Category: Children’s Health

Ways to Manage Constipation Caused by Norvasc 5 mg

Constipation is a common side effect of Norvasc 5 mg, but there are several ways to manage it:

  1. An effective way to alleviate constipation is by increasing fluid intake. Consuming an adequate amount of water and fluids can aid in softening stools, making them less difficult to pass through the digestive tract. It is recommended that individuals consume at least 8 glasses (64 ounces) of water per day to maintain proper hydration levels and promote regular bowel movements. Other beneficial fluids include herbal teas, fruit juices, and vegetable juices. By incorporating these into your daily routine, you can improve your digestive health and prevent discomfort associated with constipation.
  2. Incorporating high-fiber foods into your diet can have a positive impact on your digestive system. Consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans can assist in adding bulk to stools, which facilitates regular bowel movements. This is because fiber is not digested in the same way as other nutrients and instead remains undigested as it passes through the digestive tract. As it does so, it absorbs water and adds volume to stools, making them easier to pass through the colon. By regularly incorporating high-fiber foods into your diet, you can promote healthy digestion and reduce the likelihood of constipation or other digestive issues..
  3. Regular exercise is a great way to promote healthy bowel movements and alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms associated with constipation. By engaging in moderate physical activity on a consistent basis, you can stimulate your digestive system and encourage regularity. This can be especially beneficial for individuals who struggle with chronic constipation or other gastrointestinal issues. In addition to its physical benefits, exercise has also been shown to have positive effects on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety levels which can contribute to digestive problems. So why not make exercise a part of your daily routine? Whether it’s going for a walk, hitting the gym, or practicing yoga, finding an activity that you enjoy and can stick with can help improve both your physical and mental well-being.
  4. If you are experiencing constipation while taking Norvasc, it may be worth discussing with your doctor the possibility of adjusting your dosage. It’s not uncommon for medication side effects to occur, but there are steps that can be taken to manage them without compromising the effectiveness of the treatment. By tweaking the amount of Norvasc you’re taking, you might find relief from constipation while still reaping the benefits of this medication. Your doctor will be able to advise you on whether this is a viable option based on your individual circumstances and overall health. Don’t hesitate to bring up any concerns or questions you have during your next appointment – it’s always better to seek guidance than suffer in silence.
  5. If you are experiencing constipation while taking Norvasc, it may be beneficial to consider taking a stool softener or laxative. Your doctor can provide recommendations for safe options that will not interfere with the effectiveness of Norvasc. Constipation is a common side effect of this medication, which can cause discomfort and difficulty passing stools. By incorporating a stool softener or laxative into your treatment plan, you may be able to alleviate these symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. It is important to consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new medications or supplements to ensure they are safe and effective for your individual needs.
  6. One of the most important things you can do for your body is to listen to it. This means paying attention to its signals and responding appropriately. One such signal is the urge to use the bathroom. When you feel this urge, it’s essential that you act on it, even if doing so is inconvenient. Holding in urine or feces for too long can lead to discomfort, pain, and even health problems like urinary tract infections or constipation. So next time your body tells you it’s time to go, don’t ignore it – prioritize your health and well-being by taking a quick trip to the restroom.

It’s important to talk to your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan, including adjusting your Norvasc dosage or taking additional medications.

Slimming Diet for Children Aged 10-12

It’s important to ensure that children achieve and maintain a healthy weight, but it’s also important to remember that they are still growing and need proper nutrition for their development. A balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods and regular physical activity is the best approach to achieve healthy weight goals for most children aged 10-12.

Learn more : Children’s weight loss should be approached with caution

Instead of prescribing a “slimming diet” for children, it would be better to focus on healthy lifestyle choices that can be maintained long-term. Encouraging children to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while limiting sugary and processed foods, can lead to important health benefits.

If you have concerns about your child’s weight, it’s a good idea to talk to their healthcare provider for personalized recommendations and support. Remember, your child’s weight is just one small part of their overall health, and prioritizing their well-being is key.

Constipation in children

One of the most common reasons kids go to the doctor is because they can’t go to the bathroom. Both trouble going to the bathroom and not going very often may be signs of a problem (less than once every 2-3 days). Constipation in children is mostly treated by giving them a diet high in fiber and fluids, teaching them about bowel movements, and getting them to move around more.

