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Attention Members
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The College board of directors will gather to discuss College business in Atlanta, Georgia, on
October 14 and 15. Members are always welcome to join in this meeting. If you are interested to participate in some or all of the meeting, please contact Lisa in the office at
admin@acpeds.org or call 352-376-1877 to get further details and have a spot held for you
.
- Be sure to log into the Members' section on the www.acpeds.org website and check out the Bulletin Board in the Member Hub, to see the newest job postings.
*You'll need to know your username and password to log onto the members' section. If you don't know your log-on information, please call the office for help. You may also request to be sent an email with information about these various positions. Contact the ACPeds office at
admin@acpeds.org.
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Start Saving at Our Online Store Now
ACPeds has contracted with a manufacturer to create on demand logo merchandise, high in quality without sacrificing affordability. These items are great for personal use as well as for gifts. Shop around on the ACPeds website at
ACPeds.org/health-professionals
/the-college-
store
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September at a Glance
The month of September is recognized as
Articles regarding the following are featured in our newsletter below
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The Bad Science Battering Ram
An expository article on the prevalence of pseudoscience, poor scientifc literature and fradulent research in which ideology is passed off as science to the public.
Written by ACPeds member Dr. Andre Van Mol, the article is available online by clicking
here
.
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**Special Report on Sexuality and Gender**
Published in The New Atlantis, a new report written by Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer and Dr. Paul R. McHugh examines
research from the biological, psychological, and social sciences and shows that some of the most frequently heard claims about sexuality and gender are not supported by scientific evidence. Focusing on the higher rates of mental health problems among LGBT populations, the report
questions the scientific basis of trends in the treatment of children who do not identify with their biological sex, suggesting that more effort is called for to provide these people with the understanding, care, and support they need to lead healthy, flourishing lives.
Please click
here
to read the article.
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Obesity Rates Skyrocket in Past 30 Years
According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than
doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Due to growing concern about teen use of unhealthy weight loss methods, new
guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics on preventing obesity and eating disorders tell pediatricians and parents to
encourage a healthy, balanced lifestyle instead of focusing on weight.
I
n addition, US doctors have begun
prescribing fruits and vegetables to children
at risk of obesity and diabetes in an effort to combat lack of affordability, the single largest barrier that prevents people from being able to make healthier food choices.
Expert recommendations include regular family meal times, appropriate bed times for kids,
especially younger children
, and staying hydrated, as
research
suggests poor hydration may contribute to obesity.
The following resources are designed to encourage families to lead healthier lifestyles
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While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.
- Angela Schwindt, an American author
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Concussions In Adolescents and Children: Imformation for Parents
The number of Americans diagnosed with concussions is growing, most significantly in adolescents according to a recent
study and yet another
study puts the figure close to 2 million U.S. children and teens a year, a figure that is likely an underestimate according to researchers.
Though concussion symptoms resolve in most patients within weeks, some patients' symptoms last for months, including
depression, headache, dizziness and fogginess. A blow to the head resulting in concussion can stretch and damage brain cells and create chemical changes in the brain, elevating the risk of impaired functioning as an adult and other
long-term psychosocial outcomes.
Parents should suspect a concussion after a head injury when their child is acting different in any way and when they are dazed or confused or dizzy -- even if it's short-lived.
Not every child with a bump on the head has a concussion so it's okay to wait a day to see if the symptoms disappear. However, If you do suspect a concussion, take your child to an emergency room.
If symptoms persist or worsen, if they are sleepy or vomiting, or if there is a change in their consciousness, seek immediate attention.
For information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to concussions in children for physicians as well as parents, please visit the CDC webpage Heads Up to Brain Injury Awareness.
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Expert Recommendations for Ways to Combat OTC-resistant Super Lice
In recent news, the majority of lice found present in the United States are now resistant to over-the-counter products. These "super lice" are not actually worse than average lice, just more difficult to eliminate, though experts insist that there's no need to be worried about a lice uprising just yet as recently developed prescription medications like Natroba and Ulesfia do appear to still work tremendously well against them.
Because the threat of eventual resistance is certain the more of these medications we use, researchers recommend several natural ways to treat lice infestations. Cleanliness is one of the major keys to lice elimination. Household items like pillowcases, bed sheets, and the like should be vacuumed or put in the dryer. For other items, it is advisable to place them in garbage bags for 48 hours because lice will die if away from the scalp for 1-2 days.
Olive, coconut oil, Vaseline or even mayonnaise used as a smothering agent can help and it is best to also look for non-chemical products that dissolve the waxy skeletons of lice. A lice comb with fine metal teeth is preferable. The closer together the teeth, the easier it is to remove lice and their eggs.
