Back to School Health Tips for Parents

It’s almost that time of the year again - leading to a collective sigh of relief from parents everywhere.

For children across the country, school will soon be back in session. This is a difficult time as schedules become filled and new pressures are put on children and parents. Making sure your child gets off to a good start is crucial and can influence your child’s confidence, attitude and performance in the classroom.

Here are a few suggestions to help get your child on the right track to having a successful school year:

• Get your forms ready: There may be certain vaccinations your child needs prior to the start of the new school year. Most fall sports programs require completed medical forms prior to student participation.
• Don't hit snooze: Help your child get used to the back-to-school routine by beginning the transition to earlier-wake up times and bedtimes during the end of summer. This will ensure your child is ready for when the school year starts. Proper rest is vital for a healthy and productive school year.
• Feed their bodies and brains: Good nutrition influences your child’s school performance. Studies show that children who eat healthy, balanced breakfasts and lunches do better in school.
• Pick the right size pack: Ensure your child is carrying a backpack which is the right weight and reduces stress on their back.
• Wash hands: Before your child goes back to school, make sure he or she understands the health importance of proper hand washing, especially before eating and after using the restroom.
• Exercise: Fitness will help your child sleep easier and allow them to better handle physical and emotional challenges - from running to catch a bus to studying for a test.

Has your child received a back-to-school physical
and all required vaccinations?
Schedule an appointment today.

Penn Medicine In the Community: Upcoming Events

This fall, Penn Medicine will host or take part in numerous events throughout the tri-state area. These events provide our physicians and staff an opportunity to be closer to the people we serve and allow us to be more than simply a health care provider; it allows us to be part of the community.

Click here for a downloadable calendar

September 8-9: Kennett Square Mushroom Festival
September 19: Street Fare
September 21: Penn Medicine Valley Forge Fall Festival
September 21: Yardley Harvest Day
September 28-29: Woodbury Fall Arts Fest

Penn Primary Care Practices at Kennett Square Mushroom Festival: Sept. 7-8

Voted one of the top festivals in Pennsylvania, the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival returns for the 28th consecutive year. Mushroom lovers from across the country come to celebrate with a two-day festival of food and family fungi, which includes a parade, competitions, music and over 200 vendors.

Visitors will also be able to:

• Taste soups and other mushroom dishes
• Meet celebrity chefs
• Tour local farms

While enjoying the festivities, be sure to visit one of the several participating Penn Medicine practices. Meet Penn physicians and staff and learn how each practice can help you and your family members stay healthy.

Practices in attendance:

Penn Family Medicine Kennett: With an emphasis on disease prevention and promoting healthy lifestyles, this practice provides care for the whole family, from childhood on.

Penn Internal Medicine East Marshall Street: Comprised of six board-certified internal medicine physicians and a physician’s assistant, this practice offers the personal attention patients deserve. Several physicians are bilingual and the practice offers same day appointments.

Penn Family Medicine West Chester: This team of board-certified physicians offers quality care and excellent service for men, women and children.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8
Time: Saturday: 10:00 am-7 pm Sunday: 10:00 am-5 pm
Location: 114 W. State Street, Kennett Square, Pa. 19348

Penn Medicine Chestnut Hill at Mt. Airy Street Fare: Sept. 19

For the third year in a row, Mt. Airy will host a fantastic food-centric evening street festival. Come out to Street Fare and sample tasty food and beverages from gourmet food trucks and local restaurants along historic Germantown Avenue.

Visitors will also be able to:

• Check out over 40 food trucks and restaurants
• Sip on craft-brewed beer, wine and cocktails
• Meet local crafters and enjoy live entertainment

While enjoying these great street eats, stop by our Penn Medicine Chestnut Hill table to chat with physicians and staff about all of the health care services Penn has to offer in Chestnut Hill.

Penn Medicine Chestnut Hill has been a part of the community for over 20 years and the physicians and staff pride themselves on developing long-term, meaningful relationships with their patients.

Date: Thursday, September 19
Time: 6:00-10:30 pm
Location: 7000-7200 Germantown Ave Mt. Airy, Pa. 19119

Penn Medicine Valley Forge Fall Festival on Sept. 21

Join physicians and staff of Penn Medicine Valley Forge for the 3rd annual Fall Festival. The day will be filled with fun for all ages as kids can enjoy a bounce house, games, music, face painting and more! Numerous local vendors, including the Tredyffrin Township Police Department, the Valley Forge Running Company and others, will also be there with giveaways and activities.

