One of the great public health success stories of the past 30 years is the sharp decline in teen pregnancy rates. While significant racial disparities remain, the overall drop in teen pregnancy – which is linked to a host of negative outcomes for women and society as a whole — has been nothing short of phenomenal. In 1990, there were ...

Few things bring more angst to parents than the pain and suffering of their child.  When their child has a debilitating disease, the parents’ sense of powerlessness can be overwhelming.  They want a miracle cure as soon as possible — and look to doctors to provide one. Pressure from parents – including pro-active citizen lobbying — can be an important ...

According to an old wives’ tale, boys are “easier” on their pregnant Moms than girls. Now, there’s solid scientific evidence to support the claim. A 2017 study conducted at Ohio State University which examined gestational patterns in 80 pregnant mothers found that girl fetuses were far more likely to produce inflammation which weakened their mother’s immune system. With a compromised ...

It wasn’t long ago that nearly 10,000 infant children died each year from unknown causes in the United States.  Even now the phenomenon, still known as “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome” or SIDS, remains baffling to doctors. But thanks to a nationwide publicity campaign that began some two decades ago, SIDS deaths are down more than 50%.  Many parents have learned ...

It’s become a hot-nipple topic for every first-time Mom:  Will breastfeeding boost my child’s intelligence?  A spate of scientific studies conducted over the past decade have strongly suggested as much. According to a meta-analysis of 17 such studies conducted in 2015, breastfed children demonstrated slightly higher cognitive abilities – an average of 4-7 points on IQ tests.  Other studies have ...

Few childhood disorders have caused parents more angst and despair than autism. Once thought to be a form of schizophrenia, autism has been subject to years of evolving diagnosis — and along the way, ever-deepening controversy. Its formal definition in the Diagnostic Service Manual (DSM), the nation’s Bible for mental health, experienced a marked shift in 2013 with the release ...

American women love their beauty salons, and few are more popular than the nail salons that offer pedicures. Who doesn’t want to have their feet looking their best for a night out on the town? The added benefit of a foot and toe massage makes pedicures seem especially luxurious.  And they also tend to last longer than manicures. But finding ...

The marijuana debate has really gone to pot… Pro-legalization forces have managed to convince about half the states in the country to pass laws decriminalizing – if not outright legalizing – smoking marijuana. Marijuana is safe to use recreationally and too many people are serving ridiculously long criminal sentences for using it, according to advocates of the drug. If adults ...

It should come as no surprise that suicide rates among Americans have increased steadily since the Great Recession of 2007. While the economy has begun a slow recovery in recent years, and extreme joblessness has eased considerably, many college-age youth remain severely burdened by a mountain of debt in a job market that remains forbidding. Unable to pay their bills, ...

Sports injuries, especially concussions, are a hot topic in professional and collegiate sports these days.  Most of the attention is on male athletes, especially football players. The possibility of serious brain damage resulting from helmet hits to the head has led to changes in the way the game is played, as well as a heightened emphasis in sports medicine on ...