In a move that further toughens safety standards for lead paint dust, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced the finalization of a rule that declares any detectable amount of the toxin in a home or child care center to be hazardous. “Too often our children, the most vulnerable residents of already overburdened communities, are… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
COVID in Pregnancy Won’t Lead to Neurodevelopmental Issues in Kids
New research offers some comfort to pregnant women who become ill with COVID: Brain development doesn’t appear to be impaired in children exposed to the virus while in the womb. There’s no significant difference in development at one year, a year and a half and two years after birth between children whose moms had COVID… read on > read on >
Could Caffeine in Pregnancy Help Prevent Cerebral Palsy in Kids?
Experiments in sheep are hinting that doses of caffeine given to women in pregnancy, as well as their newborns after birth, could prevent cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a disabling condition often caused by asphyxia — reductions in oxygen supply — around the time of birth. Asphyxia can cause other neurodevelopmental disorders, as well. Researcher… read on > read on >
U.S. Infant Deaths Rose After Fall of Roe v. Wade
The United States experienced a small but significant rise in infant deaths in the months following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturned Roe v. Wade, a new study shows. The Dobbs ruling, handed down in July of 2022, led to outright bans on abortion in 14 states and tighter restrictions in eight others. According to… read on > read on >
Biden Proposes That Insurers Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control
Health insurers would be required to cover the cost of over-the-counter birth control and emergency contraception under new rules proposed by the White House on Monday. “Since Roe v. Wade was overturned more than two years ago, Republican elected officials have made clear they want to ban or restrict birth control, defund federal programs that… read on > read on >
Blood Test Might Spot Women in Labor at Risk for Preeclampsia
A routine blood test can identify women in labor who are at risk for preeclampsia, a high-blood pressure condition that’s a leading cause of maternal death, a new study finds. Doctors can predict a woman’s risk of developing preeclampsia by looking at her levels of two blood proteins — fibrinogen and albumin — when she… read on > read on >
Most Young Americans Worry About Climate Change, Survey Finds
An overwhelming majority of teens and young adults are worried about how climate change will affect their future, a new survey has found. About 85% of 16- to 25-year-olds are worried about the impact of climate change on people and the planet, according to the survey of nearly 16,000 people from all 50 states. That… read on > read on >
Most Pregnant Women Exposed to ‘Hormone-Disrupting’ Chemical in Food
Studies in mice have shown that the fungal toxin zearalenone can mimic estrogen, and it might hamper reproduction. It’s not yet clear if the “mycoestrogen” compound can do the same in women. However, a new study finds that nearly all pregnant women ingest zearalenone as part of their daily diets. Researchers at Rutgers University and… read on > read on >
Many Teens Using Protein Bars, Shakes to Boost Muscle
Teenagers are increasingly turning to protein-packed bars, shakes and powders to help them add muscle to their frames, a new study shows. Two in five parents say their teen consumed protein supplements in the past year, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Teen boys more… read on > read on >
Some IUDs May Raise The Odds for Breast Cancer, But Overall Risk Remains Low
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) may raise the chances of a breast cancer diagnosis for women who use the hormonal birth control method, but that risk remains low, new research finds. In the study of 150,000 Danish women, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers discovered there was a 40% higher risk of… read on > read on >