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Stay healthy this winter
Are you worried that a cold is going to drag you down again this winter? Are you fed up of feeling run down all the time? It’s that time of year again when the cold weather is upon us and we are all trying hard to ward off the inevitable cold and flu viruses.
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Maximise your health & wellbeing when trying for a baby
No-one likes to wait, especially when it’s for such a life-changing answer. Fertility expert, Zita West, says, “the 2-week wait, the time between ovulation and the time to test, is a time of great uncertainty for many women while they are waiting to test.” |
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DO YOU AVOID KISSING IN WINTER TO AVOID INFECTION?
As we get well into the cold and flu season and with the festive season fast approaching, new research from the Dettol Hygiene Home Truths study has revealed that 48% of Britons are wary of greeting someone with a kiss on the cheek if they look ill |
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Bruxism
Bruxism is a habit that affects around 8-10% of the population which is characterised by grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw. It is the third most common sleep disorder behind insomnia and snoring |
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Let’s talk good tummy health…..
Scientific research over the last decade has revealed the vital role that the bacteria in your gut play in both digestive and immune health, having an impact on problems as diverse as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, constipation, diarrhoea, susceptibility to infection, the absorption of minerals, and even cancer |
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It’s time to support our natural defences
The winter season is almost upon us and with it comes the dreaded flu season. Some people are more susceptible than others, so the new understanding that not only does the gut play a central role in your immune system but there are positive measures we can take to support it will be of great interest |
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Toddler Health Survey
A new survey shows that parents are more confused than ever about toddler health, and that a significant amount of education among parents is still needed to combat confusion surrounding dairy allergies and intolerances.
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Britain is spending a massive £1.5 billion on improving their personal wellbeing like gym memberships, cosmetics and spa treatments every month. |
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Running with Arthritis
Watch our video to see how a young medical student hasn’t let the condition stop her running the London Marathon |
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Dr Christian Jessen’s Health & Wellbeing Clinic
When you become pregnant you know that your body is going to go through a number of changes, but many of us often overlook one of the most uncomfortable but common side effects of all – piles |
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Constipated kids: fruit, veg and water prove key issues
Primary school children who don’t like eating fruit and vegetables are 13 times
more likely to develop functional constipation than children who do, according
to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing |
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RESTORING CONFIDENCE FOR NEW MUMS
The process of child birth can push many women’s bodies to the extreme, which will leave some women with health problems they are too embarrassed to speak about |
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Night, Night, Nightmare!
It’s a problem almost all parents face at some stage - getting the kids into a good bedtime routine can be a battlefield and can cause huge amounts of stress for the whole family |
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Tommy’s PregnancyLine - Expert advice on healthy pregnancies
Tommy’s unique midwifery service can now be called for free on 0800 0147 800, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, for expert advice. Tommy's midwives specialise in advice regarding healthy lifestyle choices and how they can improve the health and well-being of women and their babies during pregnancy, to help prevent miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. We can also help women who have suffered a pregnancy loss by providing counselling support and advice about care and treatment, including how to plan for a future pregnancy. The new free phone number and midwifery training is thanks to a grant from the ASDA Foundation, and the running costs of the PregnancyLine are supported by JOHNSON'S® Baby. More information is available at www.tommys.org/pregnancyline
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Learn how to alleviate the symptoms of Eczema
There’s nothing worse for parents than seeing their children in pain and while skin irritations are not often seen as a huge issue to many, parents of children who suffer from conditions such as eczema know just how hard it can be for their little ones to suffer from it. |
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Optical jargon leaves nation in the dark
We all like to think health professionals have our best interests at heart, but when there’s money involved how many of us worry we might be conned into treatment or products we don’t really need? |
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Is health surfing replacing professional advice?