Constipation in a child means difficulty passing stools at intervals of more than 3 days. Dry stools, an urge to spit, alternating diarrhea and constipation, and abdominal pain may also accompany it. Not all problems with a bowel movement in a child are constipation, such as hard and dry stools with a clear effort or even pain. If a child has an effortless bowel movement every 2 days, it is still within the normal range.

Photo by Tuu1ea5n Kiu1ec7t Jr. on Pexels.com

It should be remembered that in the first months of life, an infant defecates with effort, i.e. it turns red, tenses up, and groans, and if the stool is correct (not dry, compact), then there is no reason to worry.

Causes of constipation in children

90% of constipation in children is functional, meaning it is not caused by an organic factor. In the initial period of life, constipation may result from immaturity and difficulty in dealing with food. Congenital stenosis of the rectum should be considered if there is a problem with pooping or rectal fusion. Surgery is necessary.

Possible causes of constipation in babies include:

  • nutritional errors,
  • irritable bowel syndrome,
  • lifestyle change (e.g. expanding the diet , starting kindergarten, and therefore new dishes, different times of eating, etc.),
  • stress ,
  • diseases of the anus causing discomfort during defecation (e.g. hyperplasia, intertrigo),
  • taking medications that cause constipation (e.g. iron preparations, alkaline agents, opiates, anticholinergics),
  • habitual constipation,
  • slow intestinal transit (as a result of the underlying disease, e.g. Hirschsprung’s disease ) causes too slow movement of fecal masses in the intestine, stool in the form of compact dry “babbles”),
  • down syndrome , 
  • rickets, 
  • hypothyroidism ,
  • vitamin D overdose ,
  • rebellion, opposition to the potty, unpleasant experiences with defecation.

Nutritional errors may be the cause of constipation in infants. The most important of them are:

  • diet rich in flour products (so-called gruel),
  • a diet low in fiber (found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains),
  • too little fluid intake ( dehydration ).

Habitual constipation in children

Habitual constipation is a common form of constipation in children, caused by irregular bowel movements and inhibition of passing stool. It is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, tight clothing, eating flour and low-fiber foods, increased tension, and constipation and painful passing of the stool. It does not result from any diseases or anatomical changes, but is associated with the weakening of intestinal peristalsis or excessive contraction of the muscles of the large intestine. This results in increased spasticity of the intestines and a problem with bowel movements.

Treatment of habitual constipation in children

The treatment of habitual constipation is based on introducing regularity, lifestyle changes, education, and resistance to pooping on the potty. Proper diet is also important, with large amounts of liquids and fiber.

Treating constipation in a child

When constipation affects infants under 1 year of age

The youngest children often tense and cry before defecation due to lack of coordination. To help, give them more drinks and fiber-rich foods, and limit white bread and fine grain porridges. This will help them adjust to digesting something other than milk.

When constipation affects children after 1 year of age

Dried fruits, such as raisins, figs and plums, should be given to children with constipation. Probiotics and lactulose syrup can also help. Movement and a light clockwise massage can also help.

How to recognize and treat hemorrhoids in children?

Hemorrhoids, also known as hemorrhoids, are a condition that can affect children. Symptoms are comparable to those seen in adults: pain, burning, and occasionally bleeding from the lower intestine. Hemorrhoids in children are treated with home remedies and over-the-counter hemorrhoid medications. Dietary changes and physical activity are the keys to preventing hemorrhoids in children.

Hemorrhoids typically develop as a result of inflammation in the hemorrhoids, which naturally seal the rectum and prevent feces from overflowing. Most people get hemorrhoids after age 20, but they can also happen to children and even babies. Hemorrhoids cause pain and bleeding from the rectum. This is why children and their parents usually worry a lot about them. Why do kids get them, and what can be done about them?

Childhood hemorrhoids: causes

Hemorrhoids in children are rare. Their causes are most often:

  • sitting on hard surfaces
  • constipation in children ,
  • straining during defecation,
  • sitting on the potty for too long (leads to the accumulation of more blood in the pelvic area, which promotes the formation of hemorrhoids),
  • improper diet (too little water, fruit and vegetables),
  • sedentary lifestyle,
  • inflammatory bowel disease ,
  • tendency inherited from parents.

