Because infants and children are the most vulnerable to life-threatening disease, the CDC has a recommended immunization schedule for parents to follow (See infographic below).
SIU pediatrician Dr. Craig Batterman says vaccines are safe, and he urges parents to make sure their children get the required vaccinations at the scheduled times. “The success rate of vaccines is amazing,” Dr. Batterman says.  “The only true 100 percent success has been small pox and that has been eradicated from the world. We’ve come close on many other vaccines; the success rate is upwards of 99 percent in most cases of the vaccine-prevented illnesses.”
Dr. Batterman says that if parents have questions about vaccines, they should talk with their primary care physician, pediatrician or local public health department.
If your school-age child needs immunizations or a physical for school, SIU School of Medicine in partnership with Springfield Public School District 186, Central Counties Health Center and the Sangamon County Department of Public Health. Learn more here.
Learn more about childhood immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf
American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org.

-rb

School supply list:
X books
X supplies
X physical
X immunization
Last fall, more than 500 students in Springfield Public School District 186 were excluded from school due to missing physicals and/or immunizations. Thanks to a coalition of area health-care providers, Springfield students who have difficulty accessing medical care will have the opportunity to get needed physicals and immunizations.

“We also want to help students and families who don’t have a primary care physician find a medical home to help them with their future health needs, too,” said Dr. Tracy Milbrandt, SIU pediatrician.
“Keep Kids in School Coalition,” will offer three events in August to help reduce the number of students who do not have physicals or immunizations by the start of school. Physicals are required for students entering kindergarten, sixth grade, ninth grade and students who are new to Springfield Public Schools.
No appointments are necessary for students to receive a physical. Free physicals will be offered:
Monday, August 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Washington Middle School, 2300 East Jackson St.
Monday, August 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jefferson Middle School, 3001 Allis St.
Tuesday, August 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jefferson Middle School and Washington Middle School
Saturday, August 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on, at Springfield High School, 101 S. Lewis St.
These events are a collaboration between Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield Public School District 186, Central Counties Health Center and the Sangamon County Department of Public Health.
August 18 is the first day of school for Springfield School District 186. All required health information is due on the first day of school and can be turned in at registration on August 4-5. Failure to provide required health information will result in students being excluded from school on September 2. Students will not be allowed to return to school until all required health information is received in the school’s office.

For more information, call the school support office at 525-7911.

Scientists continue to make breakthroughs in the research of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, but Alzheimer’s has no cure. One thing the scientific and medical community does know is that regular stimulation of your brain can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

“Lifelong learning endows you with abilities that can serve you well in later years,” says Dr. Ron Zec, a researcher in aging and neuropsychology. “Whatever is challenging, the data indicates these things will help you delay the onset of dementia.”

In addition to cognitive stimulation, Dr. Zec also says that studies show the following will delay dementia in the elderly:

• regular physical activity
• higher lung capacity
• a positive sense of self-efficacy
• a healthy diet
• good sleep habits
• stress control
• toxin avoidance
• social support
  So, break out those crossword and Sudoku puzzles to keep those brain cells firing.  Here’s one to get you started:

Summertime means warm weather and fun in the sun for children and adults, but extreme heat can also make people sick.
Over-exertion from strenuous physical activities in hot weather can cause heat stroke, which is the second leading cause of death among young athletes. Other heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat edema or cramps can affect people of all ages according to Dr. Regina Kovach, SIU School of Medicine emergency medicine physician.
Heat-related illnesses are serious problems for specific groups of people:

• the elderly
• those with chronic medical conditions
• those without air conditioners
• those who are on a variety of medication

When a person’s thermo-regulatory mechanisms fail, organ damage can occur throughout the body, and cells in the brain, the heart and kidneys stop working. Patients with heat stroke become very dehydrated, which affects their brain and central nervous system. Body temperatures rise to 105 degrees and higher.
“The warning signs for heat-related illnesses for the minor syndromes such as heat exhaustion are light-headedness, nausea, thirst, vomiting and a general sense of unwellness in the heat,” Dr. Kovach says. “Symptoms of severe heat stroke develop gradually, but the most serious symptoms would be confusion, not thinking straight, not eating or drinking or not behaving normally.”
Anyone with a high body temperature and symptoms of central nervous system dysfunction, confusion or abnormal behavior should be taken quickly to a primary care physician or hospital emergency department.
-rb

More time outside during this beautiful weather may also mean that you or your kids are coming inside with some red bumps or welts from an insect bite. Though insect bites can be itchy or even burn a bit, the symptoms tend to fade in a few days. For those who are particularly sensitive, mainly children, a bit of precaution before heading outdoors is a good idea. Ticks, mosquitos and fleas can transmit disease and illness, so it’s important to be protected.

• Avoid areas with high insect population, such as areas with open food, standing water or flowers in bloom
• Avoid high grasses and leaves where ticks are most often found
• Avoid scented soaps, perfumes and hairsprays
• Apply proper insect repellent (avoid using DEET on children under 2, according to the CDC)
• Wear clothing that is pre-treated with insect repellent

After outdoor play, shower or bathe to rinse the repellent away and ease the itching from any bites you have. Be sure to check yourself and the children for ticks. Wash and dry clothing thoroughly. If you or your child develop a rash, fever, body aches, fatigue, headache, stiff neck or disorientation within one to three weeks after an insect bite, contact your physician. Try to keep from scratching because an open insect bite can become severely infected.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/features/movingoutdoors/

Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed July 2014 as Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.
In the United States, more than 500,000 adults over the age of 60 fall victim to a form of elder abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This estimate may be low since many victims are unable to or fearful of telling family, friends or law enforcement about it.

