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Ask a Doc: Dr. Gaurav Kumar talks sun safety for children
Ask a Doc: Dr. Gaurav Kumar talks sun safety for children

CBS News

time23-05-2025

  • Health
  • CBS News

Ask a Doc: Dr. Gaurav Kumar talks sun safety for children

Ask a Doc: Dr. Gaurav Kumar talks sun safety for children Ask a Doc: Dr. Gaurav Kumar talks sun safety for children Ask a Doc: Dr. Gaurav Kumar talks sun safety for children Sponsored and provided by LifeBridge Health Dr. Gaurav Kumar is a pediatrician who specializes in asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity. In this ASK A DOC, Dr. Kumar shares warnings and tips about children's sun safety. The ASK A DOC series is part of WJZ's partnership with LifeBridge Health. See more from the series HERE.

Enjoy the outdoors: preparing for spring allergies
Enjoy the outdoors: preparing for spring allergies

CBS News

time16-04-2025

  • Health
  • CBS News

Enjoy the outdoors: preparing for spring allergies

Sponsored and provided by LifeBridge Health Spring is just around the corner and for many, its arrival signifies an end to hibernation-like habits formed in winter. From physical exercise such as walks, runs or bike rides to social occasions like picnics and cookouts, the warm weather presents a renewed opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. However, the season's change also brings about the return of something far from enjoyable: spring allergies. While a mere inconvenience for some, spring allergies present a serious deterrent to enjoying the outdoors for many others. For those with strong seasonal allergies, much of springtime's joy is overshadowed by persistent, uncomfortable symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, itchy throat, sneezing and congestion. With smart habits and the right resources, spring need not be spent in a haze of allergic misery. Some may be surprised to learn that trees are the primary culprit for spring allergies. In the Baltimore area, common trees such as maple, oak, ash and birch begin to cause problems for those with allergies as early as late-February, and continue to shed pollen into April and May. Another primary contributor to spring allergies is grass. While grass releases less pollen than trees, the pollen it produces tends to be more allergenic. Grass pollens typically spread beginning in late April, continuing through early-to-mid June and sometimes later if there is a cooler, wetter start to the summer. Spring allergies can feel insurmountable, but the first line of defense is controlling the circumstances when and where you can. Taking account of how you sleep, for example, can be the first step in finding relief. As the season transitions from winter to spring and spring to summer, many people like to sleep with the window open, as it is no longer cold enough to turn on the heat, but not yet hot enough to use air conditioning. While cracking the window before bed can be tempting, it allows pollen to enter your room, exposing your bedding, clothes and body to allergens. "The best treatment for allergy is avoidance," says Jonathan Matz, MD , an allergist with the Sinai Division of Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Matz recommends closing the windows and instead using your air conditioner's fan function, which will cycle fresh air in from the outside while filtering out the pollen it carries. Other than avoidance, the best option for those suffering from seasonal allergies is over-the-counter medications . Non-sedating antihistamines such as Claritin, Allegra or Zyrtec and their respective generic counterparts will keep symptoms at bay, allowing you to enjoy beautiful spring days outside. Be proactive by making sure you're stocked up on these medications in advance, so that allergies are never an excuse to avoid outdoor activity. According to Dr. Matz, nasal steroid sprays like Flonase and Nasacort, which are also over-the-counter and have generic equivalents, are even more effective than the non-sedative antihistamines. Whether your preference is for popping a quick allergy pill or using a few sprays of nasal steroids in each nostril, the principle remains the same - seasonal allergy sufferers should always be well-stocked with medication in advance. Those whose allergies are unmanageable with over-the-counter medications alone may need to discuss other options with their doctor, such as prescription-grade antihistamine nasal sprays and decongestants and immunotherapy, which involves the use of allergy shots to increase patients' immunity over time. But on the whole, over-the-counter options are the most effective and convenient for the majority of people. Allergies are an unfortunate aspect of springtime for many people, but the best defense is preparedness. This spring, try keeping windows closed when you sleep so that you can start the day fresh and symptom-free. And before winter's chill has even fully left the air, make sure to stock up on your non-drowsy antihistamine of choice so that you're ready for the arrival of allergy season. With such convenient solutions readily available, no one needs to be excluded from the outdoor activities that make springtime special. If your allergy symptoms aren't well-managed with over-the-counter medication, make an appointment with an allergist today so that you don't miss out on springtime fun.

Are certain food dyes harmful to our children?
Are certain food dyes harmful to our children?

CBS News

time04-03-2025

  • Health
  • CBS News

Are certain food dyes harmful to our children?

