A is also for Autism

For this series, I only intend to do one condition per alphabet letter but since April is Autism Awareness month, I thought it was important to spread the awareness and shed some light on a sometimes mysterious condition.

What is it?

Autism is a set of complex disorders related to brain development. There is a spectrum of disorders and symptoms can vary between each person. Those who fall within the spectrum often have social and communication difficulties and exhibit repetitive behaviors and difficulties with motor coordination. Signs and symptoms are typically first noticed within the toddler years.

How common is it?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 88 children in America fall within the autism spectrum. This is a ten-fold increase within the past 40 years. Autism is significantly more common in boys than girls (1 out of every 54 American boys vs. 1 out of every 252 girls). 

Signs and Symptoms

Those with autism typically have difficulty in both verbal and nonverbal communications. This can include not making eye contact when talking, not responding to his/her name, resisting cuddling/touch, appearing to not hear you at times, lack of awareness of others' feelings, lack of understanding of simple sentences, and speaking in unusual tones. 

Motor coordination can also be a sign of autism. This can include difficulty in dressing oneself, learning to ride a tricycle, and awkwardness in walking or running.

Repetition is another sign of many children on the spectrum. Activities such as rocking, spinning, and headbanging are potential signs. Repetition by means of routine is also common and deviation from the routine can be overwhelming for some children. Some children become fixated on a specific part of a toy (like the wheels of a truck) and will only play with that portion of the toy. 

Unusual food preferences, outside of the typical toddler food aversions, can sometimes be seen. This may be a preference or aversion to certain textures or food colors or preference for eating non-food items (also called "pica").

Prevention

Autism research is developing every day but our knowledge of the disorder and how it affects people is still somewhat limited. Many children diagnosed with autism have a genetic mutation that combines with effects in the environment to produce changes in the brain chemistry. Some of the possible things that may increase the risk of having a child with autism are advanced parental age, lack of oxygen to baby's brain, and maternal illness during pregnancy. There is also potentially a link to the immune system which is being studied in more depth. Women are advised to take the recommended 600 micrograms of folic acid daily both before and after conception. 

Treatment

Treatment plans will vary for each individual  but plans will involve the entire family and likely include intensive therapy in the beginning that will often taper a little over time. Depending on the individual, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and/or medications may be prescribed. Since many of those on the autism spectrum often suffer from other medical conditions such as gastrointestinal problems or sleep disturbances, the comprehensive treatment plan will take all of these factors into account when determining the best course of action.

When should I see a doctor?

If you suspect your child may have some form of autism, you should schedule an appointment with your pediatrician. Your pediatrician may refer you to an occupational therapist for a screening or evaluation. Early intervention is critical in helping children and their families adapt so seek professional help sooner rather than later. 

What questions should I ask my doctor?

Ask  your doctor her opinion to the behaviors you have noticed. Make a note of the behaviors and document the frequency and what triggers may set off the unusual behavior. Take photos or videos if appropriate. Discuss your concerns and if you are not comfortable with her answers, seek a second opinion. Children are our future and as children, they do not have a voice to speak for themselves and seek the help they may need so be a good advocate for your child. 

Where can I learn more?

Autism Society

Autism Speaks

Mayo Clinic

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

National Public Health Week

Did you know that this week is National Public Health Week? 

So what does that mean? 

National Public Health Week, held the first week of April, was established in 1995 as a way to celebrate contributions to public health and to create awareness of current public health issues. 

The American Public Health Association organizes events for this week and creates a new slogan each year. This year's catchphrase "Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money" to emphasize that prevention and healthy living initiatives are worth the cost as they reduce healthcare spending and save lives. Check out the National Public Health Week website to see if there is an event in your area. 

Have a healthy day!

A is for Allergies

Welcome to the first installment of the ABC's of Medical Conditions. 

In this series, I will provide some basic information on common health conditions and diseases to help you better understand the condition as well as how to prevent and treat it. Raising awareness is key to helping you understand your body and how to be sensitive to the needs and conditions of other people.

