Smoking in the weeks before and after conception has a potentially unhealthy effect on an embryo, Dutch research shows. “Smoking not only impacts an embryo’s growth during pregnancy and birth weight, but also embryo development right from the very early stages of pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Melek Rousian, a gynecologist at Erasmus University Medical… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Stopped Early, Teen Drug Abuse Won’t Harm Life Success
If they quit early on, there’s a good chance that teenage drug abusers can still succeed in life, researchers say. The findings show the importance of stopping drug use by early adulthood in order to protect future health and well-being, according to Jake Najman, a professor at the University of Queensland in Australia, and co-author… read on > read on >
Insomnia Drug Might Also Ease Menopause Night Sweats
Hot flashes. Night sweats. Waking up at all hours throughout the night. Millions of women battle these stereotypical menopause symptoms for years. Now, a small study suggests that a drug used for both men and women who have sleep disorders might offer relief. Researchers compared women who took suvorexant (Belsomra) with those who took a… read on > read on >
Child Developmental Milestone Checklists Updated by CDC, AAP
Screen your young child early and often for developmental delays. That’s the message behind updated checklists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The checklists, revised for the first time since their release in 2004, outline developmental milestones for infants and young children, to help identify… read on > read on >
Does Your Child Have Asthma? Look for the Signs
If you’re wondering whether your child may have asthma, there are some tell-tale signs to look for, an expert says. Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in children and affects more than 6 million U.S. children. Despite being common, diagnosing asthma in children can be difficult because “there is no one-size-fits-all set of… read on > read on >
Poll Finds Most Parents Would Use CBD to Treat a Child — Is That Wise?
Cannabidiol (CBD) products are wildly popular among older adults for treating chronic pain and anxiety, and a new poll suggests that nearly three-quarters of U.S. parents think CBD might also be a good option for their kids when other meds don’t work. On the other hand, more than that — 83% — think CBD products… read on > read on >
Queen Elizabeth II Has COVID-19
Queen Elizabeth II has mild, cold-like symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19, according to Buckingham Palace. It added that despite the diagnosis on Sunday, the 95-year-old queen will continue with “light” duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week, the Associated Press reported. “She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the… read on > read on >
Use Antibiotics Sparingly After Birth to Preserve Newborn’s ‘Microbiome’
New research suggests that doctors should be cautious about giving newborns antibiotics because they can upset a baby’s gut microbiome — the balance of bacteria in their digestive systems. “We were surprised with the magnitude and duration of the effects of broad spectrum antibiotics on the infants’ microbiome when compared to effects of those same… read on > read on >
Many Challenges, But Pandemic Wasn’t All Bad for New Moms
While new mothers have faced many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had at least one positive impact, a new survey shows: They were able to have more quiet time with their newborns. That’s a key finding of the first known study to assess the experiences of U.S. women who had babies in the… read on > read on >
Signs of Autism Differ in Brains of Boys, Girls
Researchers have discovered differences between the brains of girls and boys with autism that they say may improve diagnosis of the developmental disorder in girls. “We detected significant differences between the brains of boys and girls with autism, and obtained individualized predictions of clinical symptoms in girls,” said study senior author Vinod Menon, a professor… read on > read on >