Is learning a second language on your bucket list? Here’s compelling evidence to get started right away. Numerous studies at institutions, including Penn State, have found that learning a new language is great for brain health. It can strengthen your brain just as exercise strengthens your muscles. And like muscles, the more you work at… read on >
Yet another reason to get your child off the couch: Fit children have healthier lungs later, new research suggests. “This study shows that children who are physically fit go on to have better lung function as young adults,” said lead researcher Bob Hancox. “We think that this could reduce the risk of them developing chronic… read on >
Obesity can change how prescription drugs work, but many medications used to treat children don’t say so on their labels, researchers report. Federal lawmakers offered drug manufacturers incentives to study how drugs affect kids, but many have not provided safety guidelines for those who are obese, the researchers found. In the United States, one in… read on >
Could the so-called Mediterranean diet boost success of infertility treatment involving in vitro fertilization? Maybe, a very small study suggests. Greek researchers report that younger women who followed this heart-healthy eating plan in the six months before trying IVF had better odds of a successful pregnancy than women who didn’t. IVF is the process of… read on >
If children adopt active lifestyles at a young age, they are less likely to become obese as adults, research shows. One in three children is overweight or obese, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. The group adds that children and teens spend an average of seven hours per day using TVs, computers, phones and other… read on >
Poor sleep may make your children more than just grumpy, a new study suggests. Kids who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to be obese later on, researchers report. And that might even boost their odds for cancer decades later. The study of 120 U.S. children, average age 8, linked poor sleep quality to… read on >
Acquiring an infection during pregnancy is bad for both the pregnant woman and her unborn baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the importance of making healthy choices and taking extra precautions to prevent infections during pregnancy. The AAP suggests: Wash your hands often, especially when around children. Cook meat until it’s well done. Avoid… read on >
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tends to make a person more impulsive, inattentive and hyperactive. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggests how to help manage ADHD in children: Train parents, teachers and other caregivers in a setting where problem behaviors often occur. Behavior therapy to teach the child new behavior to replace undesirable… read on >
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 >
