Bridging The Gap Between Patients and Providers
rsvp | Health Volume 3, Issue 1 - Spring 2012 www.rsvphealth.com
CLEAN AIR: THE BREATH OF LIFE HOW MUCH SLEEP DOES YOUR CHILD NEED?
Children’s Health Issue ACCIDENTAL CHILDHOOD OVERDOSES ON THE RISE
WHO WILL STOP THE BULLIES... AND HOW?
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RADIO SHOW
Credits Publisher RSVP Health Executive Editor Rodney D. Gross, Ph.D. Contributing Editors Lola L. (AuBuchon) Gross Megan O’Brien Creative Director Megan O’Brien Visual Ingenuity, LLC Contributors Anthem
We are LIVE on the air
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Rodney D. Gross, Ph.D.
mornings on KREI, 800 AM.
Complete Vision Care Lola L. (AuBuchon) Gross Keath Hausher Jeff Huck, D.C. Dr. Edward Jarka Dr. Mark Kahrhoff Louie Seiberlich Skaggzzz Sleep Institute Dr. Arturo Taca, Ph.D.
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RSVP Health is provided for information and education purposes and is in no way to take the place of a health care professional’s advice. Please consult a health care professional with any health related questions. Not all information within is the opinion of RSVP Health.
From the Editor | RSVP Health
rsvp | Health “It has been said that the children are our future. I say ensure they have one.” - Dr. Rodney D. Gross The only true innocence in our known existence is a child. Even if as adults we have or do not have children, the thing we all have in common is that we were all a child at one time. Throughout my experiences inside hospitals and medical centers, none has touched my heart more than those of children have. Doing this next installment of RSVP Health Publication, the “Childrens’ Wellness” title is one that should touch all of our hearts and souls. My wife Lola and I, along with the Creative Director of the publication, Megan O’Brien, and all of our clients and sponsors, took a long look at how we can make a profound statement of awareness for all. We all agreed that one of the most relevant things, not only in Health and in Wellness, but also in the world, are the children. Inside these pages, you will see spotlights on Children’s Health and Wellness, along with other relevant Health and Wellness information and education for all concerned, from some of our sponsors and clients. We always strive to give relevant definitions related to the spotlighted subject and in this issue; you are going to see statistics. Numbers tell the story, and in this case, attributing all the statistics to children, our goal is that they will not be ignored and bring awareness. Too often are particular groups, ages, ethnicity, gender, etc., targeted by society, politics, religion, etc., for use of their particular agendas. Sadly, this is the case for children around the world. Some may say, “That is what you are doing with this issue on kids”. I have nothing to gain, be elected to, collect or sell, by discussing ‘factual’ material based on research and my health care experience, except awareness to all who read this publication. I think it is time that someone takes a stand for what I said above “The only true innocence in our known existence is a child”. If just one child’s life is made better because of my actions, then that is my reward.
Children have total dependence on us as parents, adults, leaders, a society, a country, etc. They may not have a voice, literally, until a certain age, but they have their face and, in particular, those eyes. I have seen many faces of children throughout my life inside hospitals, clinics, etc, and on the outside. I am here to tell you that I took many of stances and made many decisions based around the treatment and care and or lack of, for children. How could you not? From young adults in their early twenties, teenagers, toddlers and all the way to babies, I have seen their triumphs and struggles for care, awareness, recognition and survival. We hear all the time from adults telling children things like, “I want you to have it better than I did, I want you to have opportunities and I want you to see the world”. The problem for some, not all, is that their “actual” actions speak louder than their “actual” words. Imagine watching the world right now through the eyes of a child. What would be seen? Most of us would come up with very different views. The thing I like to think is that the child is holding us to our words that have been said for eons by numerous people, “I believe that children are our future” or just “Children are the future”. Thus my quote that I use when discussing children in any setting, “It has been said that children are our future, I say ensure they have one”. All of us as Health Care & Wellness Providers, Adults, Parents, Leaders, Educators, Politicians, Religious Leaders, etc., owe it to the children to do everything possible to ensure they have a future. What better return on investment is there, than a child’s health and wellness? I am proud to announce that the RSVP Health Publication was displayed throughout Barnes & Noble Bookstores this past quarter as a “Featured Title” and as always, still was free to anyone who wanted a copy. Our uniqueness, quality, sponsors, contributors, and designer are what makes achievements like this possible. I can “Dream It, But All Of You Help Me Define It”! Rodney D. Gross, Ph.D.
RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 3
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Vincent K. Blair is an independent authorized agent in Missouri for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE速 Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance速 Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Life and Disability products underwritten by Anthem Life Insurance Company. Independent 4 RSVP | www.rsvphealth.com licensees of theHealth Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 速ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Table of Contents | RSVP Health
You Have More Power Than You Think
Accidental Childhood Overdoses on the Rise
Page 6
Page 20 Clean Air: The Breath of Life
Page 34 How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?
Page 50 Page 3 From the Editor
Page 24 Leighton’s Story
Page 41 But Mom, It’s Just One Cookie
Page 14 Childhood Asthma: Stick to the Plan
Page 27 Chiropractic Care for Kids
Page 42 Who Will Stop the Bullies…and How?
Page16 Blood Drops for Dry Eye– Local Eye Doctors Pioneer New Treatments for Dry Eye
Page 31 Leadership Begins in the Mirror
Page 56 Summer Health and Wellness Calendar
Page 19 Helping Protect Your Child’s Eyesight
Page 33 Pregnancy and Oral Health
Page 60 Vision Care for Children
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You Have More Power Than You Think! By Dr. Rodney Gross, Ph.D.
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You Have More Power Thank You Think | RSVP Health
Common Terms You Need to Know Pediatrics Neonatologist T&A NICU
Common Disorders Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Meningitis Statistics
Common Terms, Disorders and Statistics About Childrens’ Health With this segment of “You Have More Power Than You Think”, I am doing it a little differently. I am adding some statistics. Why? Simple – we are dealing with children. The other reason is that these statistics are coming from “U.S. Children”. We can and should be doing much better than some of these statistics read (and these are just some of many).
The Common Terms?
You may have children or may not, but all of us have the responsibility when it comes to children. Why wouldn’t you make yourself aware, educate yourself and try to ensure that children have a future?
Neonatologist – A specifically trained doctor that is able to handle more complex/high-risk situations than Pediatricians. These situations may include, but not limited to serious illness/ life-threatening medical problems, injury, birth defect, intervention in the delivery room, premature deliveries that compromise vital organs in the baby. These doctors are Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and by the Sub-Board of Neonal-Perinatal Medicine.
As always, my definitions, highlights and statistics are very basic to empower one to ask questions, research the web, go to the library and or spend a day at the bookstore. Most of what I just said costs little to nothing in return for the knowledge you will receive. What better investment is there in our world than a child?
Below were “some” of the most requested ones that all of you asked. Pediatrics – The medical specialty concerned with treatment and study of children’s health and disease starting with development to birth to adolescence.
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You Have More Power Thank You Think | Dr. Rodney Gross, Ph.D.
T & A – (Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy) Common pediatric surgical procedures in which a child’s enlarged tonsils and adenoids are removed. NICU – (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) The area of a hospital where sick babies, especially if they are premature, go once they are born.
If you suspect that you or someone in your family has meningitis, seek medical care right away. The Common Disorders? Below were “some” of the most common disorders per your requests. I have “spotlighted” Meningitis because so many of you requested this condition and its different types, signs, symptoms, etc. Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) – Inflammation of the clear membrane (conjunctiva), which covers the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. Common condition that spreads very easily. Whooping Cough (Pertussis) – Caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis (or B. pertussis), it infects the respiratory system. Severe coughing spells that sometimes ends with a “whooping” sound when the person breathes in. In the case of infants, they may not have this “whooping” sound as would older children.
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Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease – A very contagious, common illness caused by a virus. The virus resides in the digestive tract and spreads person to person. Most common way of spreading is by unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated by feces. It is normally identified by red blisters in the throat, inside the cheek, tongue, gums, that may have a small bubble of fluid. The palms of the hand and soles of the feet may also have rash, red spots and or red blisters. (This is not to be confused with Hoof & Mouth Disease, that is a illness that affects barnyard livestock and or animals and is not related). Meningitis – A vast number of you requested this condition. Witnessing young patients with this condition throughout my career in the military and civilian medical fields, I thought it was appropriate (very important) to let Mayo Clinic define it, give the signs, symptoms and causes. Definition – Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord, usually due to the spread of an infection. The swelling associated with meningitis often triggers the “hallmark” signs and symptoms of this condition, including headache, fever and a stiff neck in anyone over the age of 2. Most cases of meningitis are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial and fungal infections also can lead to meningitis. Depending on the cause of the infection, meningitis can resolve on its own in a couple of weeks — or it can be a life-threatening emergency. If you suspect that you or someone in your family has meningitis, seek medical care right away. Early treatment can prevent serious complications.
You Have More Power Thank You Think | RSVP Health
Symptoms – It’s easy to mistake the early signs and symptoms of meningitis for the flu (influenza). Meningitis signs and symptoms may develop over several hours or over one or two days and, in anyone over the age of 2, typically include: •
High fever
•
Severe headache that isn’t easily confused with other types of headache
•
Stiff neck
•
Vomiting or nausea with headache
•
Confusion or difficulty concentrating — in the very young, this may appear as inability to maintain eye contact
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Poor feeding
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A bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby’s head (fontanel)
•
Stiffness in a baby’s body and neck
•
Seizures
•
Infants with meningitis may be difficult to comfort, and may even cry harder when picked up.
