In Memory of Larry King

Larry King was murdered on February 12, 2008 at his junior high in Oxnard, CA. Larry was only 15 years old and liked to come to school in makeup, high heels, and earrings. When teased by the other boys, he teased them right back and was confident in his own gay, brave self.

The eighth-grade boy who shot him "because he was gay" is being tried as an adult and will likely go to prison for life, which means two lives were lost that day because letting other people be "different" is not OK with some people. I say being different should not matter, at school, work, and especially in our families. Please share the poem below with anyone who you think needs to know they are OK.

Labels: GLBT, Healthline, Preteens, Tragedy

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Family Internet Safety Site

Google & Common Sense Media have teamed up to launch a new site about family Internet safety. The new site has a great video for parents that includes useful "how to" tips about keeping kids safe while they are browsing the Internet. It shows parents how to check which pages and sites kids have been visiting, use filters and includes suggested rules for families.

The only suggestion I would like to add is that parents of preteens also go to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation preteen health site, We're Talking, Too: Preteen Health, and print and sign a copy of the Online Safety Pledge to keep posted near the computer.

Safe surfing everyone!

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Labels: Healthline, Online/Internet Safety, Preteens

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Bullying of LGBT Teens Encourages Antibullying Initiatives

Call me old, but isn't it amazing that LGBT kids are even identifiable in schools? The idea that these kids are brave enough to come out so young speaks well of our society's ability to adapt and accept diversity. Do not get me wrong - bullying is not OK, I just had to say that having kids come out while they are still in school might be a sign of progress. Now that they are out, we do have a responsibility to protect them.

We all have been the target of discrimination, bias, teasing, and bullying. At some point in most people's lives they are targeted for being too fat, too skinny, too nerdy, too short, too tall, too rich, too poor, too dark, too light, too smart, too dumb, too Jewish, not Christian, too athletic, too wimpy, too sexual, not sexual, and the list goes on and on. Many schools stop kids from using ethnic slurs, or picking on people because of their size or social status, or brains, but few stop kids from saying things like "that's gay."

A recent Harris Interactive Survey of 3,400 students and 1,000 educators conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) reported that 65% of the participants reported verbal abuse or physical assaults related to homophobia in the last year. In addition, 84% of the participants reported hearing derogatory remarks such as "faggot" or "dyke" at school, and 38% of the students said they had been subjected to physical harassment because of their sexual identity.

When school is unsafe, kids skip school and fail to go on to college, which is a tragedy for them as well as our economy. The things schools can do to support LGBT students include:

• Start young - include books about diversity in libraries for all ages;
• Use the use lesbian, gay, bisexual in discussions about tolerance and diversity;
• Have a LGBT "safe" teacher - too talk to and learn about community resources;
• Have a Rainbow Alliance or club to celebrate diversity;
• Do teacher training to encourage them not to tolerate harassment based on sexual identity; and
• Have antibullying policies that clearly make harassment based on sexual orientation unacceptable.

If the conversation at your school is lacking - start one. There will be many kids safer because you had the courage to include them in your antibullying campaigns.

Photo credit: celesteh

Labels: GLBT, Healthline, School

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Thank You - Grand Rounds 4.27

Thank you to Jeffrey at Monash Medical Student for hosting Grand Rounds 4.27 this week and including my post about ineffective products to "cure STDs" for sale on the Internet.

This week was really interesting and I enjoyed the surgical focus, music, and reminder that my daily reality is truly blessed.

Photo Credit: web_guy94301

Labels: Grand Rounds, Healthline, STD, Teen Health

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Teens and Depression

I am very concerned about the number of teens who seem to be depressed these days. Granted, I understand that our society is a little out-of-control and we seem to instill in people at a very young age that they are entitled to a perfect life - romance, cars, homes, vacations, great-paying jobs, recreational toys, and a beautiful body - without hard work or effort, I might add - but is having these delusions causing mass depression?

About Teen Depression reports that one out of eight adolescents may suffer from depression, and only about 30% of those teens get diagnosed, treated, and receive therapy. Depression is more common in teens with chronic disease, who have been abused or neglected, have experienced a recent trauma, or lost of a loved one.

