Just a few extra pounds during adolescence may translate into higher odds for heart disease in adulthood, a new study of young men suggests. It included about 1.7 million Swedish men who began military service at ages 18 or 19 between 1969 and 2005. They were followed for up to 46 years. During the follow-up,…  read on >

(HealthDay News) — Many American kids don’t don helmets when biking, skateboarding and riding scooters, a troubling new poll finds. Among more than 1,300 parents surveyed, 18% said their kids never wear helmets while biking, 58% said their kids don’t wear helmets while skateboarding, and 61% said their children don’t wear helmets when riding scooters,…  read on >

(HealthDay News) –Every year, thousands of people in the United States are injured or killed by guns, says KidsHealth. If you decide to keep a gun in your home, proper storage can help keep your family safe. If you have a gun at home, KidsHealth urges: Keep the gun unloaded and locked away. Lock the…  read on >

Breastfeeding’s benefits seem to stretch well beyond motherhood: New research suggests it may reduce a woman’s risk of heart disease when she’s older. And the longer a woman breastfeeds, the lower the risk. In the study, researchers assessed heart and blood vessel health in postmenopausal women, along with their breastfeeding history. After adjusting for other…  read on >

Suicide rates are on the rise among American children, but the increase is greatest among girls, a new study finds. “Overall, we found a disproportionate increase in female youth suicide rates compared to males, resulting in a narrowing of the gap between male and female suicide rates,” said study author Donna Ruch. She is a…  read on >

Coupons, samples, branded hats and T-shirts: When teens use or wear promotional items from companies that make alternative tobacco products like electronic cigarettes, they are more likely to try those products, new research shows. The study included 757 California teens, aged 13 to 19, who were followed for a year. At the beginning of the…  read on >

You know the scenario — your child has a meltdown, leaving you frustrated, embarrassed and arguing even though your brain says it’s a battle you’re not likely to win. Tantrums often start during the “terrible 2’s” because little ones can’t yet clearly voice their frustrations. But it’s never too late to correct the behavior, even…  read on >

Clues about your child’s physical development can be found in the way the child moves and plays, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By the age of 1, the CDC says most children can: Get into a sitting position without help. Walk while holding on to furniture. Take a few steps without…  read on >

More than 20 million babies are born across the globe weighing far less than they should, and the problem isn’t limited to low-income countries, new research shows. In 2015, nearly three-quarters of infants with low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds) were born in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. But low birth weights persist in…  read on >