Newspaper Page Text
CDC seeks earlier detection of autism, developmental disorders
By DANIEL YEE
Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA (AP) -
Tiffany Fleming knew
something was wrong with
her son, Connor, when he
was just six months old. He
would let loose bloodcur
dling screams with enough
emotion and intensity that
he would turn purple and
shake.
Connor’s screaming con
tinued. The Duluth, Ga.,
boy earned the title of one
of the “Top 10" screamers
at his doctor’s office. Other
strange behavior developed
— he would repeatedly open
and close drawers and it
seemed like he didn't know
how to play.
At age two, Connor was
diagnosed with a form of
autism. After therapy and a
special diet, “he started
Weight
eight loss
that lasts
(NAPSI) — Being five
pounds ovcrwei%llt ma)fix' just
as dangerous as being obese. A
new book says being even a lit
de overweight is not a good
idea. As weight goes out of the
healthy range, risk increases for
heart disease, high blood pres
sure, stroke, diabetes, several
forms of cancer, metabolic syn
drome, gallbladder disease and
gout.
Yet according to cardiologast
and author James M. Rippe,
M.D., many Amencans frvc
under the impression that
being just a couple of pounds
over their ideal weight is harm
less, and certainly better than
being obese. He calls that belief
one of the 10 diet myths he
works to debunk in his new
book Weight Los That Lasts:
Break Through the 10 Big Diet
Myths (Wiley; $22.95).
“Finding a comfortable
weight within the healthy
range for your height is best,”
advises Dr. Rippe. “Even a rela
uvely small amount of wecifihl
loss can improve your health
significantly.
Dr. Rippe suggests that
adults do a weight and health
check to find out whether they
are overweight, and that if
weight loss is needed, they
should aim to lose five percent
to 10 percent of their ininal
we('?ght @choosinf a method
an ;!)proadr that leads to sus
tain wnflr)tolms
A new book says even five
pounds overweight can be
unhealthy.
The art of snacking sensibly
(NAPSI) - Looking and
feeling your best d%)esn't
have to mean giving up the
foods you enjoy. Experts say
inclucfi'ng favorite snacks in
a balanced diet will help
you create a plan you can
stick with for a longer peri
od of time.
“As a registered dietitian, |
can tell you that if you con
tinue to enjoy your favorite
foods, BU'f' in moderation,
you're less likely to be
deprived and more likely to
stick with your plan and
achieve your goals,” says
registered dietitian Janet
Helm.
Today’s cookie and crack
er aisle offers cl(‘;oiccs kS:Ch
as pre-portioned packages
thatp canpfielp you sr‘r)ack agnd
still stay on track with sen
sible eating habits. And, of
course, to achieve success,
regular physical activity is a
must!
Here are a few tips to help
you achieve your food and
fitness goals.
1. Tfiu a “power” lunch
during the workweek. Leave
the building and walk for
30 minutes around the area.
You'll not only get some
great exercise, you%l also get
to clear your mind-now
that’s a “power” lunch!
learning how to be a kid,”
Fleming said.
“It was like his brain was
able to be rewired,” said
Fleming about her son, now
6. “If he hadnt been diag
nosed and we hadn't started
with early intervention, |
can't imagine what hed be
like today — so much hap
pens early.”
Because halt of all chil
dren with autism or similar
developmental disorders
aren't diagnosed until age
four to six, the Centers f%r
Disease Control and Pre
vention on Monday, Feb.
20 planned to launch a
campaign to make doctors
and parents aware of the
need of early diagnosis.
Children can Z)e diagnosed
as early as 18 months old.
The CDC is working to
fill doctors’ offices around
the country with posters
Top five ways to fight allergies
By DR. BILL DOLEN
Efi. MCG Health System
Every spring, millions of
Americans continue to live
with seasonal allergy symp
toms, despite the fact that
relief is available for the drip
py nose, sneezing, conges
tion, and itchy, watery eyes
caused by allergies to tree
pollens and other sources.
The following are the top
five steps allergy sufferers
should take in order to help
relieve the onset of symp
toms:
l. Anticipate. Seasonal
allergies happen at pre
dictaét;lc umes. If you first
start having trouble every
year during the second week
ot March, then be sure you
have current refills and start
taking your medications the
first week of March. Season
al allergies are easier to treat
when caught early, before
they get severe.
2. Seck relief. Many people
try to tough out the allergy
season, leaving them miser
able, decreasing their work
productivity and affecting
their general quality of life.
Don't just put up with the
symptoms. From medica
tions to immunotherapy,
relief is available.
3. Limit side effects. Some
medications may cause side
effects such as sleepiness. If
these side effects are intrud
ing in your daily life, know
that you don't have to put up
with them. If you're Eaving
trouble, tell your doctor,
2. Think of snacks as a
way to provide nourish
ment and help sustain ener
y throughout the day.
Ecmembcr though, all calo
ries count, so make sure to
count the calories from all
snacks as part of your daily
food intake.
3. Hydrate, hydrate,
hydrate. Drink plenty of
water every day, even in
cold wcatKer. Remember
that recommended water
intake is about eight 8-
ounce glasses of water per
day.
4. Practice portion con
trol. Think of and eat
your “fun snacks” like
cookies and crackers in
100-150 calorie portions.
To make it easier, look for
pre-portioned snacks like
100 Calorie Packs from
Nabisco which contain
100 calories and three
grams or less of fat per
package (depending on
variety). They come in
popular varieties like
Oreo Thin Crisps and the
newest additions, Ritz
Snack Mix and Honey
Maid Cinnamon Thin
Crisps.
