LiveWell
SIDS: Education, Awareness Can Be Key to
Safeguarding Your Infant
O
ctober is National Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) Awareness Month
– a month in which our country
commits itself to spreading
awareness of SIDS and the things
parents and others who care for
infants can do to prevent it.
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant
less than one year of age that cannot
be explained even after a complete
autopsy, examination of the death
scene and review of the clinical history.
It is the leading cause of death among
infants between the ages of one and 12
months and, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention,
claims about 2,500 lives each year in
the United States.
“While in many ways SIDS is a mystery,
we do know that a combination of
physical and sleep environmental
factors can make an infant more
vulnerable to it,” says Dr. Nada Owusu
a physician at Children’s Healthcare
Center.
While factors may vary from child to
child, says Dr. Owusu, the following
physical factors are associated with
SIDS:
Brain abnormalities. Some infants
are born with problems that make
them more likely to die of SIDS. In
many of these babies, the portion
of the brain that controls breathing
and arousal from sleep doesn’t work
properly.
Low birth weight. Premature
birth or being part of a multiple birth
increases the likelihood that a baby’s
brain hasn’t matured completely, so
he or she has less reliable control over
such automatic processes as breathing
and heart rate.
Respiratory
infection. Many
infants who have died of SIDS have
recently experienced a cold, which
may contribute to breathing problems.
Inaddition,severalsleepenvironmental
factors are associated with SIDS, such
as body positioning and temperature.
Help manage these factors by adhering
to the following guidelines:
1. Place infants to sleep on their
backs, even though they may sleep
more soundly on their stomachs.
Infants who sleep on their stomachs
and sides have a much higher rate of
SIDS than infants who sleep on their
backs.
2. Place infants to sleep in a baby
bed with a firm mattress and nothing
in the bed but the baby – no covers,
no pillows, no bumper pads, no
positioning devices and no toys. Soft
mattresses, covers, pillows, bumper
pads, positioning devices and toys
are associated with the risk for SIDS.
3. Do not place a baby in an adult
bed to sleep, and do not fall asleep
with a baby on a couch or in a chair.
4. Do not over-clothe an infant while
he/she sleeps. Overheating an infant
may increase the risk for SIDS. Just
use enough clothes to keep the baby
warm without having to use a cover.
5. Avoid exposing infants to tobacco
smoke. Don’t have your infant in the
Community Health Fair
Free and Open to the Public
The Health Fair has been rescheduled for:
Saturday, November 7th
9am until 12pm
DCC Foundation Hall
same house or car with someone
who is smoking. The greater the
exposure to tobacco smoke, the
greater the risk of SIDS.
6. Breast feed babies whenever
possible. Because breast milk
decreases the occurrence of
respiratory and gastrointestinal
infections, studies show that breastfed babies have a lower SIDS rate
than formula-fed babies do.
7. Avoid exposing infants to people
with respiratory infections. Avoid
crowds. Carefully clean anything
that comes in contact with the baby.
Have people wash their hands before
holding or playing with your baby.
SIDS often occurs in association with
relatively minor respiratory (mild
cold) and gastrointestinal infections
(vomiting and diarrhea).
8. Offer infants a pacifier. Some
studies have shown a lower rate of
SIDS among babies who use pacifiers.
9. If a baby has periods of not
breathing,going limp or turning blue,
contact his/her pediatrician at once.
Similarly, if a baby stops breathing
or gags excessively after spitting up,
seek medical attention.
10. Thoroughly discuss each
of the above points with all
caregivers and ask them to follow all
recommendations.
To learn more about SIDS, visit the
Web site of the American Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome Institute at
www.sids.org.
This is
scary.
This isn’t.
On November 7th , on-site registrants
should attend the health fair as
follows. If your last name start with:
A, B, C, D , E, F, G, H, I: 9am - 10am
J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R: 10am - 11am
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z: 11am - 12pm
9am – 12pm: Review labs and
consult physicians
*No ID Needed or Required
There are moments in life that can build up a little fear and
anxiety. At Danville Regional Medical Center (DRMC), we
want to make sure your annual mammogram isn’t one of
them.
Your comfort and peace of mind is always our first
priority during your mammogram. Danville Diagnostic
Services to be Provided:
•Blood Pressure Screenings
•Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Breast Health Screenings
•Cholesterol Screenings*
•Colorectal Screenings
• Eye Screenings
Imaging Center (DDIC) will have extended hours in
• Flu Vaccines & TDAP
•HPV Education
• Leg Circulation Test
• Lung (Breathing) Function Tests
• Nutritional Education
• Outreach Specialists will be available to help
uninsured enroll in healthcare plans
*Some services may not be available due to unanticipated circumstances.
October and will also have walk-in availability between
the hours of 8am-5pm for screening mammograms.
This simple screening lets physicians find cancerous lumps
at their earliest most curable stage. Yearly mammograms
start at age 40. Some women, because of a family history of
breast cancer, should discuss with their doctor about
starting their screening mammogram at an earlier age.
Call 434.799.3883 to schedule your
mammogram today!
DDIC has been serving our community since 1991 and is accredited by the American College of
Radiology (ACR). Mammography Breast Imaging is performed by American Registry of
Radiologic Technology (ARRT) registered technologists and interpreted by Board Certified
Radiologists, who are onsite daily to perform biopsies and discuss imaging procedures.
For more information about Danville Regional Medical Center, visit www.DanvilleRegional.com
Physician Referral Line: 1-800-424-DOCS (3627)
Danville Physician Practices: www.DanvillePhysicians.com
For updated articles, visit www.godanriver.com/entertainment_lifestyles/live_well