Most parents would do anything in their power to keep their children safe and healthy, but do we know enough about the food we're feeding them? After the FDA announced a ban on Red Dye 3, it got us wondering about other dyes. Study on food dyes In our Question Everything segment, we asked, "Are certain dyes harmful to our children?" In the past year, California became the first state to ban six dyes from school lunches in public schools. This is over concerns that the chemicals have been linked to health and behavioral issues in children. Those dyes California honed in on were Red Dye 40, Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Yellow 5 and 6. Then in January, the FDA announced a ban on Red Dye 3 from being added to foods after studies found that the dye caused cancer in lab rats. These different dyes can be found in some popular foods. including certain candies, certain cereal, certain chips and some ice cream. "There has been enough data to suggest that there is an association between consumption of certain food dyes like Red Dye 40 and ADHD and mental health concerns," said Dr. Rishi Gautam, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with LifeBridge Health. "For children though, the effects of these can be significant because we need to remember the children's brains are moving targets, they are evolving, they are growing and the impact of things and development can have long-term effects," Dr. Gautam said. Gautam says the research in this field is still "upcoming" but he's on board with the recent bans, limiting consumption, especially for children already dealing with some behavioral struggles. "The recommendation has been to minimize the use and if possible, completely avoid it, especially if your child is susceptible to these things," Dr. Gautam said. Eating healthier and going the all-organic route, though, is not always cost-efficient for some families. "The things that are cheapest often contain most processed foods and as a society, we've been grappling with this for a while," Dr. Gautam said. "We can learn from Europe. Europe sets a different kind of standard for foods they allow to be used for consumption." The FDA's ban on Red Dye 3 in food products does not go into effect until January of 2027, so companies still have time to comply. Leaders in some other states like Florida are now trying to ban certain food dyes in school lunches, following California. Remember, what works for one child may not work for another. Cutting dye products, cutting attitude It's no secret that being a parent is hard. Juggling school, work, activities, social media, sports, it can be a lot. Mix in what to feed your child and it can feel like you are fighting an uphill battle. "People probably think I'm checking the calories, but no, I'm checking the ingredients," said Katie Jonas, mother of three from Edgewater, Maryland, as she showed us some of the food items her children snack on. Jonas said what her youngest son eats is a vital part of her day to day. "I feel like you can't put a price on the way he feels," Jonas said. Her son is 8-year-old Laken, the youngest, is smart, energetic and a sports lover, who excels in baseball. But it didn't always come so easy. "Laken has always been a kid with big emotions," Jonas said. "He got on this baseball team and was having a hard time. He would get frustrated, throw his helmet, say awful things to his coach every time he struck out, or sometimes when things would go wrong. It wasn't like we were putting this added pressure on him, either. We just wanted him to have fun no matter how he performed." Epic meltdowns became debilitating for Laken. "When I struck out, I went off the field, quit the whole game and I just didn't play," said Laken, as he sat down with his mom and WJZ Evening News Anchor Rick Ritter. " What were the emotions that went through you when that would happen?" Ritter asked. "I was just really mad, frustrated and sad that I struck out and got out," Laken said. As a mom, Jonas tried everything for her boy. She put him in therapy, tried different reward and consequence systems and all sorts of tough love. "He finally said to me, 'Mom, I love playing baseball, but I can't control myself.' That's when I knew it was bigger than me having conversations with him" Jonas said. "I had nothing to lose" Jonas then did a deep dive into the food dyes and chemicals in products that Laken was consuming on a daily basis. "Eventually, I made the decision to cut out dyes to see if that would help," Jonas said. "I had nothing to lose. The artificial dyes, specifically and cutting them out, it was like night and day." Jonas said Laken acted differently after she cut out his artificial dyes. "The first game he had after that, he struck out and went back to bench, put his helmet in his bag and sat on the bench like it was no big deal," Jonas said. "I've never been so happy to see him strike out and to see his reaction that he didn't have a reaction." No longer "walking on eggshells" Now, when adversity hits on the field, Laken doesn't have the same meltdowns. "It doesn't feel great but I don't really get mad that much, and the next time I might get a hit and that feels really good, " Laken said. The switch has been life-changing for Laken and well worth it for the past year. "When he was consuming these dyes on a regular basis? How many meltdowns was he having a week compared to now?" Ritter asked. "I feel like it was sort of walking on eggshells all the time, so the littlest things would trigger him," Jonas said. "He's still a kid, don't get me wrong, he has his moments like any kid but he has done so well with this change, it has helped him immensely. He's so loving and kind."

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