My son’s first and only visit to a local seafood restaurant proved nearly tragic. Lou, 7 years old at the time, hungrily tossed into his mouth a handful of tiny breaded shrimp that arrived at the table with a huge side of French fries. Within minutes, he put his head down on the table and started to whimper – or so I thought. He wasn’t crying; he was gasping for breath, his face, lips and tongue swollen, his airway blocked. He was suffering from anaphylaxis caused by eating the shrimp. According to the National Institutes of Health,anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-…

There may still be a little slush and snow on the ground, but if you look closely, you can spot buds on the trees and shrubs and hints of green popping through the flower beds. Spring is here, but with it comes seasonal allergies, which are affected by pollen from flowers and trees, grass, and a host of other factors right outside our windows. Dr. Patrick Perin, an allergy specialist with an office on Cedar Lane in Teaneck, said symptoms of seasonal allergies include sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip and coughing. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms – …

For many years, I worked in restaurants where it was all hands on deck for the holidays, especially for New Year's Eve parties. Most of these affairs had an open bar, with limitless drinks included in the price. There isn't enough space in this column to relate all the drinking-related stories I've acquired over the years. Admittedly, some were silly and harmless, like the guest who curled up and fell asleep in the middle of the dance floor. (His pals let him sleep a while, then drove him home.)   Likewise, I can't tell you how many times management had to cut someone off before things got …

You're probably achy and sore from digging out from the massive blizzard that hit the area. And guess what? The brunt of the winter weather season has only just begun. But it's not too late to get yourself in better shape for the next snowfall that comes our way.  Snow shoveling is one of the most strenuous activities, especially for folks who are sedentary the rest of the year. Dr. Rick Cyriacks, a chiropractor in private practice in Bergen County, compares it to "weekend warrior" syndrome.  "The repetition of bending and lifting, especially wet, heavy snow, can take its toll on the body …

In 1944, a teacher named Donald Gardner had observed that many of his second-grade music students lisped when they talked because they were, like most 7-and 8-year olds, missing their front teeth. So Gardner wrote a song entitled, "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth," which was recorded four years later by Spike Jones and his City Slickers, with a guy named George Rock singing the lead in a child's voice. It's one of those novelty songs that remained a classic of sorts all these years. (At least for those of us who grew up listening to it every holiday season.) Fast forward to …

Last weekend's tragic death of a 16-year old Bergen County boy has brought to light another round of debate regarding the safety of youth sports. Are we doing enough to protect young athletes? What about better equipment? More laws? During a travel team baseball practice, Thomas Adams of Garfield was hit in the chest by a pitched ball, collapsed seconds later, and died. The official cause of death has not yet been determined, but medical experts suspect that Adams died of commotio cordis—the stopping of the heart as a result of sudden trauma. What is known, however, is that the youngster was …

Diabetes is one of those insidious diseases that sneaks up on you and then hits you like a freight train. There are two types of diabetes–Type I, which used to be referred to as juvenile diabetes because it commonly was diagnosed in young children, is caused by the body's inability to produce insulin, the hormone responsible for controlling the breakdown and use of sugars in the body. People with type I need insulin and the condition cannot be reversed. Persons with Type II produce insulin, but either the pancreas doesn't produce enough or the body doesn't use the insulin adequately. No …

If you search hard enough, you could find a special cause to celebrate every day of the year. For instance, March 2 is National Banana Cream Pie Day; Aug. 26 is National Love Your Dog Day. (Do you not love your dog the rest of the year?) And for all the procrastinators out there, Be Late for Something Day is held on Sept. 5 (or on the 6th, if you're really, really late). Whether you take them seriously or not, though, these kinds of celebrations are created to make folks smile or have a little fun. On Thursday, however, we are recognizing a special day that can actually save your life–the …

We aren't yet in the thick of cold and flu season, but according to doctors – and those who play them on television – this is flu shot season. And the message is loud and clear – get your flu shot now. According to Township Health Officer Ken Katter approximately 150 residents received flu shots during the township's clinic last month. But flu vaccines are still available for those who are homebound or have special circumstances. "Residents can call this office and our nurses will contact them to set up an appointment at a convenient location and time to administer a flu shot," said Katter…