Additionally, a child’s frequent and intense rage or tensing can increase the pressure in the abdomen, which in turn causes the development of hemorrhoids in kids.

Symptoms of hemorrhoids in children

When hemorrhoids are inflamed, they swell, get clogged, and sometimes bleed. There is pain, burning, and trouble sitting or falling asleep. Small children who can’t yet tell what’s wrong with them may react by crying, getting angry, or being restless. This is why parents need to be careful.

Symptoms of hemorrhoids in children include:

  • pain,
  • burning and itching of the anus ,
  • rectal bleeding ,
  • bright red streaks of blood in the stool
  • mucus discharge from the anus,
  • crying during defecation
  • hard, dry stools.

Varicose veins in children can be hidden in the anal canal, where they are called “internal hemorrhoids,” or they can be seen as small red or blue bumps at the anus (so-called external hemorrhoids). If the illness isn’t taken care of quickly, the child will also be scared to go to the bathroom. This can cause more constipation, perianal fissures (painful cracks in the anal mucosa), bowel movements that don’t go all the way through, fever, and even feces that come back up. As hemorrhoids get worse, they can make it hard to walk or even sit down.

Children’s hemorrhoids: how to identify them

If you think your child has hemorrhoids, you should call your child’s pediatrician. A doctor can make a diagnosis by looking at a person’s body and hearing about their health. In some cases, a colonoscopy needs to be done on the child. The specialist needs to think about whether or not your child’s symptoms are caused by something other than hemorrhoids. Children with rectal polyps, anal fissures, warts, or other growths may think they have hemorrhoids.

Taking care of children’s hemorrhoids

We need to act comprehensively. In the emergency treatment of hemorrhoids in children, the following are used:

  • chamomile or oak bark infusions (also check out other home remedies for hemorrhoids ),
  • suppositories and ointments that relieve inflammation, and at the same time pain and itching of the anus (check the leaflet if they can be used in children)
  • remedies for constipation for children , which facilitate defecation,
  • frequent hygiene around the anus and the use of special preparations for intimate hygiene of the anus, which remove and regenerate skin irritation.

Long-term treatment for hemorrhoids in children is based on making sure they eat well, stay active, and have good bowel habits. Doctors say that you should get your child in the habit of going to the bathroom at the same time every day.

Hemorrhoids in children and diet

Diet is essential for preventing hemorrhoids in children. It should include a high-residue diet, elimination of sugar and sweets, avoidance of carbohydrates and fats, eating meals regularly, increasing the amount of drinking, and increasing the amount of movement to speed up intestinal peristalsis. These rules should be followed to prevent hemorrhoids in children.

Debunking myths: Does sugar cause hyperactivity in children?

Every parent knows what happens at a children’s party when the bowls of sweet snacks are already empty. Slightly withdrawn so far, the little ones begin to show their wild nature, bouncing off the walls and making sounds of intensity similar to that of a jet taking off. It should come as no surprise, then, that many parents consider sugar to be the cause of this turn of events.

The opinion that sweets cause hyperactivity, hyperactivity and difficulty in concentration in children has been known for a long time (in 1973, pediatrician and allergist Benjamin Feingold initiated the view that artificial colors, flavors and salicylates added to food cause hyperactivity in children). It may surprise you all the more that scientific research does not confirm it at all. This is one of the most popular health myths.

Does sugar cause hyperactivity in children?

Sugar does not cause hyperactivity and hyperactivity in children, but it may have little effect in only a few children, according to a scientific study.

An analysis of research was published in the journal JAMA in 90s, which showed that “sugar (mainly sucrose) does not affect the behavior and cognitive abilities of children”. It has not been reported that children become hyperactive or have problems with attention in any particular way after consuming sugar. Although the authors of the study, led by Dr. Mark Wolraich, noted that some subgroups of children may respond slightly more than others to sugar intake. However, these are not significant changes.

Another study showed how strong the “placebo effect” is for this popular myth. The researchers gave boys between the ages of 5 and 7 a drink sweetened with an artificial sweetener (aspartame) and then informed some mothers that their children had received a sugar-sweetened liquid. These women were more likely to rate their children’s behavior as hyperactive. In a staged game involving boys and their mothers, it was also noted that they paid attention to their children more times and kept them closer than mothers who were not told that participants had received sugar.

