Hope everyone had a good week.  Allergies have been so bad. Maybe the rain will help decrease down that green/yellow pollen that is floating around. 

 

I will be available for a Sunday clinic.  I assume around noon.  Call the office number for the best way to get ahold of me. 

 

This time a year I begin to do alot of sports and school physicals.  I think that it is important to have those physicals done by me rather than the "group" sports physicals that are offered by the local school districts.  Would you (as parents) want a group physical or would you rather have your own doc be the one to do a physical or yearly check up on yourself?  I would rather have my own doc. (which is Dr Michael Hubner-and if you need a good internist-he is a good choice)

 

I think that group sport physicals minimize the importance of the pediatric/adolescent patient well check  up.    I discuss so much more than what transpires in group physicals.  Which leads me into the next topic 

 

Unfortunately we  occasionally hear about the high school athlete who has a sudden death during a sportiing event.   Most, if not all, of these incidents could have been prevented if the athlete had had (is it ok to write "had had") an echo and electrocardiogram some time once they reached adolescence.  The usual suspect of sudden death is either an undiagnosed structural abnormality of the heart, or an abnormal electrical rhythm of the heart.    These tests are not necessarily recommended unless an athlete has a history of passing out during a sport or is there a family history of a sudden cardiac or unexplained death in a family member.

 

When my kids were born, I told my wife that once my kids reached 11/12 years old, we were going to "study" their heart.  Meaning an ECHO and ECG.  I think that it is the right thing to do.  Therefore I am recommending that all adolescent athletes that play competitive sports obtain a cardiac evaluation.  This is not a consenus agreement with the American Academy of Pediatrics nor do I know any other pediatricians that recommend this, but, what is the downside?  I ran this by one of the Pediatric Cardiologist in Tulsa and he said their group would be willing to facilitate these tests. 

 

Hope you all have a nice weekend and I do not have to see you.   Saw True Grit last weekend, strong movie.  Bridges is awesome. "The Dude" is now the Rooster 

 

Dr Raley