There is nothing more difficult than when our children are constantly unwell. If you think about the time it takes for you to recover from an illness with your robust immune system when your kids are sick all the time, it can easily make you dread every time they start having a sniffle or a cough. Common colds, fevers, and ear infections can easily upend our routines, making it difficult to work or even to get a meal together. So what are the things we need to remember when our children get sick?
Know the Numbers
It might not be music to your ears, but if you are barely making it 3 weeks without a child getting ill, this works out to the average amount of times they could get sick in the space of a year. There are many common questions about ENT specialists, specifically in relation to ear infections, and if your child has 8 or more ear infections within the space of 12 months, this poses a major problem. The reality is that when it comes to ear infections, anything less than 3 is fine, and if your child is getting up to 10 colds a year, this is still in the normal range. It’s when a cold lasts more than 10 days, fever lasts more than 5 days, and difficulty breathing beyond a stuffy nose is when it becomes a problem and you need to seek medical advice.
Ensuring You Get the Balance Right
The fact is your children are going to be exposed to a variety of germs and bugs when they are in school or in daycare, but it’s essential for you to make sure that they have the right tools to fight off these things more effectively. When you have your first child, the number of bugs that you will catch from your children is incredibly surprising and can wage war on your own immune system you will find you are in a better place to help your children fight these things. The best thing you can help your children with include some of the following:
Making sure your children get lots of sleep. It can be difficult, especially if they are waking up a lot at night, but ensuring that they feel as rested as possible makes a big difference.
Increasing their vitamin intake. Vitamin C is incredibly important, and low levels have been linked to more severe colds.
Improving their gut bacteria. If you have taken your child to the doctor a few times this year resulting in a number of courses of antibiotics, this could have an impact on their immune system. Improving gut bacteria is one of the best ways to improve the immune system overall.
It is incredibly difficult when our children are unwell, but it’s important to recognize that their being sick is more common than you think. If your children are unwell every few weeks, this is par for the course. The best thing you can do is to make sure you and your children are more comfortable so they can ride it out.
As stay-at-home dads, many of us strive to squeeze in time to get our heart rates up with our favorite workouts. While during certain weeks, our schedules may, in fact, permit time to fit in our ideal workout, this is only sometimes the case. As our days get squeezed by the demands of our kiddos and never-ending domestic responsibilities, it is tough to consistently find the time to enjoy our optimum workout regime, whether a two-hour ride, swim, or gym session.
The schedule and intentions we set for ourselves at the start of the week need to consider the often erratic nature of looking after youngsters, whose demands can significantly fluctuate at a moment’s notice. If we don’t take into account the unpredictability of caring for our youngsters, we set ourselves up for frustration when our coveted ‘me time’ gets taken away. And if our ‘me time’ is our exercise, our frustration can escalate into irritable behavior, negatively impacting the vibes in our household. In my case, missing just one or two days of intense physical activity can significantly impact my mood. Therefore, I do what I can to be resourceful. When I can’t find the time to go for an hour or two-hour gym session or bike ride, I become innovative and find shorter time increments to exercise while looking after the kids.
What is important for us to recognize is that our exercise regimes don’t always need to be perfect or that lengthy. When time is tight, and we are faced with a full day with the kids, we need not despair. Instead, we can choose to adopt a resourceful mindset by looking for fun and efficient ways to fit in our exercise while keeping the kids engaged. Hey, who said that guys can’t multi-task anyway?
While I’m sure many of you are already well aware of the health benefits of shorter, more intense exercise increments, I thought I would reiterate the significant health impacts these ‘quick hit’ sessions offer. An increasing number of health studies have demonstrated that even twenty minutes of medium to high-intensity exercise can help improve cardiovascular health, strength, and overall well-being. According to Stephen J. Carter, a cardiovascular physiologist at the Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health, shorter, more intense workouts can be more advantageous for our health than longer, less intense physical activity. Carter states that, among other health benefits, these ‘quick hit’ workouts help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower mortality rates. So, with increasing studies backing their effectiveness, why wouldn’t we incorporate these time efficient high impact exercise sessions into our weekly routines, especially when our little ones demand so much of our time?
So, the next step is strategizing how we can implement these mini-workouts amidst our never-ending childcare responsibilities. Following are some examples of resourceful mini-exercise sessions I have been able to implement with my kids on several occasions that I’m sure most of you can fit in as well. Keep in mind that the ideas presented below will need to be adapted based on the developmental stage of your kiddos.
At the Playground:
Between pushing them on the swing or chasing them around the playground, do some natural bodyweight exercises like chin-ups, dips, push-ups, and lunges. Feel free to give them a good push on the swing or help them onto the slide and then fit in a quick set. You can even jog to and from the kiddos when needed in between sets. As an alternative to box jumps, try some park bench jumps. They are awesome for leg strengthening and jacking up the heart rate. Spinning them on the merry-go-round can be a tremendous oblique strengthening exercise. Don’t worry what the other parents think! They will likely be impressed and perhaps even inspired to do the same at some point.
Jogging while they Bike or Stride:
If they love to bike, jog with them. Understand that the jog may not be at a steady pace, but even if you have to stop now and then to pick them up off the pavement after they crash, it will still get your blood flowing and boost your endorphins.
At the Park:
Play some games of tag or do some fun races (running, hopping, bear crawling, or otherwise). Grab a soccer ball, baseball, or frisbee and sprint between kicking and throwing. Give them a head start while you sprint with them to get the ball.
