Danger on the road: Speeding and texting while driving are two common but risky behaviors among teens, a new study finds. Among teen drivers in the study, researchers found they drove over the speed limit on 40% of trips and held cellphones more than 30% of the time. In 5% of trips, teens sped and… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Gun Injuries to Kids Rose During Pandemic
Firearm sales in the United States broke records at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, researchers have found that firearm injuries to children also increased during the pandemic’s first two years compared to the preceding year. “We experienced an increase in pediatric firearm-related injuries in spite of a decrease in total pediatric emergency department… read on > read on >
Fractured Skulls, Broken Bones: Bike Injuries Still Common for Kids
Over 1 million U.S. children and teens — many of them male — have broken bones and fractured their skulls in bicycle injuries over the past 20 years, according to new research that brought together two decades of data. Boys aged 10 to 15 were particularly at risk. Nearly 87% of kids with skull fractures… read on > read on >
Could Synthetic Turf Raise Kids’ Odds for Injuries, Concussions?
At some schools, grassy sports fields have been replaced by easier-to-maintain synthetic turf. But it turns out that may be more likely to cause player injuries. Noting that synthetic turf football fields have been associated with more ankle and knee injuries, medical student Ian Chun studied differences in impact force between natural grass and turf… read on > read on >
1 in 7 U.S. High School Students Now Vapes
Teen vaping continues at concerning levels, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. About 2.5 million middle school and high school students reported that they had vaped in the past 30 days in 2022, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That was 14.1%… read on > read on >
Instagram ‘Post-Baby’ Body Shots Don’t Reflect Average Women
Millions of women routinely check Instagram after giving birth, only to see posts by other new moms showing off how fast they got back into svelte shape. Of course, photos like those can be a real downer for women who don’t have the time or resources to lose pregnancy weight that quickly. Are they “failures”… read on > read on >
Under 21? Many N.J. Stores Will Still Sell You Cigarettes
Though it is illegal nationwide to sell tobacco products to anyone under age 21, many New Jersey stores still do, an undercover study revealed. More than 40% of store visits by 18- to 20-year-olds in New Jersey resulted in purchase of cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, the study found. While customers in this age… read on > read on >
Another Sports Bonus for Kids: Healthier Eyes
Sometimes allergies can lead to pink, irritated eyes. But allergic conjunctivitis, or “pink eye” may have a simple fix: physical fitness. That’s the conclusion of researchers in Taiwan who tracked health data of more than 1.2 million children. The kids were examined at age 10, sometime between 2010 and 2018. The investigators also used Taiwan’s… read on > read on >
Severe Food Allergies Can Traumatize Kids, But New Program Helps Ease Fears
For a young child with life-threatening food allergies “the world looks like a minefield,” a New Jersey mother says. It’s a stress-filled landscape that financial adviser Amy Leis knows all too well. Her daughter Zoe was just a few months old when she suffered her first serious reaction to food, a potentially deadly event known… read on > read on >
CDC Warns of Possible Severe Flu Season Ahead
Australia is experiencing its worst flu season in five years, and that doesn’t bode well for the United States, federal health officials warned Tuesday. America’s flu season often mirrors what unfolds in Australia, where winter spans April through October. Making matters worse, only 49% of Americans plan to get a flu shot during the 2022-2023… read on > read on >