By Sara Bridget Au

Living in Orlando, so close to world class attractions like Disney, SeaWorld and Universal Studios, can be a dream-come-true for many children. But living in the Orlando area also comes with some health issues that can be concerns for parents and pediatricians alike. Insight spoke with Dr. Lisa Ramey, of Integrative Pediatrics in Oviedo, about the area’s top health concerns for our kids:

Allergies

“Allergies are always a big problem, but especially here in Central Florida,” rues Dr. Ramey. “We have our fair share of seasonal allergies, but because Florida is a thriving environment for spores to grow, we see allergies effecting children throughout the course of the entire year.”

Of all allergens, she says, dust is one of the most common and can present in a patient as a white nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, dry or itchy eyes or a sore throat. “What seems to be a cold can actually be allergies.”

Molds, too, of both the indoor and the outdoor variety, can be problematic for our kids. “Because we have such a moist environment here in Florida, it is a wonderful breeding ground for mold and fungi. We see it in the air ducts in our homes, as well as sometimes on our walls.” Dr. Ramey says mold is a common cause of persistent lung infections.

Ramey advises any parent who’s worried their child’s ongoing cough or breathing problems may be a sign of something more to consult their family’s doctor for a specific diagnosis.

Colds/Flu

In January, we start to get to the end of what’s considered “flu season” (October until February), but the young are still very much at risk. Both a cold and the flu are caused by viruses, but the indicators are much different. While a cold can be annoying and make it difficult to breathe, the flu can literally knock a person off their feet. “Influenza is the main organism that causes what we generally refer to as the flu (although there are many strains), and can cause a multitude of symptoms such as infection in the lungs, high fever and muscle aches. People who have [full-blown influenza] are very, very sick,” says Dr. Ramey.

The very young and elderly are especially susceptible to colds or the flu, as is anyone with asthma. “These people especially should get the flu vaccine each year,” Dr. Ramey advises, adding, “The vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age, and particularly for anyone who is a [caregiver] or healthcare provider.”

She explains the flu vaccine is a once-a-year application, however for children who are receiving it for the first time there is a booster shot one month after their initial vaccination.

Childhood Obesity

“Childhood obesity is a huge problem here in Central Florida and around the nation; we pretty much mirror the national statistics in terms of this epidemic,” states Dr. Ramey, who has made this one of the core issues of her pediatric practice.

According to current studies collated by Dr. Ramey’s office, one in three children and teens are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. But even more startling, Dr. Ramey points out, is the projection that today’s children will be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.

“The problem is a huge combination of things,” believes Dr. Ramey. “In our fast-paced daily schedules, we are very dependent, as a society, on fast, convenient foods, and we rarely make healthy meals, or sit down to eat them together, anymore.” To start to combat this problem, she says portion sizes need to be scaled back (don’t force your child to “clean his plate”), kids should have 60 minutes of exercise or active play time per day, and parents need to be better about role modeling healthy and nutritious habits.