Some things are difficult. For example, most people when they are told that a habit of theirs is harmful will take heed and try to change. Others, on the other hand, think they know more than their doctor or nurse and decide on the spot they are changing for no one! Spanning my career I have had many patients who fall into either of these two categories. Some patients are quite memorable for their strong will and high goals to prove me wrong or to prove that they are stronger…

No caregiver should face Alzheimer’s disease alone. I’ve witnessed the emotional and physical strain that caregivers endure when helping those with the disease the National Institute of Aging estimates affects between 2.4 million and 5.1 million Americans.

I have also seen caregivers connect to a supportive community that enables them to provide better care for their loved ones and themselves. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, here are some steps you can take to receive the support you need:

Connect with a support group

• A local Alzheimer’s support group is a…

To a child who is obese, hearing these words over and over again leads to isolation, depression, and chronic health problems. Sixteen percent of 9th- to 12th-grade teenagers in New York State are classified as obese, and that number has been climbing since 2006. Conditions that are comorbid with obesity in adult patients, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, are now being seen in younger and younger children, which may ultimately shorten their lifespans.

This may be the first generation of children who will live shorter lives than their parents. How…

A recent New York Times headline caught my attention: “Tennessee’s Summit Reveals Dementia Diagnosis”.

If you are not familiar with Pat Summit, she is widely considered the most successful college basketball coach of all time. Her recognition is well deserved after coaching Tennessee University’s women’s basketball team to a record eight national championships and more than 1,000 wins.

Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post writes:

“Denial was followed by anger. For the first few weeks, Summitt would barely even discuss the subject. She told her doctors, ‘You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable…

Swimming is one of those wonderful summertime past times that many adults and children love. If not just to cool off, but to get a great work out. Diving into a pool, ocean, lake or pond is an adventure and most kids will enjoy the opportunity. But with swimming comes the potential for a ‘pain in the ear’. Otherwise called Swimmer’s Ear (Acute Otitis Externa). Why does it happen to some and not others and is it serious? Well let’s begin, first that the ear produces wax (cerumen) and its very…

Welcome to my very first blog entry! I thought I would use it as a sneak peek as to some of what I will be discussing in the coming weeks and months. The title for today’s entry struck me as very pertinent as to what is happening currently in my personal life. I guess I am in what some people refer to as “the sandwich generation.” With aging sick parents (my father was recently diagnosed with lung cancer), a two-year-old daughter with pervasive developmental disorder-nos (a disorder on the autistic spectrum), a husband…

Headlines about the number of rising autism cases around the world are everywhere. Do we really know what caused this spike in occurrences? There are many theories; some people feel strongly that the cause is genetic, others fear our ever-changing environment is to blame. I believe it is a culmination of several factors and that no single cause has truly yet to be determined.

Over the years, there have been a lot autism studies to result in treatments that have a positive impact on autism. One treatment in particular is ABA or Applied Behavioral Analysis. In a few words, it is basically a method…

Rockaway Beach between 85th and 86th Street

Autumn has officially kicked off but this traveling therapist was pleased there was some summer weather last week.

Highlights

• Enjoyed a lunch break along the shore of Rockaway Beach. One of the perks of being assigned to work in a beach-side neighborhood.
• It was a pleasant surprise to have some of the safety equipment I had ordered for my seniors arrive earlier than expected.
• Listening to Ms. B. who is a piano teacher rave about her love for all things Chopin. She promised to play her classical collection…

Well, it is that time of year again, and as children all over the city ready their backpacks and walk (or ride) to school, the asthma season begins full swing again. There are about 14 to 15 million people in the United States who are diagnosed with Asthma. Every asthmatic patient is different and what may trigger an attack in one child may not be the same as another child.

Some common triggers  are:

• pollen,
• pollution,
• certain foods,
• weather changes,
• stress,
• illness,
• dander, and
• maybe even insect droppings (like cockroaches).

There may be others, and often children who are back…