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Health Help: 5 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Mammogram

October 6, 2017 By: admincomment

Ok girls, we know, getting a mammogram is not exactly something we look forward to doing every year, but it is a MUST! I know you are busy, but you have to take care of yourself! You know when you are riding in an airplane and they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others–same thing here. Take care of yourself first, so you can be there for your family!

October is breast cancer awareness month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness about this awful disease that affects so many in our area and across the world. Talking about breast health can be confusing, thankfully, our sponsors at Mercy are here to help us through the entire process. First thing first, start by getting your annual mammogram.

Why is an annual mammogram imperative? What can you expect? Dr. John Bumberry, general surgeon, focusing on breast surgery and Dr. Jack Gregston, radiologist, have compiled a list of 5 things you should know before getting a mammogram.

Screening mammograms have been proven to be the most effective exam for identifying breast cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage.

Mercy Breast Center follows the guidelines from The American College of Radiology, the Society of Breast Imaging and other national organizations that recommend women age 40 and over get an annual screening mammogram. Women younger than 40 who have a significant family history of breast cancer should discuss starting screenings at an earlier age with their physician.

The radiation from mammograms is very minimal and should not deter a woman from getting routine mammograms. Women receive more radiation from walking around on our planet than they get from their mammograms. The chance of getting cancer from the radiation emitted from a mammogram is less than the chance of getting struck by lightning. The benefit of diagnosing breast cancer early outweighs the risk of the minimum amount of radiation necessary for the exam.

Getting a screening mammogram is one of the first steps in identifying breast cancer. Women whose results are abnormal will be called back for a different kind of mammogram called a diagnostic mammogram. The exam may appear to be the same as a screening but a diagnostic exam, directed by a radiologist on site, includes different views and techniques.

Mammography technologists are special people called to a special ministry at Mercy Breast Center. They make this most private exam as comfortable an experience as possible. The Breast Center radiologists are dedicated mammographers who dedicate their practice to breast imaging which includes reading screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms,breast ultrasound and breast MRIs. They perform minimally invasive biopsy exams and diagnose over 300 breast cancers annually.

Note from Kelli and Mindi: Thank you to Drs. Bumberry and Gregston for taking the time to visit with us about what to expect when getting a mammogram. Also, thank you to the Mercy Breast Care Team, including radiologists, surgeons and oncologists, who are dedicated to providing compassionate care and exceptional service! The team is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

If you have questions or concerns, don’t wait. Call the experts at Mercy Breast Center today at 417.820.2500.

SouthwestMissouriMoms.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor if you have questions about a medical condition. Don’t delay getting professional medical advice because of something you read online. This website doesn’t necessarily recommend or endorse any specific tests, doctors, products, procedures or opinions discussed on the site.

10 things you need to know about lice

August 24, 2017 By: admin

Yikes. It’s lice season again, mamas. And yes, we know your skin is already crawling because ours is, too. We don’t want to even think about it but most of us have either been through it or know a fellow mama who has had to do battle with these nasty little buggers.

When it comes to lice, knowledge is power. So here’s a list of 10 facts you may not know about lice. We gathered the info from a recent New York Times article that discusses the most effective ways to combat the problem.

1. There is no guaranteed way to prevent a case of lice (although some school teachers we know swear by regular use of tea tree oil used in your shampoo or conditioner.)

2. Daily bathing/showering doesn’t prevent lice because they can survive submerged in water for 20 minutes.

3. The length of a child’s hair or how often it is washed or brushed has little effect on the risk of getting lice.

4. Itching from lice may not begin until four to six weeks AFTER the initial infestation begins, which is why experts recommend that parents do weekly head checks.

5. Lice can ONLY crawl, not jump or hop. Pets do NOT play a role in the spread of lice.

6. Adult lice die within one day of being off of a human’s head. This suggests that, after you treat a case of lice and wash all bedding, you could leave home for a day or two if you want to be extra sure that all lice are dead. They can’t survive more than a day without contact with the human head.

7. The American Academy of Pediatrics said you should NOT treat lice unless there is a clear diagnosis of living lice. (That means you shouldn’t douse your kid’s hair with a pesticide just because you heard that a kid in her class has lice.)

8. Over-the-counter treatment options include products like Nix. There are now prescription lice medications which you can ask your doctor about. Those prescription options include Sklice and Natroba.