Parents need to know that although the teen years can be tough and all teens feel pressured at times, most teens balance out the rough spots with friends, hobbies, success in school or extracurricular activities, church, or sports. If a teen experiences any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks, it is time to find help - from a doctor or counselor.

Signs of Depression

• Sadness or hopelessness
• Irritability, anger or hostility
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Loss of interest in activities
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Restlessness or agitation
• Feelings or worthlessness and guilt
• Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Untreated depression can lead to problems at school, substance abuse, eating disorders, self-injury, reckless behavior, violence and suicide - do not hope it goes away. If you think your teen is depressed, offer support and let him or her know you are there for them. Validate their feelings, listen them, do not criticize them or trivialize the things that are overwhelming them, encourage regular sleeping and waking patterns, healthy diet, exercise and make an appointment to see your doctor or a counselor.

Photo Credit: hunterseakerhk

Labels: Emotional Health, Healthline, Teen Health

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Homeschooling Banned in CA?

On February 28, 2008 the Second District Court of Appeal ruled that California law requires parents to send their children to full-time public or private schools or have them taught by credentialed tutors at home. Specifically, California's compulsory education statutes require children ages 6 to 18 to attend a full-time day school, either public or private, or to be instructed by a tutor who holds a state credential for the child's grade level. This seems to be news to the ~166,000 children who are apparently truant and whose parents risk prosecution.

The ruling was in response to a child welfare dispute with one family in Los Angeles County that homeschools their eight children, but who are not registered with the state as a private school, which is how many families get around the law. Their opinion is not new, and the 3-0 ruling sites cases in 1953 and 1961 reiterating that parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children.

California might be the only state to make homeschooling illegal, if it started prosecuting families not in compliance with the law. I have to say I have feelings on both sides of this issue - I know homschooled kids who are below grade level academically and I know of a few who have soared into top-notch colleges - but underneath it all - I believe kids deserve an education that teaches them how to be good citizens, and will give them the opportunity to participate in our economy at whatever level they choose to in the future. What do you think?

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Labels: Healthline, Parenting, School

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FDA Warning About Products That May be Harmful to Teens Health

Teens Beware! There are products sold on the Internet and on EBay to treat herpes and AIDS and to prevent sexually transmitted diseases that do not work and may harm you! The FDA says there are no natural products proven to treat oral or genital herpes, genital warts, HPV or HIV.

A word of advice, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And if in doubt, if it sounds shady or suspicious, ask your doctor, or a trained health care professional that you trust.

The following products have all been removed from the market by the FDA:

• Safe Lips by Tetrasol
• Aviralex topical solution
• Oxi-MED cream
• Imulux Lamps Device
• Beta-mannum
• Micronutrient
• Qina Device
• SlicPlus Lubricant

If you are sexually active, there is no better way to avoid sexually transmitted infections than to use condoms and avoid exchanging body fluids. If you think you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection, see your doctor or a clinician at Planned Parenthood to be tested and treated, as needed. In most states this visit will be confidential - meaning your parents will not be told.

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Labels: Health Fact, Healthline, STD

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1-in-4 Sexually Active Teen Girls May Have An STI

Oh my! I hope everyone has heard about the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week that 1-in-4 teen girls is likely to have at least one sexually transmitted disease. HPV is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls (18%), but chlamydia was prominent (4%), as was trichomoniasis (2.5%) and herpes (2%). - nearly half of the African American girls and 20% of white and Mexican American girls were infected. Left undiagnosed and untreated these infections are likely to to cause cervical cancer and infertility in these young women.

What seems to missing in all the hoopla about this fact this week is the question - how? How is it that teenage girls are getting infected with sexually transmitted infections? Why is it that no one is pointing out the fact that these girls are very likely having unprotected sex with adult men, who have had multiple sexual partners.

Have you vaccinated your daughters against HPV yet? The CDC recommends vaccinating all 11-12 year-olds, and it is time we all accept that our daughters are at risk - talk to them about using barrier methods if they are having any sexual contact and please make sure they understand that adults who show sexual interest in them are breaking the law and are not concerned about what is in their best interest.

