Healthy hearts, healthy lives: Essential heart health tips for families

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness reminds families that poor cardiovascular health can cause heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and even chronic kidney disease. At the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMH), we see firsthand the impact of cardiovascular conditions on children’s health.

As we mark Heart Awareness Month in September and celebrated Occupational Therapy Week between 25 - 29 September, our team shares small actions that can help you to keep our young people’s hearts healthy and strong. Heart health in children is critical and can determine their future well-being. Starting healthy habits at a young age can make a difference.

At RCWMH, our occupational therapists form part of a multidisciplinary team and play a critical role in supporting children with heart conditions and promoting healthy habits for healthy hearts.

Mereille Pursad, Chief Occupational Therapist at the hospital, shares that occupational therapists are essential in helping children develop the skills and routines necessary for a heart-healthy lifestyle. “I see first-hand how cardiovascular conditions impact little ones and it is important that we also shift our focus to preventative care, keeping the hearts of all children healthy today, to safeguard their futures. It’s about empowering families with knowledge to protect future generations.”

Mereille, together with other specialists, shared the following tips for parents to keep children’s hearts healthy and strong.

Top tips for keeping kids’ hearts healthy for their physical and emotional well-being.

1. Diet: Children should be encouraged to eat wholesome balanced meals that include good sources of protein and plenty of fruit and vegetables. We should avoid foods with limited nutrients such as processed foods, high salt and sugary foods that will not promote the growth and development of young children.

2. Keep active: As parents and carers, take the time to do things as a family as fostering positive attitudes towards physical activity is important.  Encourage children to participate in school sports without pressuring them to join the “A-team”.  Safety is an issue in many communities but there are often community parks or programmes that can be used. Find a safe activity that gets the heart going.

3. Adequate sleep/rest: Sleep is one of the main occupations of a child.  It is the time where the body's energy is restored, they grow, and important brain development hormones are released. Start with a good nighttime routine, so that the child can settle into a quiet environment that supports sleep. Stop screen time at least two hours before bedtime. Aim to read a bedtime story to young children. Try and create a calm space where children can sleep.  This means as adults we may need to adapt our routines to benefit our children.

4. Emotional support: Giving your child undivided attention, even as little as 5 minutes a day, can foster positive connections. Use positive words when talking to your child, acknowledge their feelings and create an opportunity to listen to them.  Our kids learn from us, so role model positive emotional regulation to a child. Give praise as appropriate and say sorry when you have failed as an adult.  Through these tasks, children learn to give positive feedback but also to acknowledge when they have done wrong.

Signs that your little one needs medical attention

Parents and caregivers should seek urgent medical attention at their nearest clinic if they notice the following signs. Don’t hesitate, seek help immediately.