9. Some mothers prefer a non-chemical way of treating lice by having all the nits and eggs thoroughly combed out of the hair with a fine-toothed comb.

10. The time and money spent on finding and getting rid of lice costs consumers and schools about $1 billion a year.

For the full New York Times article, click HERE. To read the American Academy of Pediatrics most recent recommendations, click HERE.

Healthy Quick Tip: Firework Safety

June 30, 2017 By: admin

Like it or not–firework season is here! Whether you are planning a small gathering or attending a professional show, we will all be watching wide eyed making sure our kiddos are safe!

Thank goodness for our sponsors at Mercy Kids! They have a few quick tips to keep in mind when it comes to firework safety.

Dr. Kody Finstad

Note from Kelli and Mindi: Thank you Dr. Kody for talking to us honestly about firework safety! It can be a scary time of year for moms! We appreciate you looking out for what is best for our babies–no matter how old our “babies” may be! =)

What is the Number One tip for Firework Safety?

Let me begin with full disclosure by admitting that I love fireworks. And I don’t think it is just because of my Y-chromosome that these seemingly controlled fires and explosions give me a thrill every summer. Thanks to the Chinese who invented them, fireworks have become as American as apple pie, helping us celebrate our nation’s independence or even the joyous end of a baseball game or a long day at an amusement park. But even though fireworks are common in our society, we can’t forget they demand a healthy degree of respect.

Every year thousands of people (both adults and children) wind up in the emergency department with firework-related injuries, ranging from minor burns to serious eye injuries – the majority of these coming from sparklers. Most of us get nervous about our children getting too close to the oven when we are baking a cake at 350°F, but many people don’t think twice about handing their child a sparkler that burns at 1200°F and spits flaming embers at their face, hands, arms and clothes.

If we are being completely honest with ourselves, there is a big difference between the million-dollar pyrotechnics display arranged by experts and the “buy one get 10 free” fireworks that litter every street corner and grocery store parking lot. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics helped found the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, encouraging all families to skip the at-home fireworks and instead celebrate with glow sticks or attend a professional firework display. So, sorry to be the killjoy of the party, but the number one way to be safe with fireworks is to not do them yourself.

If my child suffers from a mild burn, what is the best home remedy?

Cool water is the only home remedy you need to remember.

Let’s say the unthinkable does happen, and the neighbor’s firework goes rogue and burns your child. The first step is to cool the skin to stop the burning. Hold the burn under cool (NOT cold) running water for no more than five minutes (or cover with a cool wet rag for no more than 30 minutes). If the skin gets too wet (like when a kid looks like a prune in the bathtub) then it becomes fragile and can be damaged more. Once the skin is cooled, cover the burn with a dry, non-stick gauze. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) are best to help with pain.

Do NOT apply anything else. Don’t listen to friends who claim to have a magic cure for burns using butter, powders or some mixture of an essential oil as all of these things can cause further tissue damage and irritation making the burn worse. Over-the-counter burn sprays can provide relief, but there are some people who can have serious life-threatening reactions to the sprays that contain a numbing medicine called benzocaine, so it is best to be safe and keep it simple.

The next question is whether your child then needs to see a doctor. A good rule of thumb is this: if the burn blisters, or if the burn is on the face, hands, feet or genitals it is NOT a minor burn and needs to be evaluated by a doctor.

Stay safe this season, and for more information check out the AAPs parent education website www.healthychildren.org

Dr. Kody is part of the Mercy Clinic Pediatrics–Nixa team located at 940 W. Mt. Vernon Street, Suite 220, Nixa. To schedule an appointment, call the clinic at 417.724.5437 or click here to visit their website.

Looking for other summer Healthy Quick Tips? Click here to read Sunscreen 101 or here for info on what to do when your child is stung.

Healthy Quick Tip: Sunscreen 101

June 15, 2017 By: admin

quick tip mercy kids Please tell us we are not alone. We constantly have a million questions running through our mind at all times. Welcome to motherhood (no matter how old your kids may be!). We know we can’t pick up the phone and call the doctor every time we have a simple question, but moms ~~want to~~ need to know these things!

Dr. Waters, Mercy Pediatrics

We are super excited to launch our summer installment of “Healthy Quick Tips” sponsored by Mercy Kids.

