for your
health
JUNE 2014 ;e Costco Connection 45
HEALTHY PARENTING
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VASCULITIS IS A family of rare and complex diseases that have in common inflammation of blood vessels of any size, anywhere in the body. When such inflammation occurs, it causes changes in the walls
of the blood vessels—weakening and narrowing—that can progress to the point of
blockage, with the tissues and organs supplied by affected blood vessels not getting
enough blood. It can cause organ damage
and failure, even leading to death, according to the Vasculitis Foundation.
Sometimes an autoimmune disorder,
such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or
scleroderma, triggers vasculitis. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune
system makes antibodies (proteins)
that attack and damage the body’s own
tissues or cells. One might have an autoimmune disorder for years before developing vasculitis.
Vasculitis also may be linked to certain
blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. It can affect people of all ages.
Common systemic symptoms of vasculitis,
affecting patients in a general or overall
; Fever
; Loss of appetite
; Weight loss
; Fatigue (tiredness)
; General aches and pains
; Nerve problems such as numbness
Specific organs and body systems can
be affected by vasculitis, including the skin,
large joints (neck, shoulders, hips), heart,
lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract,
mouth, sinuses, ears, nose, throat, eyes,
extremities, brain and nervous system—
each presenting a wide range of symptoms.
Though some forms of vasculitis
improve on their own, most require
treatment. The length of treatment varies,
with some people using medications for
extended periods of time. Some cases may
go into remission, but can come back, or
flare, at any time. Sometimes vasculitis is
chronic and never goes into remission.
Long-term treatment with medicines often
can manage the signs and symptoms of
chronic vasculitis.
For more information about the many
types of vasculitis, visit these resources:
; Vasculitis Foundation,
www.vasculitisfoundation.org
; National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute, www.nhlbi.nih.gov (search
“vasculitis”)—David Wight
Vasculitis
awareness
By Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson
MANY PARENTS SUFFER under the pressure they feel to be perfect parents. Parents
are inundated with advice the
minute they have children, and
sometimes it can feel like the
neighbors, family and friends
are always sharing ideas for
doing it better.
I’m a mom and a pediatrician, but I’m also an Internet
enthusiast. I’m one of those
doctors who really does believe
the Internet can help you make
great decisions to preserve or
improve your health. That said,
you have to be smart about where you go
online and how to use the advice you find.
Here are some tips on being a savvy
parent online.
Record your bread-crumb trail. When
we’re online we often click and click and click
away while surfing the Web and then have
no idea where we’ve been or who instructed
us. Write down links or sources you’ve used
to make decisions about your child’s health
and bring in your “bread-crumb trail” when
seeing the doctor or nurse.
Use social networks. When you join a
social network (e.g., Facebook or Twitter),
follow physicians, psychologists and leading health reporters for up-to-date information online. They’ll lead you to others you
can come to trust through what they share
and who they “talk” to online.
Understand there is no online health
care (yet). Don’t ever let “Dr. Google” or
“Surgeon Bing” be the final word. In actual-
ity, most Americans don’t. Although Pew
Research Center data shows that one-third
of us (or more) go online to self-diagnose,
most people confirm the diagnosis in per-
son with a doctor or nurse. Don’t expect to
receive personalized physician health advice
online without an established relationship
and electronic medical records.
Until trusted and safe channels
to converse outside the exam
room are created, the best way
to determine final care decisions
for your child and your family
will likely be in person.
Don’t confuse experience
for expertise. Experts are
online, but they can sometimes
be difficult to find. The best
medical advice is backed by
reputable hospitals, academic
societies or physician groups. Don’t confuse the story one person or one family
may tell online with the incredible data of
thousands that scientific research represents. Expect online experts to provide
links and sources for the data they use to
back claims and the research they use to
maintain their advice and rationale.
Don’t expect perfection. Remember,
when it comes to parenting advice, perfection is an illusion. Our job as parents is to
govern our decisions with love, do the best
we can and, whenever possible, do these
five things: Use car seats properly, get children their vaccines on time, go outside
every day, fill half of your plate at every
meal with fruit and veggies, and prioritize
sleep by keeping consistent bedtimes and
getting TVs out of the bedroom. C
Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson ( www.seattle
mamadoc.com) is the author of Mama Doc
Medicine (AAP, 2014); a practicing pediatrician at The Everett Clinic in Everett,
Washington; and executive director of digital health at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Using the
Internet for
parenting
advice
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