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PG. 2 - DO CHILDREN GET MIGRAINE HEADACHES? WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW.
PG. 3 - HELPING CHILDREN MAKE FRIENDS:
Do children get migraine headaches? What parents need to know
Claire McCarthy, M.D., Harvard Health Blog, Premium Health News Service
Headaches are very common in children and teens. In fact, more than half will suffer from headaches at some point, and by 18 years the majority of adolescents have had them. And while most headaches are part of a viral illness, some are migraines. In fact, recurring migraines affect as many as one in 10 children and teens overall.
What should you know — and do — if you think your child or teen may be having migraines?
HOW EARLY DO MIGRAINES START TO OCCUR?
We don’t tend to think about migraines in children, but by age 10, one in 20 children has had a migraine. And migraines sometimes occur even earlier.
Before puberty, boys and girls are equally likely to have them. After puberty, migraines are more common in girls.
WHICH MIGRAINE SYMPTOMS ARE MOST COMMON IN CHILDREN?
Migraines are often one-sided in adults. In children they are more likely to be felt on both sides of the head, either in both temples or both sides of the forehead.
While it’s not always easy to tell a migraine from another kind of headache, children:
• often report throbbing pain
• may experience nausea and sensitivity to light and noise
The flashing lights and other vision changes people often see as a migraine begins are less common in children. However, parents may notice that their child is more tired, irritable or pale before a migraine begins — and takes a while to get back to normal after it ends. WHAT CAUSES MIGRAINES IN CHILDREN?
We don’t know exactly what causes migraines. We used to think it had to do with blood flow to the brain, but that does not seem to be the case. It appears that migraines are caused by the nerves being more sensitive, and more reactive to stimulation. That stimulation could be stress, fatigue, hunger, almost anything.
Migraines run in families. In fact, most migraine sufferers have someone in the family who gets migraines too. CAN MIGRAINES BE PREVENTED?
The best way to prevent migraines is to identify and avoid triggers. The triggers are different in each person, which is why it’s a good idea to keep a headache diary.
When your child gets a headache, write down what was happening before the headache, how badly it hurt and where, what helped and anything else about it you can think of. This helps you and your doctor see patterns that can help you understand your child’s particular triggers.
It’s a good idea to make sure your child gets enough sleep, eats regularly and healthfully, drinks water regularly, gets exercise and manages stress. Doing this not only helps prevent migraines, but is also good for overall health! HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD EASE A MIGRAINE?
When a migraine strikes, sometimes just lying down in a dark, quiet room with a cool cloth on the forehead is enough. If it’s not, ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be helpful; your doctor can tell you the best dose for your child.
It’s important not to give your child these medications more than about 14 days a month, as giving them more often can lead to rebound headaches and make everything worse! ARE THERE PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES THAT CAN HELP CHILDREN WITH MIGRAINES?
If those approaches aren’t enough, a class of medications called triptans can be helpful in stopping migraines in children ages 6 and up.
If a child experiences frequent or severe migraines, leading to missed days of school or otherwise interfering with life, doctors often use medications to prevent migraines. There are a number of different kinds, and your doctor can advise you on what would be best for your child.
Some girls get migraines around the time of their period. If that happens frequently, sometimes taking a prevention medicine around the time of menses each month can be helpful.
WHEN TO
CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR
If you think your child might be having migraines, you should call and make an appointment. Bring the headache diary with you. Your doctor will ask a bunch of questions, do a physical examination and make a diagnosis. Together you can come up with the best plan for your child.
You should always call your doctor, or go to an emergency room, if your child has a severe headache, a stiff neck, trouble with coordination or movement, is abnormally sleepy or isn’t talking or behaving normally.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has additional useful information about migraines, and how to treat and prevent them, on their website.
Claire McCarthy, M.D., is a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.
Helping children make friends: What parents can do
Claire McCarthy, M.D., Harvard Health Blog, Premium Health News Service
We all want our child to have friends. We want them to be happy, and to build the social skills and connections that will help them now and in the future.
Sometimes, and for some children, making friends isn’t easy. This is particularly true after the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of isolation and remote school, many children either didn’t learn the skills they need to make friends — or those skills got rusty.
Here are some ways parents can help.
START AT HOME: LEARNING RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
Making and keeping friends involves skills that are best learned at home with your family. Some of them include: Empathy. Make sure that everyone in the family treats each other fairly and with kindness. Sometimes we turn a blind eye to sibling fights, or feel justified in snapping at our partner when we have had a long day. No matter what we say, our children pay attention to what we do.
• Curiosity about others. Make a family habit of asking each other about their day, their interests, their thoughts.
