Dementia: Coping with common, sometimes distressing behaviors
Dementia poses many challenges, both for people struggling with it and for those close to them. It can be hard to witness and cope with common behaviors that arise from illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, or frontotemporal dementia. Caring for a person who has dementia may be frustrating, confusing, or upsetting at times. Understanding […]
Helping children who are neurodiverse build friendships
Making friends and finding social opportunities can sometimes be difficult, particularly for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or an intellectual disability. Here’s what parents can do to help. Building inclusive communities Friendships and social connections are an important aspect of our lives. They provide a sense of […]
Lead poisoning: What parents should know and do
You may have heard recent news reports about a company that knowingly sold defective lead testing machines that tested tens of thousands of children between 2013 and 2017. Or wondered about lead in tap water after the widely reported problems with lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan. Reports like these are reminders that parents need to […]
Swimming and skin: What to know if a child has eczema
Swimming is a great activity for children. It’s good exercise, it’s an important safety skill, and it can be a good way to get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine. But for children with eczema — also known as atopic dermatitis — swimming can be complicated. Here’s how parents can help. What is […]
How does waiting on prostate cancer treatment affect survival?
Prostate cancer progresses slowly, but for how long is it possible to put off treatment? Most newly diagnosed men have low-risk or favorable types of intermediate-risk prostate cancer that doctors can watch and treat only if the disease is found to be at higher risk of progression. This approach, called active surveillance, allows men to […]
Screening tests may save lives — so when is it time to stop?
Screening tests, such as Pap smears or blood pressure checks, could save your life. They can detect a disease you have no reason to suspect is there. Early detection may allow treatment while a health condition is curable and before irreversible complications arise. Some screening tests help prevent the disease they are designed to detect. […]
A muscle-building obsession in boys: What to know and do
By the time boys are 8 or 10, they’re steeped in Marvel action heroes with bulging, oversized muscles and rock-hard abs. By adolescence, they’re deluged with social media streams of bulked-up male bodies. The underlying messages about power and worth prompt many boys to worry and wonder about how to measure up. Sometimes, negative thoughts […]
Preventing ovarian cancer: Should women consider removing fallopian tubes?
Should a woman consider having her fallopian tubes removed to lower her risk for developing ovarian cancer? Recent recommendations from the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), endorsed by the Society for Gynecologic Oncology, encourage this strategy, if women are finished having children and would be undergoing gynecologic surgery anyway for other reasons. Why is this […]
Curbing nearsightedness in children: Can outdoor time help?
Turns out that when your mother told you to stop sitting near the TV or you might need glasses, she was onto something. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing problem worldwide. While a nearsighted child can see close objects clearly, more distant objects look blurry. Part of this growing problem, according to experts, is that […]
Considering collagen drinks and supplements?
A tremendous buzz surrounds collagen drinks and supplements, as celebrities and influencers tout miraculous benefits for skin, hair, and nails. Since the collagen in our bodies provides crucial support for these tissues, it seems plausible that consuming collagen might lead to lush locks and a youthful glow. But what does the science say? What is […]