News Moms Need

The U.S. government has launched 18 new applications for mobile phones. Several of them can help you and your family stay healthy. 

One app reports on product recalls. Another is a body-mass index (BMI) calculator for monitoring weight. One takes you straight to MedlinePlus, the federal health Web site that’s loaded with lots of useful info. And an ultraviolet (UV) index helps you check the air quality in you area.

So take a look and start downloading!

Air pollution can lead to inflamed airways, which can cause breathing problems such as asthma.

It makes  sense:  When the air is cleaner, children breathe easier. An article in the March issue of the medical journal Pediatrics reported these research results. 

So what can parents do to help their children breathe the cleanest air possible? Moving to the country where the air is clean is a good idea. But that’s probably hard for most of us!

Here are some tips:

* When local health agencies issue air pollution or smog alerts, keep your child indoors. If you must take your baby out on these days, do so early in the morning or after sunset.

* Don’t use paint sprayers around your child.

* Keep air conditioning units, heaters, furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces in good working order.

* If your baby has asthma or other lung problems, ask her health care provider what else you can do.

For more ideas, read the March of Dimes article Protecting Your Baby from Air Pollution.