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Read our latest blog entry: How to Protect Kids from the Sun

Upcoming Research Studies: ADHD Allergies Asthma COPD Click here for more information on the important research we are involved in.

Happy Autumn! Please take a few minutes to read all about what is going on in our office this fall, including upcoming promotions and deals! Be sure to also check out our recommendations for staying healthy and happy this season!

Reminders, Tips & Resources:

Celebrate ADHD Awareness Week October 14th - 20th

“The Many Faces of ADHD” is the theme for the 2012 ADHD Awareness Week. The many faces of ADHD reflects the growing awareness of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a neurological disorder that is not confined to any one age group or ethnicity.

“While once thought that only boys were affected and that they would grow out, we now know this is not true. We now know that boys and girls, men and women are all dealing with the effects of ADHD” said Zandra Maffett, Coalition Chair.

Ruth Hughes, CEO of CHADD (Children & Adults with ADHD) referred to current research, saying that “ADHD has many faces. It affects people of all ethnic backgrounds and all socioeconomic classes and is most often an inherited disorder. Families can often identify ADHD symptoms in several generations. Other environmental factors include premature birth, prenatal exposure to toxins such as smoking, drugs or alcohol, and other traumas to the brain.”

Information about ADHD Awareness Week, related events and collateral materials is available on www.ADHDAwarenessWeek.org. See how you can get involved today! 

Don't Let Allergies and Asthma Haunt Your Halloween Fun!

Halloween can be a frightful time for parents of kids with allergies and asthma. Nut-filled candy isn’t the only bogeyman that can ruin the fun. Allergy and asthma triggers can hide in other, unexpected places, too, from dusty costumes to leering jack-o-lanterns. “When people think of Halloween-associated allergies, they focus on candy and often overlook many other potential triggers,” said Dr. Sher. “By planning ahead, you can ensure not only safe treats, but also safe costumes, make up, accessories, and decorations.”

Dr. Sher and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) suggest watching out for these six sneaky triggers to keep Halloween sneeze-, wheeze- and reaction-free.

Tricky treats – Food allergy triggers abound on this candy-filled holiday, and it’s not just the usual suspects such as chocolate that can hide triggers. An article published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology shows gummy bears and other seemingly innocent candies may contain gelatin, a potential allergen which is a less common trigger. Your best bet? Consider taking your child to an allergist for allergy testing and help in developing a food allergy treatment plan.  For Halloween night, have some non-candy treats for your child such as stickers, pencils and small toys to swap for sweets.

Devilish costume details – Watch out for nickel in costume accessories, from cowboy belts and pirate swords to tiaras and magic wands. Nickel is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, which can make skin itchy and spoil trick-or-treating fun. 

Haunted hand-me-downs – Halloween costumes packed away in a box for months can be laden with dust mites, which trigger asthma and allergies. So unless you want your little one sneezing or wheezing from house to house, wash the hand-me-down costumes in hot water. Or consider visiting the store for a new costume.

Menacing makeup – Cheap Halloween makeup may include preservatives that can cause allergic reactions.  Instead, opt for higher quality theater makeup.  Because it can take a few days for a rash, swelling or other reaction to appear, test the makeup on a small area of skin well in advance of Halloween.    

Frightful fog – If you’re considering renting a fog machine to make your house extra spooky, think again.  Fog – real or man-made – can trigger asthma in some sufferers.

Perilous pumpkins – Beware of pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie if you think you might be allergic. Pumpkin allergies, though rare, can cause everything from itching to chest tightness and can pop up quite suddenly, even if you haven’t had a problem before.  And keep in mind that pumpkin patches are often moldy and dusty, allergy and asthma triggers for some. Consider buying a pumpkin from a grocery or discount store.

Concerned that you or your child might have allergies or asthma? Schedule an allergy consult with Dr. Sher today!

Check out what’s going on in our office and follow us on Instagram! Our username is PVMedGroup.

Dr. Chen Settles in Nicely

The most recent addition to our practice, Dr. Stephanie Chen, is settling into the South Bay quite nicely. She appreciates all of the warm welcomes from the community! If you have yet to meet Dr. Chen, book your appointment with her today or be sure to introduce yourself next time you are in the office! Dr. Chen, who specializes in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, is seeing patients of all ages and is at the office full-time!

Next time you are in the office you will notice that paper charts at PVMG are becoming a thing of the past! We are thrilled to be finishing up the process of transferring over to electronic medical records. Not only will this help reduce our carbon footprint, but it will give patients the ability to log on to a portal and receive their lab results, physician recommendations and much more! We appreciate your patience while we make these changes and hope that these enhancements will help us to better serve you.

Don’t miss out on this outstanding fall promotion!

We are making it more convenient for you to communicate with our practice! We will now be sending appointment reminders via e-mail, text messages to your cell phone, pager, or PDA. Please make sure you provide us with your current information so that you have one less phone call to answer! When you receive a message by e-mail, simply click the icon provided for confirmation. Confirm as soon as you receive the first message, and you're done! The other messages will simply be reminders. If you do not want to receive text messages or e-mails, please let us know and we would be happy to disable that feature for you.

Palos Verdes Medical Group is sponsoring the 2012 Promenade on the Peninsula 5K Run/Walk. Mary’s Promenade on the Peninsula 5k Run is an exciting and unique 5K that starts directly on the Promenade mall, takes a picturesque loop through the beautiful city of Rolling Hill Estates, and finishes again with runners sprinting past Center Court of the Promenade Mall. All proceeds benefit the YWCA Harbor/South Bay. Register in person at iBerries Frozen Yogurt or online. Let us know that you registered and receive a free t-shirt to wear on race day! Please also be sure to visit us at our booth on race day for a special gift! Registration closes October 12th. Visit our website for more information or to fill out a registration form.

We are happy to announce that we will now be offering newborn baby care classes on a monthly basis! New and experienced parents welcome! This one-session class is free of charge and open to our patients and community members. Topics such as breastfeeding, bottle feeding and infant care will be covered. Please RSVP to Michelle Smith, M.P.H., C.C.E. at michelle.smith@pvmedgroup.com or at 310-544-6858 ext. 232. Click here to view a complete list of class dates!

Palos Verdes Medical Group and Peninsula Research Associates are walking to support FAAN (The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network). They provide food allergy awareness, advocacy, and education, and they support research for the 12 million Americans, including 3 million children, with a potentially life-threatening food allergy. We encourage you to support this event by joining our team and/or making a donation. Click here to join our team or to make a donation on our behalf. Together we can make a difference!

Stop by our office in your costume to receive a fun treat…or trick if you dare!

Once again, we wish you and your family a very happy fall! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything or if you ever have any questions!