Kentucky ranks #1 in the nation with the highest:

• Overall adult COPD prevalence rate in the country

• Cigarette use among youth ages 12 to 17

• Smoking attributable adult mortality

COPD is underdiagnosed and undertreated, especially for women who have a bigger problem than men getting a proper diagnosis. Women are also 37 percent more likely to have COPD and account for more than half of COPD deaths in America, said Rodney Folz, MD, with UofL Physicians – Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine.

If you have COPD, there is an increased chance of having cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, lung cancer, depression, metabolic syndrome and skeletal muscle dysfunction.

The rise of COPD is tied to the success of tobacco industry marketing campaigns. Smoking is the main risk factor for COPD, but other risk factors include exposure to dust, chemicals, second-hand smoke and air pollution.

The best way to screen for COPD is to perform a simple office-based measurement of pulmonary function testing called “spirometry.”

Smoking cessation, daily exercise, staying up-to-date on vaccinations, following a healthy heart diet and one that maintains healthy bones and using bronchodilators for symptom relief may help people with COPD.

For more information, to make an appointment or refer a patient to UofL Physicians – Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, call 502-813-6500.

Editor’s Note: UofL Today reprints To Your Health articles from the “UofL Physicians-Insider” newsletter. Read the entire issue (opens as a PDF document).

It occurs in one in 730 live births in the United States, and approximately 400,000 U.S. families have a child with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is caused by having an extra copy of chromosome 21, and typically involves intellectual impairment, congenital heart disease, characteristic physical features and altered growth, said Erica Labar, a pediatrician with UofL Physicians who specializes in this condition.

The risk of a child having Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother; and diagnosis can be made as early as the first trimester of pregnancy.

There can be a wide range of symptoms among people with Down syndrome. Early intervention and health care improvements have had a tremendous impact on the quality of life for patients and their families.

All states are required to provide early intervention services to qualifying children. This includes physical therapy for motor development, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy to develop and master skills for independence. Parents are also taught how to interact with their child, meet their needs and enhance their development.

Down syndrome babies also will typically achieve the same milestones as other children, just on their own timetable due to specific challenges associated with development, Labar said.

For more information on Down syndrome, call Labar at the Sam Swope Kosair Charities Centre at 502-852-7170, or call your family health care provider. Other excellent resources include and the .

Editor’s Note: UofL Today reprints To Your Health articles from the “UofL Physicians-Insider” newsletter. Read the entire issue (opens as a PDF document) for more information.

1. You can catch poison ivy from someone else.

MYTH. You get poison ivy from the oil of the plant. If the oil gets onto tools or gloves or even a pet, it is possible to pick it up. But it is not transmitted from person to person.

2. Eating watermelon seeds can make you sick.

MYTH. The idea that they can sprout within the body and otherwise cause a problem is completely a myth.

3. Tanning one time in a tanning bed can protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays.

MYTH. Tanning does not shield your skin against the damaging rays of the sun or protect you from developing skin cancer.

4. Going into and out of an air-conditioned environment can cause you to catch a cold.

MYTH. Cold air indoors in the summer does not cause colds. Viruses cause colds.

5. You should wait 30 minutes after you eat before going swimming.

TIP: BUT the time to wait depends on how much you are exerting yourself to swim. The digestive process requires blood flow to the stomach, and if you distract your stomach by exercising and leading the blood flow to the muscles instead of the stomach, you might get some stomach cramps.

Editor’s Note: UofL Today reprints To Your Health articles from the “UofL Physicians-Insider” newsletter. Read the entire Issue (opens as a PDF document).

Fortunately, summer also brings an abundance of tasty and nutritious foods, including berries, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers and protein-filled grilled fish and burgers. And by simply choosing the right foods to add to your daily diet, you can help prevent or alleviate the following common hot-weather woes:

DRY OR DAMAGED SKIN

You sweat more in the summer, so skin is less supple, plus, saltwater and chlorine have a drying effect. Sunburns and bug bites are also saboteurs of healthy skin.

What to eat: Help heal weathered skin with foods like raspberries, blueberries and strawberries, which are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. Protein, in the form of lean meats, beans, nuts and seeds is also key. Keep dryness at bay by drinking lots of water. Since calcium can be lost through sweating, it’s a good idea to replace it by eating low-fat dairy products like skim milk, yogurt and cottage cheese.

PARCHED HAIR

Overexposure to sun, saltwater and chlorine can cause hair to become dry, brittle and dull.

What to eat: Toss some burgers or shrimp kabobs on the grill, or make a three-bean salad or other protein-rich meal because hair consists of protein fibers called keratin. Eating foods rich in vitamin B5 (yogurt and avocados), vitamin B8 (liver and cooked eggs), folic acid (fortified cereals and beans), calcium (milk and yogurt) and zinc (meat and fish) can reduce hair loss and replace dull hair with shiny hair. These nutrients also play a role in maintaining healthy skin.

MUSCLE CRAMPS

Muscle cramps result from overexertion and dehydration. When you don’t have enough fluid in your system, it leads to an electrolyte imbalance that causes your muscles to cramp. Sodium, calcium and potassium are the main electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise.

What to eat: Replenish electrolytes with a sports drink that contains them and drink water. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, raisins, potatoes and spinach.

EYE DAMAGE

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 55. This occurs when the central part of the retina (macula) becomes damaged.

What to eat: The retina is actually made up of vitamin A. Thus, foods rich in this vitamin—along with beta-carotene, zinc and Vitamins C and E—are beneficial to the eyes. Good sources are dark-green vegetables like kale, chard and mustard greens, plus bell peppers, carrots and blueberries. Eat eggs for their high dose of lutein, an important antioxidant that also helps prevent eye damage.

Source: WebMD

Editor’s Note: UofL Today reprints To Your Health articles from the “UofL Physicians-Insider” newsletter. Read the entire Issue (opens as a PDF document).

They worry their children might forget what they learned during the school year as they fall out of the academic routine during the summer.

That lack of structure and social engagement can sometimes lead to increased behavioral problems, low self-esteem, fear, anger and sadness. Children tend to get into more “mischief” over the summer, and as a parent, you may find yourself frustrated and unsure about how best to manage these issues.

Our experts at the Bingham Clinic have some suggestions for keeping your children mentally engaged, happy and healthy over the summer:

Encourage your child to play outside, and limit TV viewing to less than an hour per day. Several studies have indicated that physically active children have better mental health than inactive children, with higher self-esteem and levels of alertness, a greater ability to learn and better moods overall.

Make weekly library visits. Check out a new book each week and engage your child in a fun activity related to what he or she has read. For example, read “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and then draw big paw prints on the sidewalk with chalk.

Set a bedtime. Children feel most comfortable with some structure. A clear bedtime ensures proper rest and reduces emotional bedtime battles.

Play mental games and exercises with your child, such as rhyming, letter sounds and color naming. Get a big map and ask questions about geography, play spelling games in the car and talk about science as you walk to the park.

Structure the days with activities, and plan the schedule ahead of time. Children do better when they know what to expect and are kept active. Engaging children in planned and safe recreational activities will reduce boredom, depression, impulsivity and accidents.