Your brave little soccer player stumbles down the field. You are on your feet - this could be the first goal of the year! Suddenly, a player from the other team comes out of nowhere to block the shot, and kicks that ball as hard as humanly possible. It all happens in slow motion: the kick…and then the ‘thud’as the ball connects with your brave little one’s face. The game ends with a black eye and a lot of tears, but you know it could have been much worse.
We all know that maintaining a healthy body weight and exercising regularly are good ways to prevent chronic health problems. Yet, according to Health Canada and the World Health Organization, more than 50 per cent of Canadian adults are overweight or obese, and studies suggest a majority do not engage in enough physical activity. In addition, many who start an exercise routine do not stick with it. Clearly, there’s a disconnect between what we know is good for us and what we actually do.
Q: When do baby (primary) teeth start to develop? A: The primary teeth begin to form around the seventh week of your pregnancy. Q: How can I protect my baby’s teeth? A: Protection begins while you are pregnant. Studies have shown that expectant moms who themselves have dental diseases, especially gum (periodontal) disease, have an increased risk of having a pre-term, low birth weight baby. So, ensuring that your own dental/oral health is maintained is the first step to helping your baby’s teeth.
Substance abuse amongst Calgary youth is a concern. Yet there are many actions family, friends and community members can do to help. Substance abuse has pain at the core of its motivation. For example, teenagers struggling with drug or alcohol use may be experiencing depression, anxiety, loneliness, conflict, etc. Drugs and alcohol serve to provide distraction from suffering, as well as relief. This mechanism of coping has an inevitable negative effect on the individual, their family and their community.
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