ASK THE EXPERTS
Food allergies, whooping cough and leg pain
Food allergies
My child had a severe allergic reaction to a food. What information should I have?
You should have a written food allergy action plan that describes what should be done if certain symptoms develop, and you should have Benadryl available at all times. Your child may also be prescribed injectable epinephrine to treat a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. As a parent, you should be shown how to use injectable epinephrine. Furthermore, your child should have a bracelet indicating an allergy to the particular food. You may receive a list of foods that should be avoided. I would also recommend visiting the Web site of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (www.foodallergy.org).
Sanjay Swami, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and allergy and immunology with First Coast Allergy and Asthma.
Whooping cough
A classmate of my teenage son was just diagnosed with whooping cough. Although my child was vaccinated against this, should I still worry?
Yes! Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial illness characterized by a severe spasm of coughing. It gets its name from the "whooping sound" a person makes while trying to inhale during these spasms. Pertussis affects all ages, but is particularly hard on infants. It frequently leads to the hospitalization of young children and can often be fatal. A vaccine against pertussis has been available since the 1940s, but unfortunately the immunity wanes over the years. Cases of pertussis have risen significantly over the past few years and it is now necessary for teenagers and adults to receive a booster dose and is included in the tetanus booster shot.
It is critically important that anyone caring for young infants, especially new moms, be revaccinated against pertussis; otherwise, they put their children's lives at risk.
Randy Thornton, MD, is board-certified in pediatrics with Jacksonville Pediatrics.
Leg pain
Is leg pain a symptom of cardiovascular disease?
Patients often complain of leg pain, which may or may not be caused by cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins can sometimes cause achiness of the thigh muscles and arms, which can be a sign of a serious side effect of the drug. If this occurs, you need to let your doctor know right away. Although muscular problems oftentimes cause leg pain, some patients may develop cramping and pain of their legs, including their buttocks, when walking. This type of pain usually resolves with rest and may be an indication of a blockage in the arteries supplying the legs. This condition is called Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD. This is particularly common among cardiac patients, particularly those with diabetes or who have a history of smoking. If left unchecked, this can lead to serious problems such a foot ulcers, bone infection, amputations and death. There are noninvasive and invasive ways of diagnosing this condition and your doctor can advise you as to which medical test is right for you.
Pam Rama, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease with Jacksonville Heart Center and Baptist Health.
APPETITE FOR HEALTH
Middle Eastern cuisine
By JODI BRINDISI
Are you tired of the same old restaurants? Are you adventurous enough to try new, healthy foods or ingredients?
Part of the culinary experience is to find foods you will enjoy. One type of cuisine that will please your palate and your health is Middle Eastern cuisine, which has been growing in popularity the last several years. Cookbooks with delicious recipes fill bookstores. Restaurants are everywhere, and the First Coast has a nice variety to choose from.
Middle Eastern foods are packed with flavor, spice, seasonings and many health benefits. It is the perfect type of cuisine for vegetarians because many of the dishes are vegetable-based, such as hummus and baba ghannoush. Also, Middle Eastern cuisine relies heavily on fruit, vegetables, rice and bread, and less read meat.
What you won't find is a lot of fatty oils or butter in cooking and little fried foods or rich sauces in meals. Many of the meals, appetizers and desserts call for small amounts of olive oil, for baking and grilling or preparation.
To help get your taste buds started and to introduce you to the delicious world of Arabic foods, try to incorporate these ingredients into your foods or start sampling some of the most common and healthy Middle Eastern staples that will delight your palate and your waistline.
Chickpeas: Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are used as a main ingredient in hummus, a dip, and falafel, a lightly fried, crab-cake like sphere eaten on pita bread with a light sauce. Chickpeas are a staple on salad bars and are being added to soups. They are a good source of protein, fiber and iron.
Hummus: Made of pureed chickpeas, fresh lemon, garlic and tahini paste. It's a great appetizer eaten with pita bread or chips, veggies or just as a meal on it's own.
Falafel: Made of ground chickpeas and typically eaten with pita, lettuce, tomato and a sauce made from tahini paste.
Tahini: Ground sesame seed paste. Similar to peanut butter, it's used in popular dishes such as baba ghannoush, halvah as well as hummus. Tahini is available at many local Middle Eastern bakeries and restaurants. Baba ghannoush is mashed or pureed eggplant mixed with lemon juice and a bit of salt to taste. Halvah comes from the word "hulw," meaning sweet, and this tasty dessert is made of tahini and honey. Also, sesame seeds are a good source of copper, manganese, iron, zinc and fiber.
Eggplant: The most consumed fruit in the Middle East. It can be prepared and served in many different ways -- grilled, stewed and fried -- and can be used as a main or side dish. Eggplant is an excellent source of fiber, potassium, manganese, copper and thiamin (vitamin B1). Also, eggplants contain phytonutrients, the organic components of plants thought to promote human health.