When to see a doctor Seek medical care right away if you or someone in your family has signs or symptoms of meningitis, such as: •
Fever
•
Severe, unrelenting headache
•
Seizures
•
Confusion
•
Sleepiness or difficulty waking up
•
Vomiting
•
Sensitivity to light
•
Stiff neck
•
Lack of interest in drinking and eating
•
Skin rash in some cases, such as in viral or meningococcal meningitis
Signs in newborns Newborns and infants may not have the classic signs and symptoms of headache and stiff neck. Instead, signs of meningitis in this age group may include: •
High fever
•
Constant crying
•
Excessive sleepiness or irritability
•
Inactivity or sluggishness
There is no way to know what kind of meningitis you or your child has without seeing your doctor and undergoing spinal fluid testing. Viral meningitis may improve without treatment in a few days. Bacterial meningitis is serious, can come on very quickly and requires prompt antibiotic treatment to improve the chances of a recovery without serious complications. Delaying treatment for bacterial meningitis increases the risk of permanent brain damage or death. In addition, bacterial meningitis can prove fatal in a matter of days.
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You Have More Power Thank You Think | Dr. Rodney Gross, Ph.D.
Causes – Meningitis usually results from a viral infection, but the cause may also be a bacterial infection. Less commonly, a fungal infection may cause meningitis. Because bacterial infections are the most serious and can be life threatening, identifying the source of the infection is an important part of developing a treatment plan. Bacterial Meningitis Acute bacterial meningitis usually occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and migrate to the brain and spinal cord. However, it can also occur when bacteria directly invade the meninges, because of an ear or sinus infection or a skull fracture. A number of strains of bacteria can cause acute bacterial meningitis. The most common include: •
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) This bacterium is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in infants, young children and adults in the United States. It more commonly causes pneumonia or ear or sinus infections.
•
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) This bacterium is another leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Meningococcal meningitis commonly occurs when bacteria from an upper respiratory infection enter your bloodstream. This infection is highly contagious. It affects mainly teenagers and young adults, and may cause local epidemics in college dormitories, boarding schools and military bases.
•
Haemophilus influenzae (haemophilus) Before the 1990s, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacterium was the leading cause
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of bacterial meningitis in children. But new Hib vaccines — available as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule in the United States — have greatly reduced the number of cases of this type of meningitis. When it occurs, it tends to follow an upper respiratory infection, ear infection (otitis media) or sinusitis. •
Listeria monocytogenes (listeria) These bacteria can be found almost anywhere — in soil, in dust and in foods that have become contaminated. Contaminated foods have included soft cheeses, hot dogs and luncheon meats. Many wild and domestic animals also carry the bacteria. Fortunately, most healthy people exposed to listeria do not become ill, although pregnant women, newborns and older adults tend to be more susceptible. Listeria can cross the placental barrier, and infections in late pregnancy may cause a baby to be stillborn or die shortly after birth. People with weakened immune systems, due to disease or medication effect, are most vulnerable.
Viral Meningitis Each year, viruses cause a greater number of cases of meningitis than do bacteria. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears on its own within two weeks. A group of viruses known as enteroviruses is responsible for about 30 percent of viral meningitis cases in the United States. As many viral meningitis episodes never have, a specific virus identified as the cause. The most common signs and symptoms of enteroviral infections are rash, sore throat,
You Have More Power Thank You Think | RSVP Health
diarrhea, joint aches and headache. These viruses tend to circulate in late summer and early fall. Viruses such as herpes simplex virus, La Crosse virus, West Nile virus and others also can cause viral meningitis. Chronic Meningitis Chronic forms of meningitis occur when slow-growing organisms invade the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain. Although acute meningitis strikes suddenly, chronic meningitis develops over two weeks or more. Nevertheless, the signs and symptoms of chronic meningitis — headaches, fever, vomiting and mental cloudiness — are similar to those of acute meningitis. This type of meningitis is rare. Fungal Meningitis Fungal meningitis is relatively uncommon and causes chronic meningitis. Occasionally it can mimic acute bacterial meningitis. Cryptococcal meningitis is a common fungal form of the disease that affects people with immune deficiencies, such as AIDS. It’s life threatening if not treated with an antifungal medication.
Statistics The following are some statistics that all of us as a society should not ignore. We always hear the debate one way or the other whether or not these statistics and or reports we are shown are accurate. I tried to find the organizations and associations with proven records. The point to take away from this is “awareness” and in my experience (outside the medical fields and inside the medical fields), when it comes to children, there is always talk but soon ignored. It seems everyone wants statistics like you will see below, just to go away and or improve on their own. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) •
U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world.
•
1/3 of U.S. teenage girls get pregnant before age 20.
•
Teen pregnancy cost the U.S. over $7 billion annually.
Other meningitis causes Meningitis can also result from noninfectious causes, such as drug allergies, some types of cancer and inflammatory diseases such as lupus.”
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You Have More Power Thank You Think | Dr. Rodney Gross, Ph.D.
•
Teen abortion rate is 50% lower than its high point in 1998.
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In 2009, 10% or 7.5 million children had no Health Insurance.
•
1 in 6 U.S. children have a developmental disability such as Autism, ADHD and or learning disorder.
•
In the U.S., one baby per hour is born with prescription drug withdrawal, called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in 2009.
•
12 million U.S. children were treated for Bronchitis and another 12 million treated for Asthma in 2008.
•
The 12 million children treated for Asthma in 2008 cost $9 billion.
Henry Kaiser Family Foundation •
Only 21 states have state level farm to school policies
•
60% of U.S. children receive Mental Health care
•
U.S. teen death rate went from 88 per 100,000 in 1990 to 58 per 100,000 in 2009.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
In the U.S., only 20% of Middle and High Schools offer fruits and veggies as competitive foods. Henry Kaiser Family Foundation
Journal of the American Medical Association •
Among U.S. children, “Chronic Health Conditions” doubled (11% to 27%) from 1994-2006. That included Obesity, Asthma, Behavioral Disorders, Learning Disorders, Heart Disorders and Orthopedic Disabilities.
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•
U.S. teen unemployment in 2010 was at 25%
•
In 2010, the average U.S. college student had a debt was $26,000.
National Center on Family Homelessness •
In the U.S., 1 in 45 children will experience homelessness each year. That is up 33%.
•
2.9 million U.S. children live in households where meals are skipped or go without food for at least one full day.
You Have More Power Thank You Think | RSVP Health
Dept. of Health & Human Services •
200,000 U.S. children waiting for adoption
•
U.S. children spend an average of 3 years waiting to be adopted within the U.S. (that is 3 birthdays and dozens of holidays).
•
Rise in U.S. children being adopted by people and families in other countries.
Childhelp •
In the U.S., the number of child deaths “per day” due to child abuse and neglect is more than 5.
•
U.S. has the worst record in the industrialized world when it comes to child deaths as a result of child abuse and neglect.
•
Every 10 seconds in the U.S., there is a report of child abuse.
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80% of U.S. children that die from abuse are under the age of 4.
•
Almost 60% of child fatalities due to maltreatment in the U.S. “are not reported as such on their death certificate”.
•
The annual U.S. costs of child abuse and neglect for 2008 was $124 billion.
32%
of U.S. children are overweight or obese Henry Kaiser Family Foundation
Become Your Own Health and Wellness Expert There are abundant procedures and disorders throughout the children’s health and wellness world. I hope this helps give you a simplified and brief explanation of “some” of the procedures and disorders you requested and may encounter. Never let health and wellness intimidate you in anyway. The individuals whom you seek out for your health and wellness should have the utmost professionalism. However, as I have witnessed throughout my years in the health and wellness profession, most of us forget to explain diagnosis, tests, procedures, disorders, etc and what they mean to our patients/ customers. One last thing, even with all you may encounter, the one thing that is constant and most important is “YOU and “YOUR and YOUR. family’s ” health and wellness! Empower yourself, ask questions, demand communication and know RSVP Health. You have more power than you think!
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RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com
Get healthy. Stay healthy.
Childhood asthma: stick to the plan Help your child breathe easier with an asthma management plan Childhood asthma In the United States, more than 9.6 percent of kids suffer from asthma, and that number is climbing.1,2 If your child is among the 7.1 million with asthma, he or she can live a healthy, active life by sticking to an asthma management plan.1,3
What happens during an asthma attack? When the signs of asthma get worse or come on all of a sudden it’s called an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, the airways and lungs become swollen and irritated.4 Muscles around the airways tighten. As the airways tighten and swell, less air gets through to the lungs. Asthma attacks can make people cough, wheeze and have trouble breathing.5 Asthma attacks can make it hard for kids to do normal things. School, sports, play and sleep can all suffer. Bad asthma attacks can send a child to the emergency room or even require a hospital stay.4 Sometimes, the body over-reacts to certain things (these are called triggers). Common triggers of asthma attacks include:3,4 }
Having a cold or other infection
}
Being around tobacco smoke or breathing polluted air
}
Being sensitive to things like dust mites, pet dander, mold or pollen (these are called allergies)
}
Weather changes
}
Breathing cold, dry air
}
Physical activity, including normal play
}
Emotional reactions, like getting very excited, mad, scared or upset
What causes asthma? Children with asthma have sensitive immune systems. An overly sensitive immune system can be a family trait. It also can be caused by having some types of airway infections at a young age.4 Having allergies or a family history of allergies; living in an urban area where the air is more polluted; or having a runny or stuffy nose all the time raises a child’s chances of having asthma. Other things include low birth weight, obesity and heartburn (also known as reflux or GERD).4
14 RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 20506ANMENABS 4/11 F0078853
HOW DID YOU SLEEP LAST NIGHT?
Does any of this sound familiar? If so, tell your doctor!
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
I have trouble going to sleep at night I snore I have high blood pressure My diabetes is hard to control I do not feel refreshed in the morning My legs bother me in the evening or while I’m trying to sleep I fall asleep while I’m driving or while sitting still I wake up earlier in the morning than I would like My child is hyperactive My child sleeps less than 9 hours in a 24 hour period I have a dry mouth upon waking Someone has noticed I stop breathing I wake up gasping for air I’m tired during the day
We can help you sleep!
