Many parents think it couldn’t happen to their kids, but the number of children and teens admitted to children’s hospitals for thoughts of self-harm or suicide is alarming. Each year 4,600 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 take their own lives, and 157,000 are treated in emergency departments for self-inflicted injuries, according… read on >
Experts agree that detecting breast cancer early offers a better outlook, but when to start screenings and how often to have them has changed repeatedly. The goal has been to balance early detection with the distress of false positives that lead to unnecessary testing. But leading medical organizations differ regarding the guidelines, making it incumbent… read on >
Green tea is a popular health trend, with many people sipping in hopes of deriving benefits from the brew. There’s nothing wrong with that, dietitians say — green tea is a healthy drink loaded with antioxidants. But the jury’s still out on many of its purported health benefits. “Clinical trials related to green tea are… read on >
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods including fatty fish and flaxseed, may be best known for their link to heart health, but they’re also vital for pregnant women and their babies. These important nutrients have been linked to a reduced risk for depression for mom and a better birth weight for baby along with improved… read on >
Many parents of lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) children take years to adjust after learning about their sexual orientation, a new study finds. The study included more than 1,200 parents of LGB youth aged 10 to 25. The parents visited a website with LGB resources and were asked to complete a questionnaire. Of those parents,… read on >
Putting baby in unsafe sleep conditions can be deadly, but is done all too often, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, there are more than 3,500 sleep-related deaths among infants in the United States each year. To keep your baby safer while sleeping, the CDC urges: Place your baby on the… read on >
Drug overdoses and suicide are common causes of death among women who die within a year of giving birth, a new study finds. In fact, in the study based on data from California, these two causes accounted for nearly 20% of postpartum deaths from 2010 to 2012. “These deaths are rare but devastating for families,”… read on >
Take a stroll down the beauty products aisle and you’ll see rows of colorful packages, even some with pictures of fruit on them. It’s easy to see how about a dozen kids a day end up in the emergency room due to exposure to these enticing chemical concoctions. Over a 15-year period, nearly 65,000 youngsters… read on >
Many children have difficulty with learning at some point, but those with learning disabilities often have several specific and persistent signs, which can start in preschool years. Recognizing them as soon as possible allows a child to get needed help and make better progress. General signs include difficulty with reading, writing, math skills, understanding or… read on >
With thousands of kids heading to camp for the summer, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some tips for keeping them safe and happy. In a new report, the group recommends that all children have a checkup before leaving for camp. Parents should also know what health services the camp has and talk with… read on >
