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  • Do you think your child may have ADHD? Here are the next steps to take.

    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common medical issues affecting children, with an estimated 5 to 11% of children in the U.S. diagnosed with the disorder. Despite its prevalence (or perhaps because of it), an ADHD diagnosis for a child often brings with it feelings of stress, frustration, confusion and fear for parents. There are multitudes of conflicting opinions floating around about ADHD, and many parents find it difficult to decide which voices to listen to and how to make the right decision for their child.

  • Epilepsy patients: sleeping on your stomach may be associated with sudden death

    New research published in the Journal Neurology brings to light an association between patients with epilepsy who experience sudden unexpected death and their sleep positioning. As researchers reviewed studies pertaining to sudden unexplained death in epileptics, they determined that victims of this tragedy were much more likely to be found lying on their stomachs, especially if they were under 40 years of age.

    What does this study mean? 

    First, it’s important to know what it doesn’t mean. This study cannot and does not tell us that sleeping on your stomach will kill you, whether you suffer from epilepsy or not. When a scientific study shows an association between two things, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one thing causes the other. It means that two things are somehow associated and more work needs to be done to determine exactly what is causing the two to coexist.

  • Get to know Dr. Mark Weatherly, pediatric pulmonologist at Arnold Palmer Hospital

    The Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital cares for infants, children and young adults with chronic and acute respiratory disorders. Our practice provides comprehensive care for a wide variety of disorders associated with the lungs including, but not limited to, everything from asthma and chronic cough to restrictive, interstitial lung diseases and sleep disorders. Our interdisciplinary team consists of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory care practitioners, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, medical assistants, front office staff and medical residents. We recently interviewed Dr. Weatherly, pediatric pulmonologist, to get to know him outside of the exam room and to learn more about the Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Center.

    Where did you grow up?

    In Michigan.

    Where did you go to medical school?

    Michigan State University

    What was your first job?

    I was a camp counselor in high school.

    What are your hobbies?

    Reading, travel, medical missions volunteer

    If you could meet anyone, who could it be?

    The Pope because I think he would have a great perspective on suffering and the love of God in our lives.

    Did you always know you wanted to go into the field of medicine?

    No. I wanted to be a veterinarian but discovered an allergy to cats, so that was not a viable career!

    Why did you choose to go into pediatric pulmonology?

    I had a mentor and role model who was a pediatric pulmonologist. I loved the way he helped families of children with Cystic Fibrosis, as well as how he balanced his career and family time.

    How long have you worked at Arnold Palmer Hospital?

    I have admitted patients here for 17 years and have actually worked for the hospital for 6 years.

    What do you love most about working at the Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital?

    We have an awesome multidisciplinary team that works well together and provides excellent comprehensive care to patients.

    Has there been a specific patient or family that has impacted you as a physician?

    There have been many. Each family brings their own perspective to a chronic illness, and it is an honor (though sometimes a challenge) to work with them through the process of medical therapy for their child.

    What is one thing that most of your patients don’t know about you?

    I am crazy about dogs, and I feel a little guilty telling some patients who have pet allergies they cannot have a pet when I have one myself!

    In honor of Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, what key pieces of advice do you give to families whose child has been diagnosed with asthma?

    Take your preventive medication as prescribed, and do not let anyone tell you not to be physically active because of your asthma. Go for it!

    Click here to learn more about the Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital

  • Newer tests may help you better understand your child’s food allergy

    A severe food allergy is often a complex and confusing diagnosis. It’s also one of the most common medical issues, especially in children. Many parents of food-allergic kids remain somewhat perplexed about their child’s condition long after diagnosis. Will my child outgrow this allergy? What exactly is okay to feed to my child and what isn’t? Is this really a serious issue or can we relax a little? These questions often linger unanswered, and that’s not a good thing.

  • Turn your baby’s tummy time into play time!

    Written by Sabina Sheikh, MD

  • Laundry detergent pods may be convenient, but can pose serious poisoning risk to children

    The convenience of being able to throw a laundry pod into the washer without having to measure out liquid or powder detergent is a time saver, for sure. However, for families with small children, the benefits do not outweigh the potential risks. Because toddlers love to explore their surroundings, and oftentimes find themselves into things they shouldn’t be, laundry pods pose a serious poisoning risk to these curious adventurists. The bright colors of the laundry pods can be easily mistaken for juice or candy, and the soft, pliable texture make it fun for kids to squeeze or play with. What they don’t realize is that this “fun toy” could be detrimental to their health, and it could land them in the emergency room in a matter of seconds.

  • Preschoolers aren’t getting enough active play time

    A new study tells us that preschool-aged children aren’t getting enough active play time at their childcare facility.

  • The EASE app gives parents a glimpse inside the operating room

    When a child is in surgery, one of the most stressful times a parent may experience is in the waiting room. The minutes that go by oftentimes feel like hours, as a child’s loved ones anxiously wait to hear from the medical team inside the operating room. The time spent waiting for the next update can be excruciating, despite every effort by the medical team to continually communicate with the family on the condition of their child and the status of the surgery.

    A solution to help better comfort families while they wait: The EASE app

    Dr. Kevin de la Roza and Dr. Hamish Munro, anesthesiologists at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, saw a need to provide a better experience to families while they wait during their child’s surgery. Dr. de la Roza says, “No matter how much we tried to reassure parents before surgery, we always got the same look of fear in their eyes as we took their child into the OR. We thought there’s got to be a better way to communicate with them through the process.”

  • From separation anxiety to a separation celebration

    My daughter started kindergarten this week. When I shared the obligatory first-day-of-school photos, many friends and family members commented that they couldn’t believe how big she’d gotten.

  • Your go-to guide for packing a healthy school lunch

    Packing a school lunch every day can be stressful and often time-consuming. Many children and teens prefer to munch on sweet and salty foods such as chips, candy, fast-food burgers and greasy pizza instead of fresh fruits and vegetables. Choosing a more healthful lunch most likely will improve a child’s school performance, attention span, and also health. Having a lunch-packing guide can help make the process go more smoothly.