Millions of American families struggle to find and keep stable housing — and the fight to do so may end up harming kids’ health. Researchers found that when families faced various types of “housing instability,” moms had a higher risk of depression and kids were more likely to be in “fair” to “poor” health. It… read on >
In yet another example of how far-reaching the fallout from America’s opioid epidemic is, researchers report that babies exposed to these narcotics while in the womb run the risk of certain head and neck abnormalities. One is a twisting of the neck (torticollis) and the other is a flattening of the head (plagiocephaly), which often… read on >
About 1 in every 160 pregnancies in the United States ends in stillbirth. Now, a new study suggests many of these tragedies are “potentially” avoidable. With better prenatal and obstetric care, that stillbirth rate might improve, researchers say. “We found that about 25 percent of U.S. stillbirths were potentially preventable,” said study senior author Dr.… read on >
The flu is causing widespread misery across the United States this winter, but the American Lung Association says there are things you can do to avoid being felled by the virus. In what is being described as the worst flu season in years, 49 states are now experiencing widespread activity. So far, only Hawaii and… read on >
Up to 75 percent of women experience PMS (premenstrual syndrome) with symptoms like anxiety, irritability and fatigue, health experts say. PMS is thought to be the result of a chain reaction that starts with the drop of the hormone progesterone near the end of every monthly cycle. In lab studies, an international team of researchers… read on >
You’ve gotta be kidding me. That’s gotta be fake. That’s the understandable first reaction of many to the viral phenomenon dubbed the “Tide Pod Challenge.” Sad to say, it’s real. Prompted by internet dares, dozens of U.S. teenagers in recent weeks have popped liquid laundry detergent packets from a variety of manufacturers into their mouths… read on >
More American women started getting recommended mammography screening after an “Obamacare” rule made the tests free, a new study finds. The rule meant that Medicare and most private insurers could no longer require women to foot part of the bill — whether through copays or requiring them to pay a deductible first. After the rule… read on >
It’s important to take a second blood pressure reading if your child’s first reading points to high blood pressure, researchers say. They found that nearly 25 percent of children and teens who had their blood pressure checked by their primary care doctor had readings in the high range, but less than half of those readings… read on >
Women whose periods started before age 12 may face an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, a new British study suggests. Early menopause, pregnancy complications and hysterectomy are also associated with a higher risk for heart disease and stroke, according to the research. “More frequent cardiovascular screening would seem to be sensible among women… read on >
If you are a parent of a young adopted child, it may be time to talk about the child’s birth story. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests: Be honest, and make your explanation simple and direct. Tell the child that he or she was born to other parents who could not take care of the… read on >
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