A woman’s risk of intentional death by firearm rises during and shortly after pregnancy, new research shows. About 1 in 6 intentional firearm-related deaths in women of childbearing age occurred during pregnancy or within a year of childbirth, the study found. Dr. Naima Joseph, of the Boston Medical Center, led the inquiry, which included data… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Youth Baseball Can Lead to Overuse Injuries: What Parents Need to Know
Baseball season is near, and one orthopedic surgeon is warning young players and their coaches and parents about the very real danger of overuse injuries. Dr. Mark Cohen is a hand, wrist and elbow surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH, in Chicago. He’s also an official team physician for the Chicago White Sox. “I’m a… read on > read on >
Use of Legal ‘Delta-8-THC’ Is Rising Among Teens – Is it Safe?
They’re cheap, easy to buy and now new research shows they have become the buzz of choice for American teens. Delta-8-THC products, which include gummies and vapes, are legal in 22 states and Washington, D.C. There is no federal minimum age requirement for buying them, and they are sold in gas stations, chain drug stores… read on > read on >
Early Menopause Can Mean Earlier Retirements for Women
Early menopause influences how working women feel about their ability to do a good job. That’s the key takeaway from a study of more than 2,600 Finnish women recently published online in the journal Menopause, a publication of the Menopause Society. Researchers wanted to know if entering menopause before age 45 affected women, when they… read on > read on >
Medical Costs for Kids’ Mental Health Jumped 31% in 5 Years
The cost to American families of caring for a child with a mental health condition rose by almost a third between 2017 and 2021, a new report finds, to an average $4,361 per year. Overall, American families spent an estimated $31 billion in 2021 on child mental health services, which now make up nearly half… read on > read on >
How After-School Programs Can Harm Teens’ Mental Health
Days clogged with numerous after-school activities are detrimental to the mental health of over-scheduled high school students, a new study finds. Researchers also found that these “enrichment’ activities — tutoring, sports, school clubs and even homework — are unlikely to benefit students academically. Many folks think extra study time or tutoring will lead to better… read on > read on >
U.S. School Shootings Have Risen 12-fold Since 1970
During the past half-century, the United States’ annual number of school shootings has increased more than twelvefold, a new study finds. What’s more, children are now four times more likely to be a school shooting victim, and the death rate from school shootings has risen more than sixfold. “Firearm violence is a public health crisis,… read on > read on >
ER Visits for Infant, Child Melatonin Poisonings Are Soaring
As more Americans pop over-the-counter melatonin to help them sleep, their young children are increasingly showing up in ERs after accidentally ingesting the supplements. A new report of data from 2012 through 2021 finds a 420% rise in such cases during that time, along with a 530% increase in calls to poison control centers from… read on > read on >
Alabama Passes Law Protecting IVF Following Frozen Embryo Ruling
Just three weeks after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered children, lawmakers in that state passed legislation that shields both patients and providers who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) from civil and criminal liability. Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed the bill into law shortly after it was passed by… read on > read on >
Drug-Emitting Vaginal Ring Safely Protects Pregnant Women From HIV
A vaginal ring that emits the antiviral dapivirine has passed safety trials and could shield vulnerable women against HIV infection during pregnancy, a new trial shows. “We now have data on the ring’s safety during all stages of pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Felix Mhlanga, a senior lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials… read on > read on >