Skaggzzz Sleep Institute 1269 Doctor Dr., Farmington, MO (573) 760-1501 www.skaggzzz.com
If you sleep poorly, your chances of developing high blood pressure may increase, new research suggests. — USA Today
Sleep Apnea can also increase the risk of diabetes. — American Diabetes Association
Untreated sleep apnea can cause hypertension, stroke or heart failure. — Web MD
Increased awareness of the relationship between depression and OSA might significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy as well as treatment outcome for both disorders. . — Stanford University School of Medicine
Lack of sleep can cause you to gain weight: The two hormones that are key in this process are ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is the ‘go’ hormone that tells you when to eat, and when you are sleepdeprived, you have more ghrelin. Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep deprived, you have less leptin. More Ghrelin + Less Leptin = Weight Gain.
Blood Drops for Dry Eye–Local Eye Doctors Pioneer New Treatments for Dry Eye By: Dr. Rodney Gross of RSVP Health with Drs. Mark Kahrhoff and Edward Jarka of Advanced Ocular Therapeutics
Dr. Gross: Why do you call it “dry eye” when my eyes are watering all the time?
Dr. Gross: Are tears really that important to the eye? Why?
The eyes water because the tear film is not “in balance”. The normal tear film is made up of a balance of water, oil and mucous. When this balance is disturbed, the quality of the tears becomes less than adequate which results in the exposure of the delicate eye tissue to the environment. This exposure stimulates the nerves in the ocular tissue to produce more of the watery-like tears that you experience as a watery eye.
Yes. The surface of the eye is what’s called a “mucous membrane.” It is the only place on the body where a mucous membrane is so exposed. Mucous membranes line the nose, mouth, the ends of our intestinal and reproductive systems. But these areas are protected by skin, muscle, sometimes fat and other tissues. Our eyes are not protected in those ways.
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Tears contain all the tools our eyes need to renew and protect themselves. When tears become insufficient, our eyes cannot maintain their exposed delicate surfaces. This causes pain, impaired vision, increases our risk for infection and a host of other problems.
Blood Drops for Dry Eye | RSVP Health
Dr. Gross: The eyes “renew” themselves? Yes. The surfaces of the eyes do. The eye just makes new cells to fill in the ones that have gotten damaged. The eye sloughs off the old cell and pushes the new one into place. All of this depends in large measure on good quality tears. When the tears are of poor quality, little damages that happen to everyone’s eyes in a day go unrepaired. This accumulating damage is what makes “dry eye” a real, serious, and painful eye disease with significant effects on sufferers.
inflammation; eye drops like Azasite or Restasis which are purported to have antiinflammation power and/or a capacity to increase tear production.
Women, particularly women of middle age and beyond, have more trouble with dry eye than men.
Dr. Gross: What causes “dry eye” in the first place? A host of predisposing conditions or factors combine together to cause dry eye. The history is complicated and often hard to tease out. Women, particularly women of middle age and beyond, have more trouble with dry eye than men; health conditions such as thyroid disease or Sjogren’s Syndrome cause dry eye; skin conditions like rosacea; eye surgeries such as LASIK create or worsen dry eye; many medications can cause or worsen dry eye, including hypertension and diabetes medication and birth control; environmental factors such as computer use, dry, dusty, or windy conditions; contact lens wear; cigarette smoking; hormonal factors also can play a role. Dr. Gross: How is dry eye treated?
Sometimes these help, although we see many people that do not respond to these treatments. If they did, we would not have reports in the medical literature that people with dry eye tend to be unsatisfied with treatments and feel they get worse each year. Many millions of people are not treated effectively with the current cocktail of expensive medicines. Dr. Gross: What is this Platelet Rich Plasma or “PRP” therapy you do? We are using eye drops that are specially prepared from a person’s blood. You see, your blood has remarkable healing powers. There are agents in your blood called platelets that are little packets of healing power. These are the agents we are familiar with mostly as what stops bleeding when we cut ourselves. Well, as they stop bleeding in a cut, these platelets are also releasing a complex mixture of healing and repair agents called “growth factors.” Soon, your cut is healed and your skin looks “like new.” We concentrate these healing compounds into an eye drop using a highly specialized and sterile preparation process. We provide these in the form of eye drops to patients.
Common treatments include artificial tears, pills like doxycycline that can reduce the RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 17
Blood Drops for the Eye | Dr. Rodney Gross of RSVP Health with Drs. Mark Kahrhoff and Edward Jarka
Dr. Gross: Does PRP work? Yes. We have patients who have had worsening dry eye for years who are now experiencing relief and genuine healing for the first time. These drops are not like artificial tears that just temporarily relieve symptoms. These growth factors, we believe, are healing the surface of the eye. We have patients from all over the US and from abroad who come for this therapy. It’s not a magic bullet, but it is helping folks who did not receive help from years of other therapy. Dr. Gross: Does insurance cover the therapy? Not at this time. We have kept the cost as low as possible for patients but there is specialized equipment and conditions required for the preparation of the drops. The current charge is $250. For most patients, we are able to provide 3 – 4 bottles of drops, enough for 2-3 months. The office visit is usually covered by a patient’s medical insurance. The office staff can answer any questions on insurance that folks may have. Dr. Gross: Does one batch of these drops fix the problem? And if not does the fee apply each time? This depends on the patient and the duration and severity of the condition. Many patients require only one set. The fee does apply each time because the required tools are used once. The drops usually last 9 – 12 weeks. The cost is low compared to the lifetime of costs for the cocktail of drops most patients take. We have many patients who were on 12 or more different drops – tears, steroids, and antibiotics. They spend the whole day taking eye drops. Most often, we stop nearly all of that and replace with PRP.
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Dr. Gross: Can people wear contact lenses and take these drops? Many patients we see have long-since given up on contacts. However, many patients we treat return to contacts happily. They can take these drops before inserting or after removing lenses. Dr. Gross: Do the drops help for anything besides “Dry eye?” Yes. We have had success with patients other problems including cornea problems. We are treating only eye surface problems, however – not glaucoma or macular degeneration. Dr. Gross: How do patients contact you? Dial the office at 636-717-2560. Ask for an appointment with Dr. Mark Kahrhoff or Dr. Ed Jarka. Expect to spend an hour with the doctor for exam, medical, ocular, and nutritional histories. A baseline blood analysis may be necessary. Be prepared to give a blood sample for drop preparation if necessary. Dr. Gross: Any tips for patients with dry eye generally? If artificial tears help, use them regularly; portable humidifiers in your TV room or bedroom help. Don’t sleep under a fan. Don’t smoke. Drink plenty of water or hydrating fluids like green tea. Avoid over the counter red eye drops. Talk with your doctor about medications that might be exacerbating your dry eye.
1011 Bowles Avenue St. Francis Building, Ste 415 Fenton, MO 63026
Helping protect your child’s eyesight Article Title | RSVP Health All parents want to keep their children safe and healthy, but many may not realize the impact that eyesight can have on how their child grows and their overall health. Children who don’t see well, may not feel well and may not perform as well in school. Keep in mind that an average of one in four children have vision problems they don’t know about that can get in the way of reading and learning.1 So it’s vital that their vision plan offer access to the highest-quality complete vision care and eyewear choices to help improve and protect their sight.
Eye health needs of children k The average child gets three times the yearly ultraviolet (UV) exposure than an adult does.1 Research shows that long-term exposure to UV rays can cause eye diseases. Glare can cause eyestrain and tired eyes so it’s important to protect kids’ eyes from the sun.
Children’s eye health
k Some of the most common vision problems in children can be missed during the eye tests given in schools.1 (These include eye coordination, lazy eye and far sightedness. Being far sighted, means it’s easier to see things far away than close up.) Plus near vision (seeing things close up) is not tested during eye tests at school. And near vision is important for reading books and seeing the computer screen clearly. k Most eye injuries among kids ages 11 to 14 happen while playing sports.2 The good news is that 90% of them could be avoided with proper safety.
Protecting children from eye injuries k Think about getting protective eyewear for your kids to wear during sports. Everyday glasses do not count. No matter if they wear glasses or contacts, children also need a pair of safety glasses, goggles, safety shields or eye guards. k Impact-resistant lenses can help protect children’s eyes during everyday activities or sports. Lenses that are made from something called polycarbonate have the highest level of protection because they can withstand a ball or other objects traveling at 90 miles per hour.2 A helmet with a face guard can help protect the head and face during sports.
Benefits of Transitions® lenses — helping protect children from UV and glare k Transitions lenses are the #1 doctor-recommended photochromic lenses. They’re as clear as regular glasses indoors, but turn dark like sunglasses outdoors.
Source: 1 Transitions Optical, Inc. Eye Didn’t Know That! website: For Parents (2011): eyedidntknowthat.info/for-parents 2 Transitions Optical, Inc. Eye Didn’t Know That! website: Family Fun (2011): eyedidntknowthat.info/for-parents/family-activities/
k They block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. k They help lower glare and make the eyes feel better. k They come in a wide choice of impact-resistant lens materials and anti-reflective (AR) coatings for the lenses.
Do you have vision coverage from Anthem? If so, don’t forget that in addition to a comprehensive eye exam, you may also have coverage for a wide selection of frames as well as discounts on higher performing lens options.
Don’t have vision coverage? Be sure to ask your employer how you can get access to great vision coverage from Anthem.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of: In Colorado: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc. In Connecticut: Anthem Health Plans, Inc. In Indiana: Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. In Kentucky: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. In Maine: Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. In Nevada: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc., dba HMO Nevada. In New Hampshire: Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. In Ohio: Community Insurance Company. In Virginia: Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. In Wisconsin: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWi), which underwrites or administers the PPO and indemnity policies; Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (Compcare), which underwrites or administers the HMO policies; and Compcare and BCBSWi collectively, which underwrite or administer the POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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MANSH3754A Rev. 7/11
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Accidental Childhood Overdoses on the Rise By: Arturo C. Taca, Jr. M.D
In a recent government study, one out of every 150 twoyear-old kids visits an emergency room for treatment of an accidental medication overdose. In fact, almost 60,000 kids from this age group are hospitalized every year because of accidental poisoning. According to a recent report by Safe Kids Worldwide, 95% of these trips to the ER are because a child got into medicines because they weren’t supervised by parents or caregivers. About 40% of accidental poisoning among toddlers and preschoolers are caused by over the counter medicines and 90% of these events occur in the home when parents aren’t looking, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These include cold or cough medicine, antihistamines, vitamins, and Tylenol. Toddlers and young children accidently swallow drugs because of their natural curiosity. Many medicines are brightly colored and may look like candy and appealing to children to put in their mouths. Children younger than 5 years (especially 6 months to 3 years) tend to place everything they find into their mouths. In a matter of seconds, parents can turn their backs and toddlers can quickly grab medicines from low counters, from cabinets, or even from the trash cans. What is more concerning these days is the easy access of pain pills. These powerful opiate based medications have been the focus of attention because of the rise of overdose deaths out numbering deaths from motor vehicle accidents in the US this year. Older children sometimes experiment early with other classmates and trade these pain pills at school and quickly get addicted to them.
