Family Health

Vision is paramount in this day and age; 80% of our sensory perception to the world is through our eyes. There are a hundred times as many nerve fibers devoted to vision than to hearing. In fact 40% of the brain is devoted to what we must see and perceive around us.

You know sunscreen is a must whenever you’re outside, but sunburn has probably still caught you by surprise at some point. By slathering on sunscreen, you may have thought you were playing it safe, but there’s actually more to it than that.

“Sunscreen is a misconstrued skin care category,” says Ranella Hirsch, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine. Not applying often enough or misunderstanding labels can add up to lousy protection and sun damage.  

Check out these commonly held sunscreen myths, then the facts that will keep your fun in the sun safe.

Tips for Diagnosing Common Summer Injuries from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

It’s not a coincidence that the season for extended daylight and outdoor activity is also the season for broken bones. Increased physical activity leads to increased likelihood of bone fractures.

Summer vacation means many children are heading outdoors to participate in their favorite sport. The football field, baseball diamond and soccer pitch all see extensive action during this time of year.

Some general guidelines to help protect your child from heat-related illnesses include the following:

-Drink plenty of fluids during vigorous or outdoor activities (including sunbathing), especially on hot days. Drinks of choice include water and sports drinks; avoid alcohol and fluids with caffeine such as tea, coffee and cola, as these can lead to dehydration.

For a long time, scientist wondered why people who live in Japan were generally healthier and lived longer than their Western counterparts.

One idea that was put forward was that people in Japan and Asia are generally had more active lifestyles than people in the West. However, scientists believed there was more to it than that.

After years of research, scientists found out that Japanese love of fish was a major contributor to their supreme health and longevity.

     Puncture wounds are more serious than most people think. Because the wound creates a hole in the foot, rather than a tear like a common cut, they are extremely prone to infections and cause more internal damage. What would seem like a simple infection on a small wound can easily spread to the bone and joint and endanger the limb if not treated in a timely manner. The severity of a puncture wound is very hard to gauge for a person without a medical background because the depth and internal damage of the foreign object is unknown. Because dirt and debris from the foreign object is able to embed so far into the body, the wound is more difficult to clean without proper equipment.

You sleep on a ramp made of pillows. You gag down chalky pink potions. You gulp purple pills or drinks that fizzle. Your meals taste blander than sand! Cold lips, knotted guts and searing pain are your constant companions. Suffering with heartburn, regurgitation and other symptoms associated with stomach irregularities has become the daily experience of thousands. Help may be just around the corner - and surprisingly, from the hands of a doctor of chiropractic!

What are the pros and cons of feeding babies formula versus breast milk? And if I purchase formula, should I spend the extra money on the organic variety?
It is generally acknowledged within the medical community that breast milk is the ideal first food for babies, though modern formula brands can get the job done, too. Human breast milk naturally contains the vitamins and minerals a newborn requires. According to the website KidsHealth.org, breastfed infants have less difficulty with digestion than their formula-fed counterparts. And since breast milk is easily digested, breastfed babies have fewer incidences of diarrhea or constipation.

Type 1 diabetes often develops in children, adolescents, and young adults, so it's sometimes called "juvenile diabetes."   Although there is currently no cure for diabetes, we are making progress through research.  In the meantime, people with diabetes do their best to control it with diet, exercise, and insulin.

About Blood Sugar Levels

A healthy pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that the body uses to change glucose in the blood into energy.  Glucose in the blood comes from the food and drink a person consumes.  A person with type 1 diabetes doesn't produce any insulin. 

Q:  As I was cleaning my deck last week with bleach and pine sol, last week I thought I was having a stroke.  My right ear began to hurt and my face went numb with some symptoms into my right arm.  After being rushed to the emergency room and admitted to the hospital for 2 days, I was sent home with a clean bill of health. My face is still numb and drooping, my ear still hurts and when I drink liquid falls from my mouth.  I am supposed to see a neurologist in two weeks, what is wrong with me? 

