Staten Island Family Health Guide by Staten Island Parent, Fall 2021

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On the following pages you’ll find important health information and Staten Island family health care professionals.

Meet Your Local

FAMILY HEALTH CARE

Professionals

FAMILY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

DELCO DRUGS IS AN OFFICIAL COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINATION SITE Visit www.delcodrugs.com for more information

Full service pharmacy, specializing in prescription compounding, surgical supplies and professional vitamins and supplements.

We have combined traditional pharmacy methods with natural pharmacy and wellness. Our goal is to enable you to improve the quality of your life by maintaining good healthy habits. Because of our specialty areas, we are able to assist and advise you in Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, salivary hormone testing through Labrix, Autism, ADHD medications, fertility drugs, pediatric medications, pain management, geriatrics, veterinary medications and specialty vitamins.

G, N I ND LTH U PO HEA M O ’S Y C MEN R INA WO R E D T WE VE ’S AN , G N DELIVER!!

DIND ME N U PO G AN M DelcoDrugs.com CO NDIN C I 3833 Richmond Avenue | SI, NY 10312 TR POU A I D M E O 718.984.6600 N P NT C I NG EME I Z I Download our Mobile App on AL ANAG I C for ordering refills and 2-way texting SPE IN M PA Follow us on

2 November 2021 • siparent.com

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FAMILY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Breast and Women’s Care That’s Close To Home Personalized care starting with the latest in breast imaging and diagnostics all the way through to survivorship for breast cancer patients.

Dara Fedele, MD, DABR Chief of Breast Radiology Board Certified Radiologist

 3-D Mammograms  Breast Ultrasounds  Stereotactic and Ultrasound Guided Biopsies  Breast Cancer Consultations  Benign Breast Disease Evaluations

Michael Zeidman, MD

Director of Breast Surgery, Mount Sinai Brooklyn Board Certified General Surgeon Breast Fellowship Trianed

 Breast Cancer  Premature Cancer (Carcinoma in situ)  Benign Breast Lesions  Atypical Breast Lesions  BRCA and Other High-Risk Patients  Breast Pain  Oncoplastics

Lance Jung, MD

Board Certified General Surgery

 Breast Cancer  General Surgery

1161 VICTORY BOULEVARD STATEN ISLAND, NY 10301 718-818-1161 l RUMCSI.ORG/BWC

Accredited for over 8o consecutive years

November 2021 • siparent.com

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HEALTH GUIDE

The Rise in Kids Illnesses As COVID safety guidelines loosen, common colds and infections are back. Here’s what to look out for and how to boost kids’ immunity.

BY GINA LAMB-AMATO, M.D.

S

ince the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, common childhood viral infections were, until recently, seen at a much lower rate in the pediatric population. COVID-19 preventive measures like lockdowns, mask-wearing, social distancing, staying inside, and cleaning surfaces at an increased frequency, prevented common respiratory and gastrointestinal viral infections from spreading in children.

Now that children, for the most part, are not in lockdown and the above COVID-19 preventive protocols have become more universally relaxed in the U.S., pediatricians are seeing an uptick in respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases.

WHAT’S GOING AROUND?

RSV infections, which cause respiratory and pneumonia illnesses in babies younger than 1, started being diagnosed this spring and summer and continue to be a threat. Before the pandemic, RSV was mainly seen in the winter months.

During the pandemic lockdown, RSV and other viruses including influenza A, influenza B, norovirus (aka the stomach bug), and parainfluenza (a virus that causes colds, bronchitis, and other illnesses) were at much lower levels than pre-pandemic lockdown.

DECREASED IMMUNITY

Children’s social and school life were extremely restricted when schools, preschools, nursery schools, and day care programs were shut down. Normally, babies and children

4 November 2021 • siparent.com

develop their immune system by being exposed to viruses, bacteria, funguses, and other microbes. When babies and young children play in the dirt with other kids, they are exposed to microbes, which helps them develop and regulate their immune systems. They further develop immunities to different childhood diseases when they enter school or a day care setting.

The lockdown’s strict hygiene protocols, along with being kept at home, prevented children from exposure to microbes and the opportunity to develop their immune systems. Since very young children have not been exposed to non-COVID-19 infectious diseases like colds and the flu, they have not developed and increased antibodies to these illnesses.

Therefore, children do not have the strong immune system that they would have normally developed. Now that kids are returning to school, they are at risk for having decreased immunity to pediatric infectious diseases.

Another reason for decreased immunity is that many kids did not get the immunizations they needed during the pandemic lockdown.

IMMUNITY BOOSTERS

There are many ways to boost your child’s immune system, from diet choices to encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

Breast is Best: For newborns, breast-feed if you’re able.

There is colostrum in breast milk, which helps build your baby’s immunity.

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HEALTH GUIDE Wash Your Hands: Have your child wash their hands frequently, especially when they come inside your home and before meals. Have them sing “Happy Birthday,” which is about 30 seconds long and an essential duration to kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi. There are other hand-washing songs and games, such as “Baby Shark,” which is available on YouTube.

Stay on Track: Make sure to keep your child up to date with all their vaccines. When children do not get their immunizations according to schedule, they are at risk for childhood diseases.

Follow Doctor’s Orders: Please don’t insist on antibiotics if your pediatrician recommends otherwise. Unnecessary, chronic overuse of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistance and weakens the immune system’s response to infections. Then, when antibiotics really are needed, they don’t work as well.

Be Good to Your Gut: Excellent nutrition boosts immunity.