Photo credit: ND. The Wonder Boy

Labels: Chlamydia, Healthline, Sexuality Education, STD

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Bike Safety and Manners

Please share the road with bicycles!

The other day my daughters were biking home from their school and my daughter signaled a left turn, pulled from the right to the left in the lane and made her left turn, but while the car behind her went past her, an adult male yelled out his window at her that she needed to stay in the "*&^&" bike lane and use the crosswalks.

Excuse me, but if you drive a car you are expected to share the road with bicycles. In addition, many of the people on those bicycles are youth who deserve your protection and respect.

Parents like me take great care to make sure that our children take a bicycle safety class before they share the road with cars and in those classes, we were taught that a bike is like a car and needs to follow the same traffic rules.

Here is the DMV rule: 21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

In our class we were told if you use a crosswalk, you are a pedestrian and need to walk your bike. I think maybe people who drive cars need a little more training about bikes and sharing the road. Adult men who yell at teenage girls need more social training, as well.

Drivers - please follow some basic bike safety rules around bikes, especially near schools:

• Check the bike lane. When turning right across a bike lane, always look behind you for a bicyclist. If someone is approaching, wait rather than trying to “beat” them.
• Pass with ample room. Except over a double yellow line, you can cross the center line to pass a bicyclist safely, as long as oncoming traffic is clear. Passing close, especially over 25 mph, is very scary for cyclists.
• Don’t honk to communicate with cyclists unless there’s an emergency. If your horn sounds loud from inside your car, imagine how loud and shocking it is from just in front of it.
• Be cautious in residential neighborhoods. Children riding bikes or running on the sidewalk may not see you and if you aren't slowing down before they cross the street, you could run them over.
• Look for cyclists before opening your door. When parking on the street, make sure you’re not opening your car door into the path of a cyclist.
• Use good manners. Apologize if you make a mistake and it will go a long way; eye contact and waves are very humanizing, especially in the stress of rush-hour traffic.
• Give children extra space. Children on bicycles are often more wobbly than adults, and more likely to turn or stop suddenly without looking or signaling. It is best not to pass a child on a bicycle unless you have many feet of space and proceed extremely slowly.

Photo credit: richardmasoner

Labels: Biking, Healthline

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Education Update - Is it Good News or Not?

Keeping to the educational theme this week, it seems more CA students are passing college-level exams than in previous years. A recent article in our local paper suggested that according to the California Department of Education, about 20% of the kids in CA score at least a "3" on an advanced placement (AP) test, which is a passing score on the 5-point scale. Students who pass the test can earn credit and advanced placement in college. Across the country, only about 12% of students are passing an AP test, although there are state differences. In New York 23% pass; in Maryland 22% pass; Virginia is coming in at 22%, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont are at about 20%. There are ethnic disparities however - in California, only about 2% of the passing scores are African American students, compared to the 7% of students who are African American in our schools.

I really am ambivalent about AP classes, overall, especially given the concern about "raising the bar" and making it so hard to get into universities. More than 90% of four-year colleges and universities in the United States recognize the AP program for credit, placement and admissions decisions, adding it to the list of "must dos" for the college bound among our children. One of my own daughters is finishing her sophomore year and is staring down the barrel of AP courses next year, on top of thoughts about where to attend college, and I dare say, it seems a little intense.

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Labels: College, Healthline, School

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A Boy Crisis?

My daughter cut an interesting article out of the PARADE magazine for me a few weeks ago entitled, "Does America Have a Boy Crisis?" which really surprised both of us, and has made for several very interesting discussions about school and gender.

The article had caught her eye because it had a little quiz:

• At your school, do most boys do as well academically as girls?
• Are boys more disorganized than girls?
• If there really is a boy crisis, what is the best solution?
• Boys-only schools?
• More male teachers?
• Different schedules?
• Tutors?
• Other

Now, she was not pretending to be an expert as she attends a girls-only school and her closest male friend just scored 99th percentile across every category of the PSAT, but hey, this looked interesting.

