Monday, May 19, 2014 C7
HEALTH HITS & MYTHS ................................................ Sasha Gonzales life@scmp.com
Too much screen time for children is not just detrimental physically but can inhibit communication skills, writes Sunory Dutt Q: Can over-the-counter cough syrups really kill a cough? The straight answer: No
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s a mother screams on the delivery table, her newborn suddenly pops out and cuts the umbilical cord after googling how to do it on his father’s tablet. The baby then grabs the nurse’s phone and Instagrams a selfie, crawls to a laptop on the floor and signs into multiple social networking sites, and uses a GPS to find his way out of the hospital. This recent “Born for the Internet” ad campaign by mobile service provider MTS for its 3G Plus network is a bit extreme, but it’s not uncommon these days to see babies and toddlers swiping away on their parents’ touch screen gadgets. Evidence from an increasing number of research studies suggests that limiting a child’s screen time is the best approach. Screen time includes watching television and using the internet and other electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets and video games. Children get more sleep, do better in school, behave better and see other health benefits when parents limit content and the amount of time their children spend on the computer or in front of the TV, according to a study by Iowa State University published in March in JAMA Pediatrics. At an American College of Cardiology conference in March, University of Michigan researchers presented findings from a study of more than 1,000 sixth graders from 24 middle schools in southeast Michigan. They found that children who had more screen time snacked more often and were more likely to choose less healthy snacks. Many studies have established positive correlations between excessive TV and video game use and weight gain among children. But the effects aren’t just physical – children who spend most of their time on electronic devices tend to be more insular and lacking in communication skills. “Modern electronic devices like smartphones, computers and tablets are useful resources to get children engaged in learning language, but they cannot be the only medium of acquiring language,” says speech-language pathologist Arthur Fang. The first two years are the most crucial in a child’s development. Early childhood is critical for brain development and formation of behaviour. Between two and four, even incremental television exposure
ZONED OUT can delay development. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations for children’s screen time: for those under two years of age, it discourages any screen time. For older children, no more than two hours daily. Further, it suggests keeping media devices out of children’s bedrooms, keeping family routines like mealtimes screen-free, and setting screen-free days for the whole family. The Hong Kong Health Department adopts similar recommendations. Parents should encourage children to participate in physical activities and offer them various options to develop their skills. “When you get to three or four hours each day, that screen time crowds out other important activities that babies and young kids should be engaging in: looking at books, going for walks or playing outside,” says Dr Matthew Davis, a professor of health management and policy
LAB REPORT .......................................... Jeanette Wang jeanette.wang@scmp.com
Too much intensive exercise puts heart at risk Overdosing on high-intensity exercise may increase the risk of death from a heart attack or stroke in those with existing heart disease, according to a German study published online. The frequency and intensity of physical activity of more than 1,000 people with stable coronary artery heart disease were tracked for 10 years. Most were in their 60s and all had attended a cardiac rehabilitation programme. The least physically active were about twice as likely to have a heart attack/stroke as those who were regularly active and about four times as likely to die of cardiovascular and other causes. But those who did the most strenuous daily exercise were more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack/stroke. Other studies have agreed with this, linking endurance training to an acute (reversible) pro-inflammatory state.
at the University of Michigan. In a poll taken in March that involved 560 parents of children under the age of five, the Michigan researchers found that about a quarter of parents said their children got three or more hours of screen time a day. Prolonged screen time also leads to short-sightedness (myopia), already a prevalent problem in children. In a two-year study by Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong Paediatric Foundation that involved more than 5,000 schoolchildren aged between
Screen time crowds out other activities that kids should be engaging in MATTHEW DAVIS, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
five and 19, it was found that about 70 per cent did not maintain the correct minimum distance from the eyes to the screen when using digital electronic gadgets or computer screens. The recommended distance is at least 50cm from notebooks and computers, at least 40cm for tablets or ebook readers, and at least 30cm for smartphones. How can parents limit their children’s screen time? The key solution is for them to be good role models themselves. The amount of time they spend in front of a screen is closely associated with their parents’ own habits, say University of Bristol researchers. In a study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, they found that children were 3.4 times more likely to spend more than two hours a day watching television if their parents did the same, compared with children whose parents watched less TV.
Two large meals beats six snacks Research in Diabetologia suggests that two large meals (breakfast and lunch), rather than six small meals with the same calories, are better for controlling weight and blood sugar for type-2 diabetics. The study assessed 54 patients (29 men, 25 women) aged from 30 to 70. They were asked to follow one of two regimens of a restricted calorie diet, each containing 500 calories less than the recommended daily amount. Half ate six small meals and the others two large meals – breakfast and lunch. After 12 weeks they swapped. The diets had the same macronutrient and calorie content. Liver fat content, insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta cell (which release insulin) function were measured. The authors say: “Eating only breakfast and lunch reduced body weight, liver fat content, fasting plasma glucose, C-peptide and glucagon, and increased insulin sensitivity more than the same caloric restriction split into six meals.” Olive oil supplements for air pollution woes Olive oil supplements may counteract some adverse vascular effects of air pollution, according to a recent study. “Exposure to airborne particulate matter can cause the inner lining of blood vessels not to function normally,” says lead author Dr Haiyan Tong. “Olive oil and fish oil are known to have beneficial effects on this endothelial function.” In the study, 42 adults took olive oil, fish oil or no supplements for four weeks, before two-hour exposures to filtered air. The next day they were exposed to particulate matter. Significant reductions in flow-mediated dilation were observed in the control and fish oil groups, against a more minor decrease in the olive oil group. A protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots increased immediately after exposure in the olive oil group lasting for up to 20 hours.
The “Born for the Internet” baby: way too much screen time. Among the five- and six-yearold children from 1,078 families, 12 per cent of boys and 8 per cent of girls watched more than two hours of television on a weekday, with 30 per cent of parents exceeding this threshold. Figures were much higher at weekends, with 45 per cent of boys, 42 per cent of girls, 57 per cent of fathers and 53 per cent of mothers watching more than two hours of television each day. “The results highlight that any guidance related to excessive screen viewing should
involve both parents and children,” says Dr Sanjay Thakrar, research adviser at the British Heart Foundation. Another good approach to limiting screen time is through location rather than counting minutes. “It’s easier to say no smartphones at the table, than watch the clock,” says Davis. Dr Theodote Pontikes, paediatric psychiatrist at Loyola University Health System in Illinois, suggests parents discuss with their children and set limits together. At the same time they need to help them understand why limits are needed. “You don’t need to follow your child on Twitter or friend them on Facebook, but make sure you’re communicating face-to-face,” says Pontikes. “A relationship has to be about more than social media. Make sure you are having intentional face-to-face time with your kids and encourage them to have more personal interactions with their friends.” life@scmp.com
The facts: Over-the-counter cough medications are convenient for people who have no time to visit the doctor and are looking for immediate comfort from chest congestion and a sore throat. Many think that these cough syrups are the answer to clearing up a cough, but this is not the case, says Dr Cheng Chor-ho, a family physician from Town Health Medical Centre. “Over-the-counter cough syrups cannot kill or inactivate the viruses that have caused the cough, nor can they suppress the cough,” he says. “All they do is have a soothing effect on the throat.” Most cough mixtures bought over the counter contain cocillana, a herbal remedy to loosen phlegm; guaiphenesin, to relieve chest congestion; and phenylephrine hydrochloride, to relieve a stuffy nose and clear sinuses. They are mild medications that can help relieve the discomfort from a minor cough and the common cold. “But really, the best treatment for these ailments and other simple upper respiratory tract infections is adequate rest, coupled with plenty of fluids. Over time, your symptoms should improve,” Cheng says. Prescribed cough medication is more effective at controlling a cough because it typically contains codeine, but the side effects are greater than if you were to take an over-the-counter variety. For example, you may experience dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, or even respiratory suppression if the medication is taken in high doses. “Coughing is a reflex to help us clear any secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes that may be in our airway, so if you have a mild cough it’s best to just ride it out instead of trying to get rid of it,” Cheng says. “Cough mixtures are useful if the cough is affecting your sleep as they help to provide temporary relief. However, it’s important to note that prolonged use of these over-thecounter medications can be dangerous, as they may delay the diagnosis of serious illnesses such as asthma, chest infection and lung cancer.” So, while over-the-counter cough syrups are convenient because they save you a doctor’s visit, it’s important to stop taking them and to seek professional medical advice if your symptoms have not improved after a few days.