ADHD is a frequently diagnosed condition, and many children and adults take medication to help control the symptoms. But the medication can have serious side effects, there are concerns that ADHD is overdiagnosed and the medications are misused or abused, and there are alternative treatments. This article explains the risk and benefits of medications and includes alternatives that can reduce dosage or replace medications.
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.
Can Children Get Exercise Through Video Games? (“Exergaming”?)
Explore whether exergaming provides adequate exercise for children. Researchers suggest that exergames should be used as a supplement to more traditional forms of physical activity, rather than a replacement.
Read More »Letter to NJ officials in Montclair and Essex County Regarding Harms from Artificial Turf
October 30, 2023: NCHR president Dr. Diana Zuckerman wrote a letter to NJ officials in Montclair and Essex County explaining why lead, PFAS, and other chemicals in artificial turf and rubber playground surfaces harm children’s health and safety.
Read More »Letter to Officials in Kingston, NY Regarding Lead, PFAS, and Other Chemicals in Artificial Turf and PIP Rubber Playground Surfaces Causing Harm to Children’s Health and Safety
October 18, 2023: NCHR president Dr. Diana Zuckerman wrote a letter to officials in Kingston, NY explaining why lead, PFAS, and other chemicals in artificial turf and PIP rubber playground surfaces harm children’s health and safety.
Read More »Do Antidepressants Increase Suicide Attempts? Do They Have Other Risks?
Research shows that antidepressants can increase suicide risk in people. When depressed people become somewhat less depressed, they feel less hopeless and more able to attempt suicide. But there is evidence that antidepressants may also increase the risk of suicide for other reasons, such as akathisia. Other risks from antidepressants include blood clots and birth defects. Antidepressants also have a “placebo effect” that makes the drugs seem more effective than they really are. Safe and effective alternatives include cognitive behavioral therapy and physical activity.
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