrian friendly they are encouraged to take a walk after lunch around the track or school grounds.
The Goal: Add Healthy Steps to Your Day: Walking for 30 to 60 minutes a day greatly reduces your risk of developing, and or dying from heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. By finding a way to make walking part of each day, like walking to school, you are giving yourself proven health benefits
Shoes:
Walking shoes should be comfortable for walking for 30 -60 minutes at a stretch.
“Care should be taken when purchasing shoes, especially children’s shoes ,” said Dr. Hook. The California Podiatric Medical Association offers the following tips for buying shoes for children:
- Ask if the assistant is a trained shoe fitter.
- Buy shoes in the afternoon. Feet tend to expand throughout the day.
- Examine the shoe itself. It should have a firm heel counter (stiff material on either side of the heel), adequate cushioning of the insole, and a built-in arch. It should be flexible enough to bend where the foot bends—at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe.
- The child’s foot should be sized while he or she is standing up and fully weight-bearing.
- Always have both feet measured for length, and if they are two different sizes, shoes should be chosen that fit the larger foot best.
- A newly fitted shoe should be approximately ½ inch longer than the longest toe. The child should be able to comfortably wiggle his or her toes in the shoe.
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Have the child walk around the store for more than just a few minutes wearing the shoe with a normal sock. Ask the child if he or she feels any pressure spots in the shoe. Feel the inside of the shoe for any staples or irregularities in the glue that could cause irritation. Examine where the inside stitching hits the foot. Look for signs of irritation on the foot after the shoe is worn.Kid High Blood Pressure
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- Avoid slip-on shoes. Shoes should be held on the foot with laces, straps or Velcro fastenings.
- Heel height should be no more than 1.5 inches, lower for younger children.
- The heel should have a broad base and be made from a shock-absorbing material.
- Natural material uppers are best i.e. leather
- The toe area of the shoe should be foot-shaped, and also deep enough to allow the toes to move freely and not be squashed.
- If your child wears prescription orthotics - biomechanical inserts prescribed by a podiatric physician—you should take them along to shoe fittings.
Use a Pedometer: To promote weight loss and prevent weight gain use a pedometer: Studies have shown pedometers to be great motivators for both adults and children alike for logging steps (kids make a game of it). Experts say if we all added 2000 more steps to our day, we wouldn't gain another pound.
”Our aim is to have all Californians, especially kids, incorporate walking into their lives by making it a pleasure, not a chore. A walk can be an invigorating way to start the school or work day,” Dr. Hook concluded.
The
CPMA; Committed to keeping Californians on their Feet – Healthy, Active and Productive!