Visitors will also be able to:

• Take a tour of the state-of-the art facility
• Check their blood pressure
• Enjoy tasty food and drinks
• Talk with physicians from a number of departments

Are you a runner? An early riser?
Begin the day by joining Penn Medicine Valley Forge in support of the TE/Conestoga Football Scholarship 5K Run/2K Walk. The event starts at 9:00 am. Sign up at: www.runtheday.com search: Conestoga

Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Penn Medicine Valley Forge 1001 Chesterbrook Boulevard Berwyn, Pa. 19312

About Penn Medicine Valley Forge

Penn Medicine Valley Forge is a state-of-the art facility providing expert primary and specialty health care, plus a full range of services. Penn Medicine Valley Forge has primary care and specialty care physicians; as well as an on-site laboratory, radiology services and, now, the Abramson Cancer Center at Valley Forge.

Penn Medicine Bucks County at Yardley Harvest Day: Sept. 21

Check out one-of-a-kind craft artwork and handmade pieces offered by over 100 exhibitors, delicious food vendors, entertainment and community-sponsored booths at the 44th annual Yardley Harvest Day Festival.

While enjoying the festivities, visit the Penn Medicine Bucks County physicians and staff table to learn about the multiple health care services offered at one convenient site, located in Yardley, Pa. Patients and their families can see their primary care physician, consult with a specialist, get lab work and radiology services all in one place.

Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Location: Downtown Yardley Pa. 19067

Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights at Woodbury Fall Arts Fest: Sept. 28-29

Stop by and visit Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights physicians and staff at the 2nd annual Woodbury Fall Arts Fest! The FAF is a weekend-long, free celebration of the arts, consisting of over 300 artists, artisans & craftsmen. There will be a special Starlight Concert on Saturday evening, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Visitors will also be able to:

• Check out five stages of music, including solo acoustic artist Meghan Knight and Philadelphia-based alternative folk band The Hundred Acre Woods
• Enjoy gourmet foods, a wine and cheese experience and a chili cook-off
• Participate in craft beer tasting
• Enjoy interactive fun for kids and adults 

At the Penn Medicine tent, check your blood pressure and learn more about Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights. As a multi-specialty location, this site includes primary care and specialty care physicians, on-site laboratory services, and physical therapy.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 28-29
Time: Saturday: 11:00 am-6:00 pm | Starlight Concert 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Location: Woodbury, NJ 08096

Penn Medicine Radnor Run: Join the Fight for Clean Air on Oct. 27

Join Penn Medicine and the rest of the Philadelphia Main Line community in support of the 36th Annual Penn Medicine Radnor Run. This family fun event supports the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania and their effort to help improve the lives of the Pennsylvanians currently living with chronic lung diseases. Money raised will help to provide important programs, including asthma camp, clean air in schools and smoking prevention/cessation for teens and adults.

Runners, companies, schools, families, friends and community partners will take on this challenging five mile, USA Track and Field sanctioned and certified course. The top female runner will win Jody’s Cup, the award in memory of Radnor Township resident Jody Lynn Sack and the top male runner will receive The Penn Medicine Award.

Awards will also be given to the second- and third-place frontrunners of the five-mile run in each age group and the first 100 children.

Not a runner? There will still be plenty to participate in. Some of the festivities include face painting, balloon sculptures, music, harvest-themed fun and many goodies. Penn Medicine Radnor will also be on hand at the start/finish area to provide educational information and giveaways to keep you healthy.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Sunday, October 27, 2013
Where: Radnor Township building, 301 Iven Avenue, Wayne Pa.
Register for the Penn Medicine Radnor Run today.

Why the Fight for Clean Air is so important:

It is estimated that close to 342,000 Americans die of lung disease each year, responsible for one in seven deaths. The American Lung Association and partner organizations are fighting to protect the Clean Air Act, a law that protects public health by reducing harmful pollution and gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the ability to clean up the air.

Air pollution has very serious health effects including shortness of breath, asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, lung disease and even premature death. The Clean Air Act helps to reduce the pollutants that lead to these types of health issues.

Learn more about the Fight for Clean Air.

Learn more about this event or register online.

Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill is Now Open

Penn Medicine has opened a new cardiology practice in Chestnut Hill. The new practice offers access to advanced care for heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and cardiac surgical services at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn cardiovascular specialists offer the Chestnut Hill community the highest level of heart and vascular care with access to the expertise, research and resources available only from Penn. The full range of cardiovascular services available at the practice include:

• Echocardiography (ECHO)
• Electrocardiograms (ECG/EKG)
• Exercise stress testing
• Exercise stress echocardiography
• Holter and cardiac event monitoring
• Pacemaker and implantable defibrillator services
• Preventive cardiology and lipid disorders diagnosis and treatment (irregular cholesterol levels)
• Treatment of heart rhythm disorders
• Women's heart health programs
• Office consultations

Cardiologists seeing patients at Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill:

• Theodhor Diamanti, MD
• Brandy Patterson, MD
• Carl R. Reynolds, MD
• Raymond Rodriguez, MD, FACC, FACP

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 800-789-PENN.

