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Are poor nutrition, lack of exercise and not playing outdoors the breeding ground for a disease of the past to return? Absolutely, yes.
RicketsWebster's dictionary defines rickets as "a childhood disease characterized esp. by faulty ossification of bone from defective deposition and utilization of calcium and phosphorus due to inadequate sunlight or vitamin D." Rickets was common in the 19th century but disappeared with good nutrition being available to children. When we think of rickets we think of little orphaned children out of a Charles Dickens tale playing in a dark, dingy alley. But, today, doctors are seeing a return of the disease. CausesWhat would make an old disease return?
The Mayo Clinic states that there is evidence that U.S. children break bones more often today than 40 years ago.
Children choose juice, Hi-C, Dr. Pepper, Gatorade and Mountain Dew over calcium rich milk. They are also less likely to play outside after school, on weekends and during the summer. Indoor computer games and the convenience of air-conditioning are enticing children to stay indoors. Students are frequently driven to school even if they only live two blocks away. And, popular computer games result in students sitting for hours before a computer instead of running races, playing baseball, or shooting hoops outdoors where a source of vitamin D is sunlight. Bone Density FactorChildren with dense bones are less likely to have them broken upon impact. Exercise and the proper amount of calcium in the diet increase bone density. If students are not eating properly and sitting at a computer or television much of the day, the bones are becoming less dense and literally getting soft. How Much Calcium?Calcium is a critical factor in bone density. How much is needed for healthy bones? Guidelines for calcium are
[Meredith Shur, M.D., womenshealth.about.com] Exercise Is Part of The SolutionWhat kind of exercise is best?
Of course, any source of exercise is better than being sedentary. Foods High in CalciumCalcium rich foods with vitamin D are also critical for bone development. Calcium supplements are recommended but foods high in calcium should be eaten on a regular basis.
How Many Affected by Rickets?Bone specialists are predicting millions of children in the U.S. are not building strong bones, which could make osteoporosis in middle age a more chronic problem than it is at the present. Dr. Laura Tosi, bone health chief at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington says, "This potentially is a time-bomb." A child with rickets will actually have legs that bow visibly and the soft bones will eventually break. Dr. James Beaty, president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, says, "There’s some early data showing that even a 10 percent deficit in your bone mass when you finish your adolescent years can increase your potential risk of having osteoporosis and fractures as much as 50 percent as an adult." [Associated Press, msnbc.msn.com, November 26, 2007] When the growing obesity problem in school children is added to the mixture, this becomes an even greater health problem. Related Articles: Are Children Sicker Today?, No More Classroom Chairs Read previous articles on Educational Issues. Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
The copyright of the article Rickets Returning in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish Rickets Returning in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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