Though the maker of Juul e-cigarettes has claimed its product is aimed at adult smokers trying to quit, almost a quarter of the company’s Twitter followers are under 18, a new study finds. And many of these young fans are retweeting the company’s messages, investigators added. The findings are cause for worry, the University of… read on >
All Mommy:
Experts Sound Warning About ‘Baby Boxes’
Cardboard baby boxes are gaining fans, but are they as safe as cribs and bassinets? Experts say no. Without supporting evidence, “the cardboard baby box should not be promoted as a safe sleeping space, but as only a temporary substitute if nothing else is available,” said Peter Blair, a professor at the University of Bristol… read on >
Preeclampsia Tied to Tripling of Dementia in Later Life
High blood pressure during pregnancy can be a sign of preeclampsia — a potentially life-threatening complication. Now, new research suggests preeclampsia might also make women more vulnerable to a specific type of dementia. Women with a history of preeclampsia were 3.4 times more likely to suffer from vascular dementia later in life, the researchers found.… read on >
U.S. Birth Rates Continue to Drop as Age of New Moms Rises
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018American women are having fewer children, and they’re having them later in life, a new government report shows. “Overall, we saw continuing decreasing trends in total fertility,” said report author Danielle Ely, a health statistician at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease… read on >
Number of Autism Genes Now Tops 100
The number of genes known to be associated with autism now stands at 102, researchers report. They also said that they’ve made significant progress in distinguishing between genes associated with autism and those associated with intellectual disability and developmental delay, conditions that often overlap with autism. The analysis of more than 37,000 genetic samples collected… read on >
Head Blows Without Concussion May Not Damage Brain, Study Claims
Young football players who suffer repeated head blows — but not concussions — may not sustain brain damage, a new study suggests. For the study, researchers followed 112 football players, aged 9 to 18, during the 2016 season. “We expected repetitive impacts to correlate with worsening neurocognitive [brain] function, but we found that sub-concussive head… read on >
Countries That Ban Spanking See Less Teen Violence: Study
Nations that officially frown upon hitting kids as a form of punishment appear to have teens who are less prone to violence, new research suggests. In countries that have a complete ban on corporal punishment (spanking and slapping), the rates of physical fighting among teens are as much as 69 percent lower than in countries… read on >
Kids’ Concussion Symptoms May Persist for a Year
A year after a concussion, up to one-third of kids still have symptoms such as headache and irritability that may affect school performance, a new study finds. “Children with all types of injuries may show post-concussion symptoms,” said lead researcher Linda Ewing-Cobbs, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical… read on >
What Kids — and Parents — Fear Most at the Doctor’s Office
Fear of doctors is common among American preschoolers, and a trip to the pediatrician’s office can cause equal anxiety for Mom and Dad. Half of 2- to 5-year-olds are afraid of going to the doctor, according to a new survey of 726 parents. And some kids get so upset that 1 in 5 parents say… read on >
C-Section Rates Have Nearly Doubled Since 2000: Study
The number of women delivering babies via cesarean section has nearly doubled worldwide since 2000, to about 21 percent, new research shows. That’s significantly higher than the 10 percent to 15 percent considered medically necessary, researchers said. When complications develop, C-sections can save the lives of mothers and their babies. But the surgery is not… read on >