Pediatric Office in Plainview

Contact our pediatric office in Plainview for more information about how Pediatric Associates of Plainview can help you!

Recent Blog Posts – Pediatric Office in Plainview

The Importance of Creating a Healthy Diet For Your Kids

As a parent, it can be tough maintaining a healthy diet not only for yourself but for your children. Either you’re too busy trying to juggle it all or it’s just easier to hit the drive-thru. Perhaps your kids are picky eaters and it’s easier to have chicken nuggets every night for dinner as opposed to healthy, nutritious meals. However, it is vital that you maintain a healthy and balanced diet for your children. No matter how small, everyone needs the same nutrients and it is important to incorporate the proper amount of them into your child’s diet. If you’re having trouble getting your kids to eat healthier, there is a pediatric office in Plainview that can help. At Pediatric Associates of Plainview, our team of dedicated physicians can work with you by offering some healthy alternatives to try out at home.

How Can I Improve My Child’s Diet?

There are several methods you can incorporate to your child’s diet in order to improve their overall wellness. If you are not fully aware of these methods, follow these easy tips or consult with a pediatric office in Plainview to figure out what is right for your child.

• Keep healthy snacks readily available – Keeping healthy snacks in the house will make it easier to enforce healthy eating habits. If this is the only option available it makes it easier for children to avoid unhealthy snacks.
• Serve good protein sources – Lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and beans are all good sources of protein to keep your child healthy and satisfied.
• Limit fat – Reducing fried foods and opting for grilling, broiling, steaming, and roasting can make for a diet lower in fat. Low-fat and nonfat products are also good options.
• Decrease sugar intake – Soda and fruity drinks are huge sources of sugar. Opt for water or low-fat milk to reduce your child’s sugar intake.
• Incorporate fruits and veggies – Although your child may not love them, fruits and vegetables are integral for a balanced diet. Your child should be having at least five servings of fruits and veggies per day and they should be served at every meal.
• Cut out fast food and unhealthy snacks – Instead of giving your child chips that lack any nutritional value as a snack, try carrots with hummus!
  • Of course, keep everything in moderation, so you don’t have to cut out their favorite snacks altogether.
• Set the example – Your kids look up to you, so whatever you do, they’re going to want to follow a similar suite. Be a role model and eat as healthy as you can so that your kids will be more inclined to opt for the same foods that you consume.

It is wise to start your child on a healthy diet at a young age in order to help prevent obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Additionally, a healthy diet provides vitamins, minerals, and nutrients necessary for growth and development. To make sure you’re doing everything possible to create a healthier lifestyle for your kids, consult with a pediatric office in Plainview!   

Our Pediatric Office in Plainview Can Help!

While we’ve provided some tips and tricks to help get your child on the right track, we know it can be difficult to convince them to eat right all the time. A pediatric office in Plainview can help you figure out what your child’s diet is lacking and how to incorporate it into their daily routine. At Pediatric Associates of Plainview, we have an experienced and well-trained staff that is dedicated to helping your child live a happy and healthy lifestyle. If you need a little help in the nutrition department, contact us today to set up an appointment with a pediatrician in Plainview.

The Importance of a Local Pediatrician

Here at Pediatric Associates of Plainview, we place a strong emphasis on the overall health and well-being of our young patients. Our mindset is that we want parents to feel that our office can serve as their home away from home, giving everyone peace of mind and relaxed comfort. Our practice has been serving the Long Island community since 1999, providing our patients with a quality pediatric office in Plainview. For more information on how you may contact our office, please visit our contact us page here. Otherwise, continue reading this article for tips on how a pediatrician can benefit your child!

Benefits of a Local Pediatrician

Regular check-ins are an absolute necessity in this day and age, for yourself and for your children. By forming a strong relationship with your pediatric office in Plainview, you can happily have all of your questions answered and improve your child’s overall well-being. As your child grows, they’ll feature a plethora of changes that can be carefully analyzed by our pediatrician. Examples of these changes can include some of the following:

• Changes in Behavior: Naturally, we understand that parenting comes with an abundance of difficulties. Monitoring your child’s ever-changing behavior certainly falls under this category. However, it can be strenuous for a parent to try and dissect just what is going on inside the minds of their children. Thankfully, your local pediatrician can help determine underlying issues that could be affecting your children. Some customary examples that are picked up in early development can include ADHD and sleep apnea.
• Growth Patterns: With regular visits, your pediatric office in Plainview can steadily follow the development of your child. By keeping track of their growth, they can monitor specific patterns that your child is experiencing. This can help lead to early identification of any future complications.
• Weight Problems: Recurring appointments can also be utilized to help monitor the correlation between your child’s weight and height. Unfortunately, childhood obesity has seen a large uprise in recent years. When it comes to obesity, preventive measures are key for your children. Your pediatric office in Plainview can work with you to establish a satisfactory healthy eating plan, while also suggesting exercises that can be performed at a young age.
• Nutritional Advice: Stemming from obesity issues, many children to lack necessary intake for Vitamin D and other necessary supplements. This poses a serious problem as it can lead to future health complications. Remember, calcium is vital for healthy bones!
• Vaccinations: Your pediatrician can also work with you to ensure that your child’s vaccines are fully up to date.

Contacting our Pediatric Office in Plainview

If you’re interested in consulting with a local pediatric office in Plainview regarding these helpful tips for your child, don’t hesitate to contact Pediatric Associates of Plainview today!

Childhood Asthma – Pediatric Office in Plainview

When the lungs and airways become swollen after exposure to certain stimulates, this is known as asthma. Approximately 7 million children are affected by asthma in the United States, experiencing symptoms by the age of five. Asthma is considered to be the main cause of chronic illness in children and can seem to prevent them from going about their usual activities. If your child is experiencing symptoms of asthma, contact a pediatric office in Plainview with Pediatric Associates of Plainview!

What causes asthma in children?

Although the causes of asthma are not completely understood, researchers are still exploring the exact causes of its development. These factors are considered to play an important role in the cause of asthma:

• Genetics – it is common that asthma runs in the family. If you or your partner have asthma, your child has a higher chance of having it too!
• Respiratory infections – During infancy and early childhood, your child’s lungs are still in the process of developing. If your child had a respiratory infection at a young age, this may have caused damage to the lung tissue, which would lead to long-term effects. 
• Exposure to environmental stimulates – Viral infections, allergens, dust, irritants, whatever the case may be, this can be having an impact on your child’s asthma, especially when your child is exposed before their immune system is fully matured. 
• Allergies – Allergies, like asthma, can be genetic and some allergies may cause symptoms of asthma to occur. 

Your pediatric office in Plainview can help you narrow down which factor is the root cause of your child’s asthma. 

What are the symptoms of childhood asthma?

Not every child experiences the same symptoms of asthma and the same child can experience different symptoms in each episode they have. The most common symptoms are:

• Coughing spells during the night, while laughing, or while crying
• Shortness or loss of breath
• Exhaustion
• A decrease in energy levels during playtime
• Rapid breathing
• Expressing the feeling of chest tightness or hurting
• Wheezing

When diagnosing your child for asthma, your pediatric office in Plainview may ask questions regarding your child’s medical history and symptoms, perform a physical exam and tests, such as x-rays or spirometry. 

How is childhood asthma treated?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma. However, there are ways a pediatric office in Plainview can help minimize the severity of the episodes:

• Long-term medications– these can be taken daily, which reduces your child’s airway inflammation. 
• Quick-relief medications– these are specifically for a quick-relief during an asthma attack or prior to exercising. They can instantly open up swollen airways. 
• Allergy medications– If the asthma is caused by allergies, your child may benefit from this, whether taken orally or nasally.
• Allergy shots– Although getting a shot can be a child’s worst nightmare, these can reduce your child’s immune system reaction to allergens. 

There are many ways to treat your child’s asthma, all of which depend on the severity of the symptoms. Your pediatric office in Plainview will help administer the correct treatment that is specific to your child’s asthma. If you believe your child is suffering from asthma, contact Pediatric Associates of Plainview! Our pediatricians in Plainview are dedicated to helping your child find the treatment they need!