As COVID-19 has surged throughout the United States for the past year and a half, some may have picked up an old bad habit or started a new one. How do researchers know this? They discovered that cigarette sales jumped during the first 15 months of the pandemic, exceeding their own estimates by 14%. It’s… read on > read on >
Flu activity in the United States is 23% higher so far this season than in 2020, sales of flu medications at Walgreens suggest. The significant increase shown by the company’s analysis of its own data reflects the historically low levels of flu last year as people stayed home, wore masks and got a record number… read on > read on >
Dust mites and smoke are known triggers of asthma in children. Now, scientists have identified previously unknown combinations of air pollutants that appear tied to the respiratory disorder. “Asthma is one the most prevalent diseases affecting children in the United States. In this study, we developed a list of air pollutants a young child may… read on > read on >
It is a fear that millions of parents have been harboring since the pandemic began: Will their children fall behind in school due to disruptions caused by lockdowns, closings and social distancing? A new U.S. poll finds that fear is widespread, with just over half of more than 3,000 parents and caregivers of children under… read on > read on >
The answer to helping kids with “lazy eye” before it’s too late could be a hand-held screening device, a new study suggests. Amblyopia can’t be treated with glasses or contact lenses after a child’s vision reaches maturity, and without treatment, it can lead to poor school performance and impairments in depth perception and fine motor… read on > read on >
The number of Americans seeking treatment for anxiety and depression has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating what a leading medical association terms a “mental health tsunami.” That’s the key takeaway from a nationwide survey of psychologists by the American Psychological Association (APA). “[The findings] highlight what we have been saying since the early days… read on > read on >
Researchers have created a six-stage process to help families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) deal with the disorder. “This framework is family-centered, focused on breaking down the barriers that families face from before diagnosis to preparing children with ADHD for the future,” said Dr. Andrea Spencer, director of the Reach for ADHD… read on > read on >
Gender-affirming breast removal (mastectomy) can greatly enhance a patients’ mental well-being, a new study finds. Gender-affirming mastectomy is the most common type of gender-confirming surgery, but there’s “not a lot of information out there about how exactly these types of surgeries help people,” said study co-author Dr. Megan Lane. She is a plastic surgery resident… read on > read on >
Preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rarely receive the gold-standard treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for their condition, a new study reports. The AAP recommends a behavioral therapy technique called “parent training in behavior management,” or PTBM, as first-line treatment for ADHD kids ages 4 and 5. But only 1… read on > read on >
Affordable over-the-counter hearing aids could soon bring relief to millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss, under a landmark proposal announced Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The proposal would create a category of hearing aids that could be sold directly to consumers, without either a medical exam or a fitting by an… read on > read on >
