Does your child need to gain weight?
Understandably, the sensitive topic of weight in children and teens often focuses on the health costs of overweight and obesity. Sometimes, though, a child needs to gain some weight. And while there are lots of ways to make that happen, not all of them are healthy. What to do if your child seems underweight If […]
Why play? Early games build bonds and brain
Want your child to grow up healthy, happy, smart, capable, and resilient? Play with them. Infants and toddlers thrive on playful games that change as they grow. Why does play matter during the first few years of life? More than a million new nerve connections are made in the brain in the first few years […]
Close relationships with neighbors influence cardiovascular health in Black adults
Feeling rooted in community and socializing with neighbors may strongly contribute to better cardiovascular health by improving diet, exercise habits, and weight control, new research among Black adults in Georgia suggests. And better cardiovascular health may add up to fewer heart attacks and strokes, two leading causes of disability and death. “There’s a range of […]
Optimism, heart health, and longevity: Unraveling the link for Black Americans
A positive outlook has been linked to better heart health and a longer life. But is that true for Black Americans, whose average lifespan is about 72 years, compared with an average lifespan of 77 years for all Americans? Recent findings from the nation’s largest and longest-running study of cardiovascular risk factors in Black Americans, […]
Seeing a surgeon?
A visit with a surgeon can be overwhelming. You may feel anxious about your planned surgery. Many questions could be swirling in your head during a rushed visit. While surgeons have a reputation as technical specialists, bedside manner may be lacking at times. It sounds simple, but setting the right expectations — on both sides […]
Rating the drugs in drug ads
I admit it: I’m not a fan of drug ads. I think the information provided is often confusing and rarely well-balanced. Plus, there are just so many ads. They show up on TV and streaming programs, on social media, on billboards and the sides of busses, on tote bags, and in public bathrooms. Yes, there’s […]
Proton-pump inhibitors: Should I still be taking this medication?
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a common type of anti-acid medication, and are available both by prescription and over the counter. Omeprazole and pantoprazole are examples of PPIs. They are the treatment of choice for several gastrointestinal disorders, such as peptic ulcer disease, esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and H. pylori infection. New guidelines by the American […]
Can electrical brain stimulation boost attention, memory, and more?
Imagine this as a morning routine that replaces your first cup of coffee: You wake up feeling a bit foggy, so you slip on a wearable device that looks like an extra-thick headband. You turn on the power source and settle in while electrical current flows into your brain. Twenty minutes later, feeling more focused […]
Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Get your hearing checked today
Are you having a little trouble hearing conversations? If so, you’re not alone. An estimated 23% of Americans ages 12 and older have hearing loss. Although most of those people have mild hearing loss, for people ages 80 years and older, it’s more common for hearing loss to be moderate to severe than mild. But […]
Helping children make friends: What parents can do
We all want our child to have friends. We want them to be happy, and to build the social skills and connections that will help them now and in the future. Sometimes, and for some children, making friends isn’t easy. This is particularly true after the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of isolation and remote school, many […]