When it comes to analyzing the effects of watching reality TV, well, it’s complicated. While some see these shows as a brief escape from daily life, they can have negative effects on some viewers, including impressionable teens. Researchers asked 1,100 girls aged 11 to 17 about their viewing habits. On the one hand, watching reality…  read on >

You should speak with your children while they’re younger about the dangers of alcohol use and abuse, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests. Alcohol is the substance most frequently abused by teens, and leads to the greatest number of injuries and deaths from accidents and suicides among people in that age group, the academy says.…  read on >

If step-parenthood is in your future, there may be pending bumps in the road between you and your new spouse, your younger children and the children’s other parent. The Nemours Foundation suggests these steps toward an easier transition: Start slow, and do not rush the relationship. Stay conscious of the children’s ages, how long you…  read on >

As a highlight of his 2019 State of the Union address, President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his administration’s plan to rid the United States of new transmissions of HIV by 2030. “In recent years we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” Trump told the nation. “Scientific breakthroughs have brought…  read on >

Forget the mellow slacker image — pot smoking might actually make men more potent. Men who’ve smoked marijuana appear to have significantly higher sperm concentrations than those who’ve never given it a try, a new study reports. There’s also a potential link between pot use and testosterone, said senior researcher Dr. Jorge Chavarro. He’s an…  read on >

In states where marijuana is legal, teens smoking pot and then getting behind the wheel of a car is common, a new study finds. “There’s a general public zeitgeist that marijuana is a pretty safe drug,” said study co-author Darin Erickson, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. “In actuality,…  read on >

Bouncing around at a trampoline park can be great fun, but a new study warns it can also be an invitation to sprains, strains and broken bones. Nationwide, more than 100,000 emergency room visits were related to trampoline injuries in 2014, according to the latest data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries that…  read on >

When a person in his or her teens is depressed, there may be different warning signs than those shown by people older or younger, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. Here is the academy’s list of depression symptoms that typically affect teens: Trouble focusing, or showing signs of anxiousness. Anger, and frequent loss of…  read on >

Mammogram? Check. Pap test? Check. Blood pressure? Check. Hearing and vision? Check. Screenings are an important part of maintaining women’s health. They can detect disease when it’s most treatable and prevent serious problems, according to Dr. Lili Lustig. She is a family medicine specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio. To get the…  read on >

The benefits of breastfeeding are wide-ranging. For baby, they include protection against infections and illnesses, including asthma, as well as reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies breastfed for six months are also less likely to become obese. For mom, breastfeeding decreases the risks of breast and ovarian cancers. There are financial…  read on >