Cumin: A popular Middle Eastern spice used in many recipes with a bitter, yet warm flavor. In the Middle Ages, brides would carry cumin seeds on their wedding days. As superstition would have it, cumin kept spouses from straying.
This spice is available in ground, dried or whole, and it's a good source of iron and manganese. It is thought to have properties to fight cancer and aid in digestion.
Jodi Brindisi, RD, LDN , is a registered pediatric dietician with Baptist Medical Center, Wolfson Children's Hospital.
Baba Ghannoush
(Eggplant dip)
2-3 large eggplants
About 1/2 cup tahini
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large clove of garlic, finely minced
Juice of 2-3 lemons
Salt to taste
Cut 1 inch slits in eggplant and bake on a cookie sheet at 500 degrees until tender. Split eggplant open and scoop the inside pulp together with the juice. Cut up and mash eggplant to a puree-like consistency. In a bowl, mix in tahini sauce (a little at a time, stirring well) and eggplant, add lemon juice, garlic and salt. Place in serving dish and pour the olive oil on top. Garnish with parsley and tomato slices.
Adapted from a family recipe of Joy Batteh-Freiha
Hummus
(Chickpea dip)
1 lb. chickpeas
1/3 cup tahini sauce
Juice of 1-2 lemons
1 large clove of garlic
Salt to taste
3 tbsp. olive oil
Boil chickpeas in juice for five minutes on medium heat. Drain. Then place chickpeas, tahini sauce, lemon juice, garlic and salt in blender and puree for 15 seconds to make an almost smooth, thick paste. Pour into a serving dish, garnish with parsley and drizzle the olive oil on top.
Makes 4 servings.
Source: Sahtein Cookbook
Tabbouleh Salad
1/2 cup fine burghul (cracked wheat)
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 bunch green onions, chopped well
4 bunches of parsley, finely chopped
1/2 bunch fresh mint chopped or 2 tbsp. dried mint
1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped (optional)
1/2 cup olive oil
Juice of three lemons
1/2 tbsp. of salt
Wash burghul, drain and place in a large bowl. Add all chopped vegetables and mix well. Add oil, lemon juice, and salt. Allow the burghul to soak and absorb the juice (about an hour). Serve over fresh green Romaine lettuce.
Makes 4 servings.
Source: Sahtein Cookbook
FOCUS ON FITNESS
How much exercise is enough
By JIM MACKIE
If you're planning on starting to work out regularly, you may have a few questions about your fitness plan. How much is enough? Am I getting anything from my workouts? Why am I not making any gains by exercising?
Experts agree on several main points: Moderate-intensity physical activity means working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat, yet still being able to carry on a conversation. It should be noted that to lose weight or maintain weight loss, 60 to 90 minutes of physical activity at least five days per week may be necessary. The 30-minute recommendation is for the average healthy adult to maintain health and reduce the risk for chronic disease.
The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend the following guidelines for healthy adults under age 65: Do one moderately intense cardio session 30 minutes a day, five days a week or do vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day, three days a week and do eight to 10 strength-training exercises, eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week.
Most of us will benefit from a regular regimen of cardiovascular and strength building exercises at least four to five days per week.
Regular exercise must be consistent and demonstrate exertion to be beneficial. Ideally, 30-40 minutes of sustained exercise is beneficial where the heart exercises at a rate of 60-80 percent of its maximum heart rate. This can be determined by a simple formula: subtract your age from 220 and find the percentage you want to work at. For example, take 220 minus your age 40 = 180 (max heart rate) X .60 = 108 beats per minute (BPM) and X .80 = 144 BPM. Therefore, work at between 108 BPM and 144 BPM for 20-40 minutes to attain a good cardiovascular workout.
It's important, too, to add a period of stretching before and after your workout. You can also perform strengthening exercises with alternating emphasis on upper body one day and lower body the next day. Active warm-up exercises will help you elevate your heart rate as well as loosen up joints and muscles. These may include high knee lifts, lunges, sidestepping and side lunges, crossovers, shoulder circles, etc. Watch the pregame routine of a college or professional team and you may see some of these exercises. Initially, It's helpful to have a professional to teach you so they are performed correctly and limit injury. A lot depends, too, on what your goals are.
Mike Ryan, head athletic trainer for the Jacksonville Jaguars, suggests several ideas for the weekend warrior:
1. Sometimes the best workout equipment is an iPod or MP3 player to fight the toughest component to an amateur athlete: boredom.
2. Progression is the best tool for long-term exercise success.
3. A workout can include anything that gets you excited, not just running, biking or swimming. Power walking, hiking, dancing, yardwork, etc., at a fast pace that increases your heart rate are great examples and a lot more fun than looking at the front of a treadmill.
For building up to a beneficial workout, do it in short bouts, mix it up, set your schedule to make it happen, you don't always need a gym, and/or make it a family affair. You can incorporate brief exercise in your everyday activities by brisk walking, taking the stairs, playing with your children, etc. Incorporate rest periods to allow the body to recover. Following a good pattern of nutritional principles to provide the energy necessary to perform a quality workout as well as help tissue recovery is wise. Always stay well hydrated with water or a good sports beverage.
