Although much of the summer’s sizzle remains, students of all ages will be returning to school in the next couple of weeks. Parents and students should keep preparation for their health, safety, the heat and any chronic conditions in mind.
The St. Louis County Health Department recommends taking children in for physicals and eye exams before school starts. It’s also a good time to get immunizations up to date; get documentation of shot records and to get medical release and permit forms signed by the doctor to take to school.
Food
A good healthy breakfast at the start of a school day is just as important as lunch.
If you pack your children’s lunch, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking kids grocery shopping and allow them to pick out healthy foods that they enjoy. Children are much more likely to eat what is packed for them if they have picked it out themselves.
If children are involved in after-school activities, pack a healthy snack they can eat beforehand. Fruit or vegetable slices, 100 percent fruit juice and whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese are healthy options that will give them the energy they need to make it to dinner.
Lunches brought from home by students to school also need to hold up through the heat. Start with clean hands and pack the lunch the night before so it can refrigerate overnight. Use an insulated container to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot to minimize potential for food-borne illness. Ice packets help when refrigeration is not possible and previously cooked foods should be reheated to at least 165 degrees.
Asthma
Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood disorders in the U.S., affecting an estimated seven million children under age 18.
For children with asthma, Norman H. Edelman, M.D., chief medical officer of the American Lung Association, said parents “should work closely with their healthcare provider and school personnel before the school year begins to put a plan in place for good asthma control in the classroom.”
That means getting a check up before school; knowing asthma triggers at home and those at school; talking with the school nurse to reduce triggers and manage any asthma symptoms at school; getting all required forms for school from your health provider, including an asthma action; and getting an annual flu shot.
Sleep
And now is a good time to start working on a good night’s sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommendations by age:
3-5 year-olds – 11 – 13 hours per day
5-10-year-olds – 10-11 hours per day
10-17-year-olds – 8 – 9 -1/4 hours per day
Adolescents need about eight-and-a-half to nine-and-one-quarter hours of sleep per night, but many don’t get it. Because of early school start times on top of schedules packed with school, homework, friends, and activities, they’re typically chronically sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation adds up over time, so an hour less per night is like a full night without sleep by the end of the week.
Among other things, an insufficient amount of sleep can lead to decreased attentiveness; decreased short-term memory; inconsistent performance; and delayed response time.
Young Adults
If you’re stocking up on Ramen Noodles and decorations for your new dorm room, Kenneth Poole, MD of Mercy Clinic Internal Medicine in Clayton, Mo. wants young adults to pack healthy habits, a few meds for over-the-counter relief and a good dose of common sense as they go off to college.
“If you are going away to school or relocating temporarily, establish care with a primary care physician in your home town,” Poole said. Having a doctor to “come home to” for school/work physicals, immunizations, medication refills and ailments is important, he said.
And timing is everything.
When away at school or on some type of temporary work assignment, it’s likely that you will only be back home during brief two- to five-day stints, many of which will center around the holidays.
The holidays, when appointments can be scarce and offices may be closed or have limited hours.
“These can be tough times to get in to see a primary care physician for a new-patient visit,” Poole said. “Already having a relationship with a primary care physician will prove to be convenient in the event that you need to be seen for some reason.”
Persons with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, depression, severe allergies, or some sort of pain syndrome, should also establish care with a primary care doctor while they are temporarily away from home, Poole added.
“You never know when you may need to seek urgent medical attention, so having a relationship with a physician close by will prove to be beneficial in terms of time and money,” he said.
College and young adulthood is a great time to develop healthy habits that will add longevity to your life, Poole added.
“Learn to cook; minimize fast food; get into the habit of working out three to five days per week; beware of binge drinking; do not start smoking cigarettes; and if you have already started, stop smoking cigarettes,” Poole said. “If you are sexually active, use condoms until you are married.”
