Lifelines
Most parents know that peanuts can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction in some people. Many schools, daycares and summer camps don’t let children bring peanut products for lunch or snack. Even Southwest Airlines won’t pass out peanuts if a passenger has a...
Lifelines
No doubt about it—teens are moody. In a blink of an eye, a teen’s mood can transform from happy and sunny to morose and miserable. Monitoring your teen’s mental health is just as important as paying attention to physical well-being. Periods of sadness that last longer...
Lifelines
Don’t know for sure? You’re not the only one—most parents don’t know how much their child’s backpack weighs. In fact, researchers found that 96 percent of parents in several central Texas elementary schools had never weighed their child’s backpack. About 34 percent...
Lifelines
As parents and caregivers, we want to do everything in our power to protect and take care of our children, particularly when they are sick. When our child has a cough, a fever or an earache, we often dash to the pediatrician and expect to leave with a prescription for...
Lifelines
Options for Care Many doctors’ offices have extended hours for emergencies or sudden illness. But there are real differences among the other facilities, differences in type of care, how quickly the care is delivered and how much your bill will be. For example, Vik...
Lifelines
With summer winding down and a new school year starting up, it’s a great time to look through the family medicine cabinet and make sure you are prepared. Here are a few of the questions I get asked frequently about over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Q: Are store...
Lifelines
Here in Central Texas, many families are dealing with their fair share of coughs, colds and fevers. Many viruses cycle their way through communities, and one of these common viruses is Human Parvovirus (not to be confused with the parvovirus that infects pets)....
Lifelines
The National Crime Prevention Council reported in 2011 that cyberbullying is a problem that affects almost half of all American teens. Most of us are now familiar with the term “cyberbullying,” or bullying through electronic technology. This includes social media...
Lifelines
Summer is just around the corner: carpools, recess and homework will soon be replaced with road trips, swimsuits and sun! So you—and your kids—should know that 1 in every 3 cancers diagnosed worldwide is a skin cancer. UV radiation, through exposure to sunlight, is...
Lifelines
Your child’s doctor has said the word “autism.” Now what? Receiving a child’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be overwhelming and confusing. It often leads to more questions and concerns. What does the diagnosis mean? What does the future hold? What do...
Lifelines
Although there is no traditional season in youth soccer, most states play a fall and spring season. As our children get ready to cleat-up this spring, let’s remind ourselves to play safe. Though soccer is perceived as less violent than collision sports such as...
Lifelines
Over the last decade, there’s been increasing awareness of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that can cause people to stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep. According to the Mayo Clinic, anyone can develop OSA, although it is more common in...
