You may have recently noticed a surge on the anti-tobacco war front. This increase in the anti-tobacco campaign comes at the heels of national cancer statistics, which report that there has been a decrease in national cancer rates. The fact is that adolescents are hard to reach when it comes to preventive health care. From 1997-2003, cigarette use declined sharply, but more recent statistics show that current rates are declining at a much slower rate. Nearly all first time tobacco use occurs before high school graduation. If first time tobacco use in school years could be eradicated we would …

The local, late-evening news seems to have become the history channel of violence. Regardless of the state, violence is a central theme that appears to be increasing nationally, especially the past few years. In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that homicide was the third-leading cause of death in children ages 10 to 14. It was the second-leading cause of death in children ages 15 to 19. About 5,764 people ages 10 to 24 are murdered each year. That number translates to about 16 young people killed per day. Not only does violence end human lives, but it also …

I recently went to my hairdresser and congratulated her on the birth of her new son. His adorable picture is strategically placed on her mirror, which interferes with your ability to concentrate on your new hairstyle because he is so cute. The next exchange of words was shocking. I was told that he has Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21 (T21). I told my friend congratulations still stand, and this baby was lucky to be born to parents so loving. I know that he will have joy and add joy to the lives of all around him. Children and adults with Trisomy 21 often are the happiest people, and …

Energy drinks are the rage with U.S. adolescences. Children are experimenting with energy drinks for the rush from caffeine, plant-based stimulants and other ingredients, and to stay awake. In 2007, 5448 caffeine overdoses were reported with 46 percent of these cases occurring in children age 19 or younger. U.S. Poison Centers now track toxicity related to energy drinks. Energy drinks contain caffeine, plant-based stimulants, simple sugars and other additives that provide the stimulant effect. Let's compare a cup of coffee, which contains about 75-100mg of caffeine. In some coffee houses, a …

There seems to be a lot of variation these days regarding when parents should start incorporating solid foods into their infant's diet. Some studies suggest that introducing solid foods too early can lead to obesity, adult onset diabetes, celiac disease, allergies, eczema and feeding difficulties. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that the introduction of solid food take place between 4-6 months of age. According to the AAP, breast milk can provide all the nutritional requirements for the growing infant. In 2005, the AAP encouraged the delay of solid food introduction until …

Many people do not realize that children can develop hypertension. Often times there are underlying reasons for children having high blood pressure that are related to kidney disease and other types of medical conditions. I want to address the healthy born child, who is overweight or obese. Children who are overweight or obese have higher blood pressures than most children who are in their appropriate height and weight class. I also know that obese children have approximately a three-fold higher risk for hypertension than non-obese children. This is the first time in American history that our…

Youth mentoring programs like Big Brother and Big Sisters of Atlanta are examples of role models in action for children who may not have the privilege of positive personal interactions. In a society that glamorizes negative behaviors for the sake of notoriety and celebrates negativity, please recognize that our children are bombarded with false images and false impressions. Do the Kardashians' contribute anything positive to the viewing audience? How has watching base behavior become entertaining? I feel that watching people who have lost their dignity equally hurts those who view this …

Do you or a loved one have a boil that just won’t go away? Is it red, have pus and painful upon touch? You might just have a community associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). This is a form of staph infection, as the name implies, that is resistant to certain main line antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin. MRSA started off as a hospital acquired bacterial infection but has now developed into another form called community acquired MRSA. There are some differences in the hospital type verses the community type but both forms need to be treated to stop serious …

The problem with adolescents is that they feel immune to these types of health concerns. What further complicates the STD drama is access to healthcare and cultural influences. The invincibility and denial translates into many an undiagnosed condition until the illness is no longer avoidable. Luckily, sex education is taught in Cobb County schools and sexually transmitted disease is part of the curriculum. In the case of Chlamydia Trachomatis aka Chlamydia, this sexually transmitted disease (STD), if left untreated, can cause a host of problems for the infected individual, their sex partner(s…

With all the articles that I have written, they all have two things in common regardless of the topic. These commonalities are children and parents. This article will focus on parents. I remember when the catch phrase “quality time” was thought to be the quintessential answer to parents who worried that their kids were not spending enough time with them. Please notice that you don’t hear that phrase very much because “quality time” was assuaging parental guilt about time unspent. The term is passé because it is a contradiction in terms. It is the quality of the relationship that is paramount …

