Given the news of the devastating effects of head injuries among professional football players, parents may wonder if their mini athletes are at risk, too. Some very well might be, new research suggests. About 7 percent of children 3 to 17 years old have experienced a head injury, according to U.S. health officials. The findings… read on >
Highly caffeinated energy drinks aren’t safe for children and teens, and should not be marketed to them, a leading sports medicine organization warns. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on Friday released an official statement about the beverages. “Energy drinks are extremely popular, and concerns about their consumption are coming from every sector of… read on >
Stroke affects more women than men in the United States. And a new study pinpoints stroke risk factors unique to females. “Many people don’t realize that women suffer stroke more frequently than men, and mortality is much higher among women,” said Dr. Kathryn Rexrode, the study’s corresponding author. “As women age, they are much more… read on >
Childhood traumatic stress occurs when a violent or dangerous event overwhelms a child’s or teen’s ability to cope. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggests how to help your child deal with traumatic stress: Assure the child that he or she is safe. Talk about measures you are taking to get the… read on >
One hundred years ago, the deadliest influenza pandemic of all time made a ravaging march across the globe. The “Spanish” flu of 1918-19 infected an estimated one-third of the world’s population and killed between 50 million and 100 million people, modern epidemiologists estimate. That raises the inevitable question as the United States battles its way… read on >
Herpes infection rates are dropping among young Americans, and safer sex practices may be one reason why. Roughly 12 percent of adults were infected with genital herpes (HSV-2) in 2015-2016, down from 18 percent in 1999-2000, a new government report found. The same promising trend was seen with HSV-1, a form of herpes that causes… read on >
If your child is among the 10 percent of kids with asthma, you want to do everything you can to control it. Start by working with your child’s allergist to identify his or her unique asthma triggers and ways to avoid them. Common asthma triggers include: Secondhand smoke from cigarettes, wood-burning stoves and campfires, Pet… read on >
Your pet rat could make you very sick by transmitting a virus that’s newly emerged in North America, U.S. health officials warn. Seoul virus is a rat-borne hantavirus that typically causes symptoms that resemble the flu — fever, headache, muscle pain. In rare cases infection can lead to hospitalization with hemorrhagic fever and kidney failure.… read on >
Many women who develop severe pre-eclampsia during pregnancy have undetected high blood pressure in the year after they give birth, a Dutch study contends. Pre-eclampsia, which is the development of high blood pressure and elevated protein in the urine during pregnancy, occurs in 3 to 5 percent of pregnancies in developed nations. Left untreated, it… read on >
You should alert authorities if you suspect a child is being hurt or is in danger, a child abuse expert says. The issue is in the spotlight with the recent arrest of David and Louise Turpin, the California couple accused of abusing their 13 children for years. Members of the public can report concerns anonymously,… read on >
