Showing posts from: July 2016
Medicine is a profession which responds to human misery by discovery and the innovation of solutions. We’re “hampered” in some ways, of course, by ethical considerations for how we treat humans.
For example we don’t go around concussing peoples heads, removing their limbs with explosions or injecting poisons to see how they damage their developing brains. For that we must wait until people do that to themselves or others – like in war, football… and now open, legalized marijuana use!
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Sudden Cardiac Death is, by definition, both sudden and unexpected – especially in a child whose life is supposed to revolve around “play” and “fun.” Unfortunately, it is also increasing.
Just as unfortunate, children’s “play” is often “industrialized” into major competitions with adult methods, standards and expectations leading to unintended consequences.
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This was a fun series of articles to write, but about an almost terrible experience on a 17-year-old boy athlete. It made the papers when he ostensibly had a “heart attack” on the baseball field.
The reader gets to “see the patient” and make a diagnosis (and see my humorous side) while learning about the four causes of sudden cardiac arrest in a child.
In follow-up we see some of the emotional side-effects of the near-death experience, exacerbated by viewing social media; and learn methods of problem-solving the correct way.
5 Posts in "Child Cardiac Arrest" Series
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Child: Intro/Index – 25 Jul 2016
A heart attack or death of a child is always a major and emotional event; but, when it occurs in an otherwise healthy child participating in a sport even it often makes the news. These posts explain most of the why, who and how's of these dramatic occurrences.
- Sudden cardiac death – 26 Jul 2016
Sudden cardiac death in children is an "eye-opener" and shouldn't happen, especially to a healthy athletic one… right. But it does happen, all too often; and when it does it often make the newspaper. This article lets you be involved with a 17-year-old athlete who does just that— good luck!
- Sudden cardiac arrest - case – 7 Aug 2016
A somewhat interactive educational article about the four most common causes of sudden cardiac arrest and collapse in a child: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Myocardial infarction, Long-QT syndrome and Commotio cordis.
- Commotio Cordis: Treatment and Prevention – 26 Aug 2016
You made such an impression on that 17-year-old boy who nearly died on the baseball field last week that he's now back for his followup with the question: “When can I go back to playing baseball?” Well, how about it?
- Commotio Cordis: Prevention and Return to Play – 9 Sep 2016
HEEES BAAAAACK! The 17-year-old who you've (well I've) been treating for his heart problem: Commotio Cordis. He's several weeks now from his near-death experience and is back for his second follow-up and a discussion about: Survivability, Prevention and Return to Play.
If you’ve enjoyed this little romp through children’s sports issues you might like to read about children’s fitness.
I’ve written about fireworks and kids before and the time is on us again. I missed the reminder this year for most of the country on July 4th; but, in Utah the battle starts all over again on July 24th, Pioneer Day, which sort of commemorates statehood.
And it is a battle; especially now that all the box stores began selling “mega-boxes” of the gunpowder laden flammables over a month ago and parents are dropping several hundred dollars on the stuff at a single “pop.”
Who do YOU think wins in the battle? The fireworks or the kid?
Keep it sane folks. Please!
Josh Grobin
Talented Artist – Unusually Giving Performer
However, also doing just what he does, at the same time he’s enjoying performing he shows that he is confident enough in his own talent and position to have no hesitation whatsoever letting others share his limelight. It takes very little of his time, diminishes his own “stardom” not even a little and yet builds up someone else and gives an experience that will fill personal journals for a lifetime – “The day I sang with Josh Grobin.”
Showing a confidant and giving attitude, highly unique to performers of his generation, Josh has a segment in many of his performances where he talks personally with a fan (possibly screened in advance) and sings a few bars with them, of a song they select. On occasion, more often than you’d think, the “amateur” surprises everyone and gives a riveting performance.
To see that kind of kindness in a performer is inspiring — especially to one who notices all types of “parenting” wherever I see it.
Daily medical news, that’s how often it comes across my desk and trying to winnow the fruff while gleaning the critical information for you is a bit time consuming. There are millions of professionals all trying to add their legacy of understanding to the mix of medical care and just one of me.
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The slogan “Back to Sleep” which revolutionized infant sleep methods has been changed to “Safe To Sleep” to broaden its scope and bring other causes of sleep-related infant death “into the fold” for research. Perhaps you already knew that, the slogan has been registered as a trademark of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
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“That gunky, smelly, puss draining out of your son’s ear is an infection called ‘Otitis Externa‘ – or possibly Otitis Media that has ruptured and is draining.
With the history you gave I’m guessing it’s ‘externa’ – you can call it ‘Swimmer’s Ear‘ but I don’t, cause it’s certainly caused by a lot more things than merely swimming.”
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The popular TV series “Gray’s Anatomy” popularizes the name of a seminal breakthrough medical pioneer and his book; but, not one in 100 viewers has a clue about why the series’ title was chosen and who “Dr. Gray” really was.
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