Research has revealed that more than 71,000 American children aged 18 and under, are seen yearly in emergency departments for the ministration of unintended over-the-counter, prescription overdoses.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that this equates to over two-thirds of emergency department visits are experienced as a result of prescription and over-the-counter medication contamination.   This is over double the rate of child poisonings caused by cleaning products and plants.

Director of CDC’s Medication Safety Program, Dr. Budnitz informs “medication overdoses are most common among 2-year-olds … about one in every 180 2-year-olds visits an emergency department for a medication overdose each year.”

More than 80 percent is caused by unsupervised ingestion. 14 percent is a result of medication errors and misuse.  According to Budnetz, the most common medications taken unintentionally by children are acetaminophen, opioids or benzodiazepines, cough and cold medicines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antidepressants.

Do not stop providing your child with insulin, even if he/she lacks an appetite.  Call your family physician if you are unsure as to how to administer insulin on a sick day.

Do not make any significant diet changes.  If the child suffers from an upset stomach, offer carbohydrate liquids, such as broth, gelatin, sports drinks, fruit juice and frozen fruit bars

Ensure the child maintains hydration and drinks lots of water, but avoid caffeinated drinks

Check with your family doctor before administering any over-the-counter drugs.  Many medications contain sugar and/or alcohol that may affect the child’s blood glucose levels.

It is critical to attentively monitor the child’s blood glucose and ketone levels during a period of illness.  The blood should therefore be checked every few hours and urine several times a day.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists some significant changes women can expect during their second trimester of pregnancy:

Nausea should decline, and your appetite should increase

The belly size increases as the uterus begins to expand.  By the end of the second trimester, the uterus should nearly reach the ribcage.

Stretch marks may begin to appear across the belly and breast area as your skin starts to tighten and become itchy

The belly may also ache as uterus supported ligaments become stretched

A linea nigra (a dark line) may develop across the center of the belly

Chloasma (dark patches of skin) may develop on the face and around the areola (darker skin around the nipples)

Some swelling of the feet and ankles

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons offer the following suggestions to reduce risk of injury from Yoga:

Check with your Doctor before beginning your practice to make sure it is the right kind of activity for you.

Make sure your chosen studio offers qualified instructors.  Do not hesitate to ask your instructor questions if you are unsure of a pose or position.

Warm up before your class in order to avoid strain or injuries.

Wear yoga-appropriate clothing that will not restrict your movement.

Begin slowly and learn the basics.  Never push your body to the point of pain.

* Maintain adequate hydration, especially if you engage in Bikram (hot) yoga.