HomeHealth-bytes MenuHealth NibblesHealth QuizAbout the AuthorNews from Chestnut Place

What is Health-bytes?

Health-bytes is written by Rick Voakes MD, a board-certified pediatrician in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He emphasizes wellness and prevention in his practice, and he is willing to share this important information with you! If you are a patient, you will want to catch up on the News from Chestnut Place (the location of Dr Voakes' office).

 

Extra Years of Health (are available to you for free!)

The technology which can greatly prolong your life and health already exists, but in order to benefit from it, you have to learn scientifically proven preventive information and how to apply it. Health-bytes promotes a philosophy of prevention in health, by providing easy to understand "bytes" of information, ready for you to choose at your convenience. Click on Health-bytes Menu. See also Philosophy of Health-bytes.

Help Needed for Smoke-Free Bowling Green

If you support a smoke free ordinance for Bowling Green, please click below to the Second Hand Smoke page to find out how you can help!

*********

Center for Courageous Kids Opens

Camp for Children with Chronic Diseases

We are very fortunate to have the Center for Courageous Kids opening this year in the neighboring town of Scottsville. They can accommodate 128 children each week for 5-day sessions, all year long. They accept children with many different conditions, including asthma, cancer, sickle cell, arthritis, cystic fibrosis, seizures, Crohn's disease, autism, heart disease, and many others. The best news: It's FREE! 

More info on their web page:  Courageouskids.org

 

 

New Vaccines

The new Meningococcal vaccine is here, and can be given at any age after 11 years. We will start giving it with the 6th grade physical, but older kids can get it too, when they get their check-up. Just call for an appointment.

 

We also have the new HPV vaccine for preventing cervical cancer. Girls over age 9 can get the vaccine, which is a three-shot series. Great news! The state vaccine program now covers HPV vaccine for ALL GIRLS over age 9 !!

 

Vaccines are one of the most effective strategies in the prevention of infectious diseases. Washing hands often is another important way to prevent disease.

 

New Vaccine Schedule (Again!)

We are now doing a 15-month checkup and giving the first Hepatitis A vaccine then, which allows children to complete the 2-shot series on the 2-year checkup rather than waiting until 3 years. This is a national recommendation and it makes a lot of sense.

 

 

Dangers of Television!

This month's health-byte takes a hard look at potential harm caused by excessive television viewing by children. The AAP recommends no more than 2 hours per day of "screen time" including computer games.

 

Several studies are coming out with important findings with respect to poor school performance, violent behaviors, and high risk behaviors. Heavy TV watchers were even more likely to drop out of school, and much less likely to attend college or vocational training after high school.

[more....]

 

Food Allergies Present a Special Danger

Certain food allergies, such as peanuts and tree nuts, are far more likely to result in a fatal allergic reaction than other allergies. Special precautions should be taken whenever these children eat away from home, and they should always carry injectable epinephrine with them.

[more...]

 

Fun Health Quiz

Got a few minutes? Try your hand at the interactive Health Quiz! Or sample a few Health Nibbles!

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Health-bytes, copyright  Rick Voakes 1997                         Webmaster                         Disclaimer