A: A lot of ingredients in our cleaning products, dish detergent, shampoo and body soaps contain left over ingredients that were once created for biological warfare.  These products were just shifted to be used against bacteria ete.  For example, fluoride was not created to make our teeth white, nor was chlorine created to clean pools.  

     Approximately 15 percent of people in the United States experience pain associated with tempromandibular dysfunction (TMD), however only 1 percent have pain severe enough to seek treatment.  In many cases TMD can be alleviated with nonsurgical treatment or self managed care. Nonaggressive therapy can be both helpful and economical Some common signs and symptoms of TMD may include tenderness or pain of the jaw, aching pain in and around the ear without infection, aching facial pain, frequent headaches, tooth pain or sensitivity, inability to open jaw smoothly or evenly, clicking or popping jaw joints, and an uneven or uncomfortable bite.

Many seniors think that new glasses and a stronger prescription is all they need to get back the vision of their youth. The fact is that cataracts may be the cause for the decline in vision. The condition is the leading cause of vision loss among adults 55 and older. In fact, more than half the people over age 65 have some degree of cataract development. 

 It’s the 1800’s.  You are sick.  The local town doc gives you an exam.  After rummaging through his black bag, tossing aside a small, corked brown bottle and positioning his spectacles, your treatment begins.  Wielding a metal device sporting a shiny blade, he cuts open a vein on your arm.  A few pints of blood are removed in hopes of curing what ailed you.  This is not a new, high copay-like deterrent designed by your HMO to limit your doctor visits, but part of the available health care of the time.  Credited for contributing to George Washington’s death in 1799, the practice of bloodletting was one of many medical practices that signified the need for advancement in health care. 

My first "real" patient ("real" meaning not another student!) during my internship has left lasting memories. I was in Atlanta that summer of 1991, and it was hot. Between being nervous from having the first patient ever of my new career gaze with desperation into my eyes, and the blue, polyester blend clinic jacket that covered my long-sleeve shirt and matching blue tie, the day felt even hotter! My patient was in extreme pain. My mind raced. I took deep breaths to stave off hyperventilation. Then the miracle happened. After weeks of chiropractic care, a welcomed surprise occurred in my first patient's life. The day ended with smiles. I survived. He survived... and he felt real relief!

 “The story about first graders possibly getting condoms in Massachusetts showed, yet again, how the issue of sex education in our country has become politicized in such a ridiculous way that we lose sight of the importance of informing our children about their sexuality and reproductive health. This issue should not be placed in the Liberal vs. Conservative category. Rather, it squarely falls within “public health.”  - Dr. Michelle Golland

The problem is that when we look at it with a religious or political view, too many people arm themselves with "family values" and claim that they don't want our public schools to address these "value" decisions. Unfortunately, birth control and teen pregnancy aren't "value" issues. They're very critical issues of child development. 

 Who wants better health, greater wealth and more rewarding relationships? The real question is “who doesn’t?” Why do some seem to easily attain all they desire, while others are left with constant yearning? You can gain the answer to that question through better understanding of what is commonly known as the “Law of Attraction.” 

Q: When should I start researching for a summer camp for my child(ren) to attend? A: In the fall. Start by getting on camp mailing lists and research websites. Most camps start the application and enrollment process in the winter and spring. Make sure to complete applications and return them by their due dates.

Q: What resources are available to select a good, quality camp?

New study details biomechanical changes in foot associated with high-heel height

For years orthopaedic surgeons specializing in foot and ankle care have been warning women about the perils of wearing high heels. High heel wearers risk foot injury, muscle imbalance, bone deformities, knee and ankle joint problems, bunions, hammer toes and more. Now a new study featured in the November issue of Foot & Ankle International (FAI), the official scientific journal of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) details the biomechanical changes that occur in feet during high heel wear and the correlation between the heel height and amount of pain, pressure and strain it puts on your feet.