Say hello to the letter A and the condition of allergies. While allergies are a very common condition, I did not know much about them until about 5 years ago when my family started developing them. This is now a condition that holds a lot of personal relevance for me and I think it's important for people to have a basic understanding of allergies. 

What is it?

Allergies are when your immune system reacts to an otherwise benign substance and produces a physical response. You can be allergic to virtually anything. Many people have environmental allergies which can include indoor allergies (dust, mold, smoke, pet dander) and outdoor allergies (trees, weeds, grasses). Others are allergic to various insects (bees, ants), latex, or medications (penicillin, sulfa drugs). Another category of allergen that is becoming increasingly more common is food allergies. Any food is a potential allergen but the most common are shellfish, fish, peanuts, tree nuts (cashew, pistachio, pecan, almond, walnut), wheat, milk, soy, and eggs.

How common is it?

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, approximately 50 million Americans (1 in 5) suffer from an allergic disease, a number that has been increasing since the 1980's. It is also the 5th leading chronic disease in Americans, and 3rd in American children. 

Signs and Symptoms

For many allergy sufferers, a runny nose, cough, sneezing, and itchy/watery eyes are the chief complaints. These are common symptoms of seasonal allergies such as trees and grasses. Others suffer from skin reactions like hives or itchy or red patches. These are the symptoms that you probably  associate with allergies. However, there are many other potential symptoms that are often overlooked, which is how I went undiagnosed for many years. After doing research, I realized that there were many less common symptoms associated with allergies. 

Some people develop headaches, problems with balance, a foggy headed feeling, nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach. Many allergic reactions happen immediately but sometimes it can take up to a couple of days to feel the physical reaction, making it incredibly difficult to pinpoint the trigger. 

With food allergies, some of the aforementioned unusual symptoms can also play a role. For example, an upset stomach can occur 2-3 days after eating the trigger food. However, many food allergies provide an instantaneous reaction. Many allergy sufferers develop hives around the mouth, a scratchy throat, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea. 

Some severe reactions (both from foods or from other triggers) can cause a potentially life-threatening situation called anaphylaxis. In anaphylaxis, the throat swells causing the person to not be able to breathe. Anaphylactic reactions usually come on suddenly but can be delayed several hours. The only way to stop an anaphylactic reaction is to administer epinephrine. If you experience an anaphylactic reaction, you should administer epinephrine if you have it and call 911. It is important to seek immediate medical attention.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent allergies. If one or both of your parents have allergies, you are more likely to develop them. Although many people develop allergies as children, others do not experience allergy onset until adulthood. 

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type and severity of allergies. Seasonal and environmental allergies can typically be controlled using allergy medications such as antihistamines. Avoidance is key to reducing all types of allergic reactions. For outdoor allergies, it is recommended that you stay inside during  peak seasons of your allergic triggers. For indoor allergies such as dust mites, it is helpful to use hypoallergenic pillows and mattress covers and wash linens weekly in hot water. Some doctors will recommend immunotherapy such as allergy shots or oral immunotherapy. Both of these approaches slowly build up the amount of the trigger over the course of several years to help your body learn to adapt to it.

For food allergies, avoidance is the most critical and effective treatment. Learning to read package labels and avoiding foods that contain your allergens (or are potentially cross-contaminated, depending on the severity of the allergy) is important. For more severe allergies, particularly those that often produce anaphylaxis such as nuts and shellfish, it is often recommended that you carry two doses of epinephrine with you at all times and self-administer the medication at the first sign of a systemic reaction. 

When should I see a doctor?

If you suspect you may have allergies, discuss your concerns with your primary care physician or schedule an appointment with an allergist. Depending on the doctor and what you are being tested for, there are several different types of allergy testing, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. Unfortunately, the field of allergy and immunology is still developing and there are still a lot of unknowns. Allergy testing is not a perfect science and just because you test negative does not mean you are negative (and vice versa). 

