Dr. Puja Natesan

09/27/2025

09/23/2025

ACOG reaffirms the safety and benefits of acetaminophen use during pregnancy.
More than two decades of research have found no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children. Acetaminophen continues to be an important and safe option for managing pain and fever in pregnancy—conditions that can pose serious risks to pregnant patients and their fetuses if left untreated. Learn more about acetaminophen use during pregnancy: https://bit.ly/4mqIzWr

09/23/2025

Today’s White House event on autism was filled with dangerous claims and misleading information that sends a confusing message to parents and expecting parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals.

We know autism is complex, highly variable and increasingly linked to genetics. Individualized plans, often involving a combination of developmental, behavioral, educational and social-relational strategies, can help improve outcomes that are meaningful to individuals and families. We also need and welcome additional investments in federally funded research to better support families of autistic children.

Families who have questions about their child’s medications, autism care plans or other health care should consult with their pediatrician or health care provider.
https://bit.ly/4gBDNEc

09/19/2025

09/16/2025

There’s no perfect sleeping position for sciatica pain. But you may find that one of these options works best for you.

09/16/2025

To protect as many people as possible, AAP recommends that every newborn get the Hepatitis B vaccine as soon as they’re born. Why? Because if a mother has hepatitis B, she can pass it to her baby during birth... and many with hepatitis B don’t know they have it until they face serious liver problems later in life.

Often times, when adults are infected with hepatitis B, their immune system is able to overcome the virus so that it’s no longer a threat. But babies' immune systems aren’t as strong, so vaccinating newborns just after delivery allows their immune system to fight the infection quickly if exposed.

Learn more about the importance of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth from NBC News at the link below.
https://nbcnews.to/4gqnkCY

09/10/2025

09/10/2025

Something isn’t adding up near Coldwater Creek and Mercy’s Dr. Gautam Agarwal says it’s time to pay closer attention. He’s encouraging families in that area to get screened early after seeing patterns in patients that are hard to ignore. His message reached a global audience through BBC News: https://bbc.in/3IMPjzZ

09/04/2025

If you have diabetes, heat can affect your blood sugar — especially if you use insulin or your blood sugars aren’t effectively managed. Hot weather may affect your blood sugar levels depending on:

What you’ve eaten
Whether you’re well-hydrated
Your activity level

If your blood sugars are mostly higher than 250 mg/dl, you should improve your blood sugar before engaging in heavy physical activity, regardless of the climate and the temperature.

Humidity can also play a role. Moist heat means your sweat takes longer to evaporate and can cause your body to work harder to cool you off.

Here’s how the heat can affect you:

🔴It may cause low or high blood sugar
🔴It may lead to dehydration
🔴It may damage your diabetes medication and equipment

Diabetes doesn’t have to sideline you from fun outdoor activities. You may just need to find the right time of day to enjoy summer (or another time of year).

09/04/2025

The AAP believes every family should have access to immunizations to keep their community healthy. Schools are an important part of that community, but close contact with other kids makes it easy for contagious diseases to spread quickly. That’s why most schools require routine childhood immunizations. When everyone in a school is vaccinated, it’s harder for diseases to spread.

Today, Governor DeSantis shared his plans to end vaccine requirements in the state of Florida. We are concerned that today's announcement will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community.
https://wapo.st/4p7bTnE