Your child will likely face many transitions in her life, but entering middle school, high school, and college are undoubtedly three of the biggest. Each brings the possibilities of new friendships and experiences but also more independence and autonomy which, as most parents know, is not always a smooth road for young adults.

The key is to remember that they are just that — young adults — and now is the time to start preparing your child for the challenges and situations she will surely face throughout her life. Balancing a social life and daily responsibilities as well as money management are keys to a successful future and supporting your child as she develops these skills is important. Make sure she knows you are always there to offer guidance and use these tips as your child transitions through three of the most crucial times in her educational and social development.

Middle School:

Assist with summer reading
Your middle school student will likely be tested on his summer reading when he returns to school in September. Help set a weekly goal for summer reading then step back and allow him to follow through. Earning extra allowance or earning an extra half hour on curfew one night may motivate your child to get his work done, but if you have an agreement and he breaks it, it is important that he not get the reward. While this may seem harsh, it is a great lesson in following through for your middle school student. Middle school teachers are looking for your child to complete work independently and there are consequences for not doing so. His grades could be lowered or he could have to stay after school to complete work. Setting up a system where your child is reinforced for completing work without you hounding him will get him ready for more responsibilities come September.

Strengthen the lines of communication
Your middle school student is about to enter a socially-challenging time. Middle school often proves to be students least favorite years in school, as children’s bodies, preferences, and attitudes are changing and peers are quick to judge. While girls tend to use more verbal or non-verbal approaches and boys tend to use more physical means, bullying is common at this age in both genders. Clearly- and often- remind your child that you are there to listen. Knowing that Mom or Dad is a phone call away is very comforting for a child who is entering young adulthood and unsure of her steps. Repeatedly tell your child that you are proud of her, you love her, and that you are always there for her. Although children at this age often don’t seem to be listening, they are. Make sure you let her know she can count on you and she may just call in that favor.

High School:

Set clear expectations for social outings
This is again a time when your child is likely to test his boundaries and break the rules you have set. Be clear on what you expect of him, whether it be a curfew, who he is allowed to be in the car with, or where he is permitted to go. Some parents offer a half hour added to curfew each school year. Whatever your rules are, be clear on them and the consequences of breaking them. If you say he is going to be grounded for a weekend if he breaks curfew, then he needs to be grounded if he comes home late. If your child knows you are serious, he is going to consider his choices with you in mind. If he knows you are going to bend the rules or change them midway through, he is going to see what he can get away with. Be clear, be firm, and be proud when he follows the rules!

Help choose extra-curricular activities
High school is a time when children try different sports, clubs, or activities in an effort to establish their own identity. Make sure your child understands the time commitment involved in each club or sport she is interested in and how this will affect her studies. The workload in high school is often more time consuming than middle school and this may be a difficult adjustment for her. Most coaches or advisors will have meetings in the beginning of the year to give important information out, such as schedules of practices and games, financial commitments, and expectations for the season. Get a copy of any paperwork handed out and review it with your child. Decide on activities that allow study time and some down time, which is often neglected during these years.

College:

Pack Up!
Many home goods stores and department stores now have generic packing lists for incoming college freshman. This is a great starting point so you don’t miss out on important items, like a shower caddy, flip flops, and a bathrobe. (As any college sophomore will tell you, these items are life savers, especially for co-ed dorms!) Also, have your child contact the housing department at his college to see if there are any larger items he will need to bring, such as a microwave or a small refrigerator. Most schools have clear rules on what is allowed in dorm rooms and many offer rentals of such equipment at a reasonable fee. There is much to be said of having the comforts of home while away for the first time!

Encourage your child to be a savvy saver
One of the biggest pitfalls of college students in America today is the credit card. The average student comes out of college carrying between $3,000 and $7,000 worth of credit card debt, in addition to an average $21,000 in student loans. Encouraging your child to have a summer job and save money to use during the semester may help him avoid applying for and overusing a credit card. You may want to consider having one for your child with a low limit for emergencies but speak to him about the dangers a credit card can bring. Using cash is still the best way to go for a young adult away from home for the first time as it lowers the temptation to overspend.

Throughout each of these transitions, remember to praise your child for all the good things he does and all the ways he makes you proud. Surely he won’t get through middle school, high school, or college without a few missteps, but being there to support him will certainly guide him in the right direction.

