Children face an increased risk for sleep problems if a parent suffers a serious injury, especially if the parent has a brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new study reveals. Researchers used U.S. Military Health System records to identify more than 485,000 children of more than 272,000 parents who were seriously injured in… read on >
Caffeine is a stimulant that is found naturally in some foods and is added to others. It can trigger a fast heartbeat, headache, digestive problems, high blood pressure, moodiness and insomnia, the National Safety Council says. Children may wind up feeling more of caffeine’s effects than adults, since presumably kids don’t consume as much and… read on >
Social stigma may play a large role in the depression, anxiety and other mental health woes experienced by many people with autism, a small new study indicates. British researchers found that 72 percent of the psychological distress reported in 111 adults with autism was linked to social stigma, including discrimination and rejection. Many people with… read on >
When stroke patients get an infection while in the hospital, that may raise the chances they will wind up back in the hospital later, new research suggests. Researchers examined data on more than 319,000 U.S. patients who had an ischemic stroke (blocked blood flow to the brain) who were readmitted to the hospital within 30… read on >
If your child has a learning disability, your pediatrician may be able to help you and the school system better understand the child’s special needs, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. The pediatrician can assist the school system in figuring out which, if any, special education services the child may be eligible for. Also, the… read on >
The type of high school teens attend may determine whether they’ll try marijuana and other illegal drugs, a new study suggests. “We concluded that schools play an important role in influencing adolescent behavior,” said study first author Dr. Rebecca Dudovitz, an assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. “Investing in… read on >
Giving trace amounts of wheat to children with wheat allergy shows promise in treating the allergy, according to new research. The researchers started with 46 wheat-allergic children, average age about 9 years, and gave them trace amounts of wheat. The researchers gradually increased the amount, to desensitize the children to wheat. This process is called… read on >
Rules for new drivers instituted in Massachusetts back in 2007 have led to fewer car crashes, including fewer deadly crashes, among drivers in their teens. And most of the rules are ones that Moms and Dads can set no matter what state you live in. The Massachusetts “graduated driver licensing program” requires 16- and 17-year-olds… read on >
Parents of teens can add “sextortion” to the list of things to worry about, because a new study shows that 5 percent of teenagers are targets of this cybercrime. Another 3 percent of teens have likely done it to others, the study authors added. Sextortion is threatening to share sexually explicit photos without consent if… read on >
Colorful or unusual-looking contact lenses are popular at Halloween, but they could harm your eyes, vision experts warn. “Decorative contact lenses may seem like a fun costume accessory, but if you’re not careful, they can cause serious eye and vision problems,” said Samuel Pierce, president of the American Optometric Association (AOA). “Many people mistakenly believe… read on >