Before starting any exercise program, schedule a physical examination with your physician.
How much is enough exercise? The answer is that it can be as much as you want it to be, but if you're going to make the effort, get something positive out of it.
Jim Mackie M.Ed., ATC, LAT is a certified athletic trainer in the Rehab & Sports Medicine department at St. Vincent's Medical Center.
SKIN SENSE
Sweet smelling: The art of wearing a pleasant fragrance
By NOREEN YOUNG
The word perfume is a derivative of the Latin word "parfumare," meaning through smoke. The art of making perfumes, perfumery, began in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt and was further refined by Persians and Romans. In the New Testament of the Bible, the three wise men carried gifts of frankincense and myrrh and gold to the baby Jesus.
As Valentine's Day approaches and love is in the air, there's no better time to explore a combination of fragrance and flavor.
Part of sexual attraction is the way we smell to each other. Wearing perfume on our skin or surrounding ourselves with certain fragrances can drive someone wild and attract them to us, or they can turn people off. Everyone's sense of smell is different.
Some natural and edible aphrodisiacs are: the smell of pumpkin pie, sensuous chocolate-dipped strawberries, dreamy vanilla, mom's apple pie, peaceful lavender, musk, licorice -- think Good & Plenty candy.
I discovered one of my favorites back home during a recent visit to New York City. There is a delicious restaurant featured in many movies called Serendipity 3.
Families and lovers alike happily flock to this delightful mecca for their famous frozen hot chocolate, even on a cold winter day. Served in a giant round glass bowl and two straws to share with someone. You'll have to see it to believe it!
This establishment also makes their own intoxicating perfume with a touch of chocolate called Serendipitous 3. People come from all over the world to eat there, drink this specialty and try out their perfume. I wear it daily and no, I don't smell like a Hershey bar. The chocolate scent is so light, my husband loves it. Who doesn't love chocolate?
Cocoa butter is yet another delicious surprise that melts onto your skin and moisturizes you from neck to toe. It, too, has a soft chocolate cocoa scent and is great for all skin types, especially during our cold February weather.
So, this Valentine's Day, get creative and give something different besides the usual chocolate and flowers; give the gift of fragrance. Whether you're giving a bottle to your special loved one or giving to yourself, enjoy the power of a nice scent and make it last.
Perfume 101
Decision, decisions: Bottles labeled "perfume" are the most expensive and longer-lasting. Next comes eau de cologne, followed by cologne.
Scent smelling: When buying fragrance, don't try on too many at once. Your nose will get confused. Most fine beauty shops have shakers filled with coffee beans to clear the nose palette in between smelling the scents.
Fragrance layering: Consider using a perfumed or scented body wash, slathering a body lotion and a spritz of perfume. This is called fragrance layering and makes the scent last longer on you.
How to wear: Do not apply fragrance directly from the bottle. The oil and dirt from your fingers can enter the bottle and affect the fragrance. It's best to use a spray bottle. Remember those gorgeous perfume bottles from years past? That's what you need. Another way to apply a fragrance is on a cotton ball and then on to your skin.
Where to wear: Wear scent on your pulse points and where your skin gets warmer such as the backs of knees, inside the elbows, your cleavage, wrists and neck. Also, keep in mind that fragrance travels and rises just like heat. Here's a tip I learned from a famous fashion designer: Dip a cotton ball into your favorite fragrance and place it into one of your bra cups. You will smell amazing even after you have undressed. I do this often and I never smell over the top with fragrance.
Wear it right: Just as you should not pump your mascara in and out of the tube, don't rub your wrists together with fragrance. It ruins the body of the fragrance.
Perfume and clothes: Don't spray perfume or fragrance on yourself with jewelry and clothes on. It can stain fabrics and tarnish your jewelry -- even faux pearls. Apply it before dressing.
Perfume protection: Protect your fragrances from heat or sunlight to prolong them. Also, don't store in the bathroom. Humidity will spoil them, too. Store them in the bedroom or other dark area.
No cooling: Never put fragrances in the refrigerator. Cold and hot environments affect the mixture and scents of fragrances.
Remember, fragrance is powerful. Smelling it and wearing it can bring back our childhood, memories of our prom or a person. It can make you happy, sad and more. It's been said that fragrance is the nectar of the Gods. If you don't wear any fragrance surround yourself with it through candles, spray some on a light bulb before you turn it on, or enjoy it in flavorful food.
Pearls of wisdom: Enjoy this fragrant and beautiful world.
Noreen Young is an internationally known makeup artist and motivational speaker. She has authored two books and is a beauty and lifestyle consultant. Noreen is a regular on WJXT TV-4's The Morning Show. You may reach her at noreen@noreenyoung.com or (904) 739-2560.
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