Jennifer Cerbasi teaches at a public school for children on the autism spectrum in New Jersey. As a coordinator of Applied Behavioral Analysis programs in the home, she works with parents to create and implement behavioral plans for their children in an environment that fosters both academic and social growth. In addition to her work both in the classroom and at home, she is also a member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Summer is here and with the kids out of school, it’s a perfect time for a family trip.   Whether driving or hopping on a plane, travel comes with temptation— fast food, dining out and snacking during the day.  And because U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show more than half of American adults are overweight or obese, it’s more important than ever to watch your diet while you travel. But it is possible to eat healthy on vacation.  See below for my favorite family friendly travel tips.

In-the-Car Snacking:

Rather than stopping at greasy, fattening fast food joints, plan ahead and pack a cooler with healthy snacks.

Pack veggies like baby carrots, sliced celery, cucumber and red pepper with individual cups of ranch dressing for dipping.

Kids love sweet fruit.  Sliced apples, grapes, and dried fruit like raisins, dried apricots and apples are a perfect travel snack because they are not messy and easy to eat.  Avoid fruits you have to peel like oranges, kiwi and grapefruit—the juice and rinds are messy.

Other great snack ideas include:

Yogurts (individual tubes, such a Gogurt are easy to eat since no spoon is necessary)

String cheese

Gnu Food’s Flavor and Fiber Bars: These granola bars come in five yummy flavors and contain 12g of fiber.  Kids love them and moms love that they are all natural.

Trail Mix:  Kids love the sweet and crunchy mix of ingredients.  Mix whole-wheat pretzels, wheat chex, dried craisins or raisins, chocolate chips and nuts for a high-energy, high-protein snack.

Make sandwiches on whole-wheat tortillas—kids love the fun shape of a rolled up sandwich.  Turkey, peanut butter and jelly, chicken are all great options for fillings (avoid tuna fish since the mayo makes the bread soggy and the smell is strong which might bother other travelers on a plane, or stink up your car if you are driving!).

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of www.Skinnyandthecity.com.  She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

The murders of Arturo Gatti, possibly by his 23-year-old ex-stripper wife, and of Steve McNair by his 20-year-old lover, may reflect yet another sign that more Americans than we know —especially younger Americans — are losing their sense of self and, with it, their psychological and moral bearings.  

Certainly, crimes of passion are nothing new.  As has always been true, the killers of Gatti and McNair had to have had extreme life stories with major psychological fault lines reaching back, quite possibly, to childhood.  But in both cases, the victims were famous men who may well have offered the women in their lives temporary and fragile shelter from deep, unresolved questions about whether they could exist independently or would crumble into nothingness without their connections to fame and fortune. It is often those who feel dead themselves who take the lives of others.

Some may think it’s too big a leap to draw any connection between a lack of respect for life and the artificial, Internet-based, technology-fueled existences that too many of today’s teens and twenty-somethings have lived, but I’m not so sure.  I think that the kind of existential panic — the panic of having nothing real at one’s core — that can lead a young woman to murder her famous lover, rather than lose him, is a distant cousin of posting videos on YouTube of staged beatings and the deconstruction of real lives and relationships into profiles, IMs and tweets.

In a world that worships reality TV parents who turn their children into entertainment automatons and a psychologically disturbed pop star whose celebrity was initially forged through enslavement to his sadistic father, respect for one’s own life and that of others can start to erode.  Gaining fame and saving face on Facebook is what matters, and the loss of image can feel like the loss of everything.  I hope I’m wrong.  I hope that cases of extreme violence are now just the same as they always were — outlying cases that are no predictor of anything about the rest of us.  

But as a psychiatrist who has made it part of my life’s work to resist dismissing my instincts, I now sense something ominous about our culture reflected in the worst deeds of the most violent among us.  I fear we are at risk for losing respect for one another and for human life.  I fear our fragile God-given capacity for empathy is under siege. I fear that in obsessing over “Blanket” Jackson (and I feel a little disturbed by even writing his preposterous name), who was dangled over a railing by a father who may not have fathered him at all, we open the door to outlandish acts of dramatic violence that would make for decent psychological thrillers, but are now the stuff of what we call “real” life.

Who wants to go to the beach feeling bloated?  Not me!  Bloating is a pretty common occurrence that most of us go through after eating.  Bloating is generally caused by water retention or gas, a buildup of air in the intestines and stomach causing you to feel like someone is pushing on your stomach, from the inside out, which can be very uncomfortable.   Here are foods to avoid and foods to enjoy for your day of fun in the sun!

Fiber:  For a flat belly, try increasing your fiber intake. A healthy adult wants to aim for 25-30 grams of fiber per day. Not only will fiber help you feel full for longer, but it will also increase bowel motility helping to remove waste and avoid any bloating. The best part of fiber is that because it is the non-digestible component of plant-based foods, it will make you feel full without adding calories! Consider eating high-fiber foods such as whole-wheat breads, high-fiber cereals, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Turkey sandwich: 3 oz. lean turkey on a whole-wheat pita, with 2 slices of tomato, romaine lettuce and mustard. This remake of the classic deli sandwich provides you with the perfect combination of fiber and protein on the go. Switching from white bread to whole wheat will bulk up your fiber intake while providing you with essential vitamins and nutrients. In addition, all lean meats such as turkey breast help to speed up the metabolism and burn more fat simply because they require so much energy for complete digestion.

Low-fat string cheese and an apple or pear: Low-fat string cheese is a convenient and healthy snack — especially when you’re on the go.  Although protein will provide you with needed energy, the addition of a fresh, crisp apple or juicy pear will provide you with a wonderful and filling snack of fiber and protein. According to researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, overweight women who ate the equivalent of three small apples or pears a day lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didn’t add fruit to their diet. This snack will keep you satiated through all your errands of the day.

Glenny’s Soy Crisps: Rather than grabbing a bag of chips, which contain unwanted calories and loads of trans fat, pick up a bag of Glennys’ Soy Crisps. They’re delectable, baked chips that come in a variety of flavors and pack in fiber and heart-healthy soy protein, and also have about 1/3 of your daily calcium needs. Whether your craving salty or sweet, these will surely keep you feeling satisfied all day long.

Gnu Flavor and Fiber bar: Thank goodness for energy bars convenient, pre-packed, pre-portioned meals that are simple, mess-free and portable! With so many different brands on the supermarket shelves, grabbing one while on the run is a simple way to satisfy your hunger… NOT SO FAST!!!

Many of these “energy bars” although marketed as “healthy” are simply glorified candy bars. Gnu flavor and fiber bars are one of your best options. Gnu bars have less than 150 calories and 3 grams of fat, but contain 12 grams of fiber —nearly half of the daily recommendation. These high-fiber, low-fat bars are a savior when you’re in a car, at the office or the gym. Choose from any of their 5 tasty flavors including cinnamon raisin, chocolate brownie, peanut butter, banana walnut, and orange cranberry.

High-potassium foods: Eating potassium-rich foods will also help combat bloating during bikini season. Potassium counterbalances sodium—which causes water retention and bloating—and has a diuretic effect on the body. So by eating foods that are high in potassium, you can reduce bloating naturally.  When picking from the produce department, choose things like bananas, papayas, kiwis, strawberries, spinach, cooked beets and broccoli.

Increase your vitamin B6 consumption: Vitamin B6 acts as a natural diuretic, which helps to prevent bloating. It’s important never to consume more than 100 mg per day. Foods rich in vitamin B6 include yellow fin tuna, roasted chicken breast and avocado.

8 dried apricot halves with 1 oz. Everybody’s Nuts pistachios (European Roast): Not only are pistachios a great source of both fiber and protein, but they also contain antioxidants and vitamin B6. Enjoy pistachios with a high-fiber fruit such as dried apricots, which provide vitamin A, promoting good vision.

Star-Kist Lunch To-Go tuna kits (omit the crackers) and 4 GG Bran Crispbread high-fiber crackers: Sometimes the most satisfying snacks are those that resemble a meal. And tuna fish on crackers is a great mini-lunch, perfect for an on-the-go snack packed with 20 grams of fiber and and 20 grams of protein! Best of all, it comes filled with mayo, relish and a mini spoon!

Add in some vitamin E and polyphenols:  Foods which contain polyphenols and vitamin E protect skin from damaging free radicals. For example, a preliminary finding in the Journal of Nutrition suggest that a regular intake of poleyphenols found in dark chocolate make skin hydrated and lessen the effects of a sunburn.

Dark chocolate: If a chocolate craving hits, nibble on some dark chocolate which contains both vitamin E and polyphenols.

Green tea: Rather than sipping on an ice-cold lemonade which contains 175 calories and 42 grams of sugar, sip on iced green tea. Not only is this calorie-free and sugar-free, keeping your waistline in tact, it contains polyphenols to protect your skin. And an added bonus, it contains EGCG, which studies have shown can rev up your metabolism and  help you burn fat.

Sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds are a great snack for the beach and contain high amounts of vitamin E.
Water: Not drinking enough water can cause dehydration, which leads to subsequent bloating. This is why it’s so important to drink enough water. In the summer months, it’s easy and essential to increase fluids by adding sugar-free drink flavor packets to water bottles or fresh lemons and limes to plain water. In addition, water keeps you feeling full so you don’t confuse your hunger with thirst. Aim to drink eight 8-oz glasses of water a day or keep a water bottle with you to help you reach your water goal!

Foods to Avoid before and at the Beach:

Salty, highly-processed foods: Sodium causes the body to retain water, which in essence causes bloating—this leads to you feeling as big as a balloon. Avoid foods like hot dogs, which are high in both fat and sodium. Also, avoid the fast food counter where options are usually extremely high in sodium. Avoiding any kind of salty snacks such as pretzels and potato chips, is essential to maintaining your bikini body,.  

Gassy foods: Certain foods create more gas in your GI tract than others. This includes raw vegetables and legumes such as cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, onions and cabbage. However, many times if you cook these vegetables, they will deliver the same nutrients, but take up less room in your GI tract — leaving you feeling skinnier and ready to dress in your mini bikini.

Chewing gum: Many people don’t realize this, but chewing gum can cause bloating because it causes you to swallow air. All that air gets trapped in your GI tract and causes pressure, bloating and belly expansion.

Sugar-free candies: Sugar-free candies and gum often contain sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar substitute that acts as a laxative, which draws water into the large intestine. As little as four sticks of sorbitol-containing gum can cause bloating and abdominal pain.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of www.Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Dear Yvonne,
I didn’t ejaculate for three weeks and the color of my fluid is now yellow. Why is that so?
Thank you.
—Wan

Dear Wan,
Changes in the color of semen can be due to a number of factors like your diet, age, and how often you ejaculate. Healthy ejaculate is typically whitish and cloudy, with colored semen indicating a possible prostate infection or sexually transmitted disease.

While the change you describe may be temporary and of no concern, it would be wisest to be medically evaluated to rule out any underlying condition. And always be sure to practice safe sex.

Do you have a question about sex? If so, foxnewshealth.com wants to hear from you! E-mail your questions to drmanny@foxnews.com

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

For many parents across the country, this fall will be their first time sending a child to school. Early childhood education has evolved, and educators and researchers are looking at this first introduction to formalized education as a crucial time for students.

There is more direct instruction in math, reading and writing, with schools utilizing a detailed curriculum to address skills. Story time now accompanies formal reading instruction. In some schools, play time may now even accompany formal social skills lessons. Although September seems far away, now is the time to start preparing your child for his or her first school experience.

Here are some simple and fun ways to get your child ready for preschool and kindergarten:

Preschool

Reading
Read to your child every day. Exposing your child to a variety of age-appropriate books will foster a natural love of reading and curiosity about words. Don’t worry about teaching phonics or decoding skills — the ABC song will suffice for now. Children will often ask what a word or sentence says. Feel free to tell him, but do not press him to repeat or try to sound out words. Keep in mind that at this age your child should have a natural excitement about words and should not feel he is being “tested’ when enjoying a good book!  

Teach your child to recognize her name. You can make a special sign for her bedroom door or write her name in the cover of her books. Learning names and common words (such as store names) is a first step in recognizing and pronouncing letters and sounds.

Math
Count objects while playing with your child. Use his blocks, books, or other toys and model one-to-one correspondence. Counting “one, two, three blocks!” naturally introduces this important math skill to your child.

Expose your child to basic shapes. When reading or watching a TV show, point out circles, squares, or triangles. Many TV shows targeting the preschool-age child highlight these shapes as well as rectangles, hearts, and diamonds. It is very easy to find these shapes in the environment and you can create a scavenger hunt with your child to locate these common shapes in the environment.

Social Skills
Schedule play dates or spend time playing at the park. Sharing, turn-taking, and waiting are all skills your child will need to enjoy a positive social experience in preschool and may be practiced when engaging with peers.

Develop a daily schedule and stick with it. Keep in mind your soon-to-be preschooler likely needs 10-12 hours of sleep a night, so get him to bed on time at night. Wake him in the morning, have breakfast, and get dressed even if you are not planning to leave the house right away. These morning activities are clear ways to signify the start of the day for your child.

Check with your child’s preschool in regards to its rules on potty training Many schools require children to be potty-trained before starting in September. If your child is not yet fully trained, you have plenty of time this summer to work on it!

Kindergarten

Reading
Help your child practice writing his name, especially if he has shown an interest in it. Have him write the first letter then you can write the other letters. You can also write his name first then have him trace it. Keep in mind constant practice or repetitions may discourage your child and frustrate him, ultimately delaying his acquisition of this skill. Make it fun and only practice if your child shows interest.

Point out words that start with the letter of her first name. Although she may not be aware of it, she knows the sound that letter makes and it will be easier for her to associate items with a sound she already knows. Say “Grace, do you want grapes for snack? Grapes sounds like Grace!” See if your child can think of another word that starts with the same sound. If she has trouble, provide an example so she does not get discouraged and the game continues to be fun!

Math
Ask your child to retrieve various quantities of items for you. Have him help you set the table for dinner and ask “Please get four napkins.” This is a fun and easy way to practice counting, a skill that will be targeted throughout Kindergarten.

Model sorting items for your child then ask her to practice. While playing, say “I’m putting all the cows over here and the pigs over here.” Then ask your child to put all the chickens together, and so on. Grouping or sorting is an important pre-math skill for your child to attain.

Social Skills
Maintain a schedule. If your child just finished preschool, he is likely used to a routine that involves getting up in the morning and getting ready for school. Maintain a similar schedule this summer so back-to-school time doesn’t involve early morning chaos!

Give your child orally-presented directions. For example, tell your child “Get the blue block and give it to Daddy.” Having your child follow one and two step directions prepares her to process language as well as comply with known instructions, skills necessary for kindergarten.

When playing with peers or siblings, ensure your child is taking turns with toys and games. Your child could be in a class of 20 children come September and will have to take turns with materials and toys every day. Preparing him to wait will make it easier for him in his class in the fall.

The most important thing you can do to prepare your child for school is to make learning a fun and natural family activity. Drills and repetitious practice of skills at this age may develop stress and fear of school in your child. Introducing simple math, reading, and social skills to your child will get him started on the path to success!

Jennifer Cerbasi teaches at a public school for children on the autism spectrum in New Jersey. As a coordinator of Applied Behavioral Analysis programs in the home, she works with parents to create and implement behavioral plans for their children in an environment that fosters both academic and social growth. In addition to her work both in the classroom and at home, she is also a member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Whether at the park, on the beach or in your own backyard, a family picnic is a great way to spend time together while bonding over delicious food and fun activities. Unfortunately, traditional picnic foods, like dips and mayonnaise-based salads, can wreak havoc on anyone’s health. With a little modification, you can enjoy a picnic without compromising your waistline and while keeping your family happy and healthy!

Colorful Crisp Produce:
Go raw! Get your picnics off to a ‘fruitful’ start by packing your cooler with a wide variety of colorful fruits. The more colorful produce you add to your menu, the healthier the meal. If they are in season, there is nothing quite like a juicy watermelon to finish the meal. Sliced apples, berries and dried fruit like raisins and dried apricots are perfect travel snacks without the mess of fruits you have to peel. Of course, don’t forget to pack your cooler with a burst of color from vegetables, providing your family picnic with antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. Try baby carrots, slices of celery, cucumbers and peppers, cherry tomatoes and broccoli. All of these are perfect for dipping into low-fat or fat-free dressings for a fun and nutritious snack.

Powerful Protein:
Pack slices of lean chicken, turkey, ham or roast beef and top them on a salad or sandwich for a delicious, healthy meal. Nuts can also boost your protein and fiber intake when sprinkled onto salads, but note-to-self: Watch your portions, because although they are high in healthy fat, the calories can quickly add up.

