Posted on Monday, May 2, 2016

Living With Food Allergies & Asthma

In honor of Food Allergy Awareness Month, I wanted to touch on a topic that can be challenging for families. When dealing with food allergies and asthma, often times they’re intertwined, so it is important to know how to handle and prepare for both, whether it affects you or your loved ones.

There are certain signs that will occur if you experience a food allergy, signs that you must pay close attention to. Symptoms may vary from person to person and may include hives, itching, stomach pain, vomiting, swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, shortness of breath, and others. There are also similar indicators when you experience allergy-induced asthma such as nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes or skin reactions.

The most common food allergy triggers in kids and adults include peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. When introducing new foods to your children, make sure to do so gradually and pay attention to their reactions. If your child does have a food allergy, make sure to consult with a physician. When going to school or out to eat, let people know of your child’s food allergies. Also be aware of cross-contamination (cookies baked on the same tray as peanut butter cookies). If your child needs a medical device (auto-injector) for allergy emergencies, make sure you have this with you at all times.

Knowing your family health history can also help greatly. Children who have one or both parents with allergies are more susceptible to developing the same condition. If you know your family has a history of food allergies or asthma, you may find it beneficial to seek out a specialized dermatologist, allergist or immunologist who will be methodical in their approach and will test your child thoroughly for all allergy triggers. Allergists should be consulted too if you or your child develop a peanut allergy or moderate to severe eczema.

Once you know what triggers food allergies or asthma in you, your child or family member, you can better prepare and learn to limit your exposure to those items. Make sure to create a strong relationship with your family doctor and check in with them on a regular basis. Work with your doctor to find the best treatment to manage your symptoms based on the level of your symptoms.

Food allergies and asthma need constant attention especially for your child. However, make sure they don’t feel left out or different from other kids. Keep your child engaged in social activities such as birthday parties and play dates. Just make sure to plan ahead and always let your child know what to expect and make them part of the planning process. This will make your child feel more comfortable and in control.

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Posted on Monday, April 25, 2016

Why Your Child Should Have Well Visits with the Doctor

Pediatrician Doctor Examining Little Girl Ears. When our children are babies, they have a lot of doctor’s visits. It’s all part of the process of keeping them healthy. As our children grow older, the doctor’s visits happen less often. It’s important, though, to have your child visit their pediatrician at least once per year even when they are healthy.

First, it helps you and the doctor keep an eye on your child’s growth to make sure everything is progressing as expected. These well visits help the doctor understand what “normal” baseline health is for your child. That way, if your child becomes ill or shows certain symptoms, the doctor is better able to recognize the change in your child’s appearance or behavior.

Well visits are also a wonderful opportunity to build a relationship with your pediatrician. When they see you regularly, they more easily recognize you and your child if something comes up. Also, they may be able to better answer a question over the phone if they have seen you in the office recently.

Building a history with your child’s doctor also means that when you need to get a copy of your child’s records for school or to sign them up for a sport, you will feel confident that your child’s file is complete and up-to-date.

Also, as your child gets older, it is often appropriate for your doctor and your child to have private conversations without you present. They might discuss sexual activity, bullying, depression and other subjects that your child might not want to talk about with you. If your child is seeing their pediatrician regularly, they will feel more comfortable when these private conversations need to occur.

There are many benefits to scheduling a yearly well visit with your child’s doctor, so why not call them today and schedule your child’s next appointment?

Posted on Friday, April 22, 2016

Signs of Depression in Senior Citizens

Yesterday we completed another successful webinar on assisted living. Thank you so much for continuing to tune in! During the webinar, we received many excellent questions. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were unable to answer them all. I wanted to take the time to answer one question that I found to be particularly important:

What are some warning signs of depression in the elderly, and what do I do if I think my senior is depressed?

Depression is extremely common in senior citizens and the elderly comprise a disproportionately large amount of the population who commit suicide each year. Looking for certain signs in your loved ones can be the key to helping them feel better and to get their mental health back on track.

First, it is often counter productive to ask anyone if they are depressed. The word depression can have a certain stigma to it. Therefore, I find it better to ask about changes in their interests or their daily routine. As my father aged, I began to notice that he was not himself. He was not sleeping well, his personality had changed slightly, and his appetite had decreased. I recognized these as obvious signs of depression in my normally positive and full-of-life father. However, my dad was a proud man who was used to helping others and had difficulty accepting help for himself. When his doctor asked him if he was depressed, my dad quickly denied it. We found a doctor who understood how difficult the aging process can be, and he asked my dad a different set of questions to determine that my father was indeed showing signs of depression. After my dad was put on mild mood stabilizing medication, he quickly returned to his old self.

It is essential to be an advocate for your senior and pay attention to changes in their mood and behavior, whether they are big or small. Signs that the senior citizen in your life may be depressed might include: fatigue, inability to concentrate, decreased memory or confusion, loss of interest, weight loss or loss of appetite, increased pain or discomfort, sleep disturbances, social isolation, loss of self-worth and talk of suicide. Listen to your senior’s complaints and make note of any changes you see in their behavior.

If you have seen any of these symptoms in your senior or loved one, it is time to get them help. You should take them to a doctor, who might prescribe a low dose anti-depressant.

If your senior is down, but not clinically depressed, there are plenty of ways to help boost their mood. If your senior is physically able, they can volunteer at a local animal shelter or help an elderly neighbor who may need a little more assistance to help them feel useful. You can also suggest that your senior get a pet. Having a pet to look after will keep them company and help them to get exercise, which is an additional mood booster. Many seniors are lonely or bored. Remind them they are loved with pictures of family and frequent visits and phone calls. Keeping your senior busy will be the best thing for their mind and body.

Depression in senior citizens can be detrimental to their health and well being. But these simple tips can help you take good care of your loved ones.

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