Every spring—the second week of March to be exact—there is a rush for sports physicals for the young athletes. As a Pediatrician, I am often faced with the daunting task of determining who has a health risk that could preclude them from participating in competitive sports. During the evaluation many parents ask, “Is my child ready for weight training?” I start the discussion by explaining the distinction between weight lifting and strength training. Weight lifting involves rapid lifts. Because of the limited data on its safety and possible risk of injury to the immature skeleton, the American…
Exposure to lead is still one of the most significant and widespread environmental hazards for children. Although we have made significant strides in decreasing the prevalence of lead toxicity in children, there are still many products other than lead based paint that continue to expose our children to lead. This exposure can lead to long-term neurological damage that may be associated with learning, behavior problems and decreased intelligence. Toddlers are more vulnerable to environmental chemicals such as lead for a number of reasons. For example, their normal hand to mouth behavior …
In the face of endless cakes, pies, cookies and other holiday delights; staying healthy over the holidays can be very challenging. But tis the season to make healthy choices for ourselves and our children. During the holiday season we tend to gain anywhere from five to ten pounds. It takes about 3,600 calories to gain a pound. A holiday meal can have more than 2000 calories. So you can see how easy it is to pack on the pounds. Holiday weight gain can be a factor in the obesity epidemic. According to the Center for Disease Control, 27 percent of adults in Maryland are overweight. 15 percent of…
We all have a sweet tooth. Over the last 10 years of practicing pediatric medicine in Prince George's County, I have seen a steady increase in the proportion of overweight and obese adolescences. As of 2006, the prevalence of obesity in children in Prince George's County was 14.5 percent, which is slightly below the national average (17.8 percent), according to the Maryland youth tobacco survey. Increase in sugar consumption is one of the contributing factors. In fact, in the past 20 years the average sugar consumption per person has increased from 20 pounds to 100 pounds annually. Let's now …
Last year, the Bowie community experienced its share of the influenza virus. The CDC Region 3 which included Maryland had over 10,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 (Novel Flu) with 15 confirmed pediatrics deaths. In my medical practice in Bowie we had numerous cases of flu-like illness. Each year, 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population becomes ill due to influenza infections. These numbers account for more than 200,000 hospitalizations and more than 35,000 deaths per year. The mortality rates are greatest for the elderly; however, the rates of hospitalization are highest among children younger than…