Elder abuse can be

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Abandonment
• Financial abuse

If you suspect that an older adult is being abused, document the incident and report it as soon as possible.

The Illinois Department of Aging (IDoA) operates a 24 hour Adult Protective Services hotline for reporting elder abuse: (866) 800-1409 or TTY (888) 206-1327. Trained professionals take reports of abuse and promptly forward them to local protective service agencies and/or law enforcement. Resources are available to help victims and all calls and information related to suspected abuse are confidential.

“Dear Naps,
I’m sorry I was so mean to you in Kindergarten.
Sincerely,
35-year-old me”

More than 25% of the US population reports at least occasionally not getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Skimping on good sleep is linked to many chronic diseases and conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression. Those who aren’t resting as often or as well as they should, are also more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents.

Quantity: How much is enough?
The CDC reports that nearly one in three adults reported getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per night. Current recommendation for most adults is 7-8 hours of sleep at night. Just like a healthy diet and physical activity, sleep is a critical component of good health. While you are getting some shut-eye, your body is resting and reviving its energy stores, mentally and physically.

Quality: What is “good” sleep?
If you often have interrupted sleep, your body and brain may not be entering sleep stages critical to optimum rest. How rested you are will depend on not only the total hours you sleep, but also the amount of time you spend in the various stages of sleep each night.

Quest: What can I do to improve my sleep?

The National Institutes of Health recommends:

• Stick to a schedule – go to bed and wake up around the same time each day.
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine
• Avoid alcoholic drinks before bed
• Avoid large meals late at night
• Avoid naps after 3 pm
• Find a way to unwind before bed
• Make yourself a good sleeping environment: get rid of distractions such as TV, cellphone and bright lights and keep the temperature on the cooler side
• See your doctor if you continue to have trouble sleeping

Hear Dr. Joseph Henkle, SIU pulmonologist, talk about sleep here.

More information from the NIH: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/index.htm

Men often tie their identities to their sexuality, so for a man who might be experiencing an issue with his sexual health, it’s a very serious, alarming topic. A man may not seek treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) due to embarrassment, but SIU School of Medicine urologists encourage men with ED to seek help from their physician.

Causes of ED

• An erection is a neurovascular event. Plaque build-up in the vessels of the penis reduces the blood flow, causing ED.
• Smoking is one of the most common causes of ED, though the correlation is widely unrecognized.
• Obesity is another instigator. Strong data show that a heart-healthy diet is also a penis-healthy diet. “Weight gain can become a vicious cycle for men,” says SIU urologist Dr. Tobias Köhler. The more flab a man has, the more he converts testosterone to estrogen. “Once you get obese, your testosterone gets low and estrogen gets high, causing decreased motivation. Then you exercise less, get more obese and the cycle continues.”
• Low testosterone, or low T, can cause ED. “One misconception is that fixing testosterone will always make ED better,” Dr. Köhler says. “But no matter how good your testosterone is, if there isn’t air flowing into the tire, you’ve still got a flat tire.”

Treatments

• Lifestyle: Dr. Köhler emphasizes that patients must be active participants in curing ED. This includes the usual advice: exercise, eating healthy and no smoking. “Lifestyle changes are better than any pill I can prescribe or any surgery I can do,” Dr. Köhler says.
• Prescription medications: These drugs boost nitric oxide, sending more blood to the penis; however, each medication behaves a little differently. Some last 24-48 hours, others last only a few, and they all take some time to kick in.
• Surgery:
  • One experimental option is placing penile experimental stents in the arteries of the penis, similar to stents inserted in the heart, to help blood flow.
  • Another option available to men with ED is a penile implant. The surgery receives a 95% satisfaction rate, and offers men — and women — new hope.

Dr. Köhler has a message to all men dealing with sexual health problems, “We all have a right to be sexually healthy and there shouldn’t be anything embarrassing about it.”

Read the aspects article to learn more about Dr. Köhler and how he helps men with their sexual health concerns.

Listening to the “oohs” and “ahs” of the crowd as the fireworks pop and the colors light up the night sky is an American tradition this time of year. Many people also enjoy setting off their own fireworks or lighting up a sparkler or two at home over the holiday. However, thousands of people go to hospital emergency rooms with injuries from fireworks each year and most of those injuries fall around the Fourth of July.

Fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious injuries if proper precautions are not taken. “Injuries from fireworks encompass everything from hand and foot-type injuries to face and eye-type injuries,” says Dr. Jason Kegg, emergency medicine physician at SIU School of Medicine.  “Some are actually pretty disabling. These certainly aren’t minor injuries; they can mean the loss of fingers or toes or even the loss of a hand, depending on what type of firework is being used.” Dr. Kegg says all fireworks are meant to be displayed at a distance – most injuries occur when people get too close.
He recommends some safety precautions:

• Leave the fireworks shows to the professionals
• If you must set off your own fireworks, make sure that a sober, responsible adult is in charge
• Have water close by to extinguish possible fires

By being cautious and following safety rules when using and watching fireworks, you can have a safe and happy Fourth of July. If you or someone you know is injured by fireworks, go to a hospital emergency room as quickly as possible.

-rb