5. Knowledge is power!
Read the nutrition facts
AUGUSTA FOCUS
and checklists that describe
developmental milestones
for each age. The agency
also creates for parents a
height chart witfi similar
information.
The health agency places
autism in a category called
autism spectrum disorders.
People with such disorders
may have problems with
social, emotional and com
munication skills. The dis
orders can begin in early
childhood and fast through
out lifc.
For example, the CDC’s
information for parents says
a 2-year-old should be able
to point to an object when
named, use two- to four
word phrases and follow
simple instructions. A 3-
year-old can imitate adults
and playmates, play make
believe with dofis and use
pronouns or plural words
who can find other treat
ments that have fewer side
eftects.
4. Don't just self-treat. If
you're self-treating with over
the-counter medications but
not getting enough relief, see
your doctor. \X"itfi:r the prop
er medication, seasonal aller
gies can be kept under con
trol.
5. Seck professional advice.
Ask your doctor whether you
should consult with a board
certified, trained allergist
immunologist. An specialist
can help you find out exactly
what you are allergic to
(which will help predict
when you might Eavc trou
ble), and can work with your
regular doctor to find a per
sonalized medication strate
ry. Allergy shots are still the
f;csl hope for long-term
relief of seasonal allergjes.
Currently there is no cure
for seasonal allergies, but by
working with a medical pro
fessional to find the night
medications and by staying
on a medication regimen, it
is possible to help prevent
the misery of the allergy sea
son.
MCG Health System is
composed of three separate
organizations - MCG
Health, Inc. and the clinical
services offered by the facul
ty employees of the Medical
College of Georgia and the
members of the Physicians
Practice Group. The physi
cians of MCG Hea]tE Sys
tem are community physi
/ L
&
£ 4 5
W 4
e E J#"
Food and Fitness: balancing
the equation for a healthful
Ifestyle.
panel on your foods so
I;ou can make sensible,
alanced choices through
out the day.
6. Remember, frozen
fruits and vegetables are
just as nutritious as fresh
so stock up the freezer
and incorporate them into
a variety OF different recipes.
7. Dining out? Choose
menu items listed as baked,
broiled, grilled, poached or
roasted.
You can find other great
healthy living tips on pouch
es of 100 Calorie Paci: and
by visiting www.loocalo
riepacks.com.
“lt’s important for fami
lies and providers — if a
child has a developmental
concern, early intervention
really can have a positive
impact,” said Catherine
Rice, a behavioral scientist
with the federal health
agency. “It doesn’t necessar
ily cure or clean up the
issue, but it can hclfg)) the
child to a higher level” of
learning and living,
About 24,000 of the four
million children born each
year eventually will be diag
nosed with autism or other
developmental disorders.
The agency estimated that
up to fialf a million Ameri
cans under age 21 have an
autism spectrum disorder,
the CDC said.
The agency says it’s a
pressing issue because more
children than ever before
fall into the category of
cians, faculty employees of
the Medical College of
Georgia, and employees of
the Physicians Practice
Group, not employees of
MCG Health Inc. MCG
Health, Inc. is a not-for
profit corporation operat
ing the MCG Medical
Center, MCG Children’s
Medical Center, the MCG
Sports Medicine Center,
MCG Ambulatory Care
Center, the Georgia Radia
ton Therapy Center and
related clinical facilities and
services. MCG Health, Inc.
was formed to support the
research and ccfirocation
mission of the Medical
College of Georgia and to
build the economic growth
of the CSRA, the state of
The region’s only accredited Stroke Program.
MCG's Stroke Program has been awarded the Certificate
of Distinction by the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
JCAHO is the largest accrediting organization, setting
the standards for healthcare nationwide. MCG is the only center in the
region and one of only five centers in Georgia to receive this accreditation.
It takes more than a hospital to be a national leader in stroke care and
prevention. It takes an academic medical center. For more information
on the Stroke Program, call 721-CARE (2273) or visit MCGHealth.org.
G
Neuroscience Center
Medical College of Georgla Health System, Augusta GA
autism or autism-related
disorders, primarily because
medical officials and the
overnment widened the
ficfinition of autism in the
early 19905.
CDC officials want to
make sure parents and doc
tors know what w 0 look for.
If parents or doctors think
there could be a develop
mental problem in a child,
they should contact a devel
opmental pediatrician, a
specialist or a local early
intervention agency, the
CDC said.
“It’'s become more clear in
the case of autism that it
really is an urgent public
health concern — before we
used to think of it as a pret
-2' low public health £sor—
er; it's much more com
mon than we previously
thought,” Rice said.
The early detection cam
Georgia and the Southeast
by providing an environ
ment for faculty employees
of the Medical Colfegc of
Georgia and the Physicians
- For health and
lifestyle news
1 read the
Aungusta Focus
paign will help educate doc
tors about when to diagnose
the condition. Doctors
know a lot about autism
but many times it’s not rec
ognized until later, said Joe
Guazzardo, spokesman for
the National Alliance for
Autism Research.
In Duluth, Connor now
attends preschool and
Fleming said her family and
doctors are happy they
“were able to stop a lot of
stuff before it manifested.”
“He’s very social, very
cute, and has lots of
friends,” she added. “His
biggest trouble is he wants
things his way ... he has
some extra anxieties but just
overall, he’s just an amaz
ing, sweet kid. He’s still a
work in progress, but aren't
we all?”
Practice Group and com
munity physicians to deliv
er the highest level of pri
mary and specialty health
care.
15A