Buying new clothes for an upcoming holiday trip may top your to-do list, but packing the right medications can mean addressing health needs with ease rather than scrambling to find an all-night drugstore in a strange city. Prescription medications are the top priority, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bring enough… read on >
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all kids get the annual flu shot. Each year, up to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, the academy says. Here’s the group’s list of things to know about the flu shot: The flu vaccine is recommended for… read on >
When trying to choose the perfect toys for kids this holiday, consider the age of the child first, a leading pediatricians’ group says. Buying toys that are too advanced can be not only frustrating for kids, but also dangerous, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). When children receive age-appropriate toys they are more… read on >
Holidays, and all of the chocolate goodies that come with the celebrations, can be particularly dangerous for dogs, researchers warn. Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. In dogs, it can cause vomiting, increased heart rate, agitation and seizures. In their study, British researchers discovered that dogs were over four times… read on >
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season often demands spending too much time on your feet. The American Podiatric Medical Association suggests these remedies: Moisturizefeet daily to help avoid dry, cracked and irritated skin. Raise, point and curl your toes throughout the day. Get a foot rub, which is a great way to release… read on >
As time gets tight for holiday gift-buying, you might have an urge to grab whatever’s still on the shelf. But when it comes to toys, keep safety in mind, health experts say. The first step is to check the age recommendation on the toy’s label. “Parents often think their child will ‘grow into’ a toy,… read on >
Faced with hectic holiday schedules, parents often ask family and friends to pitch in and babysit their children. But many parents fail to provide critical information about what to do in an emergency, a new survey finds. Less than half of parents with children aged 5 and under posted emergency contact information, such as parents’… read on >
Colorful lights and candles can make the holidays sparkle, but child safety should be a priority when decking the halls or trimming a tree, a leading pediatricians’ group says. Christmas trees adorn many homes during the holidays but they can pose fire and other safety hazards if certain precautions aren’t taken, the American Academy of… read on >
All-nighters are a favorite pastime for many college kids who cram for exams at the last minute. But the resulting lack of sleep is anything but healthy, the National Sleep Foundation says. The foundation says doing an all-nighter may: Make you forgetful. Lead to weight gain. Affect your mood. Affect your circadian rhythm, the 24-hour… read on >
Carefully targeted deep brain stimulation might one day enhance long-term memory, a small study suggests. The experiment involved just 14 epilepsy patients, all of whom had undergone an invasive procedure to insert electrodes deep within their brains as a means of identifying the source of future seizures. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the researchers asked… read on >
