Topical issues

On June 6, 2012, a cross-Atlantic research team reported results of a large, retrospective cohort study, which suggest that children who have several computed tomography (CT) scans during childhood may be at greater risk of leukemia and brain cancer. However, the study authors observed, the influence of CT scans on the absolute risk of developing […]

If you’ve tried to start a fitness program only to lose it amongst a pile of forgotten New Year’s resolutions, don’t give up. Summer is just around the corner, and long, sunny days invite more outdoor activity. Here’s how to make a fitness program a fun part of your daily routine. We know. You made

Are you the parent of a preschooler? Do you struggle to prioritize work, play, discipline, chores, bedtime, meals, tantrums, and more? Does outdoor play time often get left off the list? Findings of a Seattle-based research team suggest that you’re not alone: Only half of preschool age children in the United States spend at least

Vitamin D levels higher than the low end of normal do not provide any benefits and may actually increase the risk of heart attack and other heart problems, according to new research from a Johns Hopkins University research team. The study was led by Muhammad Amer, M.D., an assistant professor in the division of general

Are you among the thousands of people pledging to lose thirty pounds, quit smoking, eat healthier, run a marathon, save money, go back to school, or any of the thousands of other pledges people make to themselves every January 1? Do your resolutions usually last much longer than January 15? Thought not.  It may be

With Christmas right around the corner, many procrastinating parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas are madly scrambling to find last-minute gifts for the kids on their holiday gift lists. Should you choose educational toys? Video games? Electronic gadgets? Old-fashioned toys? If you’re one of those procrastinating parents, don’t despair. Here are some guidelines for choosing

Is there a caregiver on your holiday gift list this year? If so, you’re not alone. With an estimated 65 million informal and family caregivers in the United States, representing about 29 percent of the U.S. population, there are plenty of caregivers out there who need some caring themselves this holiday season. Caregiving can be

Kids drink as many or more sugary drinks when schools ban only soda – and not other sugar-sweetened beverages – as in schools that do nothing to decrease children’s access to high-calorie beverages. Even more discouraging, comprehensive policies banning sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda in school are only slightly more effective. Schools that ban all

Halloween is the night of costumes and jack o’ lanterns, scarecrows and goblins, candy and stomach-aches. Yet far too often, it is also a night of tragedy. A study conducted by SafeKids USA shows that twice as many children are killed in pedestrian versus vehicle collisions on Halloween as on any other night of the

Influenza and its complications killed 115 children and teens in the United States during 2010-2011, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported on September 16. Many of those deaths could have been prevented if the children had been vaccinated against the flu, the CDC said in a separate press release. Of children and

Every five days during the summer months, a child drowns in a portable, above-ground swimming pool. These findings from a retrospective study published online June 20 in the journal Pediatrics, suggest that portable swimming pools are more dangerous than most parents realize. Nor do these popular, easily-installed pools have the built-in safety features of many

New research suggests that women who sleep less may live longer than their well-rested counterparts – and as an added bonus, reduce their risk of stroke.