Coffee has been getting a bad rap for years. Check out some of these healthy benefits for the morning brew!

Blood pressure—
Results from long-term studies are showing that coffee may not increase the risk for high blood pressure over time, as previously thought. Study findings for other cardiovascular effects are a mixed bag. What we do know is that for non-habitual coffee drinkers, those first few cups will cause a temporary rise in blood pressure, but for regular drinkers, a tolerance develops and won’t cause any long term, permanent increase.

On Nov 17th (my mother’s birthday), there was a cataclysmic change in mammography.

The age at which a woman should have her first mammogram was changed from 40 to 50 and the frequency changed from every year to every-other year. Until now, it was believed that yearly mammograms were essential. As a radiologist and the son of a woman whose life was saved by mammography screening (breast cancer survivor since 1993), let me share my perspective on this issue.

Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new University of Georgia study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that these outdoor smoking areas might be creating a new health hazard.The study, thought to be the first to assess levels of a nicotine byproduct known as cotinine in nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors, found levels up to 162 percent greater than in the control group.

Melissa, a 14  year old type 1 diabetic, is currently a freshman at a regional high School.  She enjoys playing with her puppy King Henry, playing tennis and having fun with friends. She is also involved in volunteering for JDRF and feels that her future calling is to be an endocrinologist. Even though she faces day to day challenges with her disease, Melissa lives a pretty normal life with the help and support of her friends and family.

 
As many as 3 million Americans may have Type 1 Diabetes.  Each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. That’s 40 children per day.

“Based on limited amounts of research, the American Cancer Society says that the energy level of radio waves coming off cell towers is too low to cause cancer or any other noticeable human health impacts. Still, cell phones and their towers are a fairly new technology, and more research on the topic is sure to come.”

Is there any scientific evidence of links between exposure to cell phone tower radiation and cancer?
 No one doubts that cell phone towers give off low-level radio-frequency radiation (similar to the microwave oven in your home), but scientists are still debating the health effects of long-term exposure.

While many of us wish for a life that is free of stress, harm and bad feelings, the reality is that over the course of our lives we will all encounter difficulties.  It is how we cope with life’s challenges that determine our overall mental health and sense of well-being.  As a psychologist, I continually witness the resilience of the human spirit, as clients I work with overcome tragedy, trauma, and adversity.  They learn skills that allow them to create lives that are valuable, joyful and enriching.   In life there is suffering.  How we approach suffering will affect our overall happiness, mental health and experience in the world. 

In the U.S., diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss among adults often during their most productive years.  It causes up to 24,000 new cases of vision loss each year.

What does diabetes have to do with my eyes and what is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetes can harm your vision, or even cause blindness.  With diabetes, your body does not use and store sugar properly.  High blood sugar levels damage capillaries, small blood vessels connecting arteries and veins.  The damage to the vessels in your eyes is called diabetic retinopathy. 

It looks like something you would see at a NASCAR event.  It's made to lock and tether.  The contoured seat sports a harness with two pink terry cloth strap pads.  Without the presence of stale, crushed Cheerios, one may even mistake the infant seat as a throne fit for NASA’s next shuttle mission.

Could it be the hot dogs, cold beer and the pungent smell of burnt rubber?  Perhaps it’s the many steps and other obstacles that exercise the thighs and legs like pistons while on the way to your seat.  Or, is it simply the deafening roar of the passing cars and cheering crowds?  How can NASCAR keep you fit?  To help in the creation of one’s optimum weight, it is better to look at a NASCAR pit crew for the answers than to the crowded concession stands or circling drivers.  Why is that?  The pit crew knows fuel, parts and tires. 

PART 1

What happened to all the SEESAWS?  Was it the bruised knees, bleeding chins or sore behinds that brought their demise?  It must have been the lawyers fueled by angry parents with sobbing children.  This momentous removal was necessary to protect from playground injury.  On the downside, we lost a valuable educational tool when seesaws began to vanish from our neighborhoods!