Patients researching health conditions on the internet should use reputable and frequently updated websites and not see online research as a replacement for consulting healthcare professionals |
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The Evolution of the Female Body
Apples, pears and now even rectangles. We’ve all got different body shapes, but what defines a beautiful body? Can body shape and size be affected by our culture? |
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Indoor air - a hidden danger in baby's bedroom
WECF publishes results of study on indoor air quality in children's rooms in four European countries to be presented at next week’s Ministerial Conference "Environment and Health" in Parma |
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A-salt on our health
While the message appears to have got through to us Brits that too much salt is bad for us, we still don’t know why, which means we’re not cutting it down fast enough – and this can leave us at risk of serious health problems. |
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IBS Treatment Breakthrough
A new diet recently introduced to the UK from Australia looks set to finally offer long-term treatment for the one in five Brits who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). |
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Natural Antioxidants in your Coffee Cup
Most of us have heard of antioxidants (over nine in 10 if you want to get technical) but far fewer are aware how good they are for us. In fact, around one third of Brits have no idea whether they’re good for them or not. |
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How to handle child with diabetes
School’s back in full swing, homework is a nightly chore, and best of all, your son or daughter has made new friends. But what would you do if one day they brought home a friend with type-1 diabetes? |
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Beat the Bugs
Why is it that we can send a rocket into space, talk to someone in New Zealand via mobile phone, find cures for major illnesses and perform ground- breaking surgery but still can't find a cure to eradicate the dreadful mini-pests that target children’s heads? |
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Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding is natural and has benefits for both mums and babies. It should be easy and trouble-free, and a good start helps to ensure that is a happy experience. |
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Young Arthritis
Arthritis is often thought of as a condition that affects only older people. Yet in fact 27,000 young people under 25 live with the disease in the UK. About three quarters of children who get ongoing arthritis are girls, most often developing their symptoms between the ages of two and six |
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New research into vaccine for Meningitis B
New research funded by Meningitis Research Foundation seeks to use novel technology to develop an effective vaccine for the meningococcal B strain of meningitis. Meningococcal B (MenB) is responsible for the majority of cases in the Ireland and is not currently vaccine preventable. |
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How Healthy is your House?
The kitchen tap is dirtier than the toilet seat when it comes to bacterial contamination according to a new study. When it comes to bacteria and viruses, appearances can be deceiving |
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Is there a dietary 'cure' for arthritis?
Arthritis in its various forms affects 4.3 million women and 2.6 million men in the UK – but more than six in ten of us will suffer from the condition at some point in our lives. Arthritis causes pain, loss of mobility and in chronic cases irreversible destruction of joints throughout the body. |
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UK Parents’ In The Dark When It Comes To Giving Children First Aid
Over 70% Of Parents Have Sought Emergency First Aid Treatment. Summer holidays are nearly here and while this means more fun for families, inquisitive children are spending more time at home which can often lead to an increase in accidents and sometimes even a visit to A & E.
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The National Consumer Agency urges parents, guardians and carers of young children to take all necessary measures to protect young children from the possibility of being injured or strangled by window-blind cords. |
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Snack Fantastic
Women are always being told that the key to staying trim is to avoid the snack trap. However, evidence supports the fact that snacking isn't inherently bad for you - the issue is in fact choosing the right snacks that can become part of a balanced diet and help you on your way to longer term weight management. |
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80% Of Allergies Linked To Household Dust Mites
The average UK bed hosts between 10 thousand and 10 million dust mites and their waste. Common household dust mites may be a factor in as many as 80% of asthmas, hay fevers and other allergic ailments, according to Allergy UK. |
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Are You Covered For Cancer Costs?
One in four cancer patients have difficulty keeping up with everyday payments. Learn how to keep your family financially safe in our video below. We all worry about our health to a certain degree, but when it comes to more serious issues such as cancer it’s still easy to take an ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’ approach. |
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Treat your tootsies during pregnancy!
Your pregnancy is a really special time for you, your mind and body are preparing for motherhood and everything about you is changing. The body undergoes many changes during pregnancy and women often ignore the changes in their feet. |
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The Great Grub Club
A website aimed at getting the healthy lifestyle message across to primary school children is celebrating its first birthday. The Great Grub Club website, run by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), was launched a year ago to encourage healthier eating and a more active lifestyle in four to seven-year-olds. |
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Be a fibre subscriber
76% of people lay claim to a healthy diet, but further investigation reveals that despite honourable intentions, Britons literally don’t know what’s good for them and are in a daze over healthy eating guidelines.
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Is your car a toxic trap?
Many of us treat our cars like second homes, but with one major difference—we wouldn’t let our homes get that filthy. Decomposing food under seats, dirty pets sharing space with groceries, small children doing ‘what small children do’. Unwittingly, we’re turning the insides of our cars into breeding grounds for all kinds of unsavoury bacteria, and in some cases we’re opening ourselves up to serious risk. |
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Simple steps to home safety in student digs could one day save your child’s life
Cheap rents and decent locations are the top priorities for students and their parents when choosing digs, while safety precautions tend to take a back seat. But it’s absolutely vital to check with landlords that student accommodations have valid gas safety certificates. A dodgy boiler can pose a potentially life-threatening hazard, and the simple expedient of fitting a carbon monoxide alarm could one day save your child’s life. |
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Meningitis Awareness
Every day in the UK 9 people will become ill with meningitis and septicaemia – the blood poisoning form of the disease. Each week 6 of these will die. Of those who recover, 15 will suffer after-effects as severe as brain damage, deafness and amputations. |
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How Do You Explain To Children that You Have Parkinson’s?
Seeing a loved parent or grandparent with Parkinson’s disease can be quite scary and difficult to understand for young children and finding the right words to explain Parkinson’s and why someone in their family may not be able to move as freely as other people, may not have the same facial expressions and why they take tablets to, can be extremely difficult. |
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Measles cases rise whilst the MMR debate continues
It appears that Measles is now endemic in certain parts of South East England. In the borough of Lewisham alone the Health Protection Agency reports at least 500 confirmed cases already this year. The suggestion has been made that the increased incidence is due to a low up take of the MMR vaccine within the area. |
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Carbon Monoxide alarms prevent holiday tragedy
A third of vacationing Brits ensure that they take a box of teabags with them on holiday, while just a scant 2% pack a potentially life-saving Carbon Monoxide alarm. This lack of foresight regarding holiday safety seems even more sobering when coupled with the fact that 85% of people fail to check on the gas safety of their hotel, apartment or villa prior to departure |
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Parents know best…but at the risk of their kids health?
Parents are putting the health of their children at risk by self-diagnosing food allergies. According to an astonishing new report, while a third of parents suspect their children either have had or currently have allergies and intolerances to food. |
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CHILDREN LEAD THE WAY ON 5 A DAY
A new report released for the Department of Health's 5 A DAY campaign shows that although parents understand the importance of getting their 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day, many are still confused about what counts towards that target, with one in three admitting that their children know more than they do about 5 A DAY and nutrition. |
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The Perfect Recipe for a Balanced Diet
Almost half of parents admit to feeling under pressure from a fussy child to put certain things in their lunchboxes. Obliging your child might avoid a temper tantrum but almost two thirds admit to including the same foods in their children’s lunchboxes from day to day, raising more worries about healthy eating, just as ‘black market’ tuck shops are popping up in schools all over the country. |
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Staying Healthy is Child's Play
Parenthood can be highly demanding on the physical front, making taking care of your body even more important. It’s often the simple things that make a big difference to how much energy you have, but sadly it seems that it’s the little things we’re most likely to ignore. |
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Parents' Nutrition Confusion
Being a parent these days isn’t easy. Not only do you have to be a chauffeur, a counsellor, a cleaner and an expert chef but now you also have to be a nutritionist as well. Although getting your child to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg every day is important it’s not the only factor to consider when it comes to your child’s diet. |
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Household products pose health threat
Cleaning your home and doing your washing using conventional household products can greatly increase your risk of cancer and a host of other serious illnesses, according to newly compiled research. |
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Have Fun Getting Fit
A day doesn’t go by without some sort of reminder showing
us the importance of getting healthy and fit. We see
beautifully bronzed, highly toned men and women gracing
page upon page of magazines. And this is in stark contrast
to how nation appears to be shaping up |
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Hidden Disability Strikes Children
Every year a high number of children sustain injuries that could result in a hidden disability. According to The Children's Trust, the number of children sustaining injuries that will result in an Acquired Brain Injury
(ABI) is approximately 5000 (the equivalent of 157 classes of school children). |
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Threadworm Awareness
The need for children to wash their hands effectively is underlined by NHS Direct which states that: “Threadworm is most common in small children because they are not fully aware of the importance of hygiene, and they easily forget to wash their hands. |
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Children & Medicines
Parents will be all too aware of the struggle they can have getting their child to take their medicines. Whether it is a course of antibiotics for an ear infection, Calpol for a headache or eye drops for pink-eye (conjunctivitis), every parent will have their own tips and tricks for making sure the kids take their medicine when they need it. |
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Children's Shoes and how fitting is important
Somehow the shoe was never big enough. And similarly, no matter how much allowance you make for your children's growth spurt, it seems only a matter of days before you're burning your own leather in search of yet another pair of shoes for them. Yes, no sooner than scuffing their new shoes, our children's feet will grow. And yet again we find ourselves searching for well-fitting, comfortable footwear |
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Ireland-specific articles
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Up to 2.6 million adults in Ireland are risking death with the mistaken belief that the main symptom of meningitis is a rash. As the country finds itself in the peak season for the devastating disease, national charity, the Meningitis Trust is campaigning to stop this deadly misconception.
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In response to news, from HPSC ,that the latest immunisation uptake data for children at 24 months of age, indicates a decline in the uptake of the MenC vaccine, Hib vaccine and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. |
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Most children will get chickenpox. It can be a worrying and distressing time for parents, as chickenpox is a mild yet infectious disease. It is caused by a virus called varicella-zoster and spread through direct contact, from one person to another, through broken chickenpox blisters – or when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes |
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How often do you timetable an appointment for your child to see the dentist, the doctor, or go for a shoe fitting? And now, ask yourself how often do you assess other areas of your child’s health? |
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Scientists estimate that one in four of us will experience at least one unsightly, highly contagious and sometimes painful wart or verruca at some point in our lives. Despite this, our understanding of the world of warts is limited, that’s according to a survey entitled the Wart Report, carried out on behalf of the Wartner range of treatments for all the family.