I recently wrote about bullying and realized that teasing and name calling is also a characteristic of dating violence. Attitudes that bullying behaviors are socially acceptable can lead to violence over a lifetime. Someone from my high school class, who experienced physical violence from her boyfriend, three decades later is divorced with a history of physical and psychological abuse with different men. Many gentle readers will have no difficulty recalling similar situations from their high school experiences. The fact is that many adolescents do not report dating violence for many of the …

One only needs to walk to their medicine cabinet and you can find a treasure trove of potentially abusive drugs if not used as directed. These medications include prescription and over-the-counter drugs (OTC). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 percent of high school students had taken the following prescription medications: Oxycotin, Percocet, Vicodin, Adderall, Xanax, and Ritalin. OTC medicines are harder to pinpoint because these medications are usually in large amounts and escape a watchful eye. Adolescents believe these medications are safer than street…

Imagine that you have some characteristic that is prominent. This difference in appearance causes you to be ridiculed and leads to your ostracism. I have just described the plight of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It's a classic case of bullying incorporated into our cultural folklore. A psychologist named George Giuliani has brought this beloved Christmas tale into the light of examination.  He has just written a children’s book No More Bullies at the North Pole. This book addresses the unfair behaviors bestowed upon Rudolph the proboscisally challenged reindeer. It is thought provoking for…

Last week, I discussed all the right reasons for breast-feeding. This week, I would like to inform my gentle readers on the proper techniques needed to breast-feed an infant. The fear of not adequately producing enough milk coupled with the fear of the infant not properly latching on to mom’s breast is as old as breast-feeding itself. Add in shorter hospital stays to this maternal mix and one will find early maternal discharge as a counterproductive measure to lactation.  Unfortunately, a new mother may have difficulty with breast-feeding and not have readily accessible hospital-based …

Breast milk is the best form of infant nutrition according to every source I have ever encountered. This pediatric white gold is so tailored for an infant that researchers are not trying to improve breast milk; rather, researchers are trying to replicate it in laboratories. Infant formula manufacturers are stating that their formulas are similar to breast milk in regards to their chemical make up. These manufacturers are adding DHA and AA, which are fatty acids needed for brain development. What manufacturers cannot add are the immune defenses offered by human breast milk. I feel very secure …

This column is usually dedicated to pediatric issues. Since October was Breast Cancer awareness month, I wanted to discuss and dedicate this article to all the children affected indirectly by Breast Cancer. These children include my very own. Four and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I didn’t fit the typical patient profile. I was a 42 year old woman with children aged 12, 10 and 8. My cancerous lump was painful, which is unusual for most cancers. We have no history of breast cancer in my family (no family history of BC is the most common among women with BC). I was …

October is National Healthier Babies month. Having been a neonatal intensive care nurse, I can appreciate the push to create healthier babies. Not all babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are premature, but most are preemies. The spectrum of prematurity is as follows: Full term gestation refers to infants who are 37 weeks or older. Preterm means live births before 37 weeks gestation. Late preterm refers to live births of 34-36 week gestation. Moderate preterm babies are 32-36 weeks gestation. Very preterm refers to infants less than 32 weeks gestation. Obviously, the more preterm…

In the U.S., it is estimated that 61-65.3 percent of newborn males are circumcised (National Center of Health Statistics). This same organization notes that there was a substantial decrease of newborn male circumcision (NMC) in the western U.S. This is attributed to the large Hispanic population of that region. In South and Central America, circumcision is uncommon. With one in four children of Hispanic origin being born in the U.S., I feel safe in predicting that the rate of circumcision will decrease. One must recognize that Medicaid pays for this procedure in 33 states and 15 states are …

It appears that there are a plethora of websites dedicated for the instruction and glorification of self-inflicted behaviors (SIB). One research study examined 100 videos on the internet regarding SIB and found that there were 2 million hits on some of these websites. 80 percent of these videos had no viewer restrictions. 58 percent had no warning of content. The question stands, “Do these types of websites glorify and encourage self-abuse?” With the amount of activity on these websites, it would seem that non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has developed a cult following. Here are some facts …

Anyone with a teenage daughter will recognize the 3 distinctive letter combination 'HPV' followed by the question, “Do you want the vaccine?” Most parents are not adequately educated in the nuances of the Human Papilloma Virus. The fact is the literature provided by the health care provider will be a blur since the thought of your child becoming sexually active has probably left you dumb-founded. Here is some important information to guide your steps in the decision process. Facts about HPV are provided by the CDC and Prevention: 1. Twenty million Americans have HPV. 2. Six million Americans …