Parents should also emphasize the risk of sharing things like hats and scarves and even head-to-head contact as more and more teenagers are catching lice by putting their heads together for
selfies. For more information on ltreating head lice,
click here.
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**Featured Resources of the Month**
According to recent
research, marijuana is tied to persistent subclinical psychotic symptoms in teens and the effect of prior weekly marijuana use persists even after adolescents have stopped using for 1 year.
The adolescent's brain is not fully mature until approximately 23-25 years of age thus risky behaviors like marijuana use have the potential to impact the development and functioning of the brain, not just during the adolescent years, but for a lifetime.
The following ACPeds resources offer helpful information for parents and professionals on the negative effects of marijuana use in adolescence and are available on our website.
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Risk Factors for Adolescent Suicide
In response to suicide replacing murder as the second leading cause of death for 15-19 year-olds, an AAP
report recommends that pediatricians routinely
ask patients if they think about self-harm, screen for other risk factors, and refer at-risk patients for mental health evaluation and possible treatment.
There are many risk factors for attempting suicide among adolescents including previous suicide attempt, family history of suicide,
sexual activity, elective abortion, drug and alcohol use, male sex,
sexual identity issues, mood disorders, stressful relationship with parents, problems in school or not attending school or working, and
personal history of physical or sexual abuse.
Two adolescent suicide risk factors on the rise are bullying, including cyberbullying, and imitating suicidal behavior or thinking about suicide after news reports of a suicide or suicide attempt, especially in another teen.
Depression
, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, disturbed sleep, psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, impulsivity, history of aggression, and internet use exceeding 5 hours a day are also risk factors.
Adolescents who practice a religion and get along well with parents, peers, and people at school are at lower risk for suicidal thoughts, according to the AAP report.
Meditation has also been found to lower risk for suicidal thought and significantly improve attention, working memory, creativity, immune function, emotional regulation, self-control, cognitive and school performance and healthy habits while reducing stress. Visit
SpeakForThem.org for more information on sucide prevention in kids.
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Special Interest News, Articles and Studies
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If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.
- Pearl S. Buck, an American writer and novelist
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Internet Pornography Contributing to Sexual Dysfunction Among Young Men
Sexual difficulties appear to be increasing sharply among young men (under 40) in recent years according to a new
report published by a team of urologists, neuroscientists and psychiatrists. Whereas sexual dysfunction rates were negligible (2-5%) in this age group 15 years ago, researchers are
now reporting rates as high as 30%. The report showed that the younger the age at which men are first exposed to internet porn, the greater their preference for it over partnered sex, the less enjoyment they report from partnered sex, and the more porn they use.
These findings suggest that pornographic content can create problems even in healthy viewers,
especially those who start using it during key developmental periods of puberty and adolescence.
Youth pornography consumption is associated with many negative outcomes: increased rates of depression, anxiety, violent behavior,
early sexual debut and sexual promiscuity, higher rates of teen pregnancy and a distorted view of relationships.
ACPeds urges healthcare professionals to communicate the risks of pornography use to patients and their families and to offer resources both to protect children from viewing pornography and to treat individuals suffering from its negative effects.
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Index Examines Social, Economic Factors Related to Marriage and the Family
Published by the
Heritage Foundation, a think tank devoted to the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense,
the 2016 Index of Culture and Opportunity evaluates social and economic factors related to culture, poverty and dependence, and general opportunity in America. Policymakers can find data needed to address issues involving marriage, family and civil society and individuals can use this index to inform own efforts to shape the future of our culture, whether by raising the next generation, devoting efforts to overcoming neighborhood challenges, or participating in the public policy process. Please click
here for more information on the index.
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Thank you to Dr. Patty June for edits to the newsletter.
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*
Patient Handout Reminder
*
The Member Hub, the members' section of the website, includes patient handouts shared by other ACPeds practitioners, some of which may be helpful to your own patients and practice. Contact the office to get the username and password for access to the
Member Hub.
In addition, ACPeds offers a variety of patient handouts available for download free of charge in the
Health Professionals section of the ACPeds website. If
you have a display unit for handouts in your office, these statements are also available in a Title on Top (version). Contact the office to have a Title on Top version sent to you. Both are available on the "
Handouts
" page.
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The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Welcomes Submissions
The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). Dr. Jane Orient, Executive Director of the AAPS, is pleased to consider original papers, commentaries and book reviews by members of the College. For manuscript requirements and author instructions, visit
http://jpands.org/.
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Stay Connected
If you like what you see in the newsletter, please visit our social media pages. ACPeds likes to encourage its members to get to know one another and to stay connected. Like ACPeds on Facebook and follow on Twitter to interact with members and to stay up to date with the College's latest news. Every week the College publishes a new blog on its website and a link to the blog is posted on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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