We’ve recently seen a spike in the number of teens coming into the ER high on Dextromethorphan, commonly known as DXM, one of the active ingredients in many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines. DXM can have severe effects in high doses … Read More
A little over 20 years ago, I spent the month of January in Bethel, Alaska working for the Indian Health Service. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Bethel, it is 400 miles west of Anchorage and it … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD The temperature is dropping, but chances are your child’s energy level is not – especially if there’s snow on the ground. While playing outdoors in the winter does require more preparation than summertime activities, there … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD I can no longer deny it. The holidays are here in full force — first came Hanukkah, then Thanksgiving, then Black Friday (which I realize is not technically a holiday, but it is a day celebrated … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD Nothing gives me greater pleasure than reading a new scientific study and seeing that one of my three vices (chocolate, wine and coffee) actually improve health! Of course, the study always comes with the caveat of, … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD It is a strange paradox of human nature that we worry about the things we cannot prevent (such as a child getting leukemia or a brain tumor) and dismiss what we can impact, such as minimizing … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD There is no group more superstitious than a bunch of emergency medicine doctors and nurses. I always find that humorous because they are one of the most knowledgeable, most resourceful groups of individuals that one could … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD I did not realize how much I would cherish being the pediatrician to children of parents who were once my patients. It is a rare privilege that not many pediatricians enjoy because of societal mobility and … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD It has been excruciatingly slow, but it seems we are finally getting closer to spring. I know this not because of the sustained warmer temperatures, which are still elusive, but because my eyes are red and … Read More
By Karen Sheehan, MD We don’t have many details about what exactly happened in Boston today, but the news is reporting that there were two explosions, and that people were badly injured and some were killed. How do we talk … Read More