Junk food increases heart attack risk in children
Excess consumption of junk food and decreased physical activity are the main reasons why there’s a spike in heart attacks among school children, say Delhi-based paediatricians. “The fast food culture is growing in our country, which I believe is the main reason behind such conditions,” says Dr. Neeraj Aggarwal, a paediatric cardiologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi (IANS, June 7). According to Dr. Aggarwal, sedentary lifestyles are prompting fatigue, high blood pressure and diabetes among children, all of which are high risk factors for heart attack.
“The number of heart attacks in children is not very high. But, due to increased obesity and sedentary lifestyles, the risk of children suffering a heart attack has increased,” adds Dr. Amit Misri, associate director, Pediatrics Cardiology, Medanta, Gurugram.
The good doctors recommend lifestyle changes with proper exercise (30 minutes-one hour daily) and healthy, home-cooked food low on sugar, carbohydrates, and fats, and high in protein, fresh fruits and vegetables. “Schools also play a major role in promoting a healthy lifestyle. They should proscribe junk food in their canteens,” says Dr. Aggarwal.
Atropine drops can arrest myopia progression in children
Abreakthrough three-year study — CHAMP (Childhood Atropine for Myopia Progression) — has found that it may be possible to limit myopia progression in children. Published in JAMA Ophthalmology (June), it states that a daily drop of atropine, a drug used to dilate pupils, limits eyeglass prescription changes and inhibits elongation of the eye in nearsighted children aged six-ten years.
“This is exciting work for the myopia research community, of which I’ve been part of for 35 years. We’ve talked about treatment and control for decades. And it’s exciting to learn that there could be options in the future for millions of children we know are likely to be myopic,” says lead study author Karla Zadnik, professor and dean of the College of Optometry at Ohio State University.
The drug’s safety was assessed in a larger sample of 573 participants which included children as young as three and up to age 16. Both low-dose formulations were safe and well tolerated. Atropine was not associated with any serious ocular adverse outcomes.
Helping others improves children’s mental and physical health
Children and teenagers who volunteer services tend to progress both mentally and physically, says a recent UTHealth Houston study published in JAMA Network Open (June). The study, led by Kevin Lanza, Ph D, assistant professor of epidemiology, human genetics, and environmental sciences at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, found that children who had volunteered in the past year are in better physical health, had a more positive outlook on life, and are less likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, or behavioral problems compared to peers who did not volunteer.
“These study results arouse optimism that volunteering could be a win-win, with youth serving society benefiting themselves,” says Lanza.
Lanza’s team analyzed parent-reported data from a long-running national survey tracking the health and well-being of American children and teenagers. They found that parents whose children volunteered were 33 percent more likely to say their child was in “very good” to “excellent” health compared to parents of children who did not volunteer.
Married men less likely to experience workplace burnout
Married men are less likely to experience burnout in workplaces, says a study published in the Russia-based journal Organisational Psychology (June 2023). The study conducted by the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), Russia found that satisfaction in personal relationships lowers manifestation of workplace burnout syndrome, especially in men.
According to HSE researchers, who surveyed 203 employees across different Russian companies, burnout causes significant mental fatigue and manifests through emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and a decline in personal fulfilment. “For men, career success can often become a fundamental aspect of their identity and self-esteem. As a result, they may encounter greater pressure in the workplace and experience elevated stress levels while striving to fulfil their duties and meet expectations. In this context, marital satisfaction and feeling supported in one`s private life can become critical factors in preventing burnout among men,” says Ilya Bulgakov, a doctoral student at HSE School of Psychology.