Scientists dealing with children’s behavior believe that the opinion about the effect of sweets on overstimulation of the child is due to coincidence. Children are more active during play, such as a birthday party, because they are excited and happy, not because they have sugar in their bodies. The presence of sweets at such meetings only strengthens the parents’ belief in its impact on the behavior of children.

Sugar, especially that added to drinks and foods, is a component of the diet that you need to be very careful about. Excessive consumption leads to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cancer, so experts recommend limiting sugar to 10% of a person’s energy needs, and preferably to 5%. In a child, this limit will be 3-5 teaspoons of sugar per day.

Children’s nutritional recommendations on sugar show that:

Excessive consumption of sugar-rich foods leads to a deficiency of important nutrients: vitamins (A, E, C, B and folic acid) and minerals (e.g. calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc).

Eating too much sugar is associated with the risk of developing tooth decay. Children who eat sweets several times a day are more likely to have tooth decay and lose their teeth prematurely compared to children who consume sweets occasionally. Above all, sweetened beverages and sweets should be limited.

Children can eat sweet , fresh, unprocessed fruit and natural sugars derived from dairy products without major restrictions.

Healthy sweets for children : how to buy, what to avoid

Do healthy sweets for children exist? Here are suggestions of healthy children’s sweet snacks

Healthy sweets for children are those that do not contain excess sugar, do not contain some artificial sweeteners and other substances that are food additives, but may be harmful to health. The healthiest sweets are those prepared at home from natural ingredients. They are sweet, but at the same time provide many valuable nutrients

Healthy sweets for children is every parent’s dream. Although the shelves in stores are full of sweets, hardly any product can be considered healthy. The second thing is the amount – a small portion of sweets given once in a while to a healthy child will not hurt. On the other hand, often and in large portions, sweets, even those considered healthier, will not contribute to the child’s health.

Healthy sweets for children – how to choose?

Excess sugar in the diet is just one, albeit a serious problem. Consumed in excess, it promotes overweight, can adversely affect the intestinal bacterial flora and contribute to tooth decay. However, sweets, especially those ready-made, available in stores, can contain many other ingredients unfavorable to health. In addition, a product labeled "sugar-free" does not have to be healthier than the one in which sugar is found.

Therefore, when buying something sweet for a child, you need to read product labels and put only those that do not contain:

  • hydrogenated fat,
  • aspartame,
  • saccharins,
  • sodium benzoate,
  • sulfur dioxide,
  • arabic gum,
  • phosphoric acid,
  • food colors marked from E100 to E199,
  • artificial flavors,
  • carrageenan.

Healthy sweets for children from the store .Is it possible?

Theoretically yes, but in principle it is better to recognize that all sweets are not healthy, especially when eaten often and/or in excess . Even sweets with reduced sugar content and no harmful substances in the composition, although eaten occasionally will not hurt, if eaten too often, they can have an adverse effect on the health and weight of the child.

What is the healthiest of sweets for children

Healthy sweets are those that, apart from sugar or its healthy substitute, also contain other nutrients . The healthiest among sweets can be considered:

  • dark chocolate – contains relatively little sugar, but provides microelements, vitamins and substances beneficial to health, e.g. flavonoids
  • ice cream with a short, natural composition – contain calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, potassium

and protein.

  • sponge cake – does not contain a lot of fat, contains eggs, in addition to carbohydrates also provides

protein

  • homemade cold cheesecake – contains, m.in. protein and calcium and not too much sugar
  • Homemade pudding – preferably from milk, wheat and potato flour with a small amount of sugar, but e.g. with the addition of cocoa
  • oatmeal cookies with dried fruit – provide protein, healthy fats, vitamins and valuable microelements, as well as fiber
  • jelly with fruit and without artificial colors (in 100 g 60 kcal, not counting fruit).

What instead of sweets for children?

Sweets such as buying bars and candies are best replaced with homemade sweets. When preparing them, you can control the amount of sugar used in their preparation or replace it with a substitute, e.g. xylitol, which is less caloric and does not spoil your teeth.

