World environment health day (Credit-Canva)
World Environment Day serves as a global platform to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable living. As the world grapples with pressing environmental challenges, it's imperative to instil a sense of environmental responsibility in the next generation. Parents, as the primary educators of their children, have a unique opportunity to shape their children's attitudes and behaviours towards the environment. By teaching their children eco-friendly habits, parents can instil a sense of environmental responsibility that will benefit both their children and the planet.
Here are some eco-friendly habits that parents can teach their children to foster a more sustainable future. These habits focus on reducing waste, conserving resources, protecting wildlife, and making environmentally conscious choices. By incorporating these practices into their daily lives, children can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable planet for generations to come.
Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's attitudes and behaviours towards the environment. Here are 9 eco-friendly habits parents can teach their children:
Teaching children the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle can help them develop a mindset of sustainability. Encourage them to think critically about their consumption habits and find ways to minimize waste. By reducing their consumption, reusing items whenever possible, and recycling materials, children can make a significant contribution to environmental protection.
Water is a precious resource that is essential for life. Teach children the importance of conserving water and demonstrate practical ways to reduce water usage. This could include taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing teeth, fixing leaky faucets, and using water-efficient appliances. By conserving water, children can help to protect our planet's natural resources.
Energy consumption has a significant impact on the environment. Teach children how to conserve energy by turning off lights when not in use, unplugging electronics, and using energy-efficient appliances. Explain the benefits of energy conservation, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money on energy bills.
Trees play a vital role in the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide, providing shade, and supporting biodiversity. Encourage your children to plant trees in your community or backyard. Explain the benefits of trees and the positive impact they can have on the environment.
Composting food scraps is a simple and effective way to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil for gardening. Teach children how to set up a compost bin and the benefits of composting for the environment. By composting, children can help to reduce landfill waste and create a more sustainable ecosystem.
Encourage your children to choose products that are made from sustainable materials and have minimal packaging. Explain the importance of supporting businesses that prioritize environmental responsibility. By making conscious choices, children can help to reduce their environmental impact.
Plastic pollution is a major environmental problem. Teach children the harmful effects of plastic and encourage them to use reusable bags, water bottles, and containers. Explain the importance of reducing plastic waste and the positive impact it can have on our oceans and wildlife.
Wildlife plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Teach children the importance of wildlife conservation and encourage them to respect and protect animals. Explain the threats facing many species and the steps they can take to help protect them.
Reducing car pollution is essential for protecting our air quality and combating climate change. Encourage your children to walk, bike, or take public transportation whenever possible. Explain the benefits of reducing car use, such as improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting physical activity.
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Pregnancy is often considered to be a journey that begins with a positive pregnancy test. But medical experts agree that the foundation of a healthy pregnancy is laid much earlier, through preconception care, and strengthened throughout pregnancy with consistent antenatal care. The two stages together are important for the health and well-being of both mother and baby.
Preparing for Parenthood Before Conception (Preconception Care): Why it's important.
Preconception care is the care that happens before a woman becomes pregnant. It involves identifying and managing medical, nutritional and lifestyle factors that may affect pregnancy outcomes. If you’re planning a pregnancy or thinking about getting pregnant in the near future, it’s a good idea to prepare your body in advance to help lower the risk of complications. This is especially important considering that 40–50% of pregnancies worldwide are estimated to be unintended, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A preconception health check-up will usually include a review of your medical history, screening for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders and anemia, assessment of your vaccination status and discussion of any medications that may not be safe during pregnancy. Doctors also advise women to start taking folic acid supplements at least a month before they conceive to help prevent neural tube defects in the developing baby.
And the healthy lifestyle choices are equally important. Maintaining an ideal weight, following a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and managing stress can improve fertility and contribute to a healthier pregnancy.
Every Check-Up Counts (Antenatal care)
Antenatal care should be routine once pregnancy is confirmed. These regular medical visits allow healthcare providers to monitor the growth and development of the baby and watch the mother’s physical and emotional health. WHO recommends at least 8 antenatal contacts. The guideline was increased from four visits to eight contacts during pregnancy to improve maternal and newborn outcomes and reduce preventable stillbirths.
Blood pressure, weight, blood and urine tests, ultrasound scans and fetal growth are regularly checked during routine antenatal appointments. These tests help to identify potential problems such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, anemia, or restrictions in fetal growth early on so that treatments can be given in a timely manner.
Antenatal care also gives valuable advice on nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental well-being, breastfeeding preparation and identifying warning signs that require immediate medical attention. Most importantly, it reassures expectant parents and helps to address concerns throughout pregnancy.
Pregnancy care is not just the expectant mother's responsibility. Partners and families can play an important role in providing a supportive environment, encouraging healthy habits, attending medical appointments when able, and providing emotional support. Having a supportive system can help to lower stress levels and improve maternal mental health, which can contribute to better pregnancy outcomes.