Probiotics and prebiotics are great for your child’s gut health. » Kefir, sauerkraut, yogurt, and pickles are good sources of probiotics. » Prebiotics, which are plant-based, help stimulate good bacteria to grow in the gut. Plantains, yams, and asparagus provide prebiotics.

Snack Well: Make sure your kids have a varied diet to get all the nutrients they need, such as: » Nuts, seeds, and beans are good snacks to promote immunity. They contain zinc, which is one of the most important minerals that boost kids’ immune systems, as well as vitamin E and healthy fats. They support the immune system to function optimally because they have antioxidant properties. » If your child eats meat or animal-based foods, they are good sources of zinc. » Oranges and grapefruits are an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C prevents cell damage, promotes collagen production, and lowers cortisol, which is the hormone that can cause stress. » Blueberries have natural antihistamines, which help reduce inflammation. They have many antioxidants, including flavonoids, which can minimize symptoms of stomach virus and colds. » Apple skins contain quercetin, a flavonoid that decreases inflammation. Encourage your child to eat the whole apple, including the peel.

» Pears also contain vitamin C and anti-inflammatory flavonoids in their peels.

Get Cooking: Cook with vegetables and spices, like broccoli, dark leafy greens, garlic, turmeric, ginger, and bell peppers. Leafy green vegetables have vitamins A, B6, C, D (helps with blood clotting), and K; magnesium; and calcium, which help your child’s immune system fight infection. The antioxidants help to detoxify a child’s system from pollution, chemicals, infectious diseases, and high levels of sugar.

Supplement if Needed: It is better for kids to boost their immunity through eating the right foods rather than taking supplements. However, some children are picky eaters and the only way to get vitamins and probiotics into them is with supplements. » Keep in mind that supplements are not regulated by the government the way medications are regulated. When you buy vitamins or minerals, these products have not been evaluated for FDA approval. Some supplements contain ingredients and quantities of ingredients that aren’t mentioned. With more and more fortified foods like breakfast cereals, granola bars, orange juice, and even fortified water, your child’s vitamin intake might be excessive with supplements, and can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients. If your child is taking medication for an illness, supplements can interact and have an adverse effect on their immune system. » Supplements will never replace proper nutrition from food. Get creative! If kids don’t consume leafy greens, for example, make zucchini muffins or smoothies! » One supplement to give kids is vitamin D since kids cannot get enough of it from food. The natural way to get vitamin D is through sun exposure, but that is difficult because children often use sunscreen when outdoors.

Rest: Sleep is when a child’s body rests, regenerates, and heals. Sleep deprivation is associated with decreased immunity.

Move: Exercise builds resilience in children, thereby making them able to fight infectious diseases. Get outside with your kids!

Keep Calm: Finally, it is important to reduce stress and anxiety in children to boost their immunity. This can be done through mindfulness activities, yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. Helping children decrease stress is one of the best immune boosters.

Gina Lamb-Amato, M.D., is a pediatrician who has worked in conjunction with Mount Sinai’s pediatric team. She has a master’s degree in child development and child psychology and helps perform consultations and evaluations for children ages newborn to 12. She also runs parent-child playgroups, where play, art, baby massage, and other techniques are used to help children develop optimally. She has training and expertise in COVID-19 and offers consultations for parents to help their children cope with the stress of the pandemic.

Nvember 2021 • siparent.com

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FAMILY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Dr. Salvatore Indelicato DMD, PC

A long time resident of Staten Island, Dr. Salvatore Indelicato has been providing personal, gentle, quality orthodontic care to the Staten Island community for over 25 years. He received his dental degree, with highest honors, from the University of Florida and completed his orthodontic specialty training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Our state-of-the-art practice provides digital scanning and orthodontic treatments for children as well as adults. Recognized as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Indelicato is Board-Certified and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics.

444 Huguenot Ave. Staten Island, NY 10312 718-967-5213 Instagram @bracesbydrsal

bracesbydrindelicato.com

Healthcare Associates in Medicine

a division of Orlin & Cohen Medical Specialists Group

Same-day services for adults and children with new injuries or conditions is offered at our Walk-In Centers on Hylan Blvd. Our fully equipped Orthopedic Walk-In Center is capable of performing onsite x-rays, treating strains, sprains, contusions, fractures, muscle or joint injuries, pain and more. At our Neuroscience Walk-In Center, we can provide early diagnosis for headaches, minor concussions, stiff-necks, backaches, or other problems relating to your head, neck and back. For those with pre-existing conditions or requiring further evaluation, please call for an appointment.

718.667.7500 Orthopedic Walk-In Center | 3333 Hylan Blvd • 10306 Neuroscience Walk-In Center | 3311 Hylan Blvd • 10306

www.HCA-SI.com

Kids Dental

Dr. Lisa Lazzara received her dental degree from SUNY Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine and graduated as valedictorian of her class and then continued her education by completing a two year pediatric specialty training program at LIJ/ Schneider’s Children’s Hospital in Long Island. Our state of the art practice features specialized and comprehensive dental care, digital imaging and laser surgery for all infants, children, teens, and those with special needs. Our goal is to help each child - one smile at a time! Our dentists are board certified and our entire team focuses on making your child’s dental visit fun and enjoyable. It is my personal mission to treat your child how I would expect someone to treat my own children.

4864 Arthur Kill Rd Staten Island, NY 10309 718-356-KIDS (5437)

www.sikidsdental.com • Instagram @kidsdentalofsi

6 November 2021 • siparent.com

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November 2021 • siparent.com

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