Fruit or fruit mousses are also a good substitute, but it should be remembered that there should be no excess fruit in the diet , because they are a rich source of carbohydrates. The least healthy are juices and mousses, which are deprived of most of the fiber. And it is fiber that slows down the absorption and increase in blood sugar levels. For this reason, it is healthiest to eat fruit with the peel. You can smuggle it to your child by preparing a homemade fruit and vegetable smoothie for him, mixing e.g. apple pieces with peel and carrot pieces. It should also be remembered that fresh fruit is much less caloric than dried fruit, e.g. dried fruits.

Fruit yoghurts are also a good idea, preferably prepared from natural yogurt with pieces of fruit or fruit mousse (mixed strawberries, raspberries, crushed banana, etc.).

Breathing difficulties in newborns

Breathing difficulties are common soon after birth and can include apnea, blue color, grunts, wheezes, vibration of the nose, poor appetite, and rapid breathing. Contractions between the ribs, stomach, and collarbone are often seen as an expression of struggling to breathe.

What could it be?

Respiratory distress syndrome, meconium aspiration syndrome, and other uncommon causes can cause breathing difficulties in newborns, but they are typically harmless and transient. 


Transient rapid breathing

The most common cause of breathing difficulties in newborns is residual amniotic fluid in the lung tissue after birth. It manifests immediately after birth or within two hours, and symptoms can last from a few hours to a few days. X-ray of the lungs can show typical changes.

Respiratory distress syndrome

The lungs’ immaturity and a deficiency in surfactant, which speeds up lung maturation, are the causes of respiratory distress syndrome. It is more common among boys and is six times higher in infants born to mothers with diabetes. It is suspected when grunting, withdrawals, and other symptoms of discomfort are observed in premature babies soon after birth. X-rays can show typical changes.

Meconium aspiration syndrome

Meconium is a “contaminated” amniotic fluid containing waste from the fetus. It is locally irritating and prevents air from entering the lungs. It can be an expression of oxygen deficiency or stress in the child inside the womb. Meconium-stained amniotic fluid occurs in 10-15% of births and causes breathing difficulties immediately after birth. X-rays of the lungs can also show changes.


Pneumonia

Bacteria that have entered the lungs are to blame. In the case of a prolonged birth after the amniotic fluid has broken, premature birth, and fever in the mother during birth, there is an increased risk of pneumonia in the new-born child. This is a less common cause than the others mentioned above. The disease can progress in a variety of ways, but the most noticeable symptoms are difficulty breathing and fever. Breathing difficulties are only detected hours to days after birth because the condition develops over time. Lung X-rays can reveal typical changes. Bacteria can be found in blood.

Rarer causes

A lung puncture (pneumothorax) can happen for no apparent reason or as a result of another complication. The incidence is 1-2% among children born at term, but rises to around 6% in premature births. Certain congenital malformations, such as congenital heart disease, nervous system damage, and congenital metabolic diseases.

The diagnosis

The time of birth in relation to the due date tells us a lot about what condition is present. Any clarification of birth-related issues can also provide hints about the underlying cause. The medical exam is critical. Other tests that may be called into question include x-rays of the lungs, pulse and oxygen measurements, and blood tests.

Treatment

General measures include oxygen supply, mechanical ventilation (respirator), blood clot prevention, and possibly artificial nutrition if the child is critically ill. If the child is not breathing or is breathing very poorly, resuscitation may be required.

If the child has respiratory distress syndrome, he or she is given surfactant and cortisol, preferably before birth 3-4. It was previously common in the case of meconium aspiration syndrome to suck the contaminated amniotic fluid up from the airways. Recent research has revealed that it is not always necessary. Temporary breathing difficulties require only oxygen supplementation because the condition resolves on its own.

Forecast

Children who survive respiratory distress syndrome frequently require extensive hospitalization. These children have a lower quality of life after discharge, are weakened due to the condition’s impact on the nervous system and muscles, have poorer mental development than other children, and are at a higher risk of dying.

8 myths about angina in children. Every parent should know them

Can you go outside if you have angina? Do the symptoms of strep throat go away after the first dose of antibiotics? Can this infection infect babies? We dispel the myths surrounding bacterial angina in children. Treatment will be more effective as a result of this knowledge.

Purulent angina, also known as bacterial tonsillitis in children and adolescents, is a very common infection. It is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, also known as group A streptococci. As a result, it is also known as strep throat. There are many myths surrounding it because it is a common disease that can be difficult to treat. Here are a few examples.

