|
Please take note of our holiday hours:
Monday Sept. 29th
Erev Rosh Hashhonnah
Office closes at 5 PM
Tuesday Sept. 30th
& Wed. Oct 1st
Rosh Hashhonnah
Holiday hours
Emergencies by appt. only
starting 9 AM*
Thursday October 9th
Yom Kippur
Holiday hours
Emergencies by appt. only
starting 9 AM*
Monday October 13th
Columbus Day
Regular office hours
8 AM - 7 PM
Tuesday November 4th
Election Day
Regular Office hours
8 AM- 7 PM
Tuesday November 11th
Veterans day
Regular Office hours
8 AM - 7 PM
Of course, a PHA doctor is always available by phone.
Our regular hours are:
Monday thru Thursday 8AM - 7PM
Friday 8AM - 5PM
Saturday 8AM - Noon
Sundays and Holidays *
emergency visits, by appt
*$25 extra charge applies on Sundays/Holidays which is the responsibility of the parent if not reimbursed by insurance.
*On Sundays and Holidays the office opens between 9 & 9:30 AM and remains open until all the children requiring our care are seen (usually between 11 AM and noon.) So call early if you think your child may need to be seen. If you call before the office opens, just "Press 1" and leave a message on the answering machine and you will be called back.
|
Vaccine Information
you can trust
|
|
|
|
|
Appointments available through
December 31st, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise-Induced Asthma
|
 Many children seem short of breath with exercise, especially with the intense exercise that is part of team sports. Some of these children just need a little more conditioning, and some need medical intervention for a condition called exercise-induced asthma.
Your child may have exercise-induced asthma if...
-exercise causes a cough
-shortness of breath lasts more than a few minutes after
exercise stops
-exercise tolerance doesn't improve as the season progresses
- your child seems to limit exertion
- all the other kids seem to be having an easier time
Exercise-induced asthma affects 90% of children with known asthma, and many children with no other symptoms of asthma. Symptoms of exercise-induced asthma include wheezing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and coughing. The symptoms usually start 10 minutes into exercise and will continue up to several hours after the exercise stops. Symptoms may not occur with every activity or at all times during the year. Some children experience exercise-induced asthma only when running the mile outdoors in April, while others have a harder time with cold weather sports.
The lungs of children with exercise-induced asthma are sensitive to the cold, dry air that is inhaled during exercise. Symptoms can be decreased if your child remembers to warm up and cool down with light exercise for 5-10 minutes. Breathing in thru the nose (which humidifies the air before it reaches the lungs) will also decrease symptoms.
If your child continues to have symptoms, it is time to visit your doctor. A combination of history, physical exam and pulmonary function tests will help us decide how to deal with your child's symptoms. There are many medications which can be taken prior to and/or during exercise that will eliminate the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. If your child is currently using an inhaler prior to sports and still having trouble, there are other medications to try.
It may take a little planning, but with proper intervention your child with exercise-induced asthma will be able to reap the benefits, both physical and social, that come with participation in sports.
|
|
How to Feed Your Picky Eater
|
1 - Have realistic expectations of what a toddler needs to eat. If your one year old is eating ½ of an egg, that is a full portion for him. Add to that ½ of a piece of bread (not ½ of a sandwich) and you have a great meal! One ounce of chicken is a portion for children up to 6 years old! Click here for age appropriate portion sizes.
2 - Encourage feeding practices that you would want your child to continue. In other words, don't feed her mindlessly in front of the TV, if you want her to learn to recognize feelings of hunger and fullness. And don't chase him around the house with a fork full of food, if you want him to learn to eat nicely at the table.
3 - A balanced diet needs to be looked at over a period of several days. Offer healthy choices and let your child choose what to eat. Offer three meals and two snacks a day. Let the snacks be just as healthy as the meals - fruit, cheese sticks, peanut butter (for children over age 2yrs.) If your child doesn't eat lunch, she will eat at snack time, or dinner time.
4 - If your child does not eat good foods, then don't feed him. This one sounds really harsh, but we promise your child will not starve to death. Why should your child eat anything healthy, when he knows that if he holds out long enough, you will give him chicken nuggets and French fries? No matter how hard she tantrums, you will not let her play in traffic because it is dangerous. Maintaining a diet of high-fat, high-sugar foods is dangerous as well.
5 - Try the "two-bite rule" with vegetables and new foods. Tell your child he must have "two bites" before he leaves the table. And remember that it takes 5 or 6 "tries" to wake up a child's taste buds. So encourage them to try new foods several times over several weeks.
6. Use a reward system if you need to. Never underestimate the power of stickers to get your child to do something. Let your child accumulate stickers and earn a reward. Rewards should not be lavish and should not include junk food. But you could let your child design the family menu for one night.
7- Model healthy eating. Toddlers love eating off of mom and dad's plate. Make sure there is good healthy food on your plate.
8- Let children help with food preparation. Take them shopping with you. Let them help chop and saute. If you are really ambitious, plant a small vegetable garden. Children are more likely to eat a food if they are involved in the preparation.
|
|
Thank you for trusting us with the care of your family.
Sincerely,
Your doctors at Pediatric Health Associates
|
|
| |
|