Below are some steps from the CDC, parents can take to reduce risk at home for potentially deadly accidental poisonings.
Steps to take if you suspect poisoning Make sure you have the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and save it on your cell phone. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1. Remain calm. 2. Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed or is not breathing. If the victim is awake and alert, dial Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. ➢ Try to have this information ready: The child’s age and weight The container or bottle, if available The time of the poison exposure, if you know it The address where the poisoning occurred.
Safe storage • Always store medicines and vitamins in a locked location, out of the reach and sight of children. • Flavored cough syrups stored in the fridge are easy targets, too. Move them to the back of the top shelf. • Remember not to keep medicines and vitamins in a purse, backpack or briefcase, either.
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Accidental Childhood Overdoses on the Rise | By Arturo C. Taca, Jr. M.D.
• Buy child-resistant packages when available. Remember, though, that even safety caps aren’t that much of a deterrent, so meds must be securely closed and kept out of reach.
• Wait the appropriate period of time between doses.
• Remind baby sitters, house guests and visitors to keep purses and bags that contain medicine up and away when they visit your home.
• Never give adult medications to children.
• Program the Poison Help number (1-800-222-1222) into your home and cell phones so you have it when you need it.
• Avoid confusion by keeping all medicines in their original packages and containers.
Out of sight, out of mind? To help remember to take your medicines or vitamins when they are out of sight, use the following tips from the CDC’s Up and Away and Out of Sight program: • Write a note to yourself, and put the note somewhere you will see it (the family bulletin board, refrigerator, bathroom mirror). • Set a daily reminder. Send yourself an email or set the alarm on your watch or cell phone. • Take your medicines or vitamins at the same time every day, if possible. • Use a medicine log to keep track each time you take or give medicine.
Safe dosing • Always read and follow the label when giving medicines to children. If your child’s medication does not have dosing information or instructs you to call a doctor, be sure that the doctor knows the exact product you are using. Dosing differs among products. • Only use the dosing device packaged with the medications. Never use a household utensil, such as a teaspoon or tablespoon, to measure medicine. • Never give your child multiple medicines with the same active ingredient.
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• Don’t increase the dosage because your child seems sicker.
• Never call medicine “candy” or tell children it “tastes like candy.”
• If the medicine’s container doesn’t have a label or the label isn’t legible, don’t use it and dispose of it safely. • Do not take medicine or vitamins in front of kids, or involve children as helpers with dispensing medication. • Tell grandparents and other caregivers about safe dosing practices.
INSynergy, located at 11477 Olde Cabin Road, Suite 210, St. Louis, Mo., 63141, is the leading facility of its type within the Midwest that provides a highly confidential approach combining pharmaceutical therapy and counseling with minimal disruption to patients’ work schedules. Services range from anti-craving medications and detoxification to individual, family and group therapy sessions. INSynergy also addresses the psychological and psychiatric issues that lead to addictive behaviors such as ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression. Dr. Taca is a Diplomate and Board Certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine as well as the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has been a rich resource for local and national organizations, giving lectures on the biology of addiction and the cutting edge medical treatments available currently. Before INSynergy, Dr. Taca completed his psychiatric residency training at St. Louis University where he was the Chief Resident of the Department of Psychiatry. He is currently a clinical instructor and continues to teach and supervise residents at the St. Louis University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.
Coming Soon...
Neuron A PUBLICATION OF INSYNERGY HEALTH
magazine
The New Face of Addiction Explaining Suicide to Children of All Ages Can Nutrition Affect Mental Health?
10
MYTHS A B O U T
HEROIN
Mood Disorders and Addiction
SPRING 2012, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
A publication from INSynergy Health focused on addiction medicine and behavioral health. RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 23
Leighton’s Story By: Jared & Sarah (Saunders) Volner
Pictures by Dan Irwin of Artistic Images http://artisticimages1.com/
Leighton was born April 15, 2011, one week early from actual due date. She was delivered via emergency caesarean due to heart rate dropping. Leighton weighed 6lbs 7oz 17 in long she was absolutely perfect! But my gut told me something else... The same feeling that I had throughout my entire pregnancy was rearing its ugly head. But again she looked perfect! So what could the issue be? Leighton was diagnosed 7 days after birth with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Cystic Fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease where the mucus in your body becomes thick & sticky. Over time it clogs up your lungs and digestive organs. It affects organs like lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses and reproductive organs. In 5 short days Leighton’s birth weight dropped from 6lbs 7oz. to 5lbs. We at one point were changing 27 dirty diapers a day and she was breastfeeding every 30 minutes. Her body was starving and we had no idea! This was just the beginning of the signs pointing to CF. Imagine Jared and my shock to learn we carry a faulty gene. Let alone that we both carry the most common one. The Delta F508 gene.
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Leighton’s Story | RSVP Health
I mean especially since Leighton is our 3rd child... The fact is, we were just amongst the 10 million people unaware of being carriers. CF is the most common fatal genetic disease effecting over 70,000 children and young adults worldwide. 30,000 of which are in the United States and Approximately 2,500 new babies are born in the US each year. The median age (meaning 45% live to see that age) is 37 1/2. In 2008 Missouri State made it mandatory that a CFTR test be performed in the hospital on each newborn baby. If this test comes back high then your child is at definite risk in having Cystic Fibrosis and further testing will be done to confirm this. Leighton’s diagnoses took just one week. So my gut was right... My precious baby girl was not healthy and the fear of the unknown set in. Frightened of her future I set out to learn as much as I can. Reading about CF, studying every available resource I could find, attending Seminars, meetings with Doctors & Wellness professionals, you name I did it and I’m continuing to do so. When I look at any child I see a miracle! I’m driven by the simple fact I’m a mother who loves her daughter. Without question, I would give my life up to save hers! But I’m also driven by the strength, courage and hope I find in every single person I encounter with Cystic Fibrosis. Their faith is outstanding! The love that gleams from my sweet L’s eyes is what encourages my faith each and every day. The very first decision we made as a family was to make sure she has the same opportunities as our other two children. Madisson “age 13” and Devon “age 8”are the most understanding and loving children. The two of them definitely made major life adjustments without argument. They would do anything for their sister. They are two very amazing kids! CF doesn’t stand for a disease in our home. It Stands For Constant Faith. Through this we find strength, which in turn promotes the hope that one day a cure will be found. My prayers for my children are that they grow up with a positive, thankful and gracious outlook on life. That they know learn to see the beauty in it know matter what they are faced with and above all else they learn to Love unconditionally! Life is too short for anything less.
When I look at my child I see a miracle.
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Leighton’s Story | Jared & Sarah (Saunders) Volner
Leighton’s Life Fund The purpose for our foundation: To assist in research funding for a cure. To provide an accurate and up to date Cystic Fibrosis resource center in our area. To begin a support group for families of children with CF and young adults with CF.
The Story behind the Guardian Pixies We chose the pixie to represent our cause because of their protective nature and because they symbolize Strength and Faith. As Peter Pan said~ “All we need is Faith, Trust & a little bit of Pixie Dust.”
http://www.leightonslifefund.com/ 26 RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com
Chiropractic Care for Kids By Jeff Huck, D.C.
Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses primarily on disorders of the neuromuscular system, nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. The main Chiropractic treatment involves manual manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues. Treatment also includes exercise, nutrition and lifestyle counseling. In 1895, Daniel David Palmer of Iowa performed the first Chiropractic adjustment on a partially deaf janitor, Harvey Lilard, who then mentioned days later that his hearing improved significantly. This led to Palmer opening the first Chiropractic school two years later. Dr. Jeff Huck is a Doctor of Chiropractic and certified Chiropractic sports physician that practices in Desloge, MO. Dr. Huck implements traditional Chiropractic techniques to reduce the subluxation complex on the spinal column. The vertebral subluxation complex is a dysfunctional biomechanical spinal segment which is fixated. This dysfunction can actively alter neurological function, which in turn, can lead to neuromusculoskeletal and visceral disorders. The alleviation of the subluxation complex allows the bodies own natural born abilities to function better, and also allows the bodies nervous system to perform at its optimum level. Dr. Huck specializes in the treatment and prevention of spinal related conditions such as headaches, general back pain, joint pain, and sports related injuries. Also, he focuses a lot of his treatment to chronic conditions such as arthritis, neuropathies, stomach and bowel problems, and as in Leighton Volner’s case, Cystic Fibrosis. In the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, Dr. Huck primarily focuses on improving the function of the lungs and pancreas. This is done by eliminating the pressure on the nerves that supply “life” to these organs by the correction of vertebral misalignments. Also he implements certain changes in diet with the addition of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, D, Zinc and Selenium. In Leighton’s case, Dr. Huck began Chiropractic treatment on her at 10 weeks old in June of 2011. Leighton gets routine bi-monthly Chiropractic adjustments to her cervical, thoracic, and lumbar areas of her spine with the primary focus on the lungs and pancreatic segments. This is done with the intention of allowing her body to function at its optimum level and to eliminate and prevent nerve pressure throughout the body. On a routine basis, there is consistent consult with Leighton’s parents on the nutritional maintenance and progress in their daughter’s diet as well. RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 27
Taking Care of What Matters Most, even when it’s inconvenient.
