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Written ByPartha Nandi, MD

A Personal Note:

Summer vacation has again come to a close, and back-to-school is season is upon us. This season of change looks different for each family. In our household, we have younger children getting back in the habit of earlier bedtimes, as well as a high schooler preparing to drive herself to school on the first day and getting back into the swing of juggling academics and extracurriculars.

Whatever the case for your household, it’s important to be prepared not only with notebooks and pencils, but also with some tips and tricks to keep your health and your family’s health in good shape.

TIPS TO BEAT THE TOP BACK-TO-SCHOOL HEALTH RISKS

In my medical practice and as a parent, I’ve found that the following illnesses and conditions are largely associated with the school season. You can practice prevention by becoming familiar with these risks and learning to avoid them.

DEPRESSION

While you may find yourself and your kids to be energetic and lively throughout the summer, it doesn’t take long for depression to surface after only a few weeks back in school. The seemingly never-ending classes and piling homework can take quite a toll on anyone, regardless of age.

How To Avoid It:

There are many ways to fight depression, and what may work for you may not work as well for someone else. One way to help boost energy levels and improve your mood is to get daily exercise. Another is maintaining a healthy diet. Getting enough sleep is also extremely important. Finding the exact formula to beat depression may take some time, but just keep trying and don’t give up hope. The solution is out there for you!  (1, 2, 3, 4)

FLUS AND COLDS

You know the drill. Warm chicken soup and cough drops, a cold towel for the forehead, and about seventeen boxes of tissues. Illness isn’t fun for anyone, especially when you know that one sick kid can lead to everyone sniffling and coughing throughout the house. However, although flus and colds are common during the school year, they certainly don’t have to be your norm.

How To Avoid It:

The best preventative measure for avoiding these yearly epidemics is hand washing. Really, it is that simple! You may be surprised to hear that a randomized study showed that as many as 78% of people didn’t even use soap when washing hands. Yikes! (5, 6)

Aside from the obvious factor of using soap when washing your hands, there are other helpful tips when it comes to keeping your hands clean from germs. For example, be sure to scrub your hands thoroughly for at least 30 seconds before rinsing. Make sure your kids know how to wash their hands correctly (and often!) to avoid getting sick. (7)

SOCIAL ISOLATION

Especially as social media and texting have become more commonplace throughout the world, kids’ social skills are suffering. Cell phones and computers make it so much easier to send an emoji rather than a smile, or a tweet rather than a talk. However, using technology to avoid face-to-face communication can lead to social isolation or loneliness. (8)

How To Avoid It:

One way to encourage more social interaction is to limit time spent with technology. For example, you could set a time limit for TV watching,establish a no-technology rule at family dinners, and be sure that all electronics are turned off by 10 pm. It’s also a good idea to frequently engage your kids in conversation, encourage them to attend social events, and make new friends. All of these things can help lower the risk of social isolation.

CONCLUSION

While back-to-school may seem more like back-to-the-battlefield when considering all the possible illnesses and conditions that this season may bring, staying within the healthy zone is a possibility for anyone and everyone. Try out some of these helpful tips and you’ll soon find yourself and the rest of the family able to navigate the schoolyard with ease.

Resources: 

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16937952
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4592762/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4898322/
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16259539
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3928210/
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564897/
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470254/
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166409/

About the author

Partha Nandi, MD

Partha Nandi M.D., F.A.C.P. is the creator and host of the internationally syndicated medical lifestyle television show, Ask Dr. Nandi.

A practicing physician and a renowned international speaker, his appearances include TEDx, college commencements, numerous charity functions, premier medical meetings such as Digestive Disease Week, and nationally syndicated television programs such as The Katie Couric Show.

Dr. Nandi has partnered with the Ministry of Health in multiple countries, including Jamaica and India, and has collaborated with The World Health Organization in multiple areas throughout the globe, Dr. Nandi delivers passionate and inspiring talks to diverse audiences.

He continues to travel internationally for conferences and symposia, meeting with global health leaders on his quest to improve health care quality, access, and to empower people across the world “To Be Your Own Health Hero.”

DrNandi@AskDrNandi.com

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