Senin, 30 Maret 2009

Hypnobirthing Memperlancar Persalinan

Foto: Corbis

KETENANGAN ibu menjadi kunci penting saat proses melahirkan. Metode relaksasi hypnobirthing membantu melancarkan persalinan dan meminimalisasi rasa sakit.

Hamil dan melahirkan adalah anugerah yang luar biasa bagi wanita. Sayangnya, ibu hamil (bumil) kerap dihinggapi rasa takut dan cemas akan bayangan proses melahirkan yang sulit dan menyakitkan.

Lupakan segala mimpi buruk itu, karena proses persalinan sebetulnya tidak harus melalui rasa sakit yang menakutkan. Apalagi hingga menjerit-jerit.

Seorang bumil bisa saja melahirkan tanpa rasa sakit, atau dengan rasa sakit yang minimal. Salah satu cara yang ditawarkan adalah latihan relaksasi melalui teknik yang disebut hypnobirthing.

Metode itu berakar pada ilmu hipnosis dengan metode pendekatan kejiwaan yang memberi kesempatan untuk berkonsentrasi, fokus, dan rileks. Namun, tetap dengan kesadaran sepenuhnya.

Ahli hipnoterapi dari New Hampshire AS, Marie F Mongan sebagai orang yang pertama kali mengembangkan metode tersebut. Kemudian dipatenkan menjadi "hypnobirthing".

Intinya, prosedur hypnobirthing adalah memadukan self-hypnosis dan proses kelahiran alami. Ada proses penanaman sugesti positif ke alam bawah sadar, termasuk agar rasa sakit tidak muncul. Ingatlah bahwa semua sistem rasa dikendalikan di otak.

Jika alam bawah sadar sudah diprogram supaya tubuh tidak mengirim sinyal rasa sakit ke otak, rasa sakit pun tidak muncul. Namun, saat melakukannya, individu yang bersangkutan tetap dalam kondisi sadar.

Menurut ahli hipnoterapi klinis dari Pro V Clinic Jakarta, Lanny Kuswandi, relaksasi dengan hypnobirthing terutama ditujukan untuk kesehatan janin yang akan dilahirkan. Pasalnya, banyak pasien bumil melahirkan bayi dengan kondisi autis atau bahkan infeksi HIV. "Salah satu penyebabnya adalah proses kehamilan yang penuh tekanan atau stres," ungkap alumnus Sekolah Kebidanan St Carolus ini.

Hal utama dari hypnobirthing adalah ketenangan si ibu. Dengan terbiasanya ibu berlatih relaksasi, jalan lahir untuk janin akan lebih mudah terbuka sehingga proses persalinan tidak terlalu melelahkan. Kondisi rileks juga akan mendorong pengeluaran hormon endorphin atau yang kerap disebut hormon bahagia yang membantu menghilangkan rasa takut, tegang, dan kepanikan saat melahirkan.

"Latihan relaksasi bisa dimulai pada usia kehamilan berapa pun, bahkan sejak perencanaan kehamilan," katanya.

Pada tahap awal, bumil akan dipandu ahli hipnoterapi. Penanaman afirmasi dan sugesti ke alam bawah sadar bisa dilakukan dengan cara dan media apa pun. Misalnya, mendengarkan dan mengikuti ucapan hipnoterapis, latihan fokus dengan pendulum, teknik "memanjangkan tangan" hingga ke langit-langit, atau menggerakkan tangan dengan pikiran. Boleh juga dilakukan sambil berzikir.

"Setelah terbiasa, kita gampang melakukannya sendiri di rumah," kata Evariny Andriana, penulis buku Melahirkan Tanpa Rasa Sakit dengan Metode Relaksasi Hypnobirthing.

Manfaat yang dipetik dari latihan relaksasi, ungkapnya, tidak merasa sakit saat melahirkan putranya pada 25 Januari 2006 silam, hanya rasa mulas seperti nyeri haid.
(sindo//tty)

article source: http://lifestyle.okezone.com/index.php/ReadStory/2008/05/24/27/112009/hypnobirthing-memperlancar-persalinan

Minggu, 29 Maret 2009

Are Your Kids Overweight? Tips to Get Your Kids to Eat Right

Almost 30 years ago, the USDA made an earnest attempt to classify ketchup as a fresh vegetable in school lunches. For obvious reasons, the proposal was widely ridiculed and shot down. In 2004, the department had another go, this time championing batter-coated french fries. So don’t feel guilty about super-sizing your fries anymore; just think of them as a salad—the USDA does.