COMPREHENSIVE • COMPASSIONATE • CONVENIENT COMPLETE • COST EFFECTIVE 573-747-1510
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Midwest Health Group Commitment to Community Midwest Health Group is proud to announce our brand new lab. It is be a Quest and Labcorp draw station and offers: - PadNet testing for peripheral artery disease and or poor circulation. - Nerve testing to help diagnose disorders of the spine and carpal tunnel syndrome - Lung testing (pulmonary function testing [PFT’s]) - 24 hour glucose monitoring - Saturday hours 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (noon) - Drive up location All of these tests and services can be provided no matter where your primary physician or provider is located and the results will be forwarded to them.
Dr. Paul Moniz D.O. and Dr. Guy Roberts D.O.
Midwest Health Group and Midwest Health Group Convenient Care is proud to spotlight our nurse practitioners: Midwest Health Group Josie Savage, N.P., Christina Klinesorge-Rariden, FNP, Gina Herberlie FNP and Missy Radosevich FNP Midwest Health Group Convenient Care Angelica Lappe FNP
573-747-1510 508 W. Pine St., Farmington, MO www.midwestconvenientcare.com
Leadership Begins in the Mirror By: Keath Hausher, President Shark Fitness Training & Saint Louis Military Officer Support Foundation
We often think of a leader as someone who leads the boardroom to better decisions, a team captain who rallies his or her team, or a military commander who devises a plan to destroy the enemy. Those are all great examples, but perhaps the most important is simply a parent. Without a solid foundation, molded by Mom and Dad, a kid’s chances of becoming a healthy, happy, productive member of society is equal to hitting the lottery. Kids are born without a clue about what, where and why to do anything. Their immediate goals are to latch onto a breast and produce full diapers of paint peeling stench. Let’s face it…life is pretty good at that point. Once that little one leaves the protective care of the pediatric staff, Mom and Dad better have their “A” game ready…the next 18 years will determine whether Little Johnny writes the laws or gets featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” The best way to give your offspring a fighting chance at being a productive citizen is to follow the simple motto…LEAD BY EXAMPLE. It would be hard to argue against the point that a parent’s greatest responsibility is to ensure the best possible health for their child…yet many fail miserably at this basic responsibility. Childhood obesity is dramatically on the rise. It’s no coincidence that adults are fattening up as well… one local television station reported that by the year 2030, 40% of adults will be obese if the current trend continues. Those
numbers are appalling. During a recent visit, one of my friends brought out his son’s elementary school yearbook. I was shocked to notice that almost half of the kids in those photos were overweight. Back home, I knocked the dust off my own grade school yearbook. Out of 30 kids in my old class, two looked heavy… a far cry from the 50% I’d seen earlier. Young children model themselves after their parents. When Mom and Dad eat junk for dinner…so do the kids. When parents spend hours in front of the television…so do the kids. When parents don’t have time to get their kids involved in athletics or activities…the kids become sedentary or spent a ridiculous amount of time in front of the television or computer playing games. Most of us, with very good reason, would not condone punching a kid in the face …yet by feeding children poorly and failing to encourage exercise and activity, we are dooming our kids to far more serious and lethal consequences than a broken nose. When I ask clients why they allow their kids to eat fast food, the most common excuse is a lack of time to properly prepare a healthier meal. These days, healthy precooked meals are almost always available at any major grocery store…but that would require a little preplanning and for some, that’s out of the question. Next time you’re hitting up a drive-thru with your kids, consider this: I purchased an order of french fries from a local fast-food RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 31
Leadership Begins in the Mirror | Keath Hausher
restaurant on September 22, 2006. Those fries are still sitting in an open container on top of my fridge, and they look no different than the day they were bagged up and handed to me in the drive-thru. Bacteria won’t eat those things…neither will my dog who licks parts of his body I don’t want to think about. I once saw a hash brown lay in a parking lot for four weeks in July heat without being eaten by a critter or affected by the hot pavement. That sounds tasty right? When challenged, parents often respond, “They’re kids! They have a higher metabolism than adults.” While that might be true, kids should adhere to the same healthy guidelines as adults for many reasons, the most important being that it establishes good habits. If you condition a child to expect a snack as a bribe for going to bed, you are setting them up for failure. Not only will they store the calories as fat but you’re fueling them up before asking them to settle down… it’s like throwing gasoline on a fire to extinguish the flames. Remember that late night calories are the fastest way to build fat. Keep your refrigerator stocked with healthy, pre-cooked meals that are ready to go at a moment’s notice. Sure, it might take a little effort on your part, but this is your child’s health…what could possibly be more important than that? A couple years ago, we were hit with a nasty ice-snow combination that left quite a mess behind. As I chipped the ice from my driveway, and shoveled the snow, it occurred to me that as a kid, I loved lousy, winter weather. Not only did it cancel school for the day, but gave my friends and me the chance to earn some money by clearing driveways. During this particular snow storm, and despite platoons of kids living nearby…not one could be found walking around with a shovel,trying to 32 RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com
make a buck. However, if “Extreme Snow Removal” was a PlayStation Game, I’m confident that all thoseneighborhood kids would be champions. I complained about teenagers’ lack of drive on Facebook. One of the neighbor’s kids replied that he had a lot more pressure than I did when I was fifteen…including social media and online gaming scores to beat. Really? What makes this kid so lazy? Maybe it’s his Dad,who routinely spends hours attaching a blade to his riding lawn mower so he and his kids can avoid the 30 minute job of cleaning the driveway with shovels. He works harder to put forth less effort than it would take to simply do the job by hand. One of my favorite principles is this: You can never expect those you lead to perform better than your lowest effort. Fortunately, in my fitness programs, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of kids training alongside their parents. It turns out that despite the class being very difficult, both parties are enjoying the opportunity of challenging each other. I’m especially rewarded when our group runs past a family in the park eagerly devouring a bag of McWendyKing and overhear one of our client’s kids say, “Gross! Did you see what they’re eating?” They work extremely hard in class then walk to their cars talking about what they did and how tired they are…while smiling. Throughout my career, I’ve helped prepare some of our area’s most amazing young people for entry into a military officer program. As I get to know their parents, it is blatantly obvious what motivates the kids to achieve such success… Mom and Dad led by example, and that was no accident. Each day, we wake up, look in the mirror and decide not only what our day will consist of, but how we will execute the plan. That’s when leadership begins. Remember, your kids will be watching.
Pregnancy and Oral Health How oral health can affect you and your child How does pregnancy affect your teeth and gums?
Telltale signs of periodontal disease
One of the most common dental problems women experience during pregnancy is pregnancy gingivitis (bleeding, swelling, redness and tenderness of the gums). When left untreated, pregnancy gingivitis can lead to a more serious stage of gum disease known as periodontal disease, which could cause premature birth and low birth weight.
Periodontal disease during pregnancy can pose severe problems for both you and your baby. If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you may have periodontal disease and should seek dental attention immediately:
What is periodontal disease and how can it cause premature birth and low birth weight?
Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that can damage bone and tissue in and around the mouth, and can even lead to tooth loss. Tooth loss can make it difficult for you to chew and digest food, which can interfere with you and your unborn child obtaining the proper nutrition you both need. Additionally, extremely high levels of prostaglandin are detected in women who have severe cases of periodontal disease. Prostaglandin is a labor-inducing type of tissue hormone that is found in women with periodontal disease. According to an article published in the Journal of Periodontology, undergoing a simple dental treatment like cleaning plaque and tartar from the gum tissue and smoothing out the teeth’s roots to remove germs can reduce premature births by as much as 84 percent in pregnant women with periodontitis. Now, doesn’t that statistic give you enough incentive to be proactive and set up an appointment with your dentist today?
Red, sore and swollen gums Bleeding gums Gums that have pulled away from your teeth (recession)
Milky white or yellow plaque deposits, which are heaviest between your teeth Pus between the teeth and gums followed by swelling and tenderness of the gums (abscess)
If you are pregnant, you know how important it is to take care of your health. But did you know that it is equally important to take care of your teeth and gums? Good oral health is especially important during pregnancy because your hormone levels increase, which can cause substantial dental problems. Good oral health during pregnancy is also crucial because it can have a significant impact on your unborn child’s overall health and dental well-being.
Clean Air: The Breath of Life By: Lola L. (AuBuchon) Gross
Spring, the season of new life, rebirth, the promise of a new tomorrow, in a sense spring is in the air. Children are in the “spring” of their lives, full of hopes and dreams, ready to breathe new life into the world in which they live. Air, from the Latin word “aer”, was understood in ancient cultures as being the essence of life. It would seem logical then, that having clean, pure air for children would be a top priority in these modern times. Sadly, respiratory illnesses such as asthma are on the rise as one of the number one health issues of children worldwide.
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Clean Air: The Breath of Life | RSVP Health
What is asthma? The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institute of Health defines it, as “an inflammatory disease of the lung. This inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway from the nose to the lung. Once the airway becomes swollen and inflamed it becomes narrower, allowing less air through to the lung tissue and causing symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. Once considered a minor ailment affecting only a small portion of the population, asthma is now the most common chronic disorder of childhood, and affects an estimated 6.2 million children under the age of 18. The fact that asthma runs in families suggests that genetic factors play an important role in the development of the disease; however, environmental factors also contribute to the disease process. Asthma can be triggered by a wide range of substances called allergens.” Most of us are familiar with the common indoor allergens. Mold, dust, and tobacco smoke are just a few of the indoor allergens that could provoke an attack. Providing clean indoor air is something we usually can control. After all, smoking around children, especially indoors, is a passé, selfish thing to do! Yes, you have the right to smoke, but contaminating a child’s air space gives them no choice in the matter. Secondhand smoke can trigger asthma attacks, make asthma symptoms
…asthma is now the most common chronic disorder of childhood… more severe, and cause new cases of asthma in children who have not previously shown symptoms. According to the American Lung Association, secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke. Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide. Approximately 50-75 percent of children in the U.S. have detectable levels of cotinine, the breakdown product of nicotine in the blood. Understand that the small lungs of a child are not fully developed. Having to bear the burden of smoke and chemicals can have lifelong health consequences sometimes resulting in permanent underdeveloped lungs affecting the child into adulthood.
