When birth rates fall in the United States, experts try to figure out what’s happening. The fertility rate is at its lowest since the 1970s — 1.71 per woman, according to a new study. But it’s not that young people today don’t want children, new research suggests. In fact, they want about as many as… read on > read on >
COVID-19 infection in pregnancy raises a woman’s risk of death sevenfold and significantly elevates her odds for needing intensive care, a new study finds. Getting the virus during pregnancy also ups the likelihood of pneumonia, according to researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. “This study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date suggesting… read on > read on >
A Texas-based education initiative has found that enrolling children in poor communities in gardening and cooking classes may help boost their long-term health. Called “Texas Sprouts,” the program covered one full academic year and exposed elementary school children in 16 low-income schools access to outdoor gardening instruction, nutrition information and cooking lessons. Parents were offered… read on > read on >
A new study shows that many women diagnosed with and dying from cervical cancer are older than 65 — a group for whom routine screening is usually not recommended. Cervical cancer screening has been credited with a sharp drop in deaths from the disease in the decades since it was introduced in the United States.… read on > read on >
Cannabis use in U.S. states where recreational use is legal could be contributing to children’s asthma, according to new research. A study found increases in asthma in teens where cannabis is legal, compared to states where it remains banned for medicinal and recreational use. The study also found increased asthma in children in some minority… read on > read on >
If a study conducted at one St. Louis hospital is a good indicator, the COVID pandemic is tied to a surge in childhood injuries and deaths due to firearms. Black children and those in low-income households were at greater risk, according to the University of Missouri-led study. “We found a significant increase in pediatric firearm… read on > read on >
It’s never too late for an expectant mom to adopt healthy habits for her baby and herself. The American Heart Association (AHA) offers some heart-healthy tips. “Pregnancy is often a pivotal time in a woman’s life from both short- and long-term perspectives,” said Dr. Michelle Albert, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. “For some,… read on > read on >
Vaccinations among kindergarteners declined for the second year in a row, leaving hundreds of thousands of young children vulnerable to dangerous infectious diseases, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. About 93% of kindergarteners had their required vaccinations during the 2021-2022 school year, including the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis, polio and chickenpox vaccines, according to a new study… read on > read on >
Infants too young to be vaccinated for COVID-19 get some protection from their mothers’ breast milk, researchers say. The new study follows up on findings published in 2021 that showed the breast milk of vaccinated people contained antibodies against the COVID-19 virus. For the study, researchers analyzed infants’ stool. “Our first study showed there were… read on > read on >
When teenagers feel good about themselves and their lives, it may also do their hearts good in the long run, a new study suggests. Researchers found that teenagers who generally felt happy, optimistic and loved went on to show better cardiovascular health in their 20s and 30s, versus kids who lacked that level of mental… read on > read on >