The food industry has always influenced our eating habits, making it more difficult for parents to control what their children eat. But now the industry’s marketing strategies have become much more sophisticated and invasive, bombarding children with products and advertisements from every conceivable angle, even infiltrating our schools.


The food lobby is a profit-driven business like any other and would never voluntarily enforce non-mandatory health regulations—that’s why we need to demand more vigilance from school boards and the FDA in keeping profiteering corporations out of our kids’ schools. With fast fooderies sprouting up on every corner and a national obesity epidemic that—appallingly—is increasingly afflicting even toddlers, (According to National Academies’ Institute of Medicine, the rate of childhood obesity has doubled in 2-5 year olds over the past 30 years) it’s no surprise that parents are laying the blame with those who have the most to gain.


Certainly, many food companies neglect the social responsibility that comes with the territory, and sometimes it can seem like the media has replaced us as our kids’ role models, but the ability, and responsibility, to instill good eating habits ultimately lies with the parents— the ones actually selecting and buying the food. There is absolutely no excuse for having a junk-food stocked kitchen in which your sole function is that of an on-call chef. It’s especially essential to instill a healthy routine in children from a young age to teach them about and adjust them to good nutrition practices.


If a 2-5 year old is obese, only the parents are to blame for his/her poor dietary habits. But the good news is that it’s never too late to start eating healthy, and according to leading experts, the benefits of doing so extend beyond physical wellbeing to improve general attitude and mental health.


A common obstacle many mothers and fathers face before taking the first step toward healthy living is knowing where to start. With the intimidating litany of books and opposing ideas on health topics available today, it’s easy to think the laws of nutrition have no rhyme or reason. (After all, the medical communities’ position on children drinking coffee seems to change almost monthly, and just last November a study in Aberdeen revealed that slouching is actually good for your back!) To help sort out some of the confusion, we’ve compiled several general guidelines below to help make sense of it all and debunk a few common misconceptions.


THE CLAIM


Children should be allowed to eat until they are content.


THE FACTS


There is no consensus on this issue, but many experts agree that children should be allowed to choose their own portions. The Weight-Control Information Network additionally recommends starting with small portions and letting your child ask for more if s/he is still hungry.


There are two caveats: children should only eat their fill if the meal is healthy (limiting your child’s daily juice intake is an acceptable and recommended weight management method); secondly, coercing a child who’s not hungry to eat can facilitate bingeing and is discouraged. Even if your child seems overly-lean but grows at a normal rate, there’s no reason to worry. If you are concerned your child may not be eating enough, start a log of his/her growth progress to identify a potential development stunt in addition to consulting with a pediatrician.


Lastly, keep an eye out for various factors that can further mitigate eating habits: for instance, children have been shown to eat more in groups, making playtime the right time to have plenty of wholesome and portioned snacks available. A study released by researchers at the University of Buffalo last Friday showed that children also tend to eat more while watching TV. It’s easy to overeat when distracted, so we suggest limiting television time to one hour a night.


THE CLAIM


Athletic children need more nutrients, particularly protein, in their diet.


THE FACTS


Along with watching what you eat, exercising is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and building muscle is just one of its many advantages. While kids who are active use more energy and certainly require more calories to replace it, more protein does not, contrary to popular opinion, add up to more muscle. This misconception most likely stems from the deterioration associated with protein deficiency, an extremely rare condition among American children. Nutritionists recommend a mere 15% daily intake of protein for athletes, with 50% allotted for carbs—the body’s primary fuel.


Another common misconception is that kids who are active need more vitamins. In fact, taking too many supplements (such as iron) can lead to an overdose. Fluid requirements, on the other hand, are greatly elevated during any strenuous exercise, especially since thirst is not considered a reliable indicator of hydration. The Center for Disease Control recommends drinking water every 15-20 minutes before, during and after exercising, especially in the heat.


This brings us to debunk another myth: though water quenches thirst better than Gatorade, sports drinks are better suited for strenuous or prolonged exercise because they contains electrolytes which help maintain body fluid levels as well as the power-fuel glucose. This means that sports drinks not only slow dehydration but also provide energy. To sum up the key points, athletic children need extra food-energy but shouldn’t change the balance of calorie-type ratios in their diet. Even more important than a balanced diet for an athlete is constant attentiveness to his/her hydration schedule.


