December, 2008

• END OF AN ERA
• FISH OIL UPDATE
• WHOOPING COUGH CASES REPORTED IN OUR COMMUNITY
• VITAMIN D
• OFFICE NOTES

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END OF AN ERA

As of January 1, 2009, I will no longer deliver babies as part of my medical practice. My decision was forced by the escalating cost of malpractice insurance premiums for doctors who deliver babies in Illinois. My premium because I practice obstetrics, is 6 times the amount that a family doctor pays who does not deliver babies. These high premiums and the low insurance reimbursement amounts for obstetrical services, have combined to make it impossible for me, and for many other doctors to continue delivering babies.

I am very grateful to be blessed to have participated in almost 4,000 births during my 31 years in practice. I would like to thank each and every family who allowed me to take part in these very special events.

Other than no more deliveries, my practice will remain the same. I will continue to provide health care services for women, men, and children. I will still take care of newborns and babies. My office hours will become more reliable. You won’t receive those sudden phone calls from my office cancelling your appointment because “Dr. Elvove left on a delivery!” I have no plan to retire. I am looking forward to helping you achieve and maintain optimal health for yourself and your families for many years to come.

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FISH OIL UPDATE

Fish oil contains the two long-chain omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. These fatty acids are difficult to obtain in our modern diet, so I recommend that everyone take a fish oil supplement. The EPA is a natural anti-inflammatory and protects the body tissues from inflammatory damage. The DHA is a structural component of the neuron cell membrane and promotes brain and nervous system health.

Unfortunately the oceans are polluted with mercury, PCB’s, and dioxins, and fish sequester these pollutants in their body fat. Therefore it is essential that you utilize a fish oil supplement that has been refined and purged of these toxic substances.

The fish oil that we offer is a unique product. It has been fractionally distilled with triglycerides, not ethyl esters, to remove extraneous saturated fats and toxins. This complex engineering process occurs after the molecular distillation step, and results in the purest and most concentrated EPA/DHA blend available. The purity is important especially for pregnant and lactating mothers, children, and those requiring higher doses for therapeutic purposes. You can obtain our fish oil either in capsules or as a liquid. The newest liquid fish oil batch has a natural mango flavor added which has greatly improved the taste.

We have each batch of our fish oil tested by an independent laboratory, the IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards.) They utilize advanced analytical techniques to measure contaminants in tiny parts per trillion concentrations. I am proud to report that our fish oil received a five star IFOS rating: “Exceptional Product Batch.” You can access the product reports online at: http://www.nutrasource.ca/ifos_new/index.asp Click on “Consumer Report”, then at the bottom of the page click on “5 Star Rating Reports.” Our product is called “EPA DHA Blend.” You can also download then view the reports directly by clicking on the following links.

• Fish Oil Capsules Report (340 KB PDF)
• Fish Oil Liquid Report (352 KB PDF)

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WHOOPING COUGH CASES REPORTED IN OUR COMMUNITY

During the past six months many cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been reported in Lake, Cook, and Kenosha counties. The disease is characterized by cold symptoms followed two weeks later by a severe, choking cough that persists for 6-8 weeks. The disease can be especially serious for young infants. They cannot easily clear their airways, and have difficulty getting enough oxygen during the coughing spells.

The disease is diagnosed by its clinical presentation as well as by a bacterial culture obtained from the nasal cavity. Those persons exposed to a confirmed case of pertussis should receive antibiotics. If taken early in the course, antibiotics can prevent or lessen the severe cough phase.

For those parents who have delayed or declined the DTaP vaccine for your children, you may want to reconsider your decision. The DTaP vaccine is now mercury free. It has the added benefit of giving tetanus protection to your child. This vaccine is far superior to the old whole cell DPT vaccine that in the past had caused numerous severe side effects. We have been administering the mercury free DTaP vaccine for several years now, and have experienced no serious side effects. Please call our office for more information or to find out whether your child is up to date with this vaccine.

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VITAMIN D

Evidence is mounting to support the importance of adequate Vitamin D levels to our health. Vitamin D regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestinal tract and promotes healthy immune system function. Severely low Vitamin D levels can result in rickets in children or osteoporosis in adults. Low levels of Vitamin D may be linked to chronic diseases such as hypertension, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, peripheral artery disease, and autoimmune disorders. Vitamin D is normally synthesized in the skin after exposure to sunlight. However in the winter when sunlight exposure is limited, vitamin D levels are reduced. Vitamin D deficiency may explain why colds, viruses, and influenza are more common during the winter months.

I recommend vitamin D supplementation for all adults and children who do not receive adequate sunlight exposure to their skin. The supplements that we have in our office are tablets that contain 5,000 IU of vitamin D3, or a liquid for children that contains 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 per drop. The recommended dose for adults is one tablet per day, and for children, 1 or 2 drops per day. A 30-minute exposure to sunlight during noon in June for a person wearing a swimsuit will synthesize approximately 10,000 IU of vitamin D. There is a blood test available called 25-hydroxyvitamin D that can help you determine your adequacy. A good serum level would be around 50 ng/ml.

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OFFICE NOTES

• If you need to be seen for a problem or an illness the same day, please call early in the day. If you call early, we can always fit you in.
• A minor child (under 18 years old) to be seen by the doctor must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If a grandparent, aunt, or a nanny brings in the child, then that person must have a signed note authorizing that person to obtain medical care.
• If you have medical insurance, always bring your insurance card with you in case your insurance information has changed since your last visit.

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