April 2009
Monthly Observances:
National Minority Health Awareness Month
Alcohol Awareness Month
National Autism Awarness Month
Foot Health Awareness Month
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| “When my feet hurt I can’t think,” Abraham Lincoln
FEET take an awful pounding. They support our bodies and balance us – and the average person walks the equivalent of five times round the Earth in a lifetime.
Yet most people give very little thought to their feet until problems occur. They may be meticulous about regular check-ups for their eyes and teeth, but not their feet.
The California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) wants Californians to think about the importance of their FEET during National Foot Health Awareness Month.
Taking care of your feet is always important, particularly as they spend much of their time encased in hot shoes and walking on hard surfaces. Basic hygiene and nail cutting may be all that is needed to keep your feet in good health, but when apparently healthy feet start experiencing problems it is best to seek professional help.
Problems can be inherited, develop from illness or be caused from the pressures of ill-fitting shoes or boots. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are trained in all aspects of care for the feet and lower limbs, and play a critical role in keeping people on their feet, healthy, active and productive.
The California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) notes that it is extremely important for those with diabetes, arthritis and circulatory problems to see a podiatrist at least once a year.
http://www.podiatrists.org/enewsroom/pressreleases/pressreleases2005/foothealthawarness2005/
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Understanding Autism
Control and Prevention say autism may affect as many as 1 in every 150 children, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined.
Classified as a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with early childhood onset, the symptoms produce significant impairments in social, communicative, cognitive and behavioral functioning. According to Steven Moldin, Ph.D., research professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, these symptoms typically last through a person¹s lifetime. Many scientists believe that both genes and environmental factors play a role in the development of autism, but to date no specific genetic or environmental risk factor has been clearly established as a cause of the condition, Moldin says.
There are no cures for autism, but pharmacological, behavioral and psychosocial interventions can change the course of the disorder, he says. Some of the current treatment options include occupational therapy, dietary restrictions, sensory integration therapy and speech therapy, with most interventions featuring highly structured educational programs aimed at improving communication and social skills.
³The earlier the intervention, the greater chance of a positive effect on long-term outcome, Moldin says.
According to Moldin, some early warning signs to look for include:
-- losing or not having speech around 18 months
-- little to no eye contact
-- loss or lack of gestures
-- repetitive speech or actions
-- unusual reactions to the way things look, feel, smell, taste or sound
Proper and comprehensive assessment is essential,² says Moldin. ³It is very important to recognize the early signs of autism and seek early intervention services.
If you suspect autism in your child, he suggests that you seek out autism experts autism and related developmental disorders medical centers, hospitals or programs across the country.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/103006.php
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