The article suggested that girls outperform boys on high school report cards, get higher GPAs in college, and actually attend college more often than males. The article suggested that these outcomes are due, in part, to the fact that boys (in general) seem more unorganized than girls, are uninterested in homework, do not turn things in on time, do poorly on standardized tests and find it difficult to get their college applications completed.

It would suggest to me that our education system may have a "female" bias toward verbal skills and if you think about it, sitting still, listening, and writing are very "female," characteristics and probably not the best situation for males who prefer activity and spontaneity. I look forward to comments.

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Labels: Boys, Healthline

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The Intrauterine Contraceptive (IUC) - Mirena

I got a couple of odd questions on the We're Talking Teen Health site recently that confused me - asking about a new kind of IUD, and finally a friend recorded the TV commercial that seems to have triggered the questions.

I guess the IUD has enough bad press that the maker (Bayer) of a new birth control device decided it would be better to call it something else, like an IUC. The Mirena is an estrogen-free intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) made of soft flexible plastic advertised to "keep life simple," which may also reducing cramping and give women shorter, lighter periods. This is not an alternative more most teens however - read on!

The important safety information on their site suggests it is only the right choice for women who:

• have had a child;
• are in a stable relationship (assuming that predicts monogamy I assume);
• have no risk or history of ectopic pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease.

In addition, it does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted infection and ovarian cysts may occur and typically disappear. Complications may occur from placement and missing periods or irregular bleeding is common in the first few months, followed by shorter, lighter periods. Some other side effects, more common during the first three months, have included cramps, acne or skin problems, back pain, breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes, and nausea.

Mirena, which can las up to five years, is a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, that delivers a small amount of hormone directly to the uterus, which may block the sperm from reaching or fertilizing the egg, thinning out the lining of the uterus, and possibly stopping the egg from being released.

The Mirena is inserted through a thin plastic tube through your vagina and cervix into your uterus. The tube is then removed, leaving the Mirena in your uterus. The string that is attached to it and used to remove it is trimmed and you are done. Once a year, during your pap exam, the clinician check on the IUC and when you want it removed, it can easily be removed by a clinician.

Photo Credit: Looking Glass

Labels: Birth Control, Healthline, IUD, Teen Health

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HIV Infection in People Over 50

To follow up on my post about talking to your grandparents about HIV last month, I wanted to point you to the newest topic on the CDC's HIV/AIDS web page - "Persons Aged 50 and Over."

The new site suggests that the increase in the number of people aged 50 years and older living with HIV is due in part to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which makes it possible for people infected with HIV to live longer, and partly due to an increase in newly diagnosed infections in persons over the age of 50.

Based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting, the CDC estimates that in in 2005 people over the age of 50 accounted for:

• 15% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses and
• 24% of the people living with HIV.

Just like in people under 50, there are ethnic disparities - the rates of HIV infection among black people over the age of 50 are 12 times higher than among whites, and 5 times higher among Hispanics, as compared to whites.

Everyone needs to understand HIV transmission and practice safer sex. If you have not talked to a grandparent yet, how about doing that now?

Resources
CDC's Persons Aged 50 and Over
HIV Wisdom for Older Women
NAHOF (National Association on HIV Over Fifty)

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Labels: Healthline, HIV

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Sleep Awareness

March 3-8 is National Sleep Awareness Week, and just FYI healthy adults are supposed to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Unfortunately, the CDC reports that from 1985 to 2006 the number of adults reporting fewer than six hours of sleep each night has increased in all age groups, particularly among people between the ages of 30 and 64.

Curious about whether this sleep loss in their parents transferred to preteens, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation asked preteens on We're Talking, Too: Preteen Health how much sleep they got a night (on average) and were surprised to learn that 52% of the first 317 youth who answered the survey reported they got less than eight hours of sleep a night. Another 38% reportedly got 8 to 9 hours sleep each night and only 10% reported that they got 10 or more hours of sleep each night, which by the way is the recommended amount.

Chronic loss of sleep has a cumulative effect on physical and mental health, can reduce the quality of life and productivity, increase the use of health-care services, and result in illnesses and injuries. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children aged 5 to 12 require 9 to 11 hours of sleep a night and adolescents require 8.5 - 9.5 hours each night.