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Research conducted for the ‘Little Steps’ campaign, reveals that eight in ten parents recognise the influence their eating habits have on their children. The research also revealed that one in three Irish people say they have reduced the amount of treats including cakes, crisps, chocolate and biscuits in their household food shopping in the past six months. |
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Meningitis Research Foundation welcomes the European Commission’s approval for Wyeth’s new 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. |
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The ear is made up of three distinct parts; the outer ear, the middle
ear and the inner ear which is deep within the temporal bone. Ear
infections are the most common illness to affect pre-school children
with up to 90% of children experiencing one before their 3rd birthday.
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H1N1 is a new type of influenza virus which causes respiratory disease. For most people, H1N1 has caused mild to moderate illness. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are more susceptible to a more severe illness should they become infected with H1N1. |
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Children’s Ombudsman, Emily Logan, has published a review of complaints submitted to her Office on behalf of children with special needs regarding the provision of housing. Contained in this report are recommendations for action from Government and local authorities to significantly improve housing provision for children with special needs.
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safefood launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging consumers to reduce their salt intake. The campaign entitled “Shake the Salt Habit” is designed to raise awareness among consumers that our diets are still too high in salt and that the majority of dietary salt is from processed foods such as processed meats, sauces and bread. |
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One of the most common reasons for babies under six months old requiring Cranial Osteopathy treatment is Reflux. These babies can be very irritable and unsettled for long periods during the day and night |
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Children in Hospital Ireland (CHI) is launching a National Awareness Campaign to promote the benefits of preparing children for a hospital visit or stay. |
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Yoghurt and cheese are to be made available to schools under the EU School Milk Scheme. The European Commission today announced that the scheme, which was set up about 30 years ago to subsidise the distribution of milk to schools, will now be updated to include a wider range of dairy products and will also be extended to secondary schools. |
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According to TNS mrbi research nearly one third of Irish adults (29%) do not consume the basic “three servings of dairy a day” recommended by the Irish Department of Health & Children. As dairy products provide a high proportion of calcium and essential nutrients, these findings suggest a large number of Irish adults may be at risk of reducing their general well being in the short term - and exposing themselves to serious long term health risks. |
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Health Service Executive and safefood in collaboration with the Health Promotion Agency, Northern Ireland launched a major campaign aimed at tackling the serious problem of obesity across the island of Ireland. The campaign, launched by Minister Mary Wallace, TD, Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety, has been informed by new research into children's eating habits and physical activity levels. The research also looked at parents' attitudes towards eating and physical activity. |
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Local pharmacists have launched a poster and leaflet campaign to inform patients that pharmacy services are at risk as a result of HSE proposals, which are due to come into effect on March 1st, The HSE is seeking to reduce the payments it makes to pharmacists on the community drugs schemes. Pharmacists fear that these reductions, if implemented, could make it financially unviable for many pharmacists to continue to participate in the Medical Card Scheme. |
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Following the phenomenal response to our last article in Primary Times, we realised that parents all over the country are struggling to find help for their children for a variety of different issues, such as bed wetting, stammering, irrational fears, confidence, to name but a few. |
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To coincide with the return to school of thousands of children from all over Ireland, an educational book about asthma entitled 'The Wheezing Wolf and The Three little Pigs' was launched today in Dublin.
An adaptation of the original fairytale, it tells the story of a young wolf named Wilbur who has asthma.
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| | | These words from Safe Harbour's hypnotherapist Richard Burke (MBA, PIIE, MICHP) ring true, but some kids are having no fun at all. He says "Did you know that 20% of 5 year olds wet the bed and 7% of 10 year olds, but no-one talks about it let alone know what to do about it?"
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| | | "Asthma shouldn't be a hurdle in sport and exercise" was the message to parents and children from the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI), at the launch of the "Reach Your Peak with Asthma" campaign.
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| | | Speaking at the national roll-out of the Food Dudes Programme to primary schools countrywide, Mary Coughlan T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food said she was delighted that as a result of the success of the pilot project more primary school children and their parents will now benefit from this innovative programme. | | |
| | | A study published recently by The Centre for Health Promotion Studies, NUI Galway has found that one sixth of Irish children report that they go to school or to bed hungry, because there is not enough food at home. | | |
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