WARM2Kids, Inc.

W2K Learning Center News/Recent Press

Got the flu? Not a Shot!

With cold and flu season upon us, there are two new developments that everyone should know about before they face those common winter illnesses.

Before you stock your shelves with children’s medicine, be aware that over-the counter medicines are being studied further following recommendations of a panel that found common cough and cold brands to be ineffective and in some cases harmful.

The drug industry claims these recommendations are false and says that the common medicines used 3.8 billion times per year do work. Still, the panel sticks to its contention that children 6 and under should not be treated with staple brands including Dimetapp, Robitussin, Pediacare and Triaminic.

One effective way to protect the very young from the flu is the newly approved nasal spray vaccine. While the current government advisory authorizes FluMist for healthy people ages 5-49, the annual flu shot way approved last month for children as young as 2.

Children with a history of asthma or wheezing should not take the shot. But, as it becomes more difficult to treat flu and cold symptoms with traditional medicines, it is a comfort to know that you can protect against sickness in new and effective ways.

Cold and Flu

Sleepy and Snappy

Have you ever felt less than refreshed when you woke up in the morning? Do you tend to get less than the eight hours of daily recommended sleep? There have been several studies on the effect of sleep on the immune system, learning and memory, but relatively little research has been done on sleep deprivation and emotions.

It is a fact that most people do not have healthy sleeping habits. Without sleep, the part of the human brain that regulates emotions is affected. Recent research shows that this can cause overreactions to bad experiences.

Healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive normal sleep or sleep deprivation. The following day, brain activity was monitored as volunteers were exposed to pictures ranging from emotionally neutral to increasingly negative.

Volunteers who did not sleep were 60 per cent more reactive to negative emotional stimuli and this response was attributed to a shutdown in the part of the brain that normally keeps emotions under control.

While more research needs to be done, it seems that to keep you life drama free all you have to do is sleep through it!

Sleep

The information provided on this site should not replace your physician’s advice.