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However, children today face many challenging health issues. Injury remains the leading cause of death for all children. Each year in the United States, one out of every four children ages 14 and under sustains injuries that require medical attention. Violence, obesity, and infectious diseases threaten children’s health. As they get older, children face pressure to smoke or use other tobacco products. Adolescents also face pressure to use illegal drugs and drink alcohol. In 1998, 14 percent of 8th graders in the United States reported having at least 5 drinks in a row in the past 2 weeks. Celebrate your child’s health by spending time with your child -- reading, playing, eating meals together, being physically active, and by making sure your child has all his or her immunizations. You can encourage your kids to do their part to stay healthy by:
You can improve your child’s health before he or she is born by avoiding alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy and taking a vitamin containing folic acid every day. This will help decrease the chance of certain birth defects. Communities can do a lot to improve children’s health. Some suggestions are:
Working together, we can give our children a healthier start in life. |
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CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z This page last reviewed October 20, 1999 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |