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-…

We’ve read about it too often – a basketball player collapses on the court in the middle of a game; a youngster gets hit in the chest with a line drive and dies a few hours later; or an elderly person slumps over, unresponsive. Anyone who has ever witnessed a person in cardiac distress knows how frightening the scene can be – for both the patient and those nearby. Fair Lawn Police Officer Michael O’Brien said that while some events, like those mentioned above, cannot be avoided, tragedy can be prevented. “We all know that the most important thing to do is to call 9-1-1 as fast as possible, …

Eric Bortz obviously loves animals. He studied animal science and conservation in college, worked in zoos and helped care for small animals before joining the staff at the Park Ridge Animal Hospital last year. But he may have taken his love and fascination for exotic pets too far. The 25-year-old Fair Lawn man was bitten Monday by a cobra he recently purchased, and remains in critical condition at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. Fair Lawn police said Bortz bought three snakes—an albino monocled cobra, a copperhead and a timber rattlesnake—from a Pennsylvania dealer to add to his …

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 last weekend's blizzard. 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 and cause a lot of…

For most folks, family dinners and get-togethers with friends at Christmas time are as traditional as exchanging gifts and trimming the tree. But often we find that indulging in too many holiday goodies has gotten the best of us. But take heart, readers. You can avoid being stuffed for the holidays and still enjoy the feast by following a few simple tips. Too late, you say? Well, there's always time to help reduce the holiday bulge. TIPS TO AVOID THE HOLIDAY BULGE 1. Be a good food manager. Why stuff yourself with items that you can enjoy anytime of the year, like bread? Treat yourself to …

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. Carol Wagner, Director of Health and Human Services for Fair Lawn, said the borough has scheduled a flu clinic on Nov. 17 in the municipal building from 6-8 p.m. Three other clinics have already been held. "We are urging everyone to get a flu shot," said Wagner. "Even if you feel well, it's important, especially if you routinely come in contact with a lot of people or are caring for an infant or an …

Whenever my cousin Annie goes out to eat, she grills the waiter on the ingredients of every dish she orders. My son Lou seldom tries anything new on the menu, often opting to have dinner at home. My own choice of desserts is so limited I should be rail-thin (I'm not.) Are we picky customers? No. We have food allergies that can render us dreadfully ill, hospitalized or even dead if we're not extra careful. We're not alone. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, approximately 12 million Americans have food allergies, including more than a million who have severe …

It seems everywhere you turn lately, there's a story or report about concussions and student athletes. It's about time. For too long, kids have been patted on the backside and sent trotting back onto a field to "tough it out" for the team. That's not to say that the adults in charge–coaches, parents, supervisors–are wrong. Most times, if a kid takes a hit or gets knocked around in a game, he or she sits out for a while, catches his breath and tells the coach, "I'm okay." And most times, they are. But more in-depth studies and research has revealed that even a mild concussion is a brain trauma…