Health and Wellness Newsletter
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IN THIS ISSUE
Heat Illness
Concussions
Fathers
Detox Challenge
Chemical Experiment
Recipe of the Week
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The people that mind don't matter, and the people that matter don't mind. 
 

Dr. Seuss 

 

This could not be more true today than ever.

 

Dr. M

Quality Products

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Please email me your favorite products.  I would like to share quality products with our readers. Think - car seats, toys, anything that a mother would love!
 
PRIMETIME

For all teenagers and college students interested in a new medical experience, pay attention.
Salisbury Pediatrics has opened a new wing dedicated to you. In Primetime we are only focused on your needs as an emerging adult. 
From the music when you enter, to the autonomy of your visit, we are sure that you will love a new way to see your doctor.


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Please reply with feedback or questions here.  I will try to answer as many questions via the newsletter as possible.  As always be well and love your children!

 

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Dr. Magryta
Go to www.salisburypediatrics.com,  if you would like to learn about Integrative Medicine or our practice

 

Issue: #35
August 18, 2014
 Lake fun


Volume 4, Letter 35
 

August 18, 2014

  

Summer break is ending and the competitive athletics are gearing up. Kids of all ages are playing sports during the heat of the day all over the country. This time of year poses a major risk of overheating for children and adolescents engaged in aggressive aerobic outdoor exercise.

 

In our clinic we have already had an admission to the hospital for heat exhaustion and muscle breakdown known as rhabdomyolyisis. The young man was practicing on the football field and overheated due to a combination of under hydration and excessive ambient temperature. Symptoms included excessive sweating, rapid pulse, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. 

 

This is a very serious condition that can progress to heat stroke where the core temperature surpasses 105 F, consciousness changes and the skin becomes hot, red and dry. If untreated, death will follow.  

 

We all need to talk to our children about these risks. My son came home from practice today with a headache and nausea. He drank one bottle of water which was inadequate for the heat today. Lesson relearned by him. 

 

What to do?

 

1) Hydrate adequately before during and after practice! If you are thirsty, you are already behind. Water is all that is necessary.  

 

2) Wear light and loose clothing. Preferably the new wicking tech clothing.

 

3) Apply sunscreen SPF 30 before practice

 

4) Bring a wet/cold rag to put on your head and neck in between drills. 

 

5) Rest in the shade when possible. 


 

Stay cool, 


Dr. M

 

Concussions


Another major issue as school sports start again is head trauma and specifically concussion. Many teams are now requiring a baseline neurological test to compare against in the event of a head injury. This is a good trend in concussion care. 

If your child suffers a head injury during a sporting event, have him assessed for cognitive delay and neurological symptoms before returning to play. If your child is determined to have suffered a concussion, expect to have a very delayed return to play and school work. 

Most concussions last 2-3 weeks before all symptoms are resolved. It is imperative to let the brain rest during the recovery phase. We recommend total brain rest. This includes stopping physical activity, school work, TV, videogaming, and other brain stimulating activities. This allows the glucose to reach the injured brain cells to begin the healing process. This healing process is variable based on the patient and the severity of the injury. 

Strict adherence to the plan is critical. Far too many teenagers and coaches do not follow the prescribed course and have protracted healing issues. The NFL is the poster group for what not to do in brain health. 

Concussions can alter a child's personality temporarily. Be aware and patient with them while they heal.
 
Fathers and Hormones

While reading Do Fathers Matter I was fascinated by the section on pregnancy and hormones. It turns out that men have hormonal changes during pregnancy very much like women do. Men have shifts in testosterone, cortisol and prolactin. 

Testosterone drops after birth which is likely a human way of decreasing male driven competitive behaviors in favor of nurturing behaviors that will help a child and mother flourish. From the 2013 work by Dr. J. Rilling in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we have modern proof that testosterone levels that remain high in men are associated with poorer nurturing skills. Other studies have shown that men that are newly fathers have drops in testosterone and increases in cortisol and prolactin when exposed to the new babies blanket. 

Natural selection would potentially favor the men that nurtured their family and protected them. High testosterone men could potentially reproduce more only to move on and not foster the relationship. Those offspring are four times more likely to die in the early years. There is solid evidence that children born to loving and nurturing relationships have a greater chance of being born at a normal weight and term age. 

Is the lack of paternal attachment to the child affecting the epigenome of the child and the psyche of the mother? Likely to be true for both. The rate of single mothers raising their children is rising as noted earlier. This missing paternal attachment to the child is affecting the attachment security of the child. Coupled with the maternal stress of raising a family without a father's help, we see the road map to behavioral abnormalities of the modern single parent child. The book goes on to further this discussion for those who wish to read on.  

Dr. M
 
Detox Challenge

For those interested in continuing the learning process of detoxification, the Institute for Functional Medicine and the Detox Summit Faculty are running a detox challenge for the month of September. The challenge will be run by the faculty at IFM. You will learn how to personally detox.

To sign up go to this link:

Dr. M
 
Chemical Experiment
Fastfood Experiment
Week 6 
 
Still no appreciable difference. No signs of bacterial or fungal disease. No flies or bugs.

Sort of gross now.


Recipe of the Week

Drink lots of clean water!!!!!!!

 

It is the best recipe for longevity.

 

Dr. M  

Newsletter Photos
 
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The newsletter archive can be found in the links section.  New readers can now go back in time to learn about the future!

 

Copyright � 2010-2014 Christopher J. Magryta, MD. Readers, please note: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice and treatment provided by your physician or other healthcare professional and is not to be used to diagnose or treat a health issue.


 


Chris Magryta
Salisbury Pediatric Associates
Touchstone Pediatrics