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Clean Air: The Breath of Life | Lola L. (AuBuchon) Gross
Springtime brings better weather for children to spend more time outdoors. I know I loved (still do) heading outside, bare feet on the earth, taking in warm sunshine, and breathing in fresh air! Most adults and children are aware of common outdoor asthma irritants, such as pollen; however, manmade environmental pollution can be very serious to a child with asthma. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has conducted a study on these pollutants found to have long-term effects on lung development in children, with changes in lung function and asthma. Some are as follows: Ozone: Ground level ozone is the primary constituent of urban smog. It is produced when automobile emissions and manufacturing operations interact with sunlight. Children playing three or more sports outside with high ozone were three times as more likely to develop asthma as children who were not playing outside sports.
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Particulate Matter: Fine particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Coal-fired power plants, diesel vehicles, and power plants are major contributors of particulate pollution. These fine particles become lodged in the lungs triggering asthma. When levels of particulate matter are up in an area, hospitalizations for asthma also rise. Sulphur Dioxide: Produced when coal and crude oil are burned. It is a known asthma aggravator. Nitrogen Oxide: A gas emitted from power plants and tailpipes that contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone and smog. It has small particles that can cause breathing problems in those with asthma.
What can we do? Check the EPA’s website for up to date reports of the air quality in your particular area. If it looks like it is going to be an unhealthy air day limit your child’s outdoor activities, especially children with asthma. Support laws to require coal-fired plants to operate with sulphur dioxide controls or install scrubbers to curb their emissions. Cleaner running cars and trucks can cut down nitrogen oxide that contributes to ozone. Better air standards will actually cut health care costs. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) states that children with asthma miss 14 million school days and 2 million emergency-room visits yearly. Finally, coordinate a treatment plan with your child’s doctor.
…manmade environmental pollution can be very serious to a child with asthma… This is not meant to be taken as political one side or the other. We all share the same air. It is just common sense. No matter what race, culture, socioeconomic background, if you believe in a universal creator that gave us the breath of life, then would it not be disrespectful to have dirty air? Let us ensure the children now and in future generations have “Clean Air, the Breath of Life”.
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Get healthy. Stay healthy.
“But mom, it’s just one cookie.” Adults must take a stand on childhood obesity. Surveys confirm that obesity rates in America’s young people have almost tripled in the past 30 years.1 Health problems once found only in adults are now showing up in kids.2 Research suggests that obese kids are at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.1 And, Type 2 diabetes, once rare in kids, is being found more and more in them these days, even more in minority groups.2 Obesity also can affect mental health. Overweight kids are often teased and left out of social groups. These kids are more likely to develop depression or low self-esteem.1 Not surprising is the strong likelihood that obese kids may become obese adults. One study found that almost 80 percent of kids who were overweight at 10-15 years old were obese by 25.1 How did this happen? A lot of factors affect a young person’s weight, but much of the current obesity problem can be tied to changes in our society:1,2 Daily life doesn’t involve as much movement. Kids don’t have as many options for playing sports. They watch more TV and socialize online.
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Kids have more digital types of entertainment now. They’re often glued to a computer or TV screen.
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Healthy, affordable food isn’t that easy to come by these days.
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Food portions at home and at restaurants are bigger than ever.
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The good news: Obesity can be managed.
11629ANMENABS 12/11 F0003572
Who Will Stop the B and How?
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ullies... An interview with Mr. Brad Coleman by Dr. Rodney Gross, Ph.D. and Louie Seiberlich from RSVP Health Radio Show
Dr. Rodney Gross: Good morning, Louie! Glad to be here. You know, maybe a lot hasn’t changed since we were kids. We’re getting called back to the principal’s office this morning. Louie: I know. Dr. Rodney Gross: We’re going to jump right into it because Mr. Coleman is a busy man. We have Mr. Brad Coleman with us. He is the principal at Central High School in Park Hills. Welcome to the show this morning. Louie: Thank you for joining us today. Mr. Coleman: Thank you for inviting me over. I really appreciate it. Dr. Gross: We all hear on the news a lot about the subject of bullying. It’s such an unfortunate subject but you hear about it all the time on all the news channels. I like going directly to the source, and what better source than the principal of one of the local high schools? Louie: Were you ever bullied in school, Brad? Mr. Coleman: Luckily, I was not bullied. Actually and unfortunately, I was one of those who bullied other people. So I have had some experience and know a little bit about what it was to be one of those kids. Today it is probably the number one issue in public schools today. It is at our high school. We took some initiatives a couple of years ago to stop bullying and harassment of students because it was such an issue. I can tell you that it happens almost every day in the schools in this country. It happens even in our schools. Every time I have a parent meeting, I talk about bullying and
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Who Will Stop the Bullies…and How? | An interview with Mr. Brad Coleman
harassment. Every time we have a student meeting we talk about it. It’s one of those issues that can create such a conflict. If students do not feel safe and secure in their school, they are not going to be able to progress and complete tests and quizzes and learn the subject matter of the classes. That’s why we put such an emphasis on trying to stop bullying in schools. Louie: I don’t know if you had a chance to see Arcadia Valley during the Conference Tournament. They did a half time show and it was a flash mob dance, very entertaining, and the message was bullying. They did a terrific job of communicating, not only to the adults, but to the kids as well what’s going on.
Mr. Coleman: Right. And that’s the key. It’s communication. That’s why I said when we have every parent meeting and when we talk with students, we constantly bring the issue up because we don’t want to set it off to the side. We know it’s that important.. Three years ago when we started this initiative at our high school, we did Rachel’s Challenge. You hear a lot about that in our local area. We actually
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did that about five years ago and that kind of brought the issue out. Then we have set up different assemblies for our kids. We have an advisory period where we talk about bullying and harassment. Then about three years ago I developed a contract that we could use for kids that we considered bullies in the school. We take a pretty tough stance against it. I went to the kids and said “Listen, here’s what you need to do. If you feel bullied, threatened, harassed or intimidated, you need to let somebody know”. I have kind of taken on that role as the counselor for many of these kids because I like to mediate those kinds of conflicts and try to make sure that every kid feels safe and secure in school. So we developed this contract. The first time a kid comes in to the office with an issue, I have developed ways around not letting the other kid know who told. We use teachers a lot. I was talking to Rodney about this earlier. It’s just one of those things where if they come into the office, we try to work out their problem with the other student. If we can’t work it out, then we have them sign a harassment contract. It basically defines what it is, explains to the student what they can and can’t do from that moment on and I usually also bring in our Resource Officer from Park Hills, Officer Craig Newberry, who is stationed in my high school. He comes in and signs the contract, I sign and the student signs. We call the parents and explain what’s going on and if the kid violates it and bullies a kid a second time, we can kick him out of school. We are not going to tolerate it and they are arrested by the Park Hills Police Department because there is a local ordinance on harassment. We have actually had to kick students out of school and have them
Who Will Stop the Bullies...and How? | RSVP Health
arrested and when that message got out to the rest of the students, that has stopped it. Louie: What about you? (Addressing Dr. Gross) When you were in school, what in the 70’s? Dr. Gross: 82 to 86. Louie: You were a pretty big kid in school, right? Dr. Gross: I was a pretty big kid. Fortunately, when I look back, most of us got along. I am sure at some point all of us could say we may have been involved in some kind of bullying. I never was bullied because I was either bigger, or being from Elvins, MO always helped. Having friends helped. There was a circle of friends who wouldn’t let words or hands get near the “inner circle”. Right before we came on the radio, we were getting messages and I have three messages here that all say the same. “Finally, someone is talking about this and St. Francois County has some of the worst bullying problems they have ever seen.” When Mr. Coleman told me about this contract, it kind of blew my mind because I didn’t know about it. This is a great example for others to follow. Louie: Brad, you have a variety of folks who help you at the school. Mr. Coleman: Absolutely. Our two counselors, Debbie Bradley and Kim Halter, and Chad Bradley, my assistant principal; the four of us are probably the most involved in this but all of our teachers have been trained to recognize the signs when they see them and they let us know. If you see a kid crying out in the hallway, you know there is something wrong and many times it has been something that has led to some type of harassment or intimidating behavior. I’ll be honest with you, I’m really proud of
those efforts because I think kids know at Central High School they feel comfortable coming to talk to an adult and let us know if something is wrong. And I think that their parents feel that way too. So that’s why we don’t have as many issues with it. However, I’m going to tell you now it still is an issue and it’s one that if a kid doesn’t feel safe and secure in school, there is no way we are going to have performance goals and levels at our school by our students if they don’t feel safe and secure. That’s why we have taken this as a major initiative and so far it is working for us but it’s not completely a dead issue.