• Communication skills. These days, devices endanger the development of those skills. Shut off the devices. Have family dinners. Talk with each other.
• Cooperation. Do projects, play games and do chores as a family. Work together. Help your child learn about taking turns and valuing the input of others. Regulating emotions. It’s normal to have strong feelings. When your child does, help them find ways to understand big emotions and manage them. Knowing when and how to apologize — and forgive. This really comes under empathy, but teach your child how to apologize for their mistakes, make amends and forgive the mistakes of others.
All of these apply also to how you and your partner talk about — or with — other people in front of your children, too! Science has proven that chronic, low-grade inflammation can turn into a silent killer that contributes to cardiovascular disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes and other conditions. Get simple tips to fight inflammation and stay healthy — from Harvard Medical School experts.
BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL OUTSIDE THE HOME TOO
When you are outside your home, be friendly! Strike up conversations, ask questions of people around you. Help your child learn confidence and strategies for talking to people they don’t know.
MAKE INTERACTIONS EASIER
Conversations and interactions can be easier if they are organized around a common interest or activity. Here are some ways parents can help:
• Sign your child up for sports or other activities that involve their peers. Make sure it’s something they have at least some interest in doing.
When planning playdates, think about fun, cooperative activities — like baking cookies, or going to a park or museum.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR CHILD — BUT DON’T HOVER
Ultimately, your child needs to learn to do this — and you don’t want to embarrass them, either. The two exceptions might be:
If the children aren’t interacting at all, you might want to suggest some options for activities. Facilitate as necessary, and step back out again.
• If there is fighting or meanness on either side, you should step in and make it clear that such behavior isn’t OK.
KEEP AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION, AND BE SUPPORTIVE
• Get to know the parents of some of your child’s peers — and invite them all to an outing or meal. It could allow the children to get to know each other while taking some of the pressure off.
Talk with your child regularly about their day, about their interactions and how things made them feel. Listen more than you talk. Be positive and supportive. Remember that part of being supportive is understanding your child’s personality and seeing the world from their eyes. You can’t make your child someone they are not.
IF YOUR CHILD KEEPS STRUGGLING WITH MAKING FRIENDS, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
All parents need help sometimes — and sometimes there is more to the problem than meets the eye. This is particularly true if your child has ADHD or another diagnosis that could make interactions more challenging.
For information on supporting friendships at different ages, check out the advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Claire McCarthy, M.D. is a senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing
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Family finances: College students will pay more to borrow
Sandra Block, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Kiplinger’s Money Power
Signs that inflation is easing have reignited hopes that the Federal Reserve Board will reduce interest rates as early as this summer. But even if that happens, the rate cut will come too late for thousands of college students and their families.
The interest rate for federal undergraduate student loans disbursed between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, will be 6.53%, the highest rate in 16 years. The rate for federal Parent PLUS loans, which parents can take out to cover the cost of a child’s college attendance, will jump to 9.08%, a 33-year high.
Interest rates for federal student loans are adjusted annually, based on the high yield of the last 10-year Treasury auction in May. The rate is fixed for the life of the loan, even if overall interest rates decline. However, because rates are fixed, outstanding federal student loans won’t be affected. For example, if you took out a federal student loan between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, your rate remains at 5.5%.
As college costs continue to rise, the rate increase will make it even more difficult for families to pay for college. Although loans from private lenders may offer more-competitive rates, they’re available only to students who have a co-signer with excellent credit, says Mark Kantrowitz, author of How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid.
Plus, parents who co-sign are on the hook if the primary borrower defaults, and their credit history could suffer if the borrower misses or makes late payments. In addition, private student loans typically lack many important features of federal student loans, including deferment, income-based repayment and loan forgiveness, Kantrowitz says.
A better strategy for both students and their parents is to limit debt as much as possible. Students who stay within the thresholds for federal student loans are unlikely to overborrow, Kantrowitz says. In 2024, the maximum an undergraduate dependent student can borrow in subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans is $5,500 for the first year, $6,500 for the second year, and $7,500 for the third year and beyond; the total limit on borrowing is $31,000.
If that’s insufficient to cover college costs, parents can take out PLUS loans up to the total cost of a child’s attendance, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea — especially at current interest rates. Kantrowitz recommends that parents limit total borrowing for all their children’s college education to the amount of their annual income. If you plan to retire in 10 years or less, you should borrow proportionately less — half of your annual income if you plan to retire in five years, for example, he says. Sandra Block is a senior editor at Kiplinger
Carolyn Casner, EatingWell, Entrée
These delicious and unbelievably simple pancakes are best enjoyed right after cooking. With just eggs and a banana, you can have healthy grain-free pancakes with no added sugar. Serve with maple syrup and yogurt or ricotta cheese to add in some protein.
TWO-INGREDIENT
BANANA PANCAKES
Serves 2 Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
2 large eggs 1 medium banana
1. Puree eggs and banana in a blender until smooth.
2. Lightly oil a large nonstick skillet and heat over medium heat.
4. Using a thin spatula, gently flip the pancakes and cook until browned on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes more.
5. Transfer the pancakes to a plate. Lightly oil the pan again and repeat with the remaining batter.
Potassium: 280 mg, Iron: 1 mg, Folate: 35 mcg, Calcium: 31 mg, Vitamin A: 308 IU, Vitamin C: 5 mg. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. EatingWell: No time in the morning? No problem. These
3. Using 2 tablespoons of batter for each pancake, drop 4 mounds of batter into the pan. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface and the edges look dry, 2 to 4 minutes.
Recipe nutrition per serving: 124 Calories, Total Fat: 5 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 186 mg, Carbohydrates: 14 g, Fiber: 2 g, Total Sugars:
Seriously Simple: Ollie’s noodles are for kids and adults alike
Diane Rossen Worthington, Tribune Content Agency, Entrée
My 18-month-old grandson loves these noodles with peanut sauce. I noticed that he slurped them up whenever we ordered them while dining out, so I decided that they should be easy to make for my overworked, mother-of-two daughter. And I wanted to make sure that the chicken would stay crispy and that the peanut sauce would be just spicy enough for kids and adults.
This recipe is best made by preparing the ingredients ahead of time. That means marinating the chicken pieces in the soy sauce-cornstarch dip and making the peanut sauce and noodles in advance so the dish is Seriously Simple to put together. I prefer low-sodium soy sauce to avoid oversalting the dish.
Once the marinated chicken is ready and you’ve made the sauce and cooked the noodles, you are ready to put this together. Make sure your wok or large nonstick skillet is very hot and then stir-fry the chicken pieces until all sides are crisp and the chicken is cooked through. I set aside the chicken to keep it crispy.
After that is it time to cook the noodles and carrots and optional green veggies. Stir-fry for about a minute and then add the peanut sauce so that the noodles become flavored by the sauce. Add the cooked chicken at the end so you keep it crisp, and move the ingredients all around so that everything is well blended. Transfer to a bowl, garnish with scallions.
This is such a great dish to transport, as it keeps its flavor and texture. If you prefer a spicier dish, add crushed red pepper flakes to the noodles.
OLLIE’S NOODLES WITH CRISPY CHICKEN AND PEANUT
SAUCE
Serves 4 to 6
For the marinade:
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil like canola
1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pound chicken breast strips, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
For the sauce:
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup boiling water
For the noodles:
3/4 pound linguine noodles
1 tablespoon vegetable oil like canola
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup cooked broccoli florets, defrosted shelled edamame or defrosted baby peas, optional
To garnish:
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1. In a medium bowl combine the soy sauce, oil and cornstarch and blend together. Add the chicken pieces and coat them all. Marinate for 30 minutes.
2. In a small bowl make the sauce: combine the ginger, peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and boiling water together. Whisk well so that the peanut butter is blended into the sauce. Reserve.
3. Meanwhile cook the noodles per box instructions, drain and rinse so the noodles don’t stick together. Reserve.
4. Heat a wok or large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add the reserved chicken pieces in an even layer and let chicken cook for about a minute. Stir the chicken pieces so that all sides are cooked through and crispy, about another 2 minutes. Remove from wok and save.
5. Add the tablespoon oil and swirl around pan. Then add reserved cooked noodles, shredded carrots and optional green vegetables to the pan. Add the peanut sauce and with a metal or wood spatula move the ingredients around so that the sauce coats the noodles. (Tongs are also good for this.) Add reserved cooked chicken.
6. When the noodles and sauce are very hot, transfer them to a large bowl. Sprinkle the scallions on top and serve immediately. Diane Rossen Worthington is an authority on new American cooking. She is the author of 18 cookbooks, including “Seriously Simple Parties,” and a James Beard Award-winning radio show host. You can contact her at www. seriouslysimple.com.
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What is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly.
Typically begins in childhood and can progress as children grow If not managed properly, myopia can lead to severe vision issues in adulthood, including a higher risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts
Early intervention is crucial to maintain better long-term eye health and to reduce the risk of developing serious vision problems later in life
Improved Vision: Better vision for daily activities such as school and sports.
Long-Term Eye Health: Reduced risk of severe myopia-related complications in adulthood
Enhanced Quality of Life: Clearer vision contributes to overall well-being and confidence in children