• Learn more about Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill
• Learn about the care providers at Penn Cardiology Chestnut Hill

First Bilateral Hand Transplant in Region Performed at Penn Medicine

The first bilateral hand transplant in the Greater Philadelphia region was recently performed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of the Penn Transplant Institute, the extensive 11 1/2-hour procedure was performed by Penn’s Hand Transplant Program in close partnership with the Gift of Life Donor Program.

Penn’s Hand Transplant Program is a joint venture of the Penn Transplant Institute, Penn Orthopaedics and Penn Plastic Surgery. The multidisciplinary team is dedicated to working together to restore independence to amputees who have lost their arms and legs

• Read more about the region's first bilateral hand transplant
• Learn more about Penn’s Hand Transplant Program
• Learn about the Gift of Life Donor Program

Summertime Injuries – Penn is Here to Help

Summer is finally here and with it comes trips to the pool, going to the beach, outdoor runs, tending to our gardens, and firing up the grill. Kids are out of school and begging you to play basketball, soccer or other outdoor activities.

For some, these extra activities are a kind of seasonal re-commitment to fitness, weight loss and relaxation. But for a few, some of these activities can lead to unexpected injuries and accidents, some even needing serious medical attention. And, as the motto goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Which means, knowing where to go if anything does happen is a good idea to have in mind.

In case of injury, whether a sprained ankle, broken foot or any other musculoskeletal injury, the orthopaedic team at Penn Medicine is ready to help. In most cases, you can even see a physician on the same day.
Highly skilled and highly specialized, Penn Orthopaedic physicians treat each joint condition, spinal disorder or sports injury with a personalized approach. With ten orthopaedic subspecialties, physicians at Penn Orthopaedics not only treat more complex conditions — they are uniquely qualified to treat each condition individually.

Penn Orthopaedics offer same-day appointments for:

• Foot and ankle
• General orthopaedics
• Hand and wrist
• Joint replacement
• Neuro orthopaedics
• Orthopaedic oncology
• Shoulder and elbow
• Spine
• Sports medicine
• Trauma and fracture care

“You call with any musculoskeletal need and we’ll see you that day,” says L. Scott Levin, MD, chair of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Please be safe and enjoy this summer. If you need us, we’re a call or a click away.

Atrial Fibrillation: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention Methods

Does your heart ever feel like it’s racing or doing somersaults in your chest?

Approximately 2.5 million Americans experience atrial fibrillation (AFib) each year. This common heart disorder occurs when electrical signals in the heart become irregular, causing the heart to beat out of rhythm. The normal range for a heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute while the heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.

Causes and Symptoms
Causes of atrial fibrillation vary and range from existing heart problems to infections to chronic conditions like obesity and sleep apnea.  Common risk factors and conditions that may cause AFib are:

• Congenital heart defects (defects you are born with)
• Heart attack, or a damaged heart muscle from a past heart attack
• Heart valve diseases
• Heart failure or coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure
• Hyperthyroidism 
• Substances or drugs, including alcohol, caffeine, or stimulants 

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation vary and many people are unaware they have AFib until it’s diagnosed during a regular physical exam. While the most common symptom is a fast or irregular heartbeat, others who have AFib may also experience lightheadedness, shortness of breath, lack of energy and chest pain. The biggest danger of atrial fibrillation is to leave it untreated.  If you experience symptoms, call your physician immediately.

How You Can Defend Against AFib
Since atrial fibrillation is often caused by conditions that cause damage or place extra strain on the heart, making simple lifestyle changes to improve your heart health may help protect against AFib.

• Don't smoke. Avoid alcohol and stimulants.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and olive oil. 
• Stay active. Get regular exercise on most days of the week. Your physician can suggest a safe level of exercise for you. 
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. 
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar in your target range.
• Find ways to cope with stress.

For additional information on atrial fibrillation and treatment options, download Penn’s Guide to AFib.

Why Choose Penn Medicine for AFib Care
Penn Medicine’s Cardiac Arrhythmia Program is one of the largest in the country and performs more than six times the national standard of AFib ablations procedures. So patients like Dominic, a retired Philadelphia police officer, receive the most advanced care from an experienced team of physicians, nurses and support staff.