Choices, Choices
Take Your Time to Select a Surgeon

Having surgery is a scary time for most people. That's why it's a good idea to give some thought to selecting your specialist. There are many factors to consider, but start with the basics:

Brain Food
A Good School Lunch Can Go a Long Way for Kids

Come late summer, children exchange their bathing caps for thinking caps. To keep their brains focused at school, it's important they eat right throughout the day. This means eating hearty and healthy lunches. What makes a good mid-day meal? Think color (fruits and veggies), variety (proteins, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains) and nutrients. Hard-boiled eggs, berries and trail mix make for some great lunchtime staples.

Healthy sandwich ideas include a tuna salad wrap with light mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato; an egg salad sandwich on whole grain bread; peanut butter with a 100 percent fruit spread on whole grain bread; and deli meat with light mayonnaise, mustard and a slice of cheese. Add a fruit or vegetable, water or fruit juice, and a small cookie for dessert, and you've given your child energy to last the afternoon. Hot food is also an option. Don't hesitate to send leftovers from last night's meal.

What to avoid putting in the lunch bag? Foods that are highly processed and full of ingredients like dyes and sweeteners. These foods do not help kids concentrate and absorb information.

Attack on Asthma
The Disorder Shouldn't Disrupt Your Routine activities

Asthma affects over 20 million people in the United States. This lung disease causes symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing due to airway inflammation and muscle contraction. It is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms can be episodic or persistent and can vary in frequency and intensity.

While the problem has no cure, it can be managed. Both taking prescription medicines and avoiding triggers of asthma attacks can help to keep the problem in check. Triggers include upper respiratory infections, environmental allergies and irritant exposures.

	Saba Sharif, MDMB Learn more about environmental triggers and treatment options. Join Saba Sharif, MD, allergy/asthma specialist, for a FREE educational seminar, "Understanding Asthma: Diagnosis and Treatment," on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Inova Loudoun Hospital. Call 855-My-Inova (694-6682) or register here.

There are two basic kinds of medication for treating asthma: controller medications to prevent attacks and quick-relief medications during attacks. Inhaled
corticosteroids alone or in
combination with long-acting
beta-agonist inhalers are the most
common controller drugs.

Asthma often goes undiagnosed
— perhaps manifesting itself as a
chronic cough, or coughing or wheezing during exercise. Talk to
your doctor if you think you may
have a symptom and for more information about taking asthma medications. "An allergy/asthma specialist can help you to identify environmental triggers and classify your asthma with the help of breathing tests," states Saba Sharif, MD. "Proper treatment of asthma can prevent flares and allow individuals to live full, active lives."