Our sponsors at Mercy will answer those questions that are bugging all of us, but we hate to pick up the phone and call a doctor. Topic at hand today: Sunscreen 101!

A big thank you to Dr. Laura E. Waters, Mercy Clinic Pediatric Physician for taking the time to help us out!

We know wearing sunscreen is important all year around, but especially in the summer months. The rows and rows of sunscreen options at the drugstore are daunting! What should I look for when selecting a sunscreen?

When selecting a sunscreen you should look for two important things: SPF and the words “broad spectrum.” Broad spectrum implies that it covers for both UVA and UVB rays. In SPF I usually recommend at least SPF 30, while some pediatricians will tell you that you’re protected between SPF 15-50. Unfortunately there’s not enough research yet to say that anything above 50 protects your child anymore than say a SPF 30. The key is in the application and reapplication…

How often should we reapply?

Ideally you want to apply sunscreen BEFORE you get to the lake, the beach, go outside, etc. You want the sunscreen to have enough time to soak in a little to provide better protection- so try to apply 15-30 minutes prior to outdoor activities. I always tell my families that you need to reapply every 30 minutes if your child is wet (playing in the sprinkler, the pool or even just sweating a lot with sports) or every 2 hours if dry. It won’t matter if you’ve got broad spectrum SPF 100 if you’re not reapplying it!

Does sunscreen expire?

Sunscreen, like medicine, has active ingredients that can break down over time so we put expirations on them to be on the safe side. We all know from experience that some things are still okay after the recommended expiration, and I, personally, have used sunscreen well after the expiration date. My rule of thumb? If it’s all you’ve got, use it, but ideally you should stick within the recommended expiration date because it’s not guaranteed to be effective after that date. But, I’m hoping that you’re using sunscreen regularly enough on your child that you go through at least one bottle every summer!

Dr. Waters is part of the Mercy Clinic Pediatrics–HealthTracks team located at 4331 S. Fremont Ave. in Springfield. To schedule an appointment, call the clinic at 417.820.5000 or click here to visit their website.

Health Help: Victim of seasonal allergies? Here’s what to do.

April 12, 2017 By: admin

Just when you thought flu season was behind us–welcome allergy season! Blah.

The coughing (Seriously. The coughing. All. Night. Long!), the runny nose and itchy watery eyes. Momma is tired and so our are kiddos! If you’re like us, you are constantly wondering–is my child suffering from seasonal allergies or is something else going on that I am missing? Should I take them in to see a doctor–or am I just being overprotective?

Dr. Waters, Mercy Pediatrics

Thankfully, we we are not alone in this annual battle with seasonal allergies. Our mom-lovin’ sponsors at Mercy Kids took the time to share a few tips with us.

Note from Kelli and Mindi: Thank you Dr. Laura E. Waters for helping us out! Between wiping noses and running to the pharmacy for medicine, dealing with seasonal allergies is not our idea of fun! We appreciation you taking the time to help us navigate this dreaded result of spring!

What are the symptoms for seasonal allergies? Are allergy symptoms the same for children and adults?

Yes. Allergy symptoms in children are the same symptoms that we deal with as adults. Symptoms include:

sneezing
itchy watery eyes
itchy throat
runny nose (should be clear. If colored, there is a viral infection or bacterial infection present.)

We are never sure if seasonal allergies warrant a trip to see our doctor. Do you recommend seeing a professional to help deal with allergy symptoms?

It is always a good idea to see your physician if you have symptoms that last longer than 7-10 days, you begin running a fever, or your runny nose becomes colored.

Spring allergies are something our family deals with year-after-year! Should we consider seeing a specialist and going through allergy testing?

Many patients do find answers from undergoing allergy testing. If you are interested in allergy testing, your first step is to visit with your doctor. Often times, allergy testing can be done in the doctor’s office, however, if we feel it is a more severe case, we can refer you to an allergist.

If your allergies are severe or there is a need for testing I would proceed with testing, but often I don’t because if I can treat your symptoms, well, there’s no need to put kids through the testing.

Allergy testing is done by either skin or blood testing. Your doctor will determine which method will be the best fit for you or your child and provide you with the best outcome.

Find more information about season-allergies and how your local Mercy provider can help by clicking here.