…we have them sign a harassment contract. It basically defines what [harassment] is, explains to the student what they can and can’t do from that moment on… Louie: The days of actual physical abuse; you know, the big guy would take the little guy out back and beat him to a pulp or wait until after school and catch him. You don’t have that so much any more, do you? Mr. Coleman: No. Now it has turned to Facebook, texting and that’s where we go and even deal with issues that happen over a weekend. Every Monday morning I know I’m coming in and some kid is going to come to my office about something that somebody posted about them over the weekend. Even though it doesn’t happen during school time, it is going to be a school issue. So we don’t just send the kid on and say “Sorry, we can’t do anything RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 45
Who Will Stop the Bullies…and How? | An interview with Mr. Brad
about something that happened on the weekend”. We bring them in and I’ll bring the officer in because then he can charge the kid with harassment or threatening behavior if it’s something that happened after school or on the weekend. Louie: That’s slander. Mr. Coleman: Absolutely. That’s probably the big difference than when I was in school. People would beat up each other. Now they just get online. Louie: They verbalize. Mr. Coleman: You’d better believe it.
two thirds of the issues of harassment that I deal with are with young ladies Louie: And you know what? That is a chicken way out of doing things. If you have a problem with another person, say it to their face. Say “here’s my problem with you”. But even with that, girls are worse than boys when it comes to that verbalization, aren’t they? Mr. Coleman: Absolutely. I would say two thirds of the issues of harassment that I deal with are with young ladies, unfortunately. But, let me tell you it’s the guy who’s the problem between the two young girls. It seems to always be that. I try to counsel these young ladies. It’s usually over a boyfriend and I’ll say “You know, he’s the one you have a committed relationship with. Kick him to the curb. Don’t be mad at her”. But for
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some reason that is not instilled in those students and that’s the big fight. Louie: What is the response from the parents? Mr. Coleman: The parents have been very positive. Again, they appreciate knowing the fact that we are not going to tolerate it. Every time we have parent meetings, we go over this bullying and harassment with them and every time after that meeting, one parent will come up with something that we didn’t know about that is going on. So I think that they feel secure enough to know that we are not going to make them look bad. We are not going to reveal the source that gave us the information and I also think that they feel safe and secure in sending their kids to our high school, knowing that we tackle this problem head on. Louie: Are the parents the last to know? Mr. Coleman: Many times they are. But not always. A lot of times I find out first from a parent. Their kid has come home and told them about something that is going on in school and then the parent will call me. So, it depends. Dr. Gross: I’m getting flooded with messages. This is what is so important about RSVP Health. We have an expert educator like Mr. Coleman in here and if you are hearing him, this is all tied to health and wellness. The days I was in high school with Dr. Dale St. Gemme as principal it was more like running a business. He kept everything in line. You would have the fights but then they would be friends by the end of the day. Those days are gone. Now there’s bullying and cyber bullying. I would be curious
Who Will Stop the Bullies…and How? | RSVP Health
as to how much time Mr. Coleman and these teachers spend, as almost behavioral health experts, because you’re talking about behavioral health problems, whether it’s verbal abuse, maybe physical abuse at home, they see bruises on the kids when they come in. There’s also addition to drugs, kids cutting themselves. Mr. Coleman and the teachers are on the front line. I used to preach this when I was a hospital CEO. They are on the front lines of health and wellness. They see these problems sometimes before the emergency rooms because they come from the schools to the emergency rooms. Think about the liabilities, mentalities and philosophies here because you get lawyers involved. I hope people realize that when Mr. Coleman and the teachers are viewed as just educators, it’s not just that. They are doing it all. Mr. Coleman: All of that ties back; drug abuse, cutting, all of those things tie back to kids not having a sense of self worth because of harassment and bullying types of behavior. So they turn to drugs. They turn to cutting. They talk about suicide and those kinds of things. You’re right. I feel like in the last five years; I’ve been a principal for fifteen years; I have turned into more of a counselor for students with drug addiction problems, harassment problems, parental problems at home, psychological problems, emotional problems. My job is really changing and I don’t mind that because that’s why I’m there. I’m there to help every kid. What is in the best interest of our students? Is it to help them make it through the day, the week, the year? Or is it to just raise those test scores? Yeah, raising test scores is important but those kids aren’t going to be able to perform if they don’t feel a sense of self worth and have
somebody that they feel they can talk to that will understand the problems that they face every day. Louie: Now I’m the old guy in the group. In the 60’s I went from a Catholic school to a public school and the very first day I went to the restroom and one of the guys in the restroom grabbed me and said “You’re one of those Catholic kids, aren’t you? I’m just going to whip your butt”. And I said “I don’t think so.” I was in and out of the john in no time. I mean I’m out of there. The next day I went back into the restroom, looked both ways, walk in and the guy is waiting for me and he doesn’t quite do the job he wants to do. So I go home and I asked my old man, who is a retired Navy guy, and he said the only thing you can do is get in his face and you have to take up for yourself, which I did and the guy backed down and we ended up being friends. Now that’s the way we used to handle it in the old days. In the new days, you’re going to go behind somebody’s back, you’re going to text about them, you’re going to giggle when they walk down the hall, and you’re going to make a snide comment about them, right?
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Who Will Stop the Bullies…and How? | An interview with Mr. Brad Coleman
Mr. Coleman: Right. I think what helps us at Central High School is that those kids know they can come and talk to me. Let me tell you, I will let them air out all their issues in my office with another student. Some people don’t necessarily like that but I think that’s conflict resolution. You have to let both sides talk and sometimes it gets very heated. It gets loud in that office. There are some words that probably shouldn’t be expressed, but if you don’t let them air out their differences by talking, then they are going to do it with the fists and we have had one fight in two years at Central High School because the kids know before it ever gets to that point I want them to come to me or come to Mr. Bradley or to counselors so we can work it out with conflict resolution and not with the fists.
If students do not feel safe and secure in their school, they are not going to be able to progress and complete tests and quizzes and learn the subject matter of the classes. Louie: I never ratted anybody out, but you know who always knew what was going on in the school better than anybody? The janitor. Am I right? Mr. Coleman: You’re absolutely right. It’s still the same way but as a principal you
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have to be out there and visible. That’s why I’ don’t just sit in my office all day. I go out and talk to people. Louie: I try to call you all the time and you’re never in your office. Mr. Coleman: I’m sorry about that but that’s because those kids need to see me. They need to be able to trust me. That’s a key feature. And if they feel that they can trust you, they will come and talk to you about anything. Trust me, I have heard some of the wildest stories out there. But you know, I feel like I am helping that kid when he feels that he can come and confide in me and that I am going to try to help him, to me that is the most important part of the job. Louie: Rodney, you’re on your phone a lot today. Dr. Gross: People from many other school districts are calling in, emailing and texting and saying, “They wish they had this at their school district”. “There is no open line of communication.” We’re not going to name those places like people are on the messages but the message is that they recognize that Mr. Coleman has a grasp on the situation and he defined it as communication and getting everybody together. I was lucky enough to be invited by Mr. Coleman and Mr. Bradley to come to Career Days last week and talking to people who might want to go in the healthcare fields. Even when you walk through the halls, it seems like there was a nice control. Nobody acted up in any of the classes. Usually some of the kids will make some remarks but everybody seemed to get along. You know, my Dad is on the School
Who Will Stop the Bullies…and How? | RSVP Health
Board and my Mom works there in the High School, so I hear stories and I’m amazed at how well it works. Louie: Another good pipeline of information is the school cooks. I forgot about them. Dr. Gross: Yes. Food is always a motivator one way or another and they hear a lot of choice words and things like that. It is just good to hear in our community that there are professionals like Mr. Coleman who has a grasp on the situation. With all the responses that we are getting, maybe we will do some more shows because I can see it is going to be a busy day answering all of these. Louie: Brad, you have been principal how many years? Mr. Coleman: Fifteen years at Central High School. Louie: Where were you before then? Mr. Coleman: I was at Caruthersville, Missouri down in the boot heel.
Mr. Coleman: Absolutely. The number for me personally is 573-431-2616 and then you dial extension 4101 and that way you will be forwarded to me directly. Like you said, I may not be in the office but I will call you back, no problem. Louie: What is the name of the program? Mr. Coleman: We started it with Rachel’s Challenge and we just continued it on and we just call it our anti-bullying and harassment policy program. Louie: Well, you’re working at it and that’s the important thing. We appreciate that. Mr. Coleman: I appreciate the opportunity to come on here and I would tell any parent out there of a Central High School student to please feel free to come forward if you have some sort of harassment or bullying issue and we will try to work and do everything that we can to solve it. Dr. Gross and Louie: Thank you, Mr. Coleman.
Louie: Where were you from originally? Mr. Coleman: I’m originally from Dallas, Texas. My parents were born and raised in Poplar Bluff, Missouri so I have always considered Missouri my home. Louie: Brad, if a parent or grandparent or another family member needs more information, can they call your office direct?
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How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need? By: Skaggzzz Sleep Institute (See our ad on page 15)
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How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need? | RSVP Health
Anyone who has ever been a parent or around babies knows the term “sleep like a baby” is an oxymoron. From birth to adolescence children’s sleep can be frustrating, exhausting and even a growth inhibiting process. Every week I have a parent ask “how much sleep does my child need?” Below is a chart with the approximate amount of hours needed by age and how that sleep is divided up. This reflects “normal” sleep, but at Skaggzzz Sleep Institute, we usually see children with “abnormal” sleep or sleep disorders. If your child’s sleep does not fall within these guidelines you should seek the advice of a sleep professional. Age
Total Sleep (hours)
Nighttime Naps (hours) Sleep (hours)
Newborn 2 months
16-18
8-9
7-9 (3-5 naps)
2-4 months
14-16
9-10
4-5 (3 naps)
4-6 months
14-15
10
4-5 (2-3 naps)
6-9 months
14
10-11
3-4 (2 naps)
9-12 months
14
10-12
2-3 (2 naps)
12-18 months
13-14
11-12
2-3 (1-2 naps)
18 months 2 years
13-14
11
2 (1 nap)
2-3 years
12-14
10-11
1-2 (1 nap)
3-5 years
11-13
[10-11] 10-13
0-1 (naps usually stop by age 5)
5-12 years
10-11
10-11
n/a
Most of the sleep disorders that you may have as an adult can also be present in childhood. The difference is how the sleep disorders are identified. Did you know there have been studies that show up to 25% of diagnosed ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) cases are actually undiagnosed sleep disorders? That is because children, unlike adults, are hyperactive when they are sleep deprived. A child’s central nervous system will kick in and be overactive to keep them awake when they are not getting adequate sleep. Sleep deprived adults will doze off in their chair while trying to watch T.V. in the evening; a tired child will be bouncing off the walls.
It has been estimated that up to 33% of all children have sleep disturbances of some kind. This lack of consolidated quality sleep can result in poor growth, inability to pay attention, bad grades on schoolwork, moodiness, and even future medical conditions. A baby needs to learn to put themselves to sleep. Let me repeat that, a baby needs to learn how to put themselves asleep. I have spoken at several birthing classes and most of the time, the first time mothers to be, look at me like I have 3 heads. Then, inevitably, they show up at my lab, email me or call 6 months to 2 years later and need help because their baby won’t sleep by themselves or is still waking up several times a night. Exhaustion turns the once resistant mom into a desperate willing listener ready to take my advice and get a good night sleep. Look at it this way, we all have at least 3 to 4 normal awakenings at night, you go to sleep wake up a few times at night and most of the time there is no memory of them. What if you dozed off at night with your soft pillow under your head and I snuck in and took it from you. Then you have one of the normal awakenings and realize your pillow isn’t there. Now you are wide awake looking for your pillow, wondering what happened and have trouble going back to sleep. That is exactly what happens to the baby that you rocked, fed or cuddled to sleep. When a baby is put down awake, they have to learn how to soothe themselves to sleep and now you’ve given them all the tools they need so when they wake up they can put themselves back to sleep. When a baby is around 3 or 4 months old, they should start learning how to put themselves to sleep. This can be done at any time in childhood. The process is easier when a baby is still in a crib and doesn’t have the ability to run into your room at night. Teenage years can be even more challenging when it comes to helping your kids sleep well. I recently was asked to speak at a local middle school prior to MAP testing in order to convince the teens that they need to get 9 to 10 hours of quality sleep to perform better on the upcoming test. Instead of opening their eyes to sleep, my eyes were opened to the severe lack of sleep our teenagers are RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com 51
How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need? | Skaggzzz Sleep Institute
getting. Since there was a captive audience of about 400 There are things all of us, including children, to help get students, I took that opportunity to give out a quiz and get good quality sleep at night. information on how our local teens are doing. The results 1. Have a bedtime routine. This tells your body and are shocking! brain that it is time to go to sleep. • 45% get less than 8 hours of sleep 2. Take a hot bath or shower 2 hours prior to bedtime. a night This works because your core body temperature raises • 46% of kids report falling asleep in class on a and then drops 2 hours later and is conducive to sleep. weekly basis 3. Make sure the bedroom is dark, cool and quiet. No • 90% have one or more electronics in their T.V. That is not a popular recommendation, but having bedrooms at night the light of the T.V. in the room can suppress Melatonin that would normally be released to help you get to • 50% have trouble getting up in the morning sleep. Also, the variation in noise may cause sleep disturbances. • 57% text while in bed •
36% text until midnight or later
•
15% report texting all night
•
91% of kids who got over 8 hours of sleep at night made A’s (on a positive note)
Does your teenager fall into any of these statistics? While talking to the middle school teens about the importance of sleep, only one topic seemed to interest them, they perked up when told a lack of sleep could cause them to be shorter. Apparently that is worse than medical conditions, hyperactivity, bad grades and moodiness. When you need to get your teenager to sleep, tell them in “deep sleep”, human growth hormone is released and unless they get enough deep sleep, they will not be as tall as they could have been. That might help! Also know that most cell phone companies have options where their phones can “stop working” at set times. As a mother of 3 teens, we make them turn their phone into us on school nights and if they argue, then they are reminded that one call to the cell phone company will allow us (who pay for their phone) to have it deactivated at 9:00 p.m. every night if we so choose. The phones are then handed over without a fight. Otherwise they may be one of the 15% of kids who sleep with their phones under their pillows and wake up every time they get a text and texting back. Exhausting and detrimental!
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4. White noise, such as a fan, can help drown out any disruptive noises. 5. No caffeine. We recommend adults stop caffeine after 3, children should avoid it completely. 6. No big meals 2 hours prior to desired bedtime. A light snack is alright, but heavy or large meals will be digesting and interfere with your sleep. 7. No vigorous exercise 2 hours prior to desired bedtime. If there are any questions or concerns about your child’s sleep, it is always best to seek the advice of a sleep specialist. We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, how do you have a happy, healthy, successful, flourishing child, if they do not have a strong base of quality sleep?
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Buy local from Vince Vincent K. Blair is an independent authorized agent in Missouri for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Life and Disability products underwritten by Anthem Life Insurance Company. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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Strength, Endurance, Control, and Mental Focus Require normal healthy nerve function.
Nerve injury and dysfunction affects performance and health. Is your nerve system functioning free of stress and interference?
Which state would you rather train in?
Normal nerve function after correction
Abnormal imbalances in nerve function
While under Upper Cervical Care our clients report: Improvement in energy, balance, coordination and mental clarity. Improvements in cases of high blood pressure, respiratory problems, joint and muscle pain, digestion issues, headaches, just to name a few. Spinal interference to normal nerve function may be an underlying factor limiting your current health and performance. Attend a free health and wellness seminar hosted by the Atlas Institute of Health. Learn more about the benefits of upper cervical chiropractic care, see before and after x-rays, receive a complimentary thermographic neurologic screening, and raise health related questions or concerns. Call to sign up today at (636) 527-3015. 15507 Manchester Road Ballwin, MO 636.527.3015
2012 Health and Wellness Calendar Healthy habits for a healthier you
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June
At your core Have you heard about how important it is to have a strong core? Not sure what your core is? Your core is the muscles of your abdominals or stomach area and your back. When your core is strong, it helps support your spine and keeps your body stable and balanced.1 But when your core is weak, it can lead to back pain, poor posture or muscle injuries.1,2 Strong core muscles make it easier to do most physical activities – everything from swinging a golf club to getting a glass from the top shelf or bending down to tie your shoes.2 And the good news is, you don’t even have to use any special equipment to work your core. Crunches and push-ups count as core exercises.2 Note: Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start any exercise routine. 1 About.com, Strengthen your core: Core strength and good posture (2011): exercise.about.com 2 Mayoclinic.com, Core exercises: 7 reasons to strengthen your core muscles (2009): mayoclinic.com
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July
All you kneed to know The knee joint is one of the largest joints in the body – and the most commonly injured joint in all age groups.1 Having strong, flexible muscles is the best way to keep your knees healthy and prevent injuries. But even if you already have knee problems, exercise can be helpful. Exercise can help you lose weight, which will help lessen the load on your joints, including the ones in your knees.2 Strengthening the muscles around your knee will help lessen the stress on the knee joint. And stretching those muscles can help prevent injury to the area because it helps keep the muscles flexible.3 Note: Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start any exercise routine. 1 About.com, Physical therapy: The knee (2007): physicaltherapy.about.com 2 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Save your knees: Why exercise? (2008): saveyourknees.org 3 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Knee exercises (2009): aaos.org
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No ifs, ands or … butts You’ll probably laugh reading this, and that’s okay. But (no pun intended), it’s important to include your butt muscles in your exercise routine. Did you know that your lower body includes some of the largest muscles in the body?* And did you know that those muscles are involved in almost every movement we make – from standing and walking to running and squatting?* Chances are that you do most – if not all – of those movements at some point during your day, either while you’re at work or when you’re at home. So, it might be funny to talk about your butt, but not taking care of those muscles is nothing to laugh at. Note: Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start any exercise routine. * About.com, Exercise: Your best butt – working the glutes, hips and thighs (2010): exercise.about.com
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Vision Care for Children What types of things should I look for related to my child’s eyes? Generally, good things to look for include: A) An eye that drifts, wanders, or “crosses” (turns in or out). If you notice an eye that crosses, the sooner we see your child, the better. An infant past a couple of months old whose eyes do not seem to team together should be seen. An infant of any age who has one eye consistently deviated should be seen. B) A child who seems to squint frequently or have difficulty seeing things that you can see readily. A child who seems to lose his/her place while reading or whose attention wanders more than seems appropriate for a child his age; headaches after brief periods of reading or other near vision tasks; a child who rubs his eyes or blinks frequently; a child who fails to maintain eye contact; a child who seems to bump into things or has difficulty navigating her environment. If in doubt, you should give us a call. C) Any family history of significant eye problems can make earlier and more frequent eye exams important for some children. Some signs of eye health issues in children can be extreme sensitivity to light, unusual watering of the eyes or anything uneven about one eye compared to the other. Sometimes seeing only one “red eye” in photographs can be a good indicator of a need for an exam. However, this should not cause you great concern because this can have more to do with the picture than your child’s eyes. However, if you notice it in multiple pictures, give us a call. Unusual or uneven pupils between the two eyes can also signal a need for an eye exam. D) A head tilt or turn in an infant or toddler can also be reason to have your child’s eyes examined. While this can often be from other causes, it can be from an eye muscle imbalance. If in doubt, call to schedule an exam. This is an incomplete list. Fortunately, most young healthy people have young health eyes! Is it a problem that my child sits close to the television? Most children like to sit close to the TV. If parents will 60 RSVP Health | www.rsvphealth.com
remember, they did too. So sitting close to the TV is not itself a sign of an eye problem. However, in combination with other symptoms, it never hurts to have the child examined. My child says that she gets headaches with reading but she has no problem playing video games! Is she pulling my leg about reading? Maybe and maybe not. Video games are a different kind of a visual task than reading. A video game has motion; the targets are bigger; there are colors and other cues that a child uses to play the game. The eyes follow a target “smoothly” when playing a video game. Reading involves a series of short “bursts” of choppy eye movements. A child changes her fixation several times in one line. Also, the eyes generally have to focus more when reading than when playing a game. For these reasons, it is possible that a child would do fine with a video game and have problems reading efficiently. When should my child have his/her first eye exam? Certainly, every child should have an eye exam before starting school. Certain types of focusing problems are difficult or impossible for a parent or teacher to identify by observing a child. One such example is an eye condition called amblyopia. The visual system is still developing after birth. Both eyes have to be sending clear images to the brain for each eye to develop its 20/20 potential. Amblyopia is when one of the eyes does not develop its 20/20 potential because both eyes are not seeing the world clearly in that eye. This condition can be dealt with more effectively if caught before age 6. If not caught until later, the success of treatment is far more limited. Additionally, when children have difficulty seeing, following along with reading, or staying focused, they do not necessarily understand they are having a problem. They just quietly come to think “I don’t read well” or “I don’t like to read.” For most children, the eye health examination can wait until the pre-school exam at age 3-4. However, if you have concerns, if there is a family history of significant eye problems, or if the child has developmental delays, the child should be seen sooner.
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