Postpartum depression is something that doesn't just affect new mothers.
Turns out it also affects dads and issues with it even trickle down to the children.
Postpartum depression is known to affect some mothers after the birth of their child. But dads also get depressed. According to the findings of a new study, 7% of dads experience the same type of postpartum depression. And those fathers suffering from this also tend to spank their children more than other fathers. The concerning thing is that they more often spank children less than one-year-old, a time when they are more likely to get injured. This depression also tends to rob fathers of motivation they might otherwise have to read to their children, instead opting for less hands on time occupying activities like television or video games.
The concern from child experts is that fathers with postpartum depression are getting missed. The recommendation is that pediatricians talk with both mom and dad about this condition during child checkups so it can be more easily spotted and addressed.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Coffee Cutting Stroke Risk
That morning cup of coffee your drinking might do more for you than just wake you up. It could cut your risk of having a stroke.
Coffee might have gotten a bit of a bad rap in the past, but now it looks like one cup a day can help cut your risk of having a stroke.
A new study published in the American Heart Association Journal, researchers followed the coffee drinking habits of over 34 thousand Swedish women between the ages 49 and 83 for 10 years. Those who drank at least one cup a day had a 25% lower risk of stroke. An earlier study found similar results for men.
Researchers didn't look at whether the coffee was caffeinated or not, but most people in Sweden do drink the caffeinated kind. And they aren't sure what in the coffee cuts the risk of a stroke, but think it might be that it's reducing inflammation and improving your body's insulin sensitivity. In the meanwhile, while they search for more answers, they aren't recommending you start drinking now if you never have, but say that if your are drinking it already you may be doing yourself more good than you probably thought.
Coffee might have gotten a bit of a bad rap in the past, but now it looks like one cup a day can help cut your risk of having a stroke.
A new study published in the American Heart Association Journal, researchers followed the coffee drinking habits of over 34 thousand Swedish women between the ages 49 and 83 for 10 years. Those who drank at least one cup a day had a 25% lower risk of stroke. An earlier study found similar results for men.
Researchers didn't look at whether the coffee was caffeinated or not, but most people in Sweden do drink the caffeinated kind. And they aren't sure what in the coffee cuts the risk of a stroke, but think it might be that it's reducing inflammation and improving your body's insulin sensitivity. In the meanwhile, while they search for more answers, they aren't recommending you start drinking now if you never have, but say that if your are drinking it already you may be doing yourself more good than you probably thought.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Cereal Influence, Cartoon Characters
When it comes to picking a morning cereal kids rarely choose the healthy ones.
Turns out it’s all in the picture, and manufacturers know this which is why they put popular cartoon characters on the boxes.
If you’ve ever been with a young child in the grocery store, you've experienced this firsthand. They want the cereal with their favorite cartoon character on it and they can be very loud about their choice. And if you’ve ever tasted the cereal they picked, you’ve probably been left trying to figure out why they even like it so much. It turns out that the cartoon character on the box influences their taste.
A study out of the University of Pennsylvania found that children thought a cereal tasted better if the box had a popular cartoon character compared to cereal from a plain box---even though both cartons contained the exact same cereal. So as your trying to figure out the best way to get your kids to eat healthier, remember that your fighting an uphill battle against the likes of Shrek or Dora. Maybe tossing the carton once you get home might help them chose the cereal you know is better for them.
Turns out it’s all in the picture, and manufacturers know this which is why they put popular cartoon characters on the boxes.
If you’ve ever been with a young child in the grocery store, you've experienced this firsthand. They want the cereal with their favorite cartoon character on it and they can be very loud about their choice. And if you’ve ever tasted the cereal they picked, you’ve probably been left trying to figure out why they even like it so much. It turns out that the cartoon character on the box influences their taste.
A study out of the University of Pennsylvania found that children thought a cereal tasted better if the box had a popular cartoon character compared to cereal from a plain box---even though both cartons contained the exact same cereal. So as your trying to figure out the best way to get your kids to eat healthier, remember that your fighting an uphill battle against the likes of Shrek or Dora. Maybe tossing the carton once you get home might help them chose the cereal you know is better for them.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Not Sleeping, Blame Technology
Not getting enough sleep? You might want to blame technology.
Happy National Sleep Awareness week. You probably know as well as anyone that we simply aren’t getting enough sleep. Part of the reason could be our computers, TVs and smartphones.