Say cheese! An ounce or two of low-fat cheese adds bold and tasty flavors to any sandwich, cracker or salad. Low-fat or fat-free yogurts make a yummy fruit dip, a savory veggie dip or just a plain old snack. If you’re bringing a grill, store lean chopped turkey, lean steaks and chicken at a safe temperature in a cooler. When grilling, avoid food poisoning or dangerous situations by making sure you follow instructions on how to properly clean, grill, and serve these meats.

Hearty Whole-Grains:
Refined breads, rolls and starchy pasta salads can pile on lots of calories and little fiber. Choose whole-grain products like whole-wheat rolls or whole-wheat pita bread, for an added boost of fiber and nutritional value without sacrificing taste. Bring along whole-wheat tortillas—kids love the fun shape of a rolled up sandwich. Turkey and veggies, lean ham and low-fat cheese, and peanut butter and jelly are all great options for fillings. Another kid tip: Use a potato chip bag clip to seal your wrap and keep the healthy contents from going to waste!

Delectable Desserts:
Berries, cherries and apples — oh my!  Instead of baking them in a cobbler, which can be over 400 calories a slice, arrange a colorful fruit platter or fruit salad, which is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Top your fruit with single-serving, low-fat puddings which are easy to store and mess-free, or add a dollop of fat-free whipped cream to tantalize your taste buds. If you can’t help but indulge in cakes or cookies, opt for ones that are low-fat and high in fiber, like World of Grain cookies. Pack along high-fiber cereals to add to yogurt with berries for a delicious parfait. 

Best Beverages:
It’s so easy to become dehydrated without even knowing it, especially when you are outdoors playing in the sun, hiking or tanning. Kids are especially prone to losing fluids, and often don’t want to interrupt their fun to drink. Beat the heat with plenty of ice water, sparkling water, unsweetened iced tea and an assortment of low-calorie beverages. You can freeze water bottles the night before and use as cold packs to keep food and drinks cold.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of www.Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Q: What are the drugs that have been mentioned in connection with Jackson’s death and how do they work?
A: Propofol (Diprovan): A powerful intravenous sedative — not a DEA controlled substance — was found on the premises. It is used by anesthesiologists to put a patient to sleep before general anesthesia and surgery, or alone in a surgical suite for an elective procedure such as a colonoscopy or biopsy. Only small doses are necessary to be effective, and it can easily be misused by an untrained health professional leading to a respiratory arrest.

Narcotics: Demoral, Percocet, Vicodan — there are varied reports of prescriptions for these being found. All can lead a patient to stop breathing or sustain a cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest if overdosed — especially if used in combination. These are controlled substances and prescriptions are subject to DEA review. Misuse can lead to loss of license or criminal prosecution.

Sedatives: A prescription for Xanax was reportedly found. This can also lead to supressed breathing.

Q: What are the questions about substandard care that surrounded Jackson’s death?
A: Excess prescriptions of narcotics and sedatives. When he stopped breathing, no opiate antagonist (narcan) was given to reverse the effects of narcotics. The doctor in residence did not coordinate the 911 call. CPR was done on the bed without a backboard, rather than on the floor where more force could be administered to the heart. No defibrillator was available, and no mouth-to-mouth breathing was reportedly given.

Q: Why is there a delay in getting the autopsy results?
A: The initial autopsy apparently showed no structural damage to the heart to explain his death. There is speculation that prescription drugs contributed to or caused Jackson’s sudden death, and initial toxicology reports may soon be ready. More extensive reports take longer because they look at blood and hair to quantify the exact amounts and combinations that could have led to his death. This will include a microscopic examination of the brain itself, which could show the effects of drugs and help determine the exact cause of death.

Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News medical contributor and writes a health column for the LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear“ and “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.” Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com

Each year millions of us have the not so enjoyable experience of getting bitten by a mosquito, especially during the summer months almost everywhere! Are there more mosquitos or more of us getting bitten? Yup, according to a recent study which found a three fold increase in bites over the past decade or so?  This could be just another effect of global warming. 

What is the reason why some of us experience a larger reaction (increased area of swelling and redness at the bite site) vs. those who seem to have pretty low key reactions? The answer may be in whether or not you are sensitive to the proteins present in the insect’s saliva; hence you are allergic to mosquito bites!

There are a variety of reactions mosquito bites may cause, varying from a small amount of redness, swelling and itchiness, all the way up to those who experience extensive redness and swelling.  Rarely, a full blown generalized allergic reaction (Skeeter’s syndrome) can be seen as well.  In fact one of my patients recently required emergency department treatment, including intravenous medication for a severe reaction to her bites. 

Get tested for mosquito allergy!

Recently, I have begun performing an in-office, quick, simple skin test to determine if you are truly “allergic” or sensitive to mosquitoes.   Always consult with your health care provider if you experience large generalized reactions after getting bitten by a mosquito, or another insect.  Evaluation is mandatory for those who have experienced a generalized allergic type reaction to any biting, or stinging insect.   Be prepared if you seem to get lots of bad mosquito bites.  Have a mosquito bite treatment plan in place.

An ounce of prevention is worth a lot.

That means defensive measures really work and may give you a leg up in avoiding “the bite!” First, those who smell nice (use scented products) and sweat a lot may be more attractive to mosquitoes.  Second, prime biting times are usually dawn and dusk.  Third, wearing long sleeves and pants (tucked in to shoes) reduces exposed areas, particularly if you will be hiking or walking in a wooded area. 

How to repel

There is a variety of DEET-containing insect repellent products ranging from a concentration of 5-10 percent, all the way up to 30-40 percent.  The strength of the DEET will dictate how long (hours) you may remain “bite-free.”  Alternatively, natural (eucalyptus oils, etc) insect repellent products are available.  Use these products as directed on the label.

Now if you are unlucky and get bitten, bite treatment can provide significant relief.  Cleaning the area of the bite is essential, and using an over the counter or a prescription strength steroid cream will reduce itch and localized discomfort.  Remember, a cool ice compress will also reduce swelling.

Hope this helps to keep you bite free, and take the “sting” out of summer!

Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine. He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. No information in this blog is intended as medical advice to any reader or intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.

Dear Mr. Jackson:

The occasion of your child’s death is a moment when all parents, including me, offer you every wish for strength and God’s healing power in the face of your loss.  Any father or mother can sense the tragedy it is to lose a son or daughter, yet no one who has not suffered such a loss can truly know your pain.

I would write no more than this were it not for the fact that you have used the occasion of your son’s passing and the attendant publicity to also promote your own business ventures, including your new record label.  This makes me feel it important, as a psychiatrist with access to the media, to reach out to you, with other parents and their adult children “listening” in. 

The foundation of our nation assures each person in this great country of certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Great leaders and courageous soldiers have safeguarded these rights for our citizens, and they would make a decent Bill of Rights for parents raising children, too.  Fathering a child, you see, means far more than participating in a child’s conception and witnessing his birth; it means doing everything possible to optimize that child’s life.  This requires many acts of love and self-sacrifice. It pays immeasurable dividends in the growing self-confidence and autonomy you witness developing in the child you care so much about.

Somehow, perhaps because of pain suffered in your own early life experience, you stole that God-given potential for healthy development from your son.  You have admitted lashing him with a belt or a switch when he failed to perform dance steps to your standards.  According to him, you called him ugly when acne affected him as a teenager.  You brutalized him by placing your own pathologic need for control and for “success” above his needs for security and comfort and self-esteem.  In a very real way, you buried enough of his love for himself that he was no longer comfortable with his race or age or sexuality or even his great fortune.  Trying to please a father who beats you with a belt for missing a dance step will do that to you.

Now, even when saying goodbye to your son, you think of yourself and your business.  You are deprived of a purer life and love.  This makes me feel badly for you, but feel worse for the son you injured so deeply. 

Some will see you only as a monster.  I know that monsters are made through cruelties suffered in life; they never spring fully-formed onto the planet.

In your quiet moments, I hope that you can dig up the roots of the emotional and physical violence you visited upon your child.  One of the wonderful things about still being on the planet is that you always have some chance to win back the potential for real humanity buried inside you.  

Here’s a hint:  Success or failure in becoming human isn’t measured in record sales or reflected in the lenses of television cameras.  You have to look much, much deeper.