If you are interested in volunteering at our vaccination center in Haverhill, please sign up here. We welcome all levels of experience as we need everyone from room cleaners and greeters to observers and vaccinators. You will end your shift with the satisfaction of knowing you made a positive difference in your community!
By Dr. John Maddox, Pediatrician
Pentucket Medical/ Haverhill
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 develops in childhood, but it is less likely to run in families. Unfortunately, based on current knowledge, there is not as much a parent can do to prevent type 1. Thankfully, this type is more rare. I’ll add that families that deal with type 1 are some of the most resilient that I have seen as a pediatrician.
Type 2 is more likely to run in families but is also much more preventable. Diabetes, as its core, is about not having enough insulin to help glucose get from the blood stream into the body’s cells to provide energy. The primary key to avoiding type 2 comes from good nutrition. All foods are eventually digested into glucose (also called blood sugar) as our fuel. Foods that are digested slowly allow our body’s pancreas to release insulin slowly, creating a gradual rise and fall of input and output that generates optimal health. Foods that are slowly digested (like an apple) have a low glycemic index; foods that are rapidly turned to sugar (like a potato) have a high glycemic index.
Fascinating new research reveals that a window of taste preference exists for infants ages 6-12 months. A baby might make a face the first few times peas or green beans are offered. However, with 8-10 days of persistence, we can successfully prime their palate for a healthier lifetime ahead.
By Dr. John Maddox, Pediatrician
Pentucket Medical/ Haverhill
School staff and families are experiencing tremendous fatigue from the heroic work to maintain in-person education during the COVID pandemic. Millions of hours and millions of dollars have gone into mitigation efforts (like masks and distancing and ventilation).
Most schools use a hybrid model, with each student only in the building 2 days per week. Furthermore, close contacts are quarantined. These modifications significantly reduce the likelihood of COVID spread.
Given the benefits of in-person education and the health risks of COVID, decisions about if and when to temporarily shut schools are very complex — requiring wise judgment. It’s important to avoid being reactionary, when fear clouds fact. The fundamental question should be: “is having our school open right now making the pandemic here now worse?”
Massachusetts has its system of red, yellow and green communities, which marks the degree of caution each district should be using in its decisions. This is a particular challenge for urban cities, where both the rates of COVID and the harms of remote education are highest.
To use a baseball analogy, closing a school is like shifting the infield to double play depth when a runner is in scoring position with one out. It’s a tool that gets you out of a pinch. If this school year were a game, we’d be in the top of the 3rd inning. We need to encourage and reward good managers, who keep an eye on the long view and the final outcome.
By Dr. John Maddox, Pediatrician
Pentucket Medical/ Haverhill
A recent personal experience with the sadness and shock of suicide weighs on my mind these days. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the US, among ages 15-24. Rates have increased by 41% over the past 17 years. Males have a rate three times higher than females. Dismal statistics like these can sometimes be numbing, which discourages the hopeful proactive energy we need to bring, in order to prevent future tragedy.
When listening carefully to people who have considered suicide, one element that comes up invariably is psychological pain. The pain of loneliness or unworthiness can be as real and unbearable as physical pain. We humans are built for connectedness: an antidote to isolation. The time and energy invested in relationships reinforces that each of our days matter. We are grateful for those who help us, and we take joy in the opportunity to help others.
World Mental Health Day is this Saturday October 10th. Read more about “10 Things Parents Can Do to Prevent Suicide”
A primary care physician (PCP) is always there for you, whether you have a common cold, need help managing a chronic condition, or are due for an annual checkup. These doctors tend to be the entry point for patients first entering the medical system, and developing a good working relationship with one is very beneficial to you and your health. Here are five reasons why you should have a PCP by your side.
Having an established relationship with your PCP allows him or her to be familiar with you and your family’s medical history. This makes it easier for them to find patterns in your health and know how your body responds to certain illnesses.
Having a PCP is a great way to learn how to navigate the somewhat complicated medical system. They can refer you to specialists who may be more knowledgeable about a specific health issue. Through Pentucket Medical you have access to a network of primary care, medical specialists and urgent care services throughout the Merrimack Valley.
A primary care physician co-pay is typically much cheaper than a visit to an emergency room. Having a go-to doctor who you can easily set appointments with creates a much lighter burden on your wallet, especially in the long run. Take a look at your insurance card to see the difference in cost between an office and emergency room visit.
Have goals like weight loss, eating better or general wellness? Your primary care physician can work with you to plan out how you can achieve your goals. Your doctor can recommend diets, exercise plans, and more to help you on your wellness journey.
In addition to providing care for acute illnesses and chronic conditions, your doctor can help you take measures to prevent their onset. Your PCP keeps track of your health over time, performs preventive services and screenings to catch diseases early, and offers advice to help you maintain a healthy and happy life.
