It’s been known for some time that when one parent is absent because of death, divorce or separation, kids are at higher risk for drinking alcohol and smoking than their counterparts in a two-parent household. A study done in the United Kingdom found that these risks rise even before the teen years, typically viewed as… read on >
Vaccination during childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to life-threatening diseases. If you choose to delay or reject vaccines for your children, there are important responsibilities you must assume to protect others, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC asks parents of unvaccinated children to:… read on >
Having a fussy baby doesn’t just rob a new mother of sleep — it can also increase her risk of depression, a new study finds. That fussiness, combined with premature birth, may significantly affect a new mother’s mood. “We found that maternal depression risk varied by gestational age and infant fussiness,” said senior study author… read on >
Children with autism may have trouble interpreting facial emotions in strangers, but research finds some are as “in-tune” with their mother’s expressions as kids without autism. The study included 4- to 8-year-olds with and without autism who viewed five facial expressions — happy, sad, angry, fearful and neutral — on both familiar and unfamiliar faces.… read on >
Add one more issue to the growing list of harms from opioid abuse: Long-term use may lead to hormone deficiencies that affect a man’s health. Researchers reviewed the latest medical evidence and found that about two-thirds of men using opioids for more than six months develop hypogonadism, which is insufficient testosterone production. The review also… read on >
A minimally invasive procedure called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) was as effective as the recommended surgery for treating fibroids in the uterus, a new study says. In UFE, the fibroid growths’ blood supply is cut off using a small tube. The new research found that this approach also led to fewer complications compared to myomectomy,… read on >
Pregnant women who work at least two night shifts in a week may increase their risk of miscarriage in the next seven days, a new European study finds. Danish researchers led by Dr. Luise Moelenberg Begtrup, from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital in Kobenhavn, analyzed data on nearly… read on >
Some 1.5 million people in the United States have an autism spectrum disorder. People with autism need family and friends to help evaluate what they need to be safe and protected, says Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks mentions some safety risks for people with autism: Wandering. Drowning. Household poisons. Misunderstanding due to communication issues. Source: HealthDay
Two medical groups have declared war on sodas and energy drinks by calling for taxes on what has become the leading source of sugar in the diets of children and teens. In a new joint policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Heart Association (AHA) also recommended a host of other… read on >
When it comes to reading to toddlers, apparently there is no substitute for an old-fashioned book. That’s according to new research that found paper books foster better parent-child interactions than electronic books do. This held true even when comparing print books against very basic e-readers that don’t contain distracting elements like sound effects or animation,… read on >