Tip: Eating or exercising directly before a vigorous activity will slow your performance.


THE CLAIM


Eating sugar provides a temporary energy boost.


THE FACTS


The energy rush we get from sugar strolls by leisurely more than it rushes; the body relies on stored energy—glucose stored in the muscles and liver—so not only is the sugar useless, but it can even increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems such as cramps and nausea according to Suzanne Nelson Sc.D. RD, University of Washington.


The most important thing to remember is that no matter how difficult junk-food companies make it to change your kids’ eating habits, your role as a parent holds more influence—we think you’ll be surprised by how painless the transition can be when you incorporate a little fun and variety in the menu! Keep in mind that meal times are a perfect opportunity to embed a positive outlook on eating healthy in your children, so try to keep it fun and avoid conflict. Also, feel free to indulge in your favorite foods occasionally (variety is a great way to build excitement and a positive attitude towards nutrition), just don’t compromise healthy eating right out of your routine!—always remember who decides the menu.

About the Author:

Alex Tatarinov-Levin is a web content editor for Yodle, a business directory and local online advertising company offering practical and innovative solutions for advertising in the 21st century. Find consumer guides, tips and articles at local.yodle.com/articles.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/are-your-kids-overweight-tips-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-right-748023.html

Author: Alex Levin

How To Find Kids Affordable Health Insurance

Unless we are eligible for an excellent employer-sponsored group health insurance package, health insurance can sometimes be anything but affordable. When this is the case, many of us opt not to purchase health insurance for ourselves. We rationalize not purchasing health insurance by telling ourselves there are mouths to feed, bodies to clothe, and other bills to be paid.




Denying ourselves health insurance is not wise; however, denying our kids health insurance is even worse. Kids' health needs even more attention than our health. For example, kids need immunizations to help them ward off infections and diseases and grow healthy and strong. Kids need special attention to help them learn to practice good dental care habits and nutritional ways of life. Plus, a bout of the flu, which usually means lots of rest and chicken soup for adults, could be much more serious for kids.



Do, how can we find affordable health insurance for our kids - especially if we can not seem to afford it for ourselves?



The best option is to contact our state's department of insurance. Many states in America provide at least one kind of state-sponsored health care program for individuals who can't otherwise find affordable health insurance. Even better news is that most states in America provide kid-specific state-sponsored health care programs for kids with parents who can't otherwise find affordable health insurance for them.



Health care provided by state-sponsored affordable health insurance for kids includes all or any combination of the following: regular check-ups and hospital visits, immunizations, X-rays, lab work, prescription medications, and even dental care.



There may be days when obtaining affordable health insurance for yourself seems impossible, but finding kids affordable health insurance is always possible. Just pick up the phone and call your state's department of insurance. Or, check their Web sites for more information. Find affordable health insurance for your kids; make sure they grow up safe, healthy, and happy.

About the Author:
Kids Affordable Health Insurance Affordable Insurance Plans in Ohio

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/how-to-find-kids-affordable-health-insurance-151043.html

Author: Elizabeth Newberry

These Early Disease Detection Tips Help Keep Your Kids Healthy!

Keeping an eye on your kids health is fundamental to every parent, and essential to be able to deal with health problems as soon as they occur. The obvious signs you want to see are a healthy tongue free from sores, fresh cool skin with a clear complexion, bright eyes, a cool brow, regular breathing, and a normal abdomen not sticking out abnormally.


A healthy appetite and thirst, with resultant normal bowel movements are fundamental signs of good health in your kids. Your kids should also be cheerful and energetic, with lots of laughter and playtime. When asleep your child should appear calm, with their features relaxed. If your child is frowning, or showing an expression of pain, you should check for signs of fever, or if any bumps and scrapes have happened in rough play. A fever could be the first sign of an onset of illness or contagious infections that kids are prone to.

As a parent it is important that you do the research to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of the most common infections that kids get including, chicken pox, measles, ringworm, colds & flu. Most common is the ?tummy ache? that can mean almost anything, and while it is normally a 24 hour wonder, it can also be life threatening. This article will help parents to be better prepared to detect an emergency if it happens. That way you can respond quickly and get treatment without waiting unnecessarily.

* Interpreting Symptoms of Abdominal Pain in Children *

Tummy aches are one of the most frequently complained about problems in children. There are many causes attributed with it, and it is a challenge for the parent or the physician to find out the exact problem.

