A stressful or traumatic childhood experience — anything from parents divorcing to a sibling’s drug problem — may have long-term effects on a woman’s sexual health. These adverse childhood experiences may be linked to sexual inactivity and dysfunction in women later in life, a recent study reports. Health care providers should screen their patients with…  read on >  read on >

It’s important for men to be familiar with the warning signs of prostate cancer and get screened because it’s the second-leading cause of cancer death in men, an expert says. While there will be more than 288,000 diagnoses and nearly 35,000 deaths this year, there are also 3.5 million American men who have the disease…  read on >  read on >

Phthalates are commonly used in plastics, and researchers have now tied them to developmental issues in toddler boys who were exposed to the chemical in the womb. The new study links the chemicals to emotional and behavioral development issues in 2-year-old boys who were exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy. “Our findings … underscore…  read on >  read on >

It’s not unusual to experience driving anxiety. Living in cities with heavy traffic, five-lane highways and little public transportation can make it even harder. A psychologist offers some suggestions for easing those fears. “One of the biggest challenges centers around anxiety related to the trigger, and that can be exacerbated by a variety of things…  read on >  read on >

Nursing homes will soon have to meet federal minimum staffing requirements, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday. “Establishing minimum staffing standards for nursing homes will improve resident safety,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in an agency news release announcing the proposal. “When facilities are understaffed, residents suffer. They might be…  read on >  read on >

If your child is acting out and you’re looking for solutions, researchers at the University of Georgia’s Youth Development Institute suggest better sleep might be the answer. Getting more hours of slumber could reduce impulsive behavior in kids, their new study showed. “Stressful environments are shown to make adolescents seek immediate rewards rather than delayed…  read on >  read on >

Most fathers experience a decline in relationship satisfaction that can last for years after the baby is born, new research shows. “A good couple relationship during the transition to parenthood is important for parents’ mental health, involvement in parenting and bonding, as well as child development,” said lead author Judith Mack, a research associate at…  read on >  read on >