Approximately 2.5 million Americans are prescribed prescription stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a brain disorder that makes it difficult to concentrate and increases impulsive behavior. Prescription stimulants help to reduce these symptoms. However, many people use these drugs for non-medical purposes and without a prescription, especially college students who buy them from a friend with a prescription.
Read More »Child & Teen Health
Should your children take medication for a cold? Are some popular children’s sports more dangerous than you think? Are children reaching puberty earlier than ever before, and if so, why? Why is breastfeeding important? If my children have no health insurance, might I be able to get low-cost insurance for them? The National Center for Health Research makes this information available and understandable.
Keeping your child safe and healthy partly depends on keeping them away from harmful habits and behaviors, including smoking, alcohol, violence, and sexual activities that can harm them.
We scrutinize the latest research and cut through the hype. We keep information from studies and reports up on our website as long as they are accurate and useful. Sometimes the best studies are a few years old.
To find the information you need, please use our search box to search for exactly what you are looking for or browse through our various topics on the right. →
For information about how to help your children so that they won’t get cancer as adults, visit our Cancer Prevention & Treatment site.
If you don’t see what you are looking for on any health topic, please contact us and we will try to get the information you need within a few days.
Young Children and Screen Time (TV, Computers, etc.)
Very young children have nothing to gain and lots to lose from spending time in front of screens, instead of playing and interacting with friends and loved ones. Even when the TV is simply on in the background, infants and toddlers lose out. For older children (two and up), the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents limit screen time to 1-2 hours a day, and keep televisions in common areas — never in a child’s bedroom. TiVo, DVRs and other devices are terrific tools for parents, allowing them to record shows for children that can be seen by them at an hour that’s right for your family’s sleep schedule and without commercials!
Read More »Is Vaping Safer than Smoking Cigarettes?
Don’t be fooled. E-cigarettes and vapes are very addictive, contain cancer-causing chemicals, may cause stroke and may cause DNA damage. They are not safe.
Read More »Health Risks of Not Enough Sleep: Why Z’s Matter!
How often do you get a good night’s sleep and wake up feeling totally rested? It’s hard to disconnect from work and technology, and it just seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. As a result, sleep rarely makes our “to-do” list, but it is more important than you may realize.
Read More »Helping Children Recover from Stomach Flu
“Stomach flu” is a common illness, but it can cause dehydration that can be serious, resulting in hospitalization. The good news is that a study of children with stomach flu shows that giving diluted apple juice is an effective way to prevent serious complications.
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