Angina does not need to be treated with antibiotics

Bacterial angina should be treated with antibiotics, mainly penicillins, to reduce the infection in the short term. It is important to take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, as premature discontinuation increases bacterial resistance and the risk of re-infection and complications.

Very young children do not get strep throat

Young children and infants can get strep throat, but it is rare. Symptoms include irritability, crying, refusing to eat, fever, and runny nose. Children and adolescents aged 5-15 years are most often affected, accounting for up to 30% of acute throat infections.

White patches on the tonsils always mean strep throat

White patches on the tonsils are a characteristic symptom of angina, but they may indicate other diseases. If a child or teenager develops white patches on the tonsils, along with a severe sore throat, fever, and weakness, it is highly likely that streptococci are to blame. A test for Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) in a swab from the throat and tonsils is recommended.

A positive strep test requires antibiotics

A positive strep test does not mean the child needs to take antibiotics. Many children are carriers of strep and will test positive even when they are asymptomatic. The most effective diagnostic test is culture, which involves collecting bacteria and growing colonies in the laboratory. However, this method requires time (up to 3 days) which is not available when it is necessary to implement treatment quickly.

There is a vaccine against strep throat

There is no vaccine against type A streptococci, a neglected group of bacteria, but there is a vaccine against other types of strep (pneumococcal vaccine) which is compulsory for children.

You don’t get angina in the summer

Strep throat is most common between winter and spring, but can develop at any time of the year due to sudden changes in temperature, such as cold drinks, ice cream, bathing in cold water, and moving from an air-conditioned room to the outside.

You can go outside with strep throat

The most important details are that a child during angina treatment should stay at home, rest and drink plenty of fluids, and go for a short walk when they are no longer bothered by fever, weakness or chills. If it is sunny, it is even worth doing so, as the sun releases vitamin D which improves immunity.

Improvement should occur after just one dose of antibiotic

The symptoms of angina do not disappear immediately after the administration of an antibiotic, so the patient is given antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. If there is no improvement after 2-3 days of treatment, the patient should go back to the doctor. If symptoms worsen despite treatment, an appointment should be made as soon as possible.

High blood pressure affects up to 5% of children. Discover 5 myths about childhood hypertension.

High blood pressure can affect children and adolescents, and health awareness is growing, but there are still many myths about it.

Hypertension is a common condition that can lead to serious complications, such as a heart attack or stroke. Old age is a risk factor, but children and young people are also at risk. Blood pressure is not routinely measured in small patients, but it can be a flag of a “hidden” serious condition. High blood pressure should be checked not only in adults. Here are the facts and myths about high blood pressure in children.

MYTH 1. Children cannot have high blood pressure

Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that 1 in 25 people aged 12–19 have high blood pressure, and 1 in 10 has prehypertension. 2-5% of children have hypertension, and a similar percentage of young people have too high blood pressure. Blood pressure norms for children are different from those for adults, and should be related to gender, age, and height.

MYTH 2. Children do not need to have their blood pressure checked

Every healthy child over the age of three should have their blood pressure checked at least once a year. This is a preventive examination that is highly recommended. Regular measurements are taken in children under the age of three in the following cases:

  • prematurity,
  • organ transplantation or bone marrow transplantation,
  • tumors,
  • congenital heart defects,
  • use of medicines that affect blood pressure.

Thanks to blood pressure control, we can detect a troubling symptom early, which sometimes indicates another serious disease, thanks to blood pressure control. Blood pressure measurements for your child can be taken at home or by a doctor during an office visit.

MYTH 3. A child without any disease cannot have high blood pressure

Children have essential hypertension, which is caused by lack of exercise, overweight and poor diet. Genetic predisposition is also important, and the risk of hypertension is higher in children taking certain medications or stimulants. The younger the child, the more likely it is to be caused by other conditions.

MYTH 4. A blood pressure spike in a child is indicated by a nosebleed

Hypertension is usually asymptomatic, but can cause clinical symptoms such as nosebleeds. Causes can include trauma, weakness, infection, medications, and more. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, tiredness, headache, dizziness, seizures, loss of consciousness, and visual or consciousness disturbances.