A recent survey found that 1 out of 3 of us get less than 7 hours of sleep per night. Since the recommended range is around 8 hours, that means plenty of us are nodding off during the day, having trouble concentrating on what we are doing and even having trouble driving. Another survey found that 95% of us also use some type of technology right before going to bed. This includes getting on the computer, watching TV, texting or talking on our smartphones.
The problem is that all this technology comes with bright screens that flood our eyes and brain with light right before we want to nod off. And since our bodies are made to nod off when it gets dark and wake up with the light it gets our body confused as to what it’s supposed to do.
So, your best bet is to save that last hour before bedtime for some quite, low light time. That’ll get you as ready as possible for some good shuteye.
Happy National Sleep Awareness week. You probably know as well as anyone that we simply aren’t getting enough sleep. Part of the reason could be our computers, TVs and smartphones.
A recent survey found that 1 out of 3 of us get less than 7 hours of sleep per night. Since the recommended range is around 8 hours, that means plenty of us are nodding off during the day, having trouble concentrating on what we are doing and even having trouble driving. Another survey found that 95% of us also use some type of technology right before going to bed. This includes getting on the computer, watching TV, texting or talking on our smartphones.
The problem is that all this technology comes with bright screens that flood our eyes and brain with light right before we want to nod off. And since our bodies are made to nod off when it gets dark and wake up with the light it gets our body confused as to what it’s supposed to do.
So, your best bet is to save that last hour before bedtime for some quite, low light time. That’ll get you as ready as possible for some good shuteye.
Monday, March 7, 2011
We Don't Get Enough Sleep
Guess what? We don't sleep enough. And that is causing us all sorts of problems.
And as luck would have it this is national sleep awareness week, so it's a great time to bring a bit of attention to something that has plenty of us yawning all day long.
The truth of it is that we're pretty much a sleep deprived nation and many of us even have trouble with everyday tasks like driving because of it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just reported some startling statistics about our sleep habits. Turns out nearly 1/3 of us sleep less than seven hours a night. And since the general recommendation is for around eight hours a night, this lack of sleep is taking its tool. The CDC also found that about half of us spend the day having trouble concentrating, struggle to remember things, fall asleep during the day and even more alarming have difficulty driving.
It's no secret the solution is to get more sleep, but often times that's easier said than done. But time sleeping and how well you sleep are both important, so try to set yourself up for a good night. Most importantly no alcohol or caffeine four hours before bedtime, avoid late heavy meals and set up a sleep time pattern.
And as luck would have it this is national sleep awareness week, so it's a great time to bring a bit of attention to something that has plenty of us yawning all day long.
The truth of it is that we're pretty much a sleep deprived nation and many of us even have trouble with everyday tasks like driving because of it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just reported some startling statistics about our sleep habits. Turns out nearly 1/3 of us sleep less than seven hours a night. And since the general recommendation is for around eight hours a night, this lack of sleep is taking its tool. The CDC also found that about half of us spend the day having trouble concentrating, struggle to remember things, fall asleep during the day and even more alarming have difficulty driving.
It's no secret the solution is to get more sleep, but often times that's easier said than done. But time sleeping and how well you sleep are both important, so try to set yourself up for a good night. Most importantly no alcohol or caffeine four hours before bedtime, avoid late heavy meals and set up a sleep time pattern.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Early Hot Flashes, Fewer Health Risks
No woman looks forward to hot flashes, but when it comes to your health sooner might be better than later.
I don't think any woman looks forward to hot flashes, treating them mainly as “one” of those things you just have to make it through. But a new long running government study has found that menopause has its own health benefits. As a matter of fact, women that had hot flashes at the beginning of their menopause, instead of later on, had a lower risk for both heart attacks and even early death. Those women that never had hot flashes, or even those whose symptoms persisted later on after menopause started, also ended up having more heart problems.
Although high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity were more common in women with late hot flashes, researchers say that only accounted for part of their findings. For some reason they can't quite pinpoint, early hot flashes themselves seem to help protect women from heart problems.
I don't think any woman looks forward to hot flashes, treating them mainly as “one” of those things you just have to make it through. But a new long running government study has found that menopause has its own health benefits. As a matter of fact, women that had hot flashes at the beginning of their menopause, instead of later on, had a lower risk for both heart attacks and even early death. Those women that never had hