Health Tip: Teething Suggestions

Between the ages of 3 months and 3 years, your child will be cutting his baby teeth -- a momentous occasion for parents, but a painful one for your child. The Nemours Foundation offers a few suggestions on what to do for your cranky teething tot:

• Give your baby something cold to chew on -- but be sure it's big enough that he can't swallow it. A wet rag that has been in the freezer for about 30 minutes will feel good on sore gums.
• Teething rings may also be used, but be careful that the liquid-filled ones don't break in your baby's mouth, and make sure they are removed from the freezer before they become completely frozen.
• Rub on your baby's gums gently with a clean finger.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, may help reduce pain and make your baby less fussy, but consult with your doctor before administering.
• When your baby is sleeping, place a cloth under his head to catch drool. When your baby is awake, be sure to keep his face wiped clean of drool to avoid rashes.

 

New Method Gauges Anxiety Linked to Implanted Defibrillators

American researchers say they've developed a new tool to measure anxiety levels in heart patients with implantable cardioverter devices (ICDs).

ICDs deliver an electric shock to correct potentially deadly abnormal heart rhythms. However, even the thought of receiving this kind of jolt can cause fear and worry in some patients.

According to a team from the University of Florida, Gainesville, their new Florida Shock Anxiety Scale helps doctors identify which ICD patients may need psychological services to cope with their anxiety. The scale is described in the current issue of the journal Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology.

"Patients with an ICD can have unique fears that separate them from people with other general anxieties," study lead author Emily Kuhl, a doctoral candidate in the department of clinical and health psychology, said in a prepared statement.

For example, some patients with ICDs may be afraid that certain activities, such as exercise or sex, may trigger the device. They may also be concerned that they or others may be harmed by the ICD's electric jolt or that the device's activation may cause a commotion in public.

The researchers tested the new anxiety scale on 72 ICD patients and concluded that the scale was highly reliable in identifying patient anxiety. The scale asks patients to rate their frequency of anxious thoughts, such as "I am afraid of being alone when the ICD fires and I will need help," or "I am afraid to touch others for fear that I will shock them if the ICD fires."

The researchers plan to test the anxiety scale in a larger group of patients and to compare it to other anxiety assessment methods.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about ICDs.