As awareness grows, health care providers are encouraging couples to think beyond the baby bump and prioritize health even before pregnancy begins. With advance planning, regular medical care, fact-based lifestyle choices and prompt treatment, when necessary, you can make a real difference and help ensure that pregnancy is a safer and healthier experience for mother and child.
(Dr. Roli Banthia, Consultant- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida Extension)
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Riya and Karan (name changed), both working professionals from Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, often unwind at night by watching reels after putting their 6-year-old son, Aarav, to bed. What began as “just 20 minutes” regularly stretched to 1–2 hours. Over time, Aarav started asking for the phone at dinner. Soon, he insisted on watching reels before sleeping. Tantrums increased when the phone was taken away.
Within months, Aarav’s sleep was delayed by 1–1.5 hours. He woke up cranky and tired for school, and schoolteachers noticed a reduced attention span. He became impatient and easily irritable. His parents realized he was not just watching — he was hooked on fast-paced short videos.
Do you know that our children mirror parental behavior? Fast, high-stimulation reels overstimulate the brain. Night screen exposure disrupted melatonin and sleep cycles. Reduced parent-child interaction impacted emotional regulation. We need to understand that sleep is not a passive state of rest; it is an active biological process that is essential for physical growth, brain development, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. In children, adequate and high-quality sleep is as important as proper nutrition and immunization. Unfortunately, pediatric sleep is often neglected, misunderstood, or sacrificed in modern lifestyles.
Normal sleep varies with age and follows predictable developmental patterns.
Normal sleep is regular, age-appropriate in duration, refreshing, and uninterrupted, allowing the child to wake up alert and active during the day.
Healthy sleep habits, often referred to as sleep hygiene, are the cornerstone of normal pediatric sleep.
Key strategies include:
Simple, non-pharmacological measures at home can significantly improve sleep quality:
Importantly, sleeping pills or sedatives should never be used without medical advice.
Sleep plays a central role in nearly every aspect of child development:
Chronic sleep deprivation disrupts these processes, with long-term consequences.
Pediatric sleep disorders are common and often under-recognized. They include:
There is a strong and well-established link between poor sleep and behavioral issues in children.
Sleep-deprived children may present with:
Future Consequences: Sleep, Aggression, and Crime
The long-term consequences of untreated sleep disorders extend beyond childhood:
Healthy sleep is a foundational pillar of pediatric health, equal in importance to nutrition, education, and emotional security. Promoting normal sleep from early childhood can improve behavior, academic success, mental health, and even societal outcomes in adulthood. Parents, schools, and healthcare providers must work together to recognize sleep as a priority—not a luxury—for every child.
Early investment in healthy sleep is an investment in healthier individuals and a safer society.
(By Dr Tanuj Kumar Verma, Consultant, Pediatric Intervention Pulmonologist and Intensivist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Indirapuram)
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A new study published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health has revealed an alarming rise in infertility rates among women aged 35 years and older.
The analysis, based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, found that global female infertility could affect nearly 80 million women aged 35–49 by 2036 if current trends continue.
In 2023, an estimated 53.60 million women aged 35–49 were affected by infertility. Nearly 54 million women in this age group sought fertility care, including fertility testing and assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
According to the study, Asia has the highest need for fertility care particularly East Asia reported the highest regional burden, while Australasia has the lowest. At country level, the Central African Republic had the highest reported burden, while Nepal had the lowest.
Although disparities between low- and high-income regions have narrowed, the burden is shifting toward high-income settings, where women are more likely to delay pregnancy and seek fertility testing and treatment.
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The researchers said, "This shift reflects broader social and economic changes, including delayed family planning and greater access to fertility services in some affluent regions".
"Advanced-age female infertility represents a growing global health challenge. Despite improved regional equity, low-SDI countries continue to face significant burdens. This necessitates implementing tailored public health strategies and prioritizing resource allocation to mitigate future burdens," said the researchers from China, Hong Kong, and Singapore in the paper.
To address the rising demand, the authors called for
The World Health Organization defines infertility as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse.
Approximately 8–12 per cent of reproductive-aged couples worldwide experience infertility, with the burden disproportionately affecting women aged 35–49 years.
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The study noted that this higher risk is largely biological, driven by age-related declines in ovarian reserve and oocyte quality, which reduce natural fertility, increase miscarriage risk, and lower the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
As populations age and socioeconomic transitions continue, the number of women exposed to advanced-age infertility risk is increasing, making it an increasingly important public health issue.
The researchers analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study to provide what they describe as the first comprehensive assessment of infertility among women aged 35–49 across 204 countries and territories.
Since 1990, both the age-standardized prevalence rate and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to infertility have risen steadily, by 0.45 per cent and 0.47 per cent every year, respectively.
The study projects that infertility cases in women aged 35–49 will continue to rise, reaching nearly 80 million by 2036 in the absence of targeted interventions.
The researchers also found a 23.10% reduction in the relative disparity in infertility-related DALYs between low- and high-Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions since 1990, indicating progress in equity while highlighting persistent structural gaps in access to care.
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