MYTH 5. A simple blood pressure monitor is enough to measure a child’s blood pressure

Only use upper arm blood pressure monitors rather than wrist blood pressure monitors. The most important aspect is the cuff, which children do not use in the same way that adults do. To achieve the desired result, the cuff must be adjusted to the child’s age and, preferably, the circumference of the child’s arm. The following are the standard dimensions:

  • newborn cuff: width 4 cm, length 8 cm,
  • infant cuff: width 6 cm, length 12 cm,
  • cuff for older children: width 9 cm, length 18 cm.

A cuff that is too narrow or too wide will cause the result to be high or low. 


Preventing hypertension in children is primarily the task of parents. Help your child maintain a healthy weight through physical activity and nutritious, healthy meals.

  • Be a role model for your child!Introduce daily physical activity and healthy meals into your home routine, including plenty of fruit, vegetables, groats and other whole grain products – the fiber contained in them has a positive effect on the blood pressure level.
  • Limit the salt in your baby’s food (sodium raises blood pressure).
  • Give your child a healthy breakfast to school every day , including fruit or vegetables.
  • Avoid foods high in sugars and saturated fats.
  • Limit sugary carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. Instead, convince your child to drink water.
  • Help your child choose sports that he/she likes and will suit his/her abilities.
  • Help shape healthy habits in the school environment .

Abdominal pain in children: possible causes and tips

Children often have stomach pains when they are ill or when something is bothering them, and how parents should react

Abdominal pain
Photo by Maria Lindsey Content Creator on Pexels.com

One of the most typical complaints in children is abdominal pain. They can result from infections or digestive problems and are typically not harmful. Psychological stress, such as that from school, may also be the cause of children’s abdominal pain. 

You can find out from us why children’s stomach pain can be a sign of both physical and mental problems, when it is a must to see a doctor, and how parents can deal with stomach pain in their kids. 

Digestive problems, like flatulence and not going to the bathroom often enough, are the most common cause of abdominal pain in both children and adults. Constipation can be tackled with home remedies, but a doctor should take a look at smaller children. Infections, such as the gastrointestinal tract, can also cause abdominal pain. Food intolerances, too many sweets, and eating too much can also cause stomach aches.


Pain in the abdomen is usually felt around the navel. Constipation, excessive eating, or an infection in its early stages can all be the cause of it. However, other conditions such as appendicitis, urinary tract infections, and kidney pelvic inflammation can also cause a child to experience abdominal pain. You should see a doctor right away if any of the following symptoms also appear in addition to the abdominal pain:

  • Acute and severe pain in the lower right abdomen (suspected appendicitis)
  • pale, sallow skin and poor general condition
  • fever and chills
  • hard abdominal wall
  • diarrhea and/or vomiting
  • blood in stool or vomit
  • Persistent or recurring abdominal pain


abdominal pain in children due to psychological stress

If there are no physical reasons for the child’s stomach pain, it’s likely due to mental or social problems. This could be problems at school or pressure to do well, fear of an upcoming appointment or task, or even just a fight with your best friend. Doctors also refer to this kind of abdominal pain as “non-specific abdominal pain.”

They happen because the brain and gut are always talking to each other and can therefore affect each other. In research, this connection between the gut and the brain is also called the gut-brain axis. If a child isn’t doing well because it’s scared, stressed, or under a lot of pressure, it may feel pain in the stomach. They are not just in the child’s mind; they are real.

Tips and home remedies for stomach pain in children

You should always take your child to the doctor if he or she has sudden, severe stomach pain or if it happens along with other symptoms like a bad mood, fever, or vomiting. If the pain in the stomach isn’t very clear, most kids feel better with warmth, rest, and attention. A massage of the stomach or herbal teas like chamomile, fennel, caraway, or anise can also help. You should also ask the child how they are doing or if something is bothering them.

If a child often has gas or has trouble going to the bathroom, they should eat a high-fiber diet with lots of fruit, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Plain yoghurt or flaxseed can help with digestion, and dried fruit that has been soaked can be a quick fix. Additionally, children should exercise a lot and drink a lot of water, unsweetened tea or juice. Additionally, a abdominal pain diary should be kept to record what was eaten, when the abdominal pain occurred, how severe it was, and in which area of the abdomen it occurred.