Dr Joe Cangas - MD

Dr Joe Cangas - MD Concierge Pediatrician | Practice Advisor

02/07/2026
01/17/2026

Children with ADHD often experience the world more intensely, including emotional cues from their parents. Research shows they are especially sensitive to anger, which can affect behavior and emotional regulation.

Even mild frustration or raised voices may trigger stronger reactions than expected. Their brains process stress signals differently, making them more prone to anxiety, shutdowns, or impulsive responses when confronted with anger.

Understanding this sensitivity is essential for parents. Responding with calm, consistency, and patience helps children feel safe while learning to manage emotions. It also prevents escalation and supports better communication.

Practical strategies include taking deep breaths, modeling emotional control, and using gentle language. Acknowledging the child’s feelings, rather than focusing on discipline alone, strengthens trust and teaches coping skills. Over time, these approaches improve attention, self-control, and social interactions.

Parents who adapt their responses and create a low-stress environment help children with ADHD thrive. Sensitivity to anger is not a weakness—it is part of how their brains function. Supporting emotional safety fosters confidence, resilience, and healthier parent-child relationships.

01/16/2026

Spring is almost here, and that means bikes will be back out on the streets. 🚲
We want to make sure kids are riding safely — and we need help from our community to do it.

We are currently looking for:

🚔 Police partners
Departments that want to distribute free helmets to kids and reward those who wear them.

💛 Donations
Every dollar goes directly toward purchasing helmets for children who need them.

🏢 Grant support
Does your business — or one you know — give to local nonprofits? We’d love to connect about funding helmet programs for kids.

If you or your organization can help in any of these ways, please reach out. Together we can make this biking season safer for kids.

I still believe that, for most routine childhood vaccines, the benefits outweigh the risks. That has not fundamentally c...
01/12/2026

I still believe that, for most routine childhood vaccines, the benefits outweigh the risks. That has not fundamentally changed.

What has changed is my trust in the institutions that are supposed to evaluate and communicate medical science honestly.

Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics were created to advocate for children, not to protect pharmaceutical, political, or bureaucratic interests. When dissenting physicians are silenced, legitimate safety questions are dismissed, and policies are driven by fear of liability, politics, or public optics rather than transparent data, trust erodes.

Good medicine is not blind obedience. It is ongoing, critical evaluation of risk, benefit, and individual patient circumstances.

Parents deserve nuanced, honest conversations — not slogans, pressure, or shaming. Physicians should be allowed to question, debate, and improve guidelines without being labeled dangerous for doing so.

Medicine only works when the people making policies are accountable, transparent, and willing to revise positions when the data changes. We must be open to viewing all data objectively.

Stop saying 'i believe in science'Medicine is full of recommendations that were once labeled “science-based” and later r...
01/08/2026

Stop saying 'i believe in science'

Medicine is full of recommendations that were once labeled “science-based” and later revised or abandoned:

• Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets
• Margarine over butter
• Grains as the base of the food pyramid
• Delaying allergenic foods in infants
• Routine antibiotics for common infections
• Universal hormone replacement therapy
• Bed rest for back pain
• Stress as the cause of ulcers

At the time, these were taught, published, and defended with confidence.

Then better data emerged — and guidance changed.

That’s not science being wrong.
That’s science doing its job.

The problem arises when people treat current guidelines as permanent truth rather than best available understanding.

Real science requires:
• Humility
• Ongoing questioning
• Willingness to revise conclusions
• Acceptance of uncertainty

So instead of saying “I believe in science,”
a more accurate statement would be:

“I’m open to changing my mind as evidence evolves.”

That’s how progress actually happens

There was a time when antibiotics were prescribed for almost everything—ear infections, sore throats, colds, “just in ca...
01/08/2026

There was a time when antibiotics were prescribed for almost everything—ear infections, sore throats, colds, “just in case.”

Over time, doctors learned something important: more treatment is not always better treatment.

We saw rising antibiotic resistance, more side effects, and long-term consequences we hadn’t fully appreciated. So prescribing habits changed. Guidelines evolved. Stewardship became part of good medicine.

