Obesity can lead to liver disease in kids as young as 8 years old, a new study warns. The long-term study of 635 children in Massachusetts found that a bigger waist size at age 3 increases the odds that a child will have a marker for liver damage and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by age… read on >
Blood levels of a flame retardant have fallen in American children since use of the chemicals was banned in consumer products, a new study finds. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were once widely used in household items, such as couches, mattresses, carpet padding and other upholstered items. In 2004, pentaBDE — a specific mixture of PBDEs… read on >
Rear-facing car seats provide effective protection for children in rear-end crashes, researchers say. Previous studies have shown that rear-facing car seats significantly reduce infant and toddler injuries and deaths in front- and side-impact crashes. But there has been little data on rear-end crashes, which represent more than one-quarter of collisions, according to the Ohio State… read on >
Young women with elevated blood pressure before pregnancy appear to have a greater risk of miscarriage, even if they haven’t been diagnosed with full-blown high blood pressure, a new study suggests. Risk of pregnancy loss increases about 18 percent for every 10-point increase in a young woman’s diastolic blood pressure (the lower number), which indicates… read on >
Women who have a baby with a congenital heart defect may face a heightened risk of heart disease years later, a large study suggests. Researchers found that among more than 1 million women, those who’d given birth to a baby with a heart defect were up to 43 percent more likely to be hospitalized for… read on >
A baby’s risk of death from being placed in an unsafe sleeping position or location is higher when they’re under the care of a baby sitter, relative or friend, a new study found. The finding shows the need for parents to educate anyone who cares for their infants about safe sleep practices and Sudden Infant… read on >
State laws that require child-seat use among kids eight and younger save lives, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Among states that issued stricter laws requiring car seats until a child is at least 7 years old, deaths and serious injuries among children in vehicles fell 17 percent, the agency says. Which… read on >
Scientists who found a way to use amniotic fluid to sequence the entire genome of a fetus say the breakthrough could significantly increase detection of genetic conditions during pregnancy. Researchers tweaked a common prenatal test called amniocentesis. In that procedure, amniotic fluid is taken from a pregnant woman’s uterus and analyzed for abnormalities in the… read on >
Parents annoyed by the loud music that their teens listen to might have good reason to worry. About 20 percent of American kids aged 12 to 19 have some degree of hearing loss, a national survey found. And, according to the World Health Organization, 50 percent of people up to age 35 are at risk… read on >
Besides staying alert, coffee lovers who drink more than three cups of java a day may lower their risk for clogged arteries, a new Brazilian study suggests. Scientists surveyed more than 4,400 residents of Sao Paulo about their coffee-drinking habits, and correlated them with coronary artery calcium (CAC) readings. CAC scans look for signs of… read on >
