Teens who abuse prescription drugs, like opioid painkillers, are prone to initiating or being victims of dating violence, a new study finds. In a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 teenagers who had dated in the past year, the researchers found that non-medical use of prescription drugs by boys was associated with sexual dating violence.… read on >
Women who are overweight or obese may need to be screened for breast cancer more frequently, new Swedish research suggests. The reason? Overweight or obese women are at greater risk of having breast cancer detected after the tumor has grown large — over 2 centimeters — than their slimmer counterparts, the study found. Heavier women… read on >
Two-thirds of U.S. parents with young children say it’s difficult to find a childcare or preschool facility that meets their health and safety standards, new survey results show. Researchers questioned more than 300 parents nationwide who had at least one child aged 1 to 5 years. Sixty-two percent said they had trouble finding facilities that… read on >
Taking a family vacation is a great way to have quality time, but going on a trip that each family member will enjoy takes some planning. Consider choices for an activity-oriented trip. Besides health benefits, vacations make great memories when everyone participates. Start by getting the whole family involved. Show photos of possible destinations to… read on > read on >
Overweight kids who are shamed or stigmatized are more likely to binge eat or isolate themselves than to make positive changes such as losing weight, a leading pediatricians’ group says. In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers guidance to help parents, teachers, school officials and pediatricians assist overweight and obese… read on >
A new mom has enough stress on her hands without worrying about giving medication to her newborn. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests: Get your doctor’s advice before giving medication to your baby. Store any medication out of your infant’s reach. Use a dosage device such as an oral syringe to ensure that baby… read on >
Is your baby’s stuffy nose and cough just a cold or something more serious? It could be respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States, experts say. RSV causes symptoms similar to those of other viruses, including stuffy or runny nose, fever, coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite and irritability.… read on >
Teens with friends are active teens, a new study suggests. “You can build beautiful parks and facilities; but if children don’t have friends to play with, these facilities won’t be enough to increase their physical activity,” said study lead author Sarah-Jeanne Salvy. “Peers and friends are the catalyst of the physical environment,” Salvy added. She… read on >
Boys tend to pay more attention in school when there are girls around, and new research suggests it’s not just about how the girls look. The study found that young men got better reading marks in school when they were outnumbered by young women in the classroom. Researchers reviewed the reading test scores of more… read on >
As challenging as it can be to raise a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), new research offers biological evidence that calm, positive parenting may help these kids master their own emotions and behaviors. The study was conducted with parents of preschool children with the developmental disorder. The physiological effects of using compliments and… read on >