If you are having trouble getting a good nights sleep, talk to your doctor and make sure you are:

• keeping a regular sleep schedule;
• sleep in a dark, quiet, well-ventilated room with a comfortable temperature;
• avoiding stimulating activities within 2 hours of going to bed; and don't go to bed on an empty or full stomach.

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Labels: Health Fact, Healthline, Sleep

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Thank You - Grand Rounds 4.24

Happy Spring everyone - the ultimate new beginning!

Thanks to Jenni Prokopy, founder and editrix of Chronic Babe - a site for young women with chronic illness who strive to live well in spite of health-related limitations...to be babes! for including a book review about "Now What Do I Do?" a book for teens dealing with divorce from Teen Health 411 in Grand Rounds 4.24 this week.

This week was interesting, and several of the posts made me laugh - a great way to start the day!

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Labels: Divorce, Grand Rounds, Healthline

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A Gap Year - What is That?

My daughter has a friend whose family is into "gap years" between high school and college and when she first suggested the idea I have to admit I was a bit reluctant, but it was because I did not understand what a "gap year," was. I thought it meant putting off applying to college for a year, but in fact, there are several ways gap years happen. Basically, a gap year is a structured program the year after high school and before college, and even during or after college. The idea seems to be much more popular in Europe than it has been here, and the key is "structured."

There are two types of kids that this gap year works for: the first is the highly motivated student who has already been accepted into college, and defers starting for one year, and the second is the student who struggled through high school and needs a break from the academic pressure before applying to college. For the highly motivated student, the gap year can provide a year to gain maturity, get an international perspective, and maybe do service work or an internship. For the struggling student, the gap year can provide an opportunity to explore possible careers and also regain focus and drive to get more out of an academic program when they do apply.

Harvard has been encouraging youth to do this for many years with up to 20% of their students taking some time off and Princeton University recently announced a program starting in 2009 that will send 10% of their incoming frosh to do social service work in a foreign country before they start their freshman year.

There are two agencies that help match students with a gap year opportunity - the Center for Interim Programs and the Dynamy Internship Year. Both programs describe the gap year as helping students be self-reliant, self-confident, and more focused for academics the following year. To find out if the idea of a gap year is right for your teen, the first step is probably meeting with the college counselor to discuss it and exploring the two web site links above.

Given that there is some concern about the emotional preparedness of our high school seniors and their readiness to live independently, as well as the consequences of the academic pressure they experience, I have to admit a gap year is not looking like a bad idea.

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Labels: College, Healthline, Parenting

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Stanford Here We Come!

How does free tuition sound to you parents of high school students? Well it is true! On Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Stanford announced that families earning less than $100,000 a year will not have to pay tuition for their children to attend Stanford University. In addition, if a family makes less than $60,000, the university will throw in the cost of room and board and other expenses - I am assuming they mean books.

This new (and largest increase in its history) commitment to financial aid means the university will allocate $114 million to its financial-aid program for the 2008-2009 academic year which will likely increase the aid provided to three out of four current students, as well as providing support for new students. The goal of this new program is to eliminate the need for student loans to cover the current annual undergraduate expense of about $45,606 a year ($34,800 of which is tuition). Stanford University John Hennessey said that "no high school senior should rule out applying to Stanford because of the cost," which is truly reminiscent of the Stanford's goal of founding the university "for the children of workers."

My graduate degree is from Stanford and as a person from blue-collar roots I can tell you that it may take a while for the impact of this new program to take hold, but it will be wonderful for youth from all socioeconomic status (SES) levels to be able to walk onto the Stanford campus and feel like they belong there because of their brain and character, not their SES. It would be naive however to trust that every youth who gets accepted has had the same academic preparation though and I predict that the university will also have to increase the budget for the programs providing mentorship and small class sizes that actually facilitate faculty and students getting to know one another, one example being Freshman and Sophomore Programs, which happens to be celebrating its 10 year anniversary.

Look out Stanford here comes some amazing young people - and thanks from all of us parents who want our children to be able to see their dreams come true!

Photo Credit: jeffpearce

Labels: College, Healthline, Parenting

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