While anyone can experience breast pain, don’t panic: It’s rarely cancer. Penn State Health offers some reassurance about what might cause the pain and when it might be time to have a mammogram. “We see a lot of patients who come looking for answers that have widespread, cyclical breast pain,” said Dr. Alison Chetlen, a… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Fiber: It’s Important to Your Child’s Diet, Too
Just like adults, children need lots of fiber in their diets. Fiber is part of what fuels a child’s normal growth and development. It helps them feel full longer, controls blood sugar levels, reduces cholesterol and promotes regular bowel movements, according to Children’s Health of Orange County, Calif. (CHOC). “We see improvements in disease management… read on > read on >
Siblings of Babies Who Died of SIDS May Also Face Higher Risk
Researchers have long struggled to figure out what causes a seemingly healthy baby to die suddenly in the first year of life, with an array of possible genetic and environmental factors to choose from. Now a large, Danish study has found that in families where one child has succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS),… read on > read on >
Childhood Autism Diagnosis Is Getting Better, But Not for Everyone
Autism cases are surging in the New York-New Jersey metro area, mainly fueled by the diagnosis of autistic children who don’t have intellectual disabilities, a new study reports. The percentage of kids identified with autism spectrum disorder rose from about 1% in 2000 to 3% in 2016 in that region, said lead researcher Josephine Shenouda,… read on > read on >
Updated Boosters Cut Risk of XBB Variant Infection by Nearly Half
In a finding that suggests the updated bivalent COVID booster shots are worth getting, new government data shows they cut the chances of infection with the new XBB variant by nearly half. While those ages 49 and under saw a 48% reduction in risk, the shots were slightly less effective in older individuals — about… read on > read on >
Mom’s Exposure to Dirty Air in Pregnancy Could Harm a Toddler’s Development
A mother-to-be’s exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby’s brain development, new research indicates. Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. “Our findings suggest that… read on > read on >
Preeclampsia in Pregnancy a Bad Sign for Women’s Future Heart Health
A new study finds troubling information about a link between the pregnancy complication preeclampsia and future heart attack, even in younger women. Danish researchers found a fourfold higher risk of heart attack and stroke within just seven years after delivery. Risks continued to be elevated more than 20 years later, according to findings published Jan.… read on > read on >
Could Bad Sleep in Teen Years Raise Risks for MS?
Teens who regularly fail to get a good night’s sleep may face a higher risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS) as adults, new research suggests. “We found that sleeping too little or experiencing poor sleep quality [as a teen] increased the risk of later developing MS by up to 50%,” said study author Dr. Anna… read on > read on >
As Opioid Deaths Rise Among Teens, Too Few Youth Get Anti-Addiction Drug
The number of American teenagers becoming addicted to opioids is on the rise, yet fewer are being prescribed a medication that can help them, a new government study finds. Between 2015 and 2020, the proportion of teens receiving buprenorphine prescriptions fell by 45%. Buprenorphine is one of three medications approved to treat opioid addiction. The… read on > read on >
Treating Menopausal Symptoms: An Expert Describes Pros, Cons
For women experiencing menopause symptoms with no sign of relief in sight, it doesn’t have to be this way. An expert in women’s health offers some suggestions for helping control symptoms during this time of life when menstrual cycles end. “We sometimes hear the question, ‘Do I need to treat hot flashes or night sweats?’… read on > read on >