Some cases of abdominal pain need emergency care, so be alert to the degrees of pain you child shows. The causes can be related to food, infections, poisoning, insect bites, etc. Bacteria and viruses are responsible in case of abdominal pain due to infections. Gastroenteritis and stomach flu are some of the examples of infections that can cause stomach aches. Gastroenteritis is the inflammation and irritation of stomach and the gastrointestinal passage.

Extra care must be taken by travelers, as the food and drinks can be contaminated at new locations and can lead to traveler?s getting diarrhea. Stomach pain due to viral infections ward off quickly, but bacterial infections demand the intake of antibiotics. In both the cases, some children recover very fast by vomiting and excreting. In case of diarrhea, excess drinking fluids should be given to the kid to avoid dehydration.

Some stomach aches can be caused by contaminated foods or drinks, or food allergies. Problems because of food poisoning are temporary and can cause bloating. Symptoms of food poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. Usually these symptoms surface within two days of consumption of contaminated food.

Depending on the severity chill, fever, bloody stools, or damage to the nervous system can follow. In case of a group of people who consumed the contaminated food, this situation is known as an outbreak. Over two hundred diseases are known to be transmitted via food. Food can be poisoned because of toxic agents or infective agents. Infective agents are parasites, bacteria, and viruses.

Be aware of various toxic agents like uncooked or undercooked foods, or foods left out of the refrigerator, or simply kept too many days in the refrigerator. Food can get contaminated because of handling by unclean workers at the local restaurant, too. Parents should check out the cleanliness and should visit a trusted restaurant.

Particular foods can cause the irritation, such as diary products can cause lactose intolerance. If this is the case, the child is allergic to certain food or drinks and swallowing even a small amount can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, cramping, and skin rash.

Parents need to be alert for common food allergies, as that condition is occurring more frequently in kids nowadays than in the past. Since these items are harmless otherwise, such kind of allergic reactions are known as hypersensitivity reaction. Sometimes the symptoms can be life threatening and are known as anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis.

Poisoning can also be due to overdose of medicines and even due to eating non-food stuffs. Insect bites such as black widow spider bite can also lead to pain in the abdomen. It can be accompanied with muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, tremor, vomiting and in severe case it can cause dizziness, faintness, respiratory problems, and chest pain. Also, the heart rate and blood pressure increases.

If the pain is severe and unrelenting, be aware of the possibility that your child could be experiencing appendicitis. This is a result of blockage and inflammation of tissues. Young kids have a higher rate if complications are considered and should be immediately rushed to the hospital. The pain starts slowly in the abdomen, specifically near the belly button. The pain shifts slowly to the right side of the lower abdomen within a time period of over twenty four hours.

Clear symptoms are abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, fever and loss of appetite. Diabetes can also be a reason of abdominal pain. Small children usually curl up, cry and express pain through facial expression. Some kids will be reluctant to talk, but the parent should try to get clear explanation of the problem.

Along with close monitoring of the symptoms, studying the location of pain, pain duration, nature of vomiting, and urinary problems will help. After that a pediatric should be consulted who can further refer to a gastroenterologist. Parents should do anything they can to keep the child relaxed and calm until help is reached. Often, lying with face in downward direction can relieve pain due to gas. In the case of vomiting and diarrhea, fluids should be given to the child to drink constantly. Parents should wait for approval before they give the kid any solid foods at the time of the attack.

About the Author:

These tips will help parents to be alert about early detection of potential health problems in your kids, and there is so much for a parent to know when it comes to kids health! You can get many more health tips here: http://www.squidoo.com/health-for-kids and also helpful online kids health information here: http://www.squidoo.com/kids-health-info Help is only a click away!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/these-early-disease-detection-tips-help-keep-your-kids-healthy-683765.html

Author: Gen Wright

Connect the Fitness, Fun Fit Tips for Educators Looking to Inspire Healthy Lifestyles for Grade School Age Kids

When it comes to our kids' health, we want to inspire them. We see everything they could become and we want them to see it for themselves. We try to inspire kids so they want to live a healthy and active lifestyle, so they can reach the potential we see in them. But where does that inspiration come from? How can kids see the creation of a healthy lifestyle as a fun thing? How do we make learning about health and fitness something they can actively participate in? And most importantly how can we inspire the kids in a way where they take responsibility for the development of their fit and active lifestyle?

It seems like a tall order. But the key here is inspiration. It might seem like a hard won commodity, but all my experiences as a trainer have proven that inspiring health starts with one simple step:


Believing in their potential, showing them you believe, and engaging them to find and create their own healthy lifestyle.


Another way to think about this simple step comes from the relationship between a trainer and a client. A good trainer always acts a coach for their client; while the client strives in competition with themselves, challenging themselves to reach their goals and meet their potential.


When it comes to our kids, our job as educators is the same: Help the kids see their potential, instill the skills and knowledge they can use to create their own healthy lifestyle, and let them have some fun doing it.


An incredibly fun example of an activity that we can do with our kids to inspire the creation of a healthy lifestyle is the "Healthy and Fit Olympics". In this activity the entire class is one team competing against themselves, with the teacher playing the coach. This way the entire class acts a team trying to beat their own personal bests from the beginning of the competition. At the end of the year, the champions (everyone who beats their own personal bests) get medals that the class can design for themselves. And if the entire class as a team reaches all their goals: the entire class gets a trophy.


The activity starts at the beginning of the year: the kids make a movie, comprised of interviews with each kid and footage of each kid participating in a physical activity. Then all year long the class trains to become "healthy and fit champions".


A big component of the "Healthy and Fit Olympics" is the activities to get ready for the competition. Some prime examples of multi-faceted "training" activities come from adapting the old stand-by: the relay race into a fun hybrid of a race with strong emphasis on nutrition.


Relay Race One: Racing Towards Health

Have the kids trace an outline of a healthy body and post in on a wall as a goal. Then have each group of racers cut out seven pictures of healthy foods/activities. Have the kids use the healthy pictures as the hand-off racing the healthy pictures towards the goal. Whatever team's Body is full of the healthy pictures first wins. (UPGYM will even provide your class trophies for the winning teams).


Relay Race Two: Connecting the Fitness

Have the class decide on a picture of health, then make an outline of the picture—in dots. Each kid then picks a dot and races towards a spot on the floor corresponding to their dot's location on the picture. When all the kids are in their places, you get involved by running around "connecting their dots" thus finishing the picture.


Some Other Training Activities

• Agility: Eraser drills

• Speed: Sprinting drills

• Coordination: Playing catch, throwing medicine balls

• Flexibility: Lunges and squats

• Balance: Single leg hops

For examples of these and other activities visit: www.survivalseattle.com]


At the end of the year videotape the competition and the award ceremony and watch it with the kids. They will have worked hard all year to learn about what makes a healthy lifestyle. Letting them watch their performance will solidify the fact that they reached their goals and lived up to their potential. Their experiences over the year training to become a "Healthy and Fit Champion" will carry on, providing them with self-confidence and skills to live a healthy and fit life.


It all starts with inspiration. If we believe in our kids, and challenge them to set their own goals and reach their potential—if they know you believe they can do it and their whole class (as their team) is rooting for them—They will become the champions of their own fitness.

About the Author:

Personal Fitness Training Seattle

Cody Moss received his Personal Trainer certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine [N.A.S.M.].



His personal training experience: Cody has been an athlete all of his life. From gymnastics to baseball and even wrestling and martial arts, he dedicates himself to lifelong health and wellness. And with more than 12 years of intense weightlifting under his belt, he is no novice to the gym.



His Professional Experience: Cody has 5 years experience as a personal trainer. He started his career at the University of Washington as an instructor. He was in charge of running a beginning weightlifting class and was the creator of many new classes because of the demand for his knowledge and leadership skills. From there he trained at a corporate gym and gained vast amounts of knowledge in the studies of human movement. He now has his own business with numerous pleased and fulfilled clients.



Personal: I am a professional sculptor who uses nature as a source of inspiration. I also train in the martial arts to expand my knowledge of movement and the human body.




Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/connect-the-fitness-fun-fit-tips-for-educators-looking-to-inspire-healthy-lifestyles-for-grade-school-age-kids-53106.html

Author: Cody Moss, N.a.s.m. Cpt

Florida Health Insurance for Kids- Keep Your Child Secure

The cost of the health insurances in Florida has surged up tremendously over the past few years. Still health insurance for kids is mandatory. Not due to any kinds of governmental clause but because kids are really accidental prone and fall ill frequently due to their tender age and intelligence. So, to avoid the unforeseen it is essential that you take up health insurance for your kids as soon as possible. Florida health insurance companies have come up with several schemes through which your kid will be fully covered if he/she has to visit hospital for un-favourable reasons.

