What is Asthma?
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to your lungs. According to the CDC, about 25 million Americans have asthma. In America, one child in 12 has asthma, making it the most common chronic condition among kids. Asthma symptoms vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest […]
Asthma
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to your lungs. According to the CDC, about twenty-five million Americans have asthma. In America, one child in twelve has asthma, making it the most common chronic condition among kids. Symptoms vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness […]
Diabetes and Hemoglobin A1C
Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C or A1C) is a simple blood test that measures the average blood sugar levels over the past 2- 3 months. Because it is an average over several months, you do not have to be fasting when you get you blood drawn to check it. It is one of the commonly used tests to diagnose prediabetes (sometimes called insulin […]
Common Colds
We’ve all had a common cold. A cold is a mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses, and upper airways. Colds are very common but kids age six and younger are at greatest risk for complications. Healthy adults can expect to have two or three colds annually, but kids can have as many as […]
Slips and Falls on Ice
Slips and falls on ice and snow are a common occurrence in the winter. Injuries from slips and falls are normally minor but can also be very serious. Common injuries from slips and falls on ice and snow are bruises and sometimes fractures. But spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries can also occur. After a fall on the ice if you are having significant pain or difficulties […]
Concussions
We have all seen kids fall and bump their heads. But what if the bump is more serious? Do you know when you need to take your child to a healthcare provider? And what’s the difference between a contusion and a concussion? A contusion is a bruise that can occur on your head but isn’t typically serious and tends to resolve within several days. A concussion […]
Influenza
Influenza season is at full tilt! It started officially in the USA the week of October 5, 2019. It started a month earlier than usual and now all states are reporting significant to widespread influenza infections. Typically, flu season runs from November to March and is usually consists predominately of influenza A infections. This year it’s influenza B causing most of the infections. We are only about halfway through the expected influenza season, so vaccination is still beneficial. I’ve already seen a few children in […]
Enjoy Spring Without the Falls
As winter comes to an end it’s important to remain cautious of all the fall risks it can present. Children and young adults may be able to nurse a bruised tailbone and get back to their daily routine. Adults age 65 and older, however, will often find a costly series of complications following those falls. According […]
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
It is starting to get hot outside, and with some of the restrictions from COVID-19 lifting, more of us will be outside. Being out in the sun is fun, but there are a few things to watch out for to stay safe in the sun, namely: sunburns, heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. We all have experience with sunburns, so I will skip these. Normal body temperature is typically 98.6℉. When […]
Do You Have Prediabetes?
Prediabetes, sometimes called elevated blood glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, is a condition that is a warning sign that your body is not processing blood sugar (glucose) efficiently. By understanding that this is happening, you may be able to make changes to prevent or postpone developing actual diabetes. There are different types of diabetes. In Diabetes Type 1, the body does not produce […]
