My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Children
Teaching your children good health habits now will give them a solid foundation for growing strong and healthy. We offer resources to support you as a parent and help you handle the challenge of raising healthy kids.
Healthy Habits and Safety [Read/Print full article]
Healthy Habits
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As a parent, you have the power to teach and model healthy habits that will serve your child well for life.
Smoking
Don't smoke or allow anyone else to smoke around your child. Smoking around your child increases the risk for ear infections, asthma, colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
If you do smoke, one of the most important things you can do for your own health and the health of your children is to quit. Kaiser Permanente has resources to help you quit for good.
Sleep
Most children do not get enough sleep. The amount your child needs depends on his or her age, but a good guideline is at least 9 hours each night.
It can help to establish a regular evening routine and a set bedtime. Be consistent and try not to give in to the "just a little longer" pleas.
There are health risks associated with not getting enough sleep. Children who are sleepy don't do as well in school, and new research shows that there is a connection between overweight and lack of sleep.
Additional References:
- How to Quit Tobacco
- External Link to All about Sleep - Kids Health
Safety Around the House
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While parents can't prevent all accidents, it's important to keep your home as safe as possible, since that's where many injuries happen. You can help keep your child safe by doing the following:
- Prevent drowning. If you or a neighbor has a pool or hot tub, make sure it has a secure fence and self-latching gates.
- Keep guns safe. It's safest not to keep guns in the house. If you do own a gun, store it unloaded and locked up. Teach your child not to ever touch a gun and to tell an adult right away if he or she finds one.
- Lower lead poisoning risk. Tell your doctor if your child spends a lot of time in a house built before 1978 that has chipped or peeling paint. A simple blood test may be needed to check lead levels.
- Prevent accidental poisoning. Keep all chemicals and medications in locked cabinets and out of reach. Program the poison control phone number into your phone and don't hesitate to call if you suspect your child has eaten anything harmful.
- Create fire and earthquake safety plans. Install and check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year. Have a fire and earthquake escape plan and practice it with your family.
- Avoid stranger danger. Teach children never to go anywhere with strangers and monitor your child's computer use to limit online contact from strangers.
- Maintain adult supervision. Never leave your child alone at home or in a car. Get to know your child's friends and their parents. Only allow your child to spend time at homes where there is adult supervision.
- Teach pet safety. Teach your child to never approach or try to touch any strange animal, wildlife, or bird. Tell children that if they are ever threatened by an animal to stay very still and then slowly back away.
Additional References:
- External Link to Safety at Home - Healthy Children
- External Link to Safety Net - AAP
Sports and Outdoor Safety
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Help your child learn to play safe. A few bumps and bruises are part of growing up, but you can help reduce the chance of major injuries and illnesses with a few important habits.
Prevent injuries. Make sure that your child wears a helmet that fits properly for all bike and scooter riding. Add wrist guards, pads, and gloves for skateboarding, rollerblading, and scooter riding.
If your child plays sports, make sure that he or she has the proper equipment and that coaches don't let children play if they are hurt. Girls who play certain sports are at higher risk for a serious type of knee injury called an ACL tear.
Take all head injuries seriously. If your child hits his or her head during play – especially during contact sports – it is important that a trained coach or your child's doctor evaluate the injury. Even seemingly minor concussions can be serious if a child returns to play too soon.
Protect your child's skin from the sun. Childhood sunburns can cause damage that can lead to skin cancer later in life. Make sure your child covers up and wears a hat when out in the sun for long periods. Choose a "broad-spectrum" sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, and encourage wearing sunglasses with UV protection. Make sure older children understand that tanning booths and outdoor tanning are not safe.
Additional References:
- External Link to Preventing Injuries in Childrens Sports - AAP
Safety In and Around Cars
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Use safety seats for every ride. A correctly installed safety seat could save your child’s life in the event of a crash.
Choosing the right seat for your child’s age and size is essential. Make sure you install it correctly in the back seat, and have your seat inspected regularly as your child grows. If you have questions or need help installing your car seat call 1-866-SEATCHECK or visit www.seatcheck.org.
Read and follow the directions that come with the seat you purchase, and save the manual. If the seat is used or a hand-me-down, check to make sure it has not been recalled or in any accidents.
As your child grows
The most important rule is to follow any height and weight limit given by the manufacturer of your child’s seat, usually listed in the owner's manual. The following tips can help you determine when your child is ready to move from his or her car seat to a booster seat, and eventually, a seatbelt.
- Your child should ride in a rear-facing car seat until at least 2 years of age or until they reach the highest height or weight allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child has outgrown the rear-facing car seat, you can switch to a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
- Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they reach the highest height or weight limit allowed by the seat’s manufacturer.
- Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with harness, it's time to switch to a belt-positioning booster seat in the back seat.
- Use a belt positioning booster seat secured properly in the back seat for every ride. Keep your child in their booster seat in the back seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and can pass the Seat Belt Fit Test.
- The Seat Belt Fit Test: (a) the seat belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach, (b) the shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and (c) the shoulder belt should not cross the neck or face.
- Most children need booster seats until they are between 8 and 12. Do not allow your child to sit in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger air bag until they are at least 13.
- As of January 1, 2012, California state law requires that children be restrained in a safety seat in the backseat until they are at least 8 years old or are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. It is important to know that this law is a minimum requirement, not a guide for parents who want to provide maximum safety.
Pedestrian injury. Watch your child carefully near the street. Children should not cross streets alone until they are at least 8 years old. Make sure they are paying attention to traffic and understand the rules for crossing and using crosswalks.
Never leave your child alone in the car, even for a minute. Did you know it’s against the law for a child to be in a vehicle without an adult?
Additional References:
- External Link to Car Safety Seats Information for Families - AAP
- External Link to Car seats for children 4 to 7 years old - NHTSA
- External Link to Car seats for children 8 to 12 years old - NHTSA
Related Health Tools:
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.