What should you expect when applying for Kids Health Insurance Plan in Florida?

Kids are taken to the hospital, periodically at times, for routine check up, or may be if they fall ill. Kids are vulnerable to the several grave diseases due to yet to be completely developed immunity system in their body. Kids’ health insurance plans of Florida cover up mostly- doctor visits, surgeries, emergencies, regular check–ups regarding vision check, hearing and dental care. Health insurance of kids covers entire cost of preventive care to prescriptions. Most of the plans work up for less than 19 age group kids and teenagers. For your kids you are advised to select the best fitting insurance plan only. As, not all cover all aspects and if you want more clauses to be included you need to pay more premiums accordingly.

Where will you find one?

Florida government- understanding the need of health care policy, has come up with the clause that no matter what be your source of buying a health care policy, you will pay the same premium for same scheme at all places. So that means you need not take extra trouble to save your bucks. There is no extra cost or hidden tags to be paid for same policy. So you can sit at home and apply for policy online. There are many online agents running for your convenience at no extra cost. All you have to do is visit the respective website and compare the quotes and clauses of the policy of your desire of several companies all at one place and apply accordingly at the click of a button! And you are done- without paying a penny extra! Simply search the net to find out the websites of the online agents providing health insurance for kids and give your kid a happy and secure life.

Rabu, 25 Maret 2009

7 Reasons To Rethink Use Of Tanning Beds

One, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ultraviolet radiation is a proven human carcinogen.

Two, frequent tanners using new high-pressure sunlamps may receive as much as 12 times the annual UV dose compared to the dose they receive from sun exposure.

Three, nearly 30 milliion people tan indoors in the U.S. every year; 2.3 million of them are teens.

Four, on an average day, more than 1 million Americans use tanning salons.

Five, seventy-one percent of tanning customers are girls and women aged 16-29.

Six, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75%.

Seven, the indoor tanning industry has an annual revenue of - wait for it - $5 billion!

They are making money off our health and our kids' health.

One afternoon, I had finished an errand which was right next door to a tanning salon. I saw two girls, about sixteen, heading for the salon. I said, "Hi, girls, going to the tanning salon?" "Yes," they replied. I figured I had about two more seconds and then they'd be gone. "Do you know it causes cancer?" "Yes," one replied, "But we'll be old when we get it."

I'm sure my mouth dropped open but all I was going to get in it were flies if I held it open any longer. Yes, they know it causes cancer. But they'll be old they they do.

Had there been tanning salons when I was a teenager, I suppose I could have, wanting a tan to look 'healthy' (there's an odd twist), come up with the same 'logic'. My parents were only in their late 30's but that felt old to me at the time.

But now, wisdom having visited me through the death of my husband to skin cancer, I thought what on earth would have to be said or done to keep these girls from NOT going in there? When teens are determined, there is little on this earth that can stop them.

Besides new rules and regulations for tanning salons, which would be a great start, I think the second part of the equation is the "p" word. You know it ... parents. The only other thing I can think of is instilling real, genuine, heart-pounding fear into them. Not by threats of punishment, but by showing them a photo and a story they could read about someone closer to their age who died of skin cancer.

Melanoma is seven times more common between the ages of 10 and 20 than between 0 and 10 years. Ninety percent of pediatric melanoma cases occur in girls aged 10-19.

There are a lot of facts here to digest. But if you only retain one point, please let it be this one: tanning beds do not make you look healthy. They are not healthy. If you or your kids visit them regularly, they could kill you. So, if there's a long line to get in, be the one to take the hand of your daughter and step out of line and go to an aerobics class instead. THAT will make you and her feel, look and be ... healthy.

LYNN ROSE is the founder of Soleil Chic UV Umbrellas. After a long career as a pianist-vocalist-composer and award-winning screenwriter, Lynn changed her career after losing her husband to malignant melanoma. SOLEIL CHIC umbrellas have been seen on THE TODAY SHOW as well as in the hands of celebrities like Cate Blanchett. Soleil Chic umbrellas are endorsed by top doctors including a dermatologist, rheumatologist, plastic surgeon and professor of anatomy and neurobiology. The Mayo Clinc recommends Lynn Rose's umbrellas as well. Top resort/spas such as the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, and The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, carry her products. Soleil Chic's worldwide customer base continues to increase every day. Visit the website @ http://www.soleilchic.com

By Lynn Rosenberg