The new school year is just around the corner, and many of my patients are excited about going back to in-person classes, making new friends and meeting teachers. The thought of normality casts light on the challenging year we had in 2020. Parents had to work from home, and kids had to discover virtual learning for several months. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over; we all need to remain…, Prevention, prevention, prevention:, We cannot give up on preventive measures. We, as parents, need to be good examples and remind our kids to follow these recommended guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): wash hands often, maintain social distancing and wear a mask. For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/protect-children.html ., We are what we eat:, It's important not to skip meals, especially breakfast. Healthy food options like fruits and vegetables are one of the best sources of vitamins and minerals. Keep your kids hydrated by having them drink plenty of water throughout the day and keeping soft drinks to a minimum. Finally, cooking meals together can be a great way to eat healthy and build relationships with your children. A great…, Sleep time is non-negotiable:, Night routine is essential for active learning, mental health and preventing infections. Children need to sleep at least 8-10 hours every night, and teenagers often need more. Be sure they have been active during the day, and avoid lengthy screen exposure as it is a common cause of sleep disturbance. Please consider a no phone, TV or tablet in their bedroom rule. If your kid goes to sleep late…, Emotional support:, Everybody has been emotionally affected during this pandemic. Be sure your child is learning ways to cope with stress and anxiety. Sometimes counseling sessions are necessary, and your pediatrician could help guide you to the right resources. Visit the following website for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/parental-resource-kit/index.html., Vaccinations can save your child’s life:, Be sure your child’s vaccines are up to date. If your kid is 12 years old and older, the COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended. Sports physicals and well-child visits are important opportunities to evaluate your child's growth and development. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines in children over 12 years of age, visit: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-…, , I want to leave this thought as my final message: Education is priceless. We cannot take it for granted. This past year, teachers have been fantastic, creating innovative ways to provide the best education to our kids. My gratitude to each one of them! Let us all visualize a great school year for our kids, full of opportunities to thrive., Click here to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Tess Barton, a pediatric specialist with UT Health Physicians, discusses the new mask guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics for this 2021-2022 academic year., Watch and read the story on KSAT.
In a sample of more than 400 older adults in Argentina who had recovered from COVID-19, more than 60% displayed some degree of cognitive impairment, a researcher from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. It is not known whether the impairment, such as forgetfulness and language difficulty, will be…, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, . The individuals in the study are over 60 years of age and have been assessed once so far. They will be followed for the next three to five years, Dr. de Erausquin said. The study is being conducted by Dr. de Erausquin and collaborators from the Alzheimer’s Association-led global Cognitive Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (CNS SC2) consortium. Problems with thinking were seen even in…, Olfactory dysfunction and chronic cognitive impairment following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a sample of older adults from the Andes mountains of Argentina., Hernan P. Zamponi, MSc, Leonardo Juarez-Aguaysol, MD, Gabriela Kukoc, LCP, Maria Eugenia Dominguez, LCP, Belén Pini, LCP, Eduardo G Padilla, MD, Maria Calvó, MD, Silvia Beatriz Molina-Rangeon, MD, Gonzalo Guerrero, MD, Mariana Figueredo-Aguiar, LEd, Emiliano Fumagalli, PhD, Agustín Yécora, MD, Traolach S Brugha, MD,, Sudha Seshadri, MD,, Heather M. Snyder, PhD, , Gabriel A. de Erausquin, MD, PhD,, Gabriela Gonzalez-Aleman, LCP, PhD, and the Alzheimer’s Association CNS SARS-CoV-2 Consortium Presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, July 29, 2021 https://alz.confex.com/alz/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/57897
Chief Medical Officer for UT Health Physicians, Dr. Robert Leverence, talks about hospitals across the city with COVID-positive patients, including children, approaching critical capacity and the importance of getting vaccinated as school begins., Watch and read the full story on KENS5
Brain scans show similarities between people who've recovered from COVID-19 and those with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at UT Health San Antonio are finding that some of the same genes that increase a person's risk for getting severe COVID-19 also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's., Read the full story on NPR
Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also referred to as UT Health San Antonio, The University of Washington at Seattle and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York have launched NIRVANA, a National Institutes of Health-funded pilot clinical study to treat acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 patients. UT Health San Antonio is the…, Vitamin found in diet, The study team is evaluating the effects of a natural treatment called nicotinamide riboside. A form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is present in small amounts in milk. The randomized study will test the safety of nicotinamide riboside in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and if a biomarker relevant to acute kidney injury will be improved with the study treatment. “The potential benefit for…, How does the treatment work?, Evidence suggests that nicotinamide riboside and other forms of vitamin B3 can stimulate mitochondrial function in patients with AKI, Dr. Sharma said. Mitochondria are the powerhouses in cells. Our bodies need these power plants to generate energy and operate properly because all organs, especially the brain, heart, and kidney, require ATP, which is the body’s energy currency. For longer than a…, COVID-19 and acute kidney injury, The risk of AKI is greatly increased in COVID-19 patients, according to dozens of studies conducted in China, Europe and the U.S. “When patients develop AKI with COVID, their mortality is much higher,” Dr. Sharma said. The mortality varies in this patient population and has been reported to be in the range of 35% with rates as high as 75% to 90% in patients requiring kidney replacement therapy. (…
Dr. Katherine Bartush, orthopaedic sports medicine specialist, talks about staying safe in the summer heat, the symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, who is most at risk and how to avoid heat-related injuries., Watch the interview on Fox San Antonio
As the Tokyo 2021 Olympics begin, Dr. Jason Bowling, infectious disease specialist, talks about the delta variant in relation to the U.S. Olympic gymnast who tested positive, why vaccinated people can still get COVID-19 and general advice for people who are scared to get vaccinated., Watch the video on Kens 5
Dr. Jason Bowling, infectious disease specialist, spoke to Spectrum News 1 Texas viewers about how the COVID-19 vaccine can help people still struggling months after contracting it. It’s a condition called Long COVID, where people diagnosed with COVID-19 have long-term symptoms., Read the full story from Spectrum News
Dr. Tess Barton, pediatric specialist, and Dr. Jason Bowling, infectious disease specialist, are quoted in this San Antonio Report story that explains what you should know about the delta variant and how you can slow the spread and protect yourself., Read the full story,