In the Snow or on the Ice:
If you live in a snowy winter climate or have access to an ice rink, put a leash or rope around your waist and do running intervals by pulling them on a sled or skating rink. My kids love this, and it is a fantastic way to ensure an intense workout while they experience some good fun.
In and Around the House:
If your kids love to be taken on daddy horsey rides and you’ve got the strength for it, get them to sit on your back while crawling around the house and doing push-ups. For the legs, get them to hop on your back while doing squats or lunges. Body weight squat holds are fantastic for quad strength and mental fortitude. Have them count reps and seconds while you feel the burn! Airplane rides can also work the quads as well as stabilizers. Have fun with it!
For those with equipment at home, do circuit training with your kids. They will enjoy the creativity of coming up with their own fun exercises.
On the Trampoline:
If you have access to a trampoline, get on it and bounce with them. Kids love being double-bounced, but be careful not to launch them into your neighbor’s yard. You will be surprised at how much of a workout some good old-fashioned bouncing can provide. The quads and abs will be feeling it for sure.
Of course, you must ensure that these ideas are implemented safely and consider your children’s developmental stage. However, most of them can be adapted to best suit a range of ages. Each of these will also provide a legitimate increase in heart rate, in turn providing the health benefits our bodies need.
So, when you encounter a domestic turn of events and realize that your optimum workout may not happen, feel free to incorporate some of these mini-exercise regimens with your kiddos. Not only will you be gaining valuable health benefits yourself, but you will also model the importance of physical activity for your kids. Just remember to engage your resourceful mindset and have some fun!
I would also love to hear some of your creative mini-workout ideas, so please share them in the comments below.
Many people who struggle with alcohol abuse wonder how long detox from alcohol will take. The answer depends on many factors, including the severity of the alcoholism, any underlying medical conditions, and whether the person detoxing is receiving professional help. In most cases, alcohol detox can be completed in a week or less. However, it is important to detox under the care of a medical professional to ensure safety and comfort.
Factors That Affect Alcohol Detox Time
There are a number of factors that can affect how long it takes to detox from alcohol. These include:
Severity of alcoholism: People who have been drinking heavily for a long period of time will typically take longer to detox than those who have only been drinking for a short time. This is because their bodies have become accustomed to having alcohol in their system and will take longer to adjust to functioning without it. Experiencing night sweats as a withdrawal symptom from alcohol is a common issue that may last weeks if you have been drinking for long time.
Underlying medical conditions: If a person struggling with alcoholism also has an underlying medical condition, such as liver disease, they may need to detox for a longer period of time. This is because their body will not be able to process the alcohol as quickly as someone without an underlying condition. It is important to consult with a medical professional before beginning detox to ensure that it is safe to do so.
Whether professional help is being received: People who attempt to detox from alcohol on their own will usually take longer than those who receive professional help. This is because medical professionals can provide medications that help reduce symptoms and make the detox process more comfortable. They can also monitor vital signs and provide support throughout the detox process. And, for those grappling with severe addiction, especially when standard approaches don’t seem to work, it’s wise to consider checking into a rehab in lancaster ca, or another location. These rehabilitation centers can offer comprehensive treatment plans that go beyond just detox. They include therapy sessions to address the emotional and psychological aspects of addiction, counseling to help build coping strategies, and aftercare planning to support long-term recovery.
The Risks of Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal is notoriously treacherous. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include everything from anxiety and tremors to seizures and hallucinations. In severe cases, alcohol detox can lead to delirium tremens (DTs), a condition characterized by severe confusion, agitation, and paranoia. DTs can be so debilitating that they require hospitalization—and in some cases, they can be fatal.
The Rewards of Giving Up Drinking
Despite the risks involved in alcohol withdrawal, quitting drinking can have tremendous benefits for your health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Studies have shown that giving up alcohol can improve mental health, increase lifespan, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer. If you’re struggling with alcoholism, detoxification is the first step to sobriety. However, you need professional help for Alcohol Detox Essex, or wherever it is that you are located, so as to ensure a safe and effective detox process. Remember, there’s light at the end of the tunnel—giving up drinking can be one of the best decisions you ever make, leading to a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Alcohol Detox Statistics in the United States
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 15 million adults in the United States have Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This number represents 6.2 percent of all adults in the US. The NIAAA also reports that AUD is more prevalent in men than women, with 8.4 percent of men struggling with AUD compared to 4 percent of women.
Detoxification From Alcohol at Home Is Not Recommended
There are a number of reasons why detoxing from alcohol at home is not recommended. First and foremost, it can be extremely dangerous. Second, withdrawal symptoms from alcohol can be very uncomfortable and even painful. Finally, people who detox at home are more likely to relapse because they are not receiving the professional help they need to stay sober. If you or someone you know is struggling with AUD, you can get help on your journey to recovery. With the option of going to upscale drug and alcohol treatment centers, you’ll find detox will be less stressful with plenty of support from professional staff.
Sub-Acute Medical Detox for Addiction
Finding a sub acute medical detox facility can be a difficult and uncomfortable process, but it is important to remember that everyone is different and detox times will vary from person to person. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, seek professional help immediately. With the help of a medical professional, you can detox safely and comfortably in no time at all.
An at-home dad on a mission to keep it real when it comes to food, fun, and raising a healthy, happy family.
