Even With Mild COVID, Obesity May Mean Worse Symptoms

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• October 20, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Obese people have a tougher time fighting COVID-19, even if they have a milder form of the virus, a new study finds.

Researchers looked at more than 500 patients who tested positive for COVID but didn't requ...

Many Parents Worry That Kids Fell Behind in Schooling During Pandemic

• Robert Preidt
• October 20, 2021
• Full Page

It is a fear that millions of parents have been harboring since the pandemic began: Will their children fall behind in school due to disruptions caused by lockdowns, closings and social distancing?

A new U.S. poll finds that fear is widespread, with just over half of mor...

U.S. Pediatricians, Psychiatrists Declare 'Emergency' in Child Mental Health

• Robert Preidt
• October 19, 2021
• Full Page

Fear, grief, uncertainty and isolation during the pandemic have triggered a national state of emergency in the mental health of America's youth, leading child health care groups warned Tuesday.

Youngsters already faced significant mental health challenges, and the pandem...

Be Your Teen's Best Partner as They Learn to Drive

• October 16, 2021
• Full Page

Parents of teen drivers can play a crucial role in making their children safe drivers, the Governors Highway Safety Association says.

Millions of U.S. teens are learning to drive at an especially challenging time as risky and dangerous driving has increased during the CO...

Two-Thirds of Parents of Kids Ages 5-11 Plan to Get Them Vaccinated Against COVID: Poll

• Robert Preidt
• October 15, 2021
• Full Page

In some heartening news on the vaccine front, two-thirds of American parents of children ages 5 to 11 plan to get their youngsters vaccinated when COVID-19 shots are approved for that age group, a new survey shows.

"While we're encouraged to see that a majority of parent...

Kids Can Carry High, Infectious Levels of COVID Coronavirus

• Cara Murez
• October 14, 2021
• Full Page

THURSDAY, Oct. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) – From newborns to new adults, young people who get COVID-19 can carry high levels of the virus and spread it to others even if they show no symptoms.

That's the takeaway from a study of 110 people between 2 weeks and 21 years o...

Kids With Autism Find It Tough to Read Hidden Emotions: Study

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• October 13, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- When you're putting on a brave face to mask disappointment or shedding tears of joy, kids with autism are likely to misunderstand how you're really feeling.

That's because they don't use context to identify ...

California Expands Access to Free Menstrual Products in Schools

• Robert Preidt
• October 12, 2021
• Full Page

Free menstrual pads and tampons must be provided in restrooms at all California public schools and colleges starting in the 2022-2023 academic year.

The bill, signed on Oct. 8 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, adds to a 2017 law requiring low-income schools in disadvantaged areas to...

Stimulants Like Ritalin May Be Gateway Drugs for College Students

• Cara Murez
• October 8, 2021
• Full Page

Use of stimulants among college students was once thought to be a problem among high achievers seeking energy and focus to study.

Not so, according to new research that links misuse of these so-called "study drugs" to binge drinking and marijuana use. The stereotype of s...

Social Distancing Kept Kids From Getting Flu, RSV

• Robert Preidt
• October 8, 2021
• Full Page

Social distancing and mask mandates during the pandemic nearly eliminated cases of the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among children, a new study finds.

"Numbers don't lie. Face masking, and proper hygiene and isolation, can be effective means to protect the v...

Picky Eating, Social Phobia Often Linked in College Students

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 7, 2021
• Full Page

Parents frazzled by their little ones' finicky food choices often sigh in exasperation, thinking: "They'll grow out of it by college."

Maybe not, suggests a new study from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Some young people continue their picky eating into early ad...

Kids With Food Allergies Are Often Targets for Bullies

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• October 7, 2021
• Full Page

Life is challenging enough for teens and pre-teens with food allergies. But bullying often comes with the territory, making their situation worse.

In a new study of more than 100 kids with food allergies, nearly one-third said they had been subject to some form of ...

As Kids Turned to Screens During Pandemic, Their Mental Health Suffered

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 5, 2021
• Full Page

Even in normal times, getting regular exercise and spending less time on screens can be good for kids. So it should come as no surprise that researchers discovered that kids who exercised more and used technology less during the pandemic had better mental health outcomes.

Medical Mistrust Fuels Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanics

• Robert Preidt
• October 5, 2021
• Full Page

Misinformation and medical mistrust are major drivers of vaccine hesitancy among U.S. Hispanics, new research shows.

The researchers also found that protecting other family members is an important factor in convincing Hispanics to get vaccinated.

The small study in...

1 in 4 Parents Say Their Kids Have Been Quarantined Since School Started

• Cara Murez
• October 1, 2021
• Full Page

One-quarter of U.S. parents report that their child has had to quarantine because of possible COVID-19 exposure since school started, a new poll finds.

The nationally representative survey of 1,519 people conducted between Sept. 13 and Sept. 22 included 414 people who id...

Silver Lining Found in Pandemic: Fewer Teens Are Vaping

• Robin Foster and Steven Reinberg
• October 1, 2021
• Full Page

It turns out that the pandemic has reaped one unexpected benefit: As teens were kept home more often, their use of electronic cigarettes dropped by nearly 40%, a new report finds.

U.S. health officials said these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, but the dec...

Sibling Bullying Carries Long-Term Mental Health Costs

• Cara Murez
• October 1, 2021
• Full Page

Bullying by a brother or sister in childhood can have lasting effects, threatening mental health in the teen years, new British research suggests.

Researchers found that mental health was affected whether one was the bully or the victim.

"Of particular note was the...

Active Learning Best for Students: Study

• September 30, 2021
• Full Page

Whether you're a kid or a college student, you'll learn more with interactive activities, discussions, movement and even AI-enhanced technologies than you will just sitting still and listening, a new study suggests.

Learning methods that work best are hands-on, as well ...

LGBQ Teens More Likely to Contemplate Suicide

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• September 30, 2021
• Full Page

Kids who are gay, bisexual or questioning their sexuality may be vulnerable to contemplating suicide at a tender age, a new U.S. government study finds.

It has long been known that teenagers who are part of sexual minorities have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and be...

Teens Who Use Pot, E-Cigs and Cigarettes Are in Triple Danger

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• September 28, 2021
• Full Page

More U.S. teens use e-cigarettes, traditional cigarettes and marijuana together, posing greater risks to their health and behavior than if they used only one substance, a new study finds.

Called "triple users," this group score high on a profile of psychosocial risk, whi...

Fruits, Veggies a Recipe for Mental Well-Being in Kids

• Steven Reinberg
• September 28, 2021
• Full Page

Teens who eat lots of fruits and vegetables are likely to enjoy better mental health.

That's the key takeaway from a new study that also tied a nutritious breakfast and lunch to emotional well-being in kids of all ages.

"This study provides the first insights into ...

Depression During Pregnancy Raises Risk of Mood Disorder in Kids

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• September 27, 2021
• Full Page

When mothers suffer depression during or after pregnancy, their kids may be at heightened risk, too -- all the way into young adulthood, a new study suggests.

Of more than 5,000 kids researchers followed until age 24, those whose moms had depression during or after pregn...

Weight Loss in Childhood May Protect Boys Against Future Infertility

• Steven Reinberg
• September 24, 2021
• Full Page

Obese boys who lose weight may avoid fertility problems in adulthood, a preliminary study suggests.

Even short-term weight loss might partially reverse weight-related alterations in reproductive function, the researchers said.

Childhood obesity can have serious ef...

Which Kids Are at Highest Risk From COVID?

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• September 21, 2021
• Full Page

Older children and kids with chronic diseases are those most likely to wind up in the hospital with COVID-19, researchers have found.

Conditions such as obesity, diabetes and neurologic problems, among others, put kids at risk for severe COVID-19, according to a new...

Pandemic Changed Families' Eating Habits, for Good and Bad: Poll

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 21, 2021
• Full Page

Over the past year and a half, the coronavirus pandemic has remade so much of everyday life, including the foods families eat.

In many families, that's been a good thing, with half cooking at home more often and two-thirds making healthier food choices, according to a na...

Doctors Often Miss Signs of Type 1 Diabetes in Kids

• Ernie Mundell
• September 21, 2021
• Full Page

Potentially dangerous symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children are not always immediately recognized by primary care providers, new research suggests.

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas fails to make enough insulin, the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar used for ener...

Kids in Marching Bands Under Threat From Heat Illness

• Steven Reinberg
• September 20, 2021
• Full Page

It's not just athletes on the field who suffer when outdoor temperatures get too high. Members of college and high school marching bands are at increased risk of heat-related illness, too, researchers warn.

"They go out there, and they often wear these really heavy wool ...

Long-Haul COVID in Kids Typically Ends Within 3 Months: Study

• Steven Reinberg
• September 17, 2021
• Full Page

In kids and teens, symptoms of long COVID rarely last more than 12 weeks, a new international study reports.

The researchers also found that exposure to the highly contagious Delta variant did not result in more serious disease in children compared to earlier variants, a...

Child Obesity Rose Sharply During Pandemic

• Cara Murez
• September 17, 2021
• Full Page

Childhood obesity was a worrisome issue before the pandemic, and now it's alarmingly worse, new data shows.

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found a "profound increase in weight gain for kids" that is "substantial and alarming," Dr. Alyson Goodman,...

Drug Might Stop Heart Trouble Linked to Sickle Cell Anemia

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• September 17, 2021
• Full Page

Treating sickle cell anemia with the drug hydroxyurea may also reverse related heart abnormalities, a new study suggests.

Heart issues are common among people with sickle cell disease. Among them are enlargement of the heart and an impaired ability to relax heart muscles...

Tips to Helping Your Teen Get Enough Zzzzzs

• September 15, 2021
• Full Page

It's no wonder many teens are pooped out.

"The obligations of school, work, family and friends make it hard for teenagers to get sufficient sleep to perform their best," said Dr. Raman Malhotra, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). "While it might ...

Is There a Link Between Vaping and Eating Disorders in the Young?

• Steven Reinberg
• September 15, 2021
• Full Page

College students who vape appear to be at higher risk of having an eating disorder, a new study suggests.

"The study's findings are especially relevant as we have seen a surge in referrals for eating disorders and substance use disorders during the pandemic," said study ...

Britain OK's COVID Vaccine for Kids 12 and Older; Hopes to Avoid Lockdowns

• Cara Murez
• September 14, 2021
• Full Page

While in the United States preteens and teens aged 12 to 15 have been eligible for COVID-19 vaccines since the spring, the vaccines are only now becoming available for that age group in the United Kingdom.

According to the Associated Press,on MondayBritain gave...

Month-Long Recovery From Concussion Is Normal: Study

• Steven Reinberg
• September 13, 2021
• Full Page

College athletes who suffer a concussion may take as long as a month to recover, not the two weeks considered normal, new research finds.

"Normal return-to-play time was previously set at 14 days — meaning 50% of people recovered in that time," said lead researcher Ste...

L.A. Is First Major School District to Mandate Vaccines for Students 12 and Up

• Steven Reinberg
• September 10, 2021
• Full Page

Los Angeles has become the first major school system in the United States to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all students 12 and older.

L.A.'s Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to require all students 12 and older to be vaccinated before they can attend in-...

FDA Bans Sale of Nearly a Million E-Cigarettes; Allows Juul to Remain on Market

• Cara Murez
• September 10, 2021
• Full Page

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced that it had rejected the applications of nearly a million electronic cigarettes and related products.

But it also delayed a decision on the fate of the leading vape product brand, Juul, drawing an outcry from...

Eczema Can Take Toll on Child's Mental Health

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• September 8, 2021
• Full Page

Eczema doesn't just irritate kids' skin. The often disfiguring condition may also be tied to depression, anxiety and sleep difficulties, new research warns.

A study of more than 11,000 British children and teens found that those with severe eczema were twice as likely t...

No Lasting Damage to Lungs After COVID in Young Patients: Study

• Steven Reinberg
• September 8, 2021
• Full Page

Young people appear to have normal lung function after recovering from COVID-19, new studies find.

In one, Swedish researchers found that even asthma patients had no significant impairment in lung function.

In the other, German researchers found unimpaired lung fun...

Recent Pot Use Tied to Rise in Heart Attack Risk for Young Adults

• September 7, 2021
• Full Page

Marijuana has been linked to a doubling in the risk of a heart attack in younger adults, no matter how they use it, a new study reports.

Eighteen- to 44-year-olds who used pot were twice as likely to have a heart attack compared with non-users, whether they smoked, vaped...

One Key Factor Drives Weight Gain in College

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• September 1, 2021
• Full Page

College students often put on weight during their freshman year, and a lack of structured exercise may be largely to blame, a new study suggests.

Weight gain is so common among first-year college students that it has spawned the phrase "the freshman 15" -- though that fi...

Pandemic Had Many Young Athletes Reconsidering Their Sport

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• August 31, 2021
• Full Page

The pause in youth sports caused by the COVID-19 pandemic wound up shaking some budding athletes to their core, a new U.S. survey shows.

More than 1 in 10 youth athletes ended up reconsidering their sports goals or aspirations as the pandemic closed stadiums and gyms. Th...

Kids Piled on Extra Pounds During Pandemic

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• August 31, 2021
• Full Page

New research confirms the pandemic has not been good for the waistlines of children.

During lockdowns, American kids gained more weight than before the pandemic, and the number who became obese also increased, researchers report.

"This increased weight gain occurre...

As Classes Resume, Some Health Tips From the CDC

• Robert Preidt
• August 27, 2021
• Full Page

Students face a number of challenges as they head back to school this fall -- from potential exposure to COVID-19 and other illnesses to injuries on the playing field.

"This return to school season is like no other," said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Cente...

One Benefit of Online Learning: Better Sleep for Kids

• Robert Preidt
• August 27, 2021
• Full Page

Despite all of the criticism of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research suggests there was a silver lining: more shut-eye for middle and high school students.

"Without the required transportation time or time required to get ready for school in the mor...

College Is Even More Stressful for Girls: Study

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 26, 2021
• Full Page

Even before COVID-19, college could be a challenging experience, but a new study suggests those stresses are much higher for female students.

Still, in the face of a continuing pandemic, all students may need interventions to develop healthy coping strategies, the study...

No Change in Adolescent Drug, Alcohol Use During Pandemic

• Cara Murez
• August 24, 2021
• Full Page

The coronavirus pandemic has posed significant challenges for many, but it did not appear to drive U.S. preteens and young teens to drugs.

Repeated surveys of more than 7,800 10- to 14-year-olds between September 2019 and August 2020 found the overall rate of drug use r...

Parents, Look Out for Mental Health Issues as College Kids Return to Class

• Cara Murez
• August 24, 2021
• Full Page

This year of pandemic isolation and anxiety has been tough for many, but an expert says college students are at particularly high risk for mental health issues as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.

As students return to their campuses, it's important for pare...

Heavy Drinking in Youth Could Harm Arteries

• Robert Preidt
• August 24, 2021
• Full Page

The arteries of young people who drink stiffen sooner in their lives, which could increase their risk for heart disease and stroke later on, a British study reports.

People's arteries naturally become less elastic with age, but certain factors -- including alcohol and to...

Teachers' Unions, Doctors Agree: Vaccines, Masks Crucial for Return-to-School

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• August 23, 2021
• Full Page

Schools are reopening as the Delta variant surges across America, a scary prospect for educators and parents alike.

But experts representing teachers and doctors say reopening must happen for the sake of students, and a combo of vaccination and safety measures will help ...

Parents' Poll Finds Strong Support for Vaccination of Students, Teachers

• Robert Preidt
• August 23, 2021
• Full Page

As the school year starts across much of the United States amid a surge in coronavirus cases fueled by the Delta variant, a new survey shows most parents support vaccines for students and staff alike.

Sixty-two percent of nearly 1,700 parents with at least one child aged...