Establish a relationship with a Pentucket Medical clinician today and start on the path to a healthier you. Our doctors offer same or next-day appointments, online scheduling through the Patient Gateway and an extensive list of accepted insurance plans.
cite: Baylor Medical Center
Sources:
U.S. News & World Report | How to Find the Best Primary Care Doctor
NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine | Contribution of Primary Care to Health Systems and Health
By Dr. John Maddox, Pediatrician
Pentucket Medical/ Haverhill
In every era, it seems that adults wring their hands over the new technologies to which their younger generations of children are exposed — the telepho
ne, the TV and now the internet with all its many branches. New technologies obviously allow new capabilities and innovations for people of all ages, but pediatricians continue to try to tease out the good from the bad effects of “screen time” — as we counsel parents and youth about ways to prevent and correct some undeniable pitfalls of excessive use. Teens aged 13-17 spend an average of almost 9 hours per day using screen media. 45% of adolescents say they are online “almost constantly.” 54% of adolescents say they spend too much time on their cell phone.
Check out the following Family Media plan, relevant for all ages. If you think your child is using media too much, or becomes aggressive when you try to set limits on their media use, talk to their health care provider about your concerns, and ask for guidance on helping them cut back.
https://www.healthychildren.org/english/media/Pages/default.aspx#home
Submitted by Dr. John Maddox, Pediatrician, Pentucket Medical/ Haverhill
Recommended cloth face coverings do not block the exchange of oxygen or carbon dioxide. The vast majority of children age 2 or older can safely wear a cloth face covering for extended periods of time; this includes children with many medical conditions. Begin now having your child wear masks at home. Start with short periods, when they are doing their favorite activities, and gradually increase the length of time, so they get used to it. All schools will offer mask breaks.
Masks get damp over time, from the same respiratory droplets that spread COVID, flu and other germs, so face coverings should washed regularly. It is important to have cloth face coverings that fit a child’s face well, so that they are not tampering with the mask. You should perform hand hygiene before and after touching your face covering.
Some children will need extra attention to the way a mask feels and fits and smells. Some kids will benefit from strategies like Social Story (see below), which help explain new situations with both descriptions and directives. Schools are prepared for some students with special needs to be unable to wear masks full-time right away. Occupational therapists and applied behavior therapists will work with students to teach them new and important skills.
Cloth face coverings help young athletes protect their teammates and themselves. They also help protect the sports season. Whenever safe and possible, athletes should wear a cloth face covering. This includes on the sideline bench, in team chats and going to and from the field. Exceptions include when they are actively exercising.
Cloth face coverings are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID, flu and other germs. Very early on in the pandemic, there was concern about having enough masks for health care workers, so widespread mask use was discouraged. However, it is very clear now that states, communities, and schools that have contained COVID— despite imperfect social distancing, ventilation and hand hygiene— have used cloth face coverings to prevent spread, even in asymptomatic people.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R1lSbfZ8TRchbHCiK_4svK7WLH62lS
https://vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/assets/files/tipsheets/socialstoriestips.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/08/19/well/childrens-face-masks-comfort.html
Did you know that in the United States, Americans use preventative health care services about half the recommended amount? Despite the benefits of preventative health care services, many of us choose to go without them.
Seven out of 10 deaths are attributed to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. These diseases are often preventable and with regular screenings be identified in the early stages.
Recommended steps to being your healthiest are annual physical exams, age-appropriate screenings, immunizations as needed as well as engaging in lifestyle choices that include physical activity, sleep and a healthy diet. Learn what you can do by checking out these Health Preventive Guidelines below:
Men’s Health Guidelines:https://www.pmaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Pentucket-health-Maint-guide-men-1-1.jpg
Women’s Health Guidelines: https://www.pmaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Pentucket-health-Maint-guide-women.jpg
Dr. John Maddox, Pediatrician/ Pentucket Medical/ Haverhill
In my work as a pediatrician, few things are as inspirational and selfless as foster families that agree to take on the responsibilities of caring a child with nowhere else to go. (We should not lose sight of the substance abuse problems in our society: the primary root of neglect and mistreatment.)
Foster parents often have their own biological children, whose needs are being juggled, but — with amazing dexterity and balance — these homes, enriched with family love, are wonderful environments for the newly arrived foster child. Like a repotted plant that was once wilting, one can see a child in foster care begin to flourish in a matter of days. Furthermore, the foster parents go to extraordinary lengths to help DCF maintain children’s connections to their biological families. I realize that not every foster situation is a happy one, but many are and should be celebrated and exalted.
For more information visit:
https://www.healthychildren.org/…/Pag…/Foster-Parenting.aspx
