General Health and Mental Health
Getting Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed: Sleepiness, Behavior Problems, and Obesity in Children and Teens
Sleep is essential for the renewal and restoration of the body. But is your child getting enough? Research indicates that children who do not get the recommended 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night may be more likely to have conduct problems at home and in the classroom, as well as suffer from many health problems now and in the future. Read More
Can Cleanliness Increase The Risk of Allergies and Asthma?
Is being too clean bad for your health? Research indicates that some of the products we use to avoid germs may contribute to the development of conditions like asthma and allergies. Read More
Danger at the Dentist’s (and Orthodontist’s) Office: Children Exposed to Radiation
Has your child been to the orthodontist this year? Was he or she exposed to dangerous levels of radiation? More and more dentists and orthodontists are using an imaging device that delivers significantly higher doses of radiation than regular X-rays. While the machine’s promoters claim that this technology is a safe way to obtain highly detailed images of a patient’s mouth and skull, other health experts are concerned about the cumulative effects of radiation from these scans, and think they shouldn’t be used routinely. Read More
Lice are Lousy but not Unhealthy
Head lice are not a popular topic of conversation or research, but maybe they should be — 6 to 12 million children (mostly ages 3-12) have them every year Read More
Young Children and Screen Time (Television, DVDs, Computer)
Is you child watching too much TV? Read this article to learn more about how TV could be harming your child’s development. And get helpful tips for limiting your child’s screen time. Read More
Third-Hand Smoke
Third-hand smoke is the residue from cigarette smoke that stays on just about every surface exposed to that smoke. The smoke residue clings to hair and fabrics, including clothing, carpets, drapes, and furniture upholstery. Third hand smoke can cause serious health problems. Read More
Are e-cigarettes safer than regular cigarettes?
Don’t be fooled. E-cigarettes are addictive and contain cancer-causing chemicals. Read More
Is Play on the Endangered List?
Building with blocks, playing house, a game of tag…Most of us have fond childhood memories that include these and similar kinds of play. But unstructured play-the activities, games, and “make-believe” that children themselves come up with and engage in, either alone or in groups, is fast becoming extinct. Read More
Mood Gym
Looking for a new kind of painless workout? You may want to consider MoodGYM–an interactive website with the goal to “help identify and overcome emotional problems,” and “develop good coping skills.” But does it really? Can a website really act as a personal therapist? Read More
Seroquel, Abilify, Zyprexa, and Risperdal are Widely Used But With Dangerous Side Effects
For patients who suffer from depression or anxiety, it’s hard to know which medication is best. It seems everyday a new “wonder drug” is introduced, often costing 10 or 20 times as much as older medications. Things become even more confusing when doctors prescribe medications “off label.” One example is Seroquel. Not approved to specifically treat depression or anxiety, of what kinds of dangers should one be aware? Read More