Health news

Thérèse Henkin looks at news about healthy kids, burnt toast, mealtimes and sleep issues.

Research for a brighter future

In a bid to tackle kids’ health problems, a $2.8 million fund has been established to improve child health research in New Zealand. Initiated by Cure Kids and A Better Start National Science Challenge, the aim is to find better ways to combat obesity and adolescent mental health, to improve early literacy, and learn more about diagnosing and working with children on the autism spectrum.

SLEEP STRUGGLES

Restless night? The two things to avoid when struggling to fall asleep are checking the time and getting out of bed. Knowing exactly how little time you have before you have to wake up often causes anxiety that makes falling asleep even harder. Leaving the comfort of your bed means your heart has to pump more blood around your body, and when you return it will take time for your heart rate to reduce to the lower resting rate needed for snoozing.

“Around 100 young people die suddenly from unexpected cardiac arrest in New Zealand each year.”