Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Hard to believe, but it really is not long before school starts up again. Make sure if you or the kids are due for your checkup that you schedule your appointment during the summer break when it’s easier. If college students need to have wisdom teeth removed, that’s best done at least a few weeks before returning to school.

Most contact sports require a mouthguard, and once all permanent teeth are present you may want to consider a custom mouthguard that protects teeth 9 times better than the boil and bite type.

School calendars: Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudon.

Because Lyme disease cases increased in Fairfax County last year, Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova and Providence District Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth are hosting a town hall meeting on Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m. to noon. The event will take place in the Board Auditorium, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. More info, click here.

Special guest U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly will participate in the town hall. The event will feature presentations and a panel discussion with county staff and two of the nation’s leading experts on Lyme disease.

“Lyme disease is on the rise in Virginia and the United States, according to the CDC,” said Bulova. “As people spend more time outdoors because of the warm weather, we want them to know how to protect themselves from the ticks that transmit Lyme disease.”

   Lyme Disease Update, VA Department of Health

Two leading experts from the U.S. Centers on Disease Control and Prevention will make presentations. Benjamin Beard, Ph.D., chief, Bacterial Diseases Branch, and Dr. Paul Mead, chief, Epidemiology and Surveillance Activity, will discuss a variety of topics, including:

• How ticks transmit the disease.
• How the disease is spreading from the Northeast into Northern Virginia.
• What people can do to protect themselves.

On April 30, 2010 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) together with manufacturer McNeil Consumer Healthcare issued a voluntary recall of specific children’s over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. It is important to note that the recall is specific for certain lots of Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl and that the medicines being recalled are all liquid, drops or syrup.

Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl are safe medications – the recall is in effect for reasons of concentration or contamination.

• For complete information, please see the FDA web page on this topic, click here.
• Further information about a refund or coupon if you have one of these recalled products, click here.
• For additional information about the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen) in children see this information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, click here.

Professional teeth whitening is safe, effective and easy to use. Two short appointments are all that are needed to get the process started. Note that fillings, bonding, veneers, crowns, bridges and dentures do not whiten. A dental examination must have been performed in the last 6 months and there can be no active, unrestored cavities present. It’s best to have teeth cleaned prior to whitening. If you plan significant fillings or veneers on front teeth it is best to whiten before. More about teeth whitening, click here.

"Start small, think big!"

Make just one positive health change today. Maybe eat one more fruit or vegetable, take the stairs or schedule a checkup with your doctor. Make another positive change tomorrow and the next day. Before you know it, you’ll have made significant progress toward a healthier you and a healthier community.

• Wash Hands & Cover Coughs and Sneezes
• Increase Physical Activity
• Keep Vaccinations up-to-date
• Stay Tobacco Free
• Eat Healthy

Health Facts

• Almost 900,000 people die from deaths that can be prevented each year.
• Nearly 34% of all adults are obese.
• The average child gets less than 15 minutes of vigorous activity a day.
• Nearly 21 percent of all adults smoke cigarettes.
• Many children consume half their daily calories while at school.
• For the first time, American children may live shorter lives than their parents.

Childhood vaccines saves thousands of lives from preventable diseases, such as measles and rubella. However, each year 33,000 children die in the United States from diseases that could have been prevented with routine immunizations. Help protect your child. Now is a great time to ensure your child is up-to-date on all vaccinations.

See more information at the Fairfax County Health Department page, click here.

Get The Picture: Childhood Immunizations
Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Running Time: (6:27)
Release Date: 4/13/2009

After talking with parents across the country, CDC put together this short video to help answer the tough questions that real moms had about childhood immunizations. Understanding the importance of vaccines is crucial for you to protect your children’s health.

Did you know: allergies caused by pollen can make your teeth hurt?

Those beautiful blossoms coming out now can be a source of pain for your teeth: sinus problems that are worsened with the onset of pollen season often show up as tooth pain.

Allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, eustachian tubes, middle ear, sinuses, and throat (pharynx), and is characterized by symptoms that consist of any combination of the following: sneezing, itching (of nose, eyes, ears, palate), runny nose (rhinorrhea), postnasal drip, congestion, dental pain (upper back teeth, and even lower back teeth), inability to perceive odors (anosmia), headache, earache, tearing, red eyes, eye swelling, fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise. Allergic rhinitis is the most common cause of rhinitis. It is an extremely common condition, affecting approximately 20% of the population.

A common sign associated with allergic rhinitis is “allergic shiners”, dark circles around the eyes (related to vasodilation or nasal congestion). [Symptom versus sign: a symptom can more simply be defined as any feature which is noticed by the patient. A sign is noticed by other people. It is not necessarily the nature of the sign or symptom which defines it, but who observes it.]

How can you tell if it is your sinuses making your teeth hurt? Read the rest of this entry »

links updated 4.7.2010 

from the American Dental Association (ADA)

Antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines exist for two groups of patients: those with heart conditions that may predispose them to infective endocarditis, and patients who have a total joint replacement, who may be at risk for developing hematogenous infections at the site of the prosthetic.

Guidelines for patients who have a total joint replacement were updated by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) in 2009.

The AAOS 2009 Information Statement differs from the 2003 AAOS/ADA Advisory Statement in this important way:

AAOS now states that,“Given the potential adverse outcomes and cost of treating an infected joint replacement, the AAOS recommends that clinicians consider antibiotic prophylaxis for all total joint replacement patients prior to any invasive procedure that may cause bacteremia.”

If you have questions, please contact your orthopedic surgeon.

“Nutrition From the Ground Up”

National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign that focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

  Our office will be open normal hours Columbus Day.