The most common types of allergy testing include blood tests, scratch tests, and patch tests. A blood test measures the allergen-specific IgE via a simple blood draw. The scratch test includes small pricks in the skin to see whether or not your body produces a histamine reaction. The scratch test is typically performed on the arm or back. The patch test is where certain foods are taped to your back and monitored for 3 days to determine delayed reactions. 

Scratch Test

What questions should I ask my doctor?

Ask  your doctor her opinion as to which test may most accurately determine your allergies. Before seeing your doctor, do your best detective work and keep a journal of all food (including those few bites of your kid's leftovers!), all soaps/lotions, medications, laundry detergent, etc. Take note of what rooms or places cause an increase in symptoms. 

If you have any positive results, discuss with your doctor what your allergy treatment plan will be. If your symptoms do not improve after establishing a treatment plan, follow-up with your doctor. 

Where can I learn more?

Allergy and Asthma Network

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

Asthma and Allergy Foundation 

Food Allergy Research and Education

Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis

The ABC's of Health Conditions

Are there health conditions that you've heard of but don't know much about? Perhaps a friend or family member has mentioned their hypertension or diabetes and you're not really sure what that means.

Coming soon is an ABC guide to some common health conditions. Each post in this series will define the condition, discuss both treatment and prevention, and direct you to resources to learn more. If there's something in particular you want to know more about, please let me know and I will work it into this series.

I look forward to exploring and defining some health and medical terms with you. Knowledge is power.

Rare Disease Day

Today, February 28th, is Rare Disease Day. 

Do you know someone affected by a rare disease or disorder? In the U.S., a disease or disorder is considered rare if it affects less than 200,000 Americans at any given time. 80% of rare diseases have genetic origins and 50% affect children. There are somewhere between 6000-8000 rare diseases. So while having a rare disease means that not many people are affected by the same thing, there are many people living with a variation of rare disorders. 

Why should you care?

Although you may not be affected by a rare disease, you may one day face a situation where you or a loved one is. The problem with rare diseases is that there isn't much scientific research done, which means that families struggle to find the answers to their problems. Treatment is not well-established. Many medical professionals are not well-versed in the diseases, usually resulting in a variety of misdiagnoses before the individual arrives at the right answer. But even when you make it to the right answer, you are still at a loss because these diseases have not all been studied to the same extent as more common health problems like heart disease and cancer. 

Almost one year ago, I was diagnosed with a rare disease. I was lucky enough to stumble into the care of a physician who happens to study what I have. While this is great to have a name to describe the funny things I experience, it is also extremely frustrating as research is limited. So imagine having to cope with having a child that has a rare and debilitating disease and not being able to get answers because the doctors just don't know. Imagine that feeling of frustration and helplessness. That is why awareness of rare diseases is important and a celebration of rare diseases today can help us all be grateful for the good things we have while remembering the battles that others are facing and keeping them present in our thoughts and prayers. 

For more information about Rare Disease Day, click here.

Mediterranean Diet for Heart Health

After a long hiatus from blogging, I have found some time to get back into it. While I am still searching for the perfect job that will allow me to help others live healthier lives, I wanted to take this opportunity to share current research, tips, trends, and other great suggestions to help you live your life to the fullest.

To begin, I wanted to share some articles with you that have been all over the news today. This is a BIG DEAL. Scientists in Spain have successfully completed a large randomized controlled study (fancy wordage for a study whose participants were randomly assigned to either a study/experimental group or a "placebo" or current best practice group) studying the differences between a low-fat diet and a Mediterranean type diet in the prevention of serious heart events such as heart attack, stroke, and death in people who were considered high-risk for developing heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., meaning that most Americans are considered high risk. The study results were so astounding that they actually ended the study early to publish results. Contrary to what most people think, the Mediterranean diet actually slashed cardiovascular risk by 30% over a low-fat diet. What this means is that people who regularly consumed olive oil, nuts, fish, legumes, red wine, fruits, and vegetables actually had a lower risk of serious heart problems than those who followed a low-fat diet. So for dinner tonight, dig out your olive oil and mix it with your fish and veggies while you say a toast with your red wine to good health! To read more about this study, click here.