written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Patios, picnics and pools mean summer is here! By the end of this week, the majority of kids will put the homework down and head outdoors for some fun in the sun. But with summer comes a higher risk of injuries, especially for children.
According to SIU emergency medicine physician Dr. Ted Clark, around 20 percent of emergency room visits involve patients age 17 and younger, and the ER doctors tend to see more of these patients in the summer. “We refer to this time of year as ‘trauma season’ in the ER; typically it’s May through August.” Summer sports and activities such as biking, swimming and camping can lead to broken bones, lacerations, sprains, concussions, dehydration, rashes and burns.
“It’s tempting to keep the kids inside to protect them from all these possible injuries, but I encourage parents to allow their children to be outside and to play,” Dr. Clark says. “In the long run, avoiding the sedentary lifestyle is going to do a lot more for a child’s health than the short-term risk of injury.”
Consider these tips to have a safe summer:
Bike/scooter/skateboard safety: Wear a properly fitted helmet. Many pediatric offices supply free or low-cost helmets, and most bicycle shops will help to help fit the helmet properly, even if the helmet wasn’t purchased there.  Keep your eyes open for community events that offer free or discounted helmets.
Swimming: About 10 people in the U.S. die of unintentional drowning each day, according to the CDC. Always be sure a lifeguard is on duty, follow the pool rules and pay close attention to younger children around water. Wearing sunscreen is a must, and be sure to reapply after a few hours in the pool. To protect the kiddos and yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and broad spectrum protection to shield against both UVA and UVB rays of the sun. Also, keep kids hydrated by taking frequent breaks when it’s really hot.
Camping: Show young campers what poison ivy and other poisonous plants look like in the area you’re staying, and teach the basics of fire safety.  Bring a first-aid kit to treat sprains, stings or other minor injuries. Parents should also be on the lookout for ticks, which can cause Lyme disease. Use an insect repellent with 20-30% DEET and clothe your child in protective clothing, including boots, long pants and shirts, and socks if he ventures out into wooded or bushy areas.
Outdoor sports: Wear properly fitted clothing and shoes and the necessary safety equipment such as knee pads or helmets. Stay hydrated and take breaks to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois.

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Keeping your eyes healthy isn’t just about getting an eye exam to determine if you need a new prescription for your glasses. Problems with your eyes can often mean that something else might be going wrong with your health.
The National Eye Institute (NEI) gives the following guidelines for optimum eye health:
Get a dilated eye exam
This painless test is one way to catch certain eye diseases early, especially the ones that have no warning signs, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration. Your eye care professional will place special drops in your eye that will widen the pupil and allow him/her to examine your retina and look for signs of damage or other problems. Your vision will remain blurry for several hours before returning to normal.
Live a healthy lifestyle
Conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can affect vision. Living a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight and eating right can stave these conditions and keep your eyes healthy. Studies show that smoking is just as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body, so put out the cigarettes.
Know your family history
Not only do you inherit your baby blues or hazel hue from your parents, but you may inherit aspects of your eye health from them as well. Since many eye diseases are hereditary, talk to your family to determine if you are at a higher risk for developing eye disease.
Use protective eyeware
Every 13 minutes, an ER in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury, according to the NEI. Eye injuries are also very common among US workers. Using protective eyewear for sports and potentially hazardous work can greatly reduce the risk of eye injury.
Wear sunglasses
The sun is shining; it’s time to get out the shades! Look for sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB radiation. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are harmful to the eye. In fact, approximately 20% of cataract cases are caused by extended UV exposure. The sun’s harmful rays can also cause macular degeneration (damage to the retina that can eventually lead to blindness) and pterygium (a tissue growth over the white part of the eye that change the shape of the eye).
Learn more about the NEI and Healthy Vision Month at  https://www.nei.nih.gov/HVM.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Written by Karen Carlson, SIU School of Medicine
Do you have a primary care physician? If you do, you probably understand how important your doctor is in keeping you healthy, especially if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma, cancer or heart disease. “Primary care” physicians are the name for doctors who work in family medicine, internal medicine or pediatrics.
Studies show that people are less likely to be hospitalized and on average, have 33% lower health care costs when they have the help of a primary care physician. Not only can these primary care doctors help individual patients, but they also help the entire health care system. Fewer patients in the hospital means lower health care costs, and these patients can stay employed longer and lead healthier, happier lives.
State and national health care issues need physician expertise. “Health is Primary” is a new campaign sponsored by the nation’s eight family medicine organizations aimed to create a strong primary care system and meet the health care challenges our nation faces.
Today, May 19, family physician leaders are uniting in Chicago under the Family Medicine for America’s Health partnership to deliver the “Health is Primary” message to the public and to health care leaders. Health is Primary – every individual must make their health needs primary in order to be a better worker, parent, boss, friend and person.  And every nation, state and municipality needs to put primary care on the forefront of their strategy to address health care problems and costs.
Dr. Janet Albers, chair of family medicine at SIU School of Medicine, is talking about the Community Health Center at SIU that helps provide primary care as well as desperately needed mental health services. SIU is a model for the state and the nation.
Dr. Albers also is working with other doctors to improve the regulatory and reporting burdens that are barriers to providing the best care for all patients. Only family physicians are trained to provide most of the care that a person may need, all under one roof.  That’s effective, efficient and what we need to succeed. But some physicians aren’t paid for the services they provide to patients. Supporting primary care means ensuring doctors’ practices have the financial support to provide the services in the community.
Caring for patients in the community reduces emergency and hospital costs and brings better health outcomes. Patients with several conditions require a team-based primary care solution. Let’s make sure that we have that for today and the future.  Learn more at www.healthisprimary.org.
Need a primary care physician? Contact SIU’s Center for Family Medicine.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Written by Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine
People often ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Once upon a time, maybe you replied to that question, “A doctor.” And then somewhere along the way, that dream fizzled.
But what if you had a chance to get an inside look at what it was like to be a doctor? That’s what SIU School of Medicine’s Physician Pipeline Preparatory Program (P4) program is all about: providing students with a look into the life of a physician as they try to discover what they really want to be when they grow up. Who knows how many of us might have been guided to medical school if we had a chance like this.
The Pipeline Program, established in 2009, was designed to encourage local high school students interested in becoming physicians. Students are presented with case studies, laboratory experiences, guest speakers and research projects. The program also provides leadership training and academic support, which includes sessions in math, science, communication, test-taking and verbal reasoning, to students grades 9-12.
This year, nine Springfield-area students moved one step closer to becoming physicians after graduating from the P4 program, a four-year program sponsored by SIU and Springfield Public Schools (SPS).
“It has been exciting to watch the concerted interest and effort of our students during their time in the Pipeline Program,” said Dr. Wesley McNeese, director of the Pipeline Program. “If what they’ve shown in four years is any indication, then they have what it takes to become excellent physicians and productive citizens in our society.”
“The diversity of peers, challenges and opportunities are forever advancing in P4,” said Southeast High School senior and graduating P4 member Leia Ruebling. “It is not just a program; it is a taste of our future.”
Each year, freshmen from the area are selected by a committee of SIU and SPS members. Students submit letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a summary of volunteer, school and community activities, all of which need to reflect superior academic performance, high levels of motivation and a sincere interest in pursuing medical careers. The Office of Diversity, Multicultural and Minority Affairs will begin accepting applications in August. The program will begin in late fall. Students interested in applying should visit the website siumed.edu/diversity/.  View more photos of the P4 students on our zenfolio page.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

By Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine
The weekend I turned 15, I applied for my first full-time summer job as a lifeguard at a local waterpark. During my inaugural weekend as an official life-saving machine, I developed a very painful sunburn after failing to put on even a single layer of sunscreen. And I’m embarrassed to say, that wasn’t my last sunburn as a lifeguard.
Years of neglect and feeling of invincible due to my olive-toned skin left me unprepared for what I experienced just three months after strapping on that red fanny pack and matching whistle. A harmless-looking mole on my outer thigh began to change. My mother had always encouraged me to generously apply sunscreen and check my moles for changes, even at a young age. Although I clearly hadn’t heeded her words of wisdom regarding sunscreen, I had kept an eye on my ever-darkening skin and the exponentially-increasing number of moles.
A trip to my dermatologist confirmed what we already knew: I had an atypical, precancerous mole that needed to be removed immediately. What I didn’t realize was how much of the skin around and under the mole would have to be removed to ensure the abnormal cells were removed entirely. My doctor assured me that I would be left with minimal scarring, but now, nearly a decade later, I still have a grotesque reminder of my negligence and a visual cue to lather on the SPF.
Every now and then, I wonder what could have happened had I not been paying attention to my moles or aware of the “ABC’s” of melanoma.
Do your sons and daughters (or yourself!) a favor: share the ABCD & E’s of melanoma.
A- Asymmetry: You should be able to draw a line down the middle of the mole and the two halves should match (symmetrical). If the two halves do not match (asymmetrical), it is a warning sign for melanoma.
B- Border: Benign moles have a smooth surface. Borders of melanoma typically are uneven with scalloped or irregular edges.
C- Color: Most benign moles are one color, normally a shade of brown. A variety of brown, tan or black shades is another warning sign. Sometimes the color of melanoma can become red, white or blue.
D- Diameter: Benign moles often have smaller diameters. Melanomas are typically larger than the eraser on your pencil tip (1/4 inch or 6mm), but can be smaller when first detected.
E- Evolving: Benign moles look the same over time, but watch carefully if the mole starts to evolve or change. Changes could include size, shape, color, elevation, other traits, new symptom such as itching, bleeding or crusting. When the mole evolves, see a doctor.
Have a suspicious spot or need a check-up? You can schedule an appointment with the SIU Center for Family Medicine or SIU Dermatology Clinic. Call 217-545-8000 or visit us online.
For more information on sun safety, visit www.skincancer.org.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Do you just smile and nod when the nurse reads your blood pressure numbers to you because you’re just not sure what it all means? You’re not alone. Here’s a quick reference to help you understand what your numbers mean.
The top number
Called the systolic, this number is the higher of the two numbers in the blood pressure reading. It measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats.
The bottom number
Called the diastolic, this number measures the pressure in the arteries while the heart is resting between beats as it refills with blood.
What’s normal?
While a healthy adult blood pressure is somewhat dependent upon age and gender, the American Heart Association gives these guidelines. According to internal medicine physician Dr. Susan Hingle, normal blood pressure is less than 120 for the systolic (top) and less than 80 for the diastolic (bottom). Hypertension/high blood pressure actually starts when the top number is greater than 140 and when the bottom number is greater than 90.
It’s also important to understand that a single high reading does not indicate high blood pressure. Many people are often nervous when they are at the doctor’s office, making their blood pressure rise.
Which number is more important?
Typically more attention is given to the systolic number. High blood pressure can increase the stiffness of large arteries and cause long-term build-up of plaque, leading to cardiac and vascular disease.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Approximately 1 in 3 adults in America are dealing with a silent killer – high blood pressure. This dangerous condition often has no warning signs and can lead to many long term health problems and even death.
People with high blood pressure are at a higher risk for
– Stroke
– Heart disease
– Heart attacks
– Problems with blood vessels in the legs
While most people don’t have symptoms with high blood pressure, some people may experience headaches, dizzy spells, fluttering of the heart, swelling in the legs and thighs. “If you have any of those symptoms, and those are new symptoms for you, have your blood pressure checked by your doctor,” says SIU internal medicine physician Dr. Susan Hingle.
The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled. How can you lower your blood pressure?
– Exercise
– Low sodium diet
– Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
– Find ways to reduce stress
Visit the CDC’s website for more information about high blood pressure.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois