A few quick facts about Autism
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Autism, also known as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD or Autism) is a developmental disorder is most often characterized by two behaviors considered abnormal including, deficiency in communication and social skills, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. When autism was first introduced, children with autism-related behaviors were diagnosed with one of a set of distinct developmental disorders:
- Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD)
- Or a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
Today, separate diagnoses are combined into one disorder, Autism, that presents itself along a spectrum of symptoms and behaviors of varying levels.
There is no cure, but as it has become more common over the last several years, our society has gotten a lot better at acknowledging the disorder and working to find better treatments for those with it.
Every autistic child is different so once examined appropriate therapies will be used based on the child’s needs and often include occupational, physical, and speech-language. Structured educational programs and tailored therapy have been shown to help children with Autism develop skills they are lacking and minimize behaviors that are problematic.
A common therapy used to treat autism is “applied behavior analysis” that actively teaches and encourages desired social and communication behaviors that other children learn on their own. Another approach called “developmentally based intervention” uses a mix of stimuli, subjects, and words to form developmental progression for an a child who doesn’t independently develop them.
There are numerous resources available to learn more about autism and how to treat children with ASD, Autism. But if you think your child needs treatment or support, feel free to talk to your doctor to find the best solution for him or her. The treatment options have come so far and we are here to help. Reach out to your doctor at any time.
What is Sarcoidosis?
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Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects one or more organs in your body, but most commonly affects the lungs and lymph glands. As a result causing inflammation, abnormal lumps or nodules (otherwise known as granulomas) form in one or more organs of the body. These granulomas may change the normal structure and possibly the function of the affected organ(s).
How does one get Sarcoidosis?
Some clues as to whether you have this disease include patient symptoms, findings from physical and laboratory studies, and patient race.
General onset of sudden symptoms can mean that the illness will be short lived mild in severity. Some of these symptoms include:
- weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
- just an overall feeling of ill health
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough
- Reddish bumps or patches on the skin or under the skin
- Enlarged lymph glands in the chest and around the lungs that produces cough and shortness of breath
- Fever, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, general feeling of ill health
- Red and teary eyes or blurred vision
- Swollen and painful joints
- Enlarged lymph glands in the neck, armpits, and groin
- Nasal stuffiness and hoarse voice
- Pain in the hands, feet, or other bony areas due to the formation of cysts in bones
- Kidney stone formation
- Development of abnormal or missed beats, inflammation of the covering of the heart, or heart failure
- Nervous system effects include hearing loss, meningitis, seizures or psychiatric disorders (for example, dementia, depression, psychosis)
Donate Your Life
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Donate Your Life
Donate you life is an interesting concept. A lot of you may even question, what exactly does it mean to “donate your life”? This blog post is intended to help inform you of how you can help through registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
We will start by saying that we understand that becoming a donor is not for everyone, and we respect that. For those that are interested in registering to become a donor, you are opening the door to bridge the gap between one family’s mourning and another’s healing.
According to OrganDonor.gov:
- There were over 116,000 men, women and children on the national transplant waiting list as of August 2017
- 33,611 Transplants were performed in 2016
- 20 People die each day waiting for a transplant
- Every 10 minutes another person is added to the waiting list
- 95% of U.S. adults support organ donation, but only 54% are actually signed up as donors.
Protect your skin
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Protect your skin
April showers, bring May flowers. And also bring skin damage if you’re outside enjoying the wonderful spring weather when it’s not raining.
As spring arrives, outdoor activities spike in Colorado. With the wonderful spring weather, it’s important to remember to keep your skin protected. You may often fall to the allure of getting a little more sun than you received all winter. But it’s always very important to make sure you have applied your sunscreen prior to getting sun.
Do you understand SPF?
Sun Protection Factor, otherwise known as SPF refers to the amount of time you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. In theory, an SPF of 15 would allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer than you could without protection. A product with an SPF of 15 will filter out approximately 93 percent of UVB rays; SPF 30 filters out about 97 percent. It is always recommended that you start with an SPF of 30 but other factors such as skin tone, history of skin cancer, and more can affect how your skin will react in the sun.
Therefore, it’s important to keep in mind the following tips.
Select Sunscreen with UVA and UVB.
Choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB. Look for products containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because they protect against the full spectrum of rays and keep you covered more than other sunscreens.
Lotion Up Often
Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours. And more often if you swim or exercise. Water, sweat, and clothing can remove sunscreen from your skin. Apply liberally and often.
Consider Sun-Protective Clothing
Choose clothing that covers you up before going into the sun. Dark cothing can block nearly all UV radiation and tightly woven fabrics are more protective than looser weaves. If you’re wondering how well your clothing will protect you, just hold it up to the sun. If you can see light passing through it, UV rays can get through, too.
Check your skin regularly
Keep an eye on your skin even when you’re not in the sun. Look for new moles or changes in older ones. If you have concerns, report them to your primary care provider or dermatologist. Your doctor can take a look, and, if needed, refer you to a specialist.
Still have questions about sunblock and skin damage? Talk to your doctor and have them screen you for any possible signs of skin damage.
National Minority Health Month
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April is National Minority Health Month! It’s time for you to show your support and celebrate the health of your friends, family, neighbors and community members. Partnering for health equity means stronger, safer and healthier communities - including ours here in Pueblo.
We can all play a role in reducing disparities and improving the health of our communities. Many organizations at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels are partnering to achieve healthier communities.
Health Disparities Among Children
Health disparities, or differences, in health outcomes and their causes among groups of people. For example, African American children are more likely to die from asthma compared to non-Hispanic White children. And according to a recent article published by Salud America, Latino children are not only more likely to suffer from depression, they're also less likely to receive treatment. Similar statistics have been found for children with diabetes and other illnesses that are becoming far to common among minorities.
Health Disparities Among Minority Adults
It’s not just children that are being affected by health disparities. According to the Center for American Progress:
- 79% of African American and Hispanic adults had health coverage in 2009 compared to 88 percent of white Americans
- A 16.6%of African American and Hispanic adults aged 18 years and over do not have a regular source of health care
- Nearly half (46%) of nonelderly black adults who do not have insurance report having one or more chronic health conditions and report they are in fair or poor health