Not everywhere, and not all at once—but enough to matter.

Medicine is supposed to do this: observe outcomes, learn from experience, and adjust when evidence shows a better path forward.

That same mindset applies to vaccines, childhood weight, parenting decisions—and even nutrition guidance like the food pyramid—where evolving evidence has pushed us to rethink long-held assumptions.

01/06/2026

Medicine advances by questioning prior assumptions.

A fair question: Are today’s vaccine recommendations driven by improved data — and were some earlier policies influenced by politics (and/or money) rather than pure science?

Great news!Beginning January 1, 2026: HSA Funds MAY Be Used to Pay DPC FeesThe IRS now recognizes Direct Primary Care me...
12/22/2025

Great news!

Beginning January 1, 2026:

HSA Funds MAY Be Used to Pay DPC Fees

The IRS now recognizes Direct Primary Care membership fees as eligible medical expenses, meaning:

Patients may use HSA dollars to pay DPC monthly or annual membership fees
Payments may be made tax-free from an HSA, beginning in 2026

This gives patients greater flexibility and affordability when choosing DPC.

--------

And:
DPC Will NOT Disqualify HSA Eligibility

Patients enrolled in a qualifying DPC arrangement may continue to contribute to an HSA, provided they are otherwise HSA-eligible (i.e., enrolled in a qualifying High-Deductible Health Plan).

Under prior IRS interpretations, DPC was often treated as “other coverage,” which could disqualify HSA contributions. That barrier is now removed.

We’re seeing a high number of flu cases right now (even in my home!), so I wanted to share a few reminders on prevention...
12/22/2025

We’re seeing a high number of flu cases right now (even in my home!), so I wanted to share a few reminders on prevention and early treatment.

To reduce your risk:

Wash hands frequently and avoid touching your face

Stay home if you’re sick to prevent spread

Cover coughs and sneezes

Get adequate sleep and stay hydrated

If symptoms start (fever, body aches, headache, cough, fatigue):

Rest and hydrate early

Fever reducers can help with comfort

Seek medical advice early if symptoms are significant, worsening, or if you’re in a higher-risk group (young children, chronic conditions, asthma, immune compromise)

Antiviral treatment can be helpful when started early in appropriate cases

If you’re unsure whether symptoms warrant evaluation, reach out sooner rather than later—early guidance can make a difference.

Stay healthy.

— Dr. Joe

11/11/2025
Are you looking for option for your family? I have a great, nationwide broker that can guide you to find the best and mo...
11/05/2025

Are you looking for option for your family? I have a great, nationwide broker that can guide you to find the best and most affordable policies including traditional insurance and sharing plans.

It’s Open Enrollment Season

Many families I work with are shocked at how expensive traditional health insurance has become.

Health-sharing programs can be a powerful, more affordable alternative—especially for healthy families or those wanting more flexibility and choice in their care.

Here are my top three recommendations (I like them so much I have affiliate links :) :

Impact Health Sharing

A modern, transparent approach to medical cost sharing.
• Straightforward pricing structure
• Virtual care options included
• Great for families, small businesses, and individuals paying high premiums
Affiliate link: https://bit.ly/sltimpact

Zion HealthShare

Simple and predictable model that lets you choose your own providers.
• Easy-to-understand “Initial Unshareable Amount” structure
• Flexible membership options
• Strong option for freelancers or families looking outside traditional insurance
Affiliate link: https://zionhealthshare.org?affiliate=171537

Medi-Share

One of the most established and trusted sharing ministries.
• Faith-based community with national reach
• Offers telemedicine and wellness benefits
• Ideal for families who prefer a values-aligned approach
Affiliate link: https://bit.ly/3IUtlHk

If you want help deciding which option fits your family best, I’m happy to walk you through differences in pricing, benefits, flexibility, and eligibility.

Message me to get started.

11/02/2025

All subscriptions are for one year, regardless if paid annually or monthly. Plans auto-renew if not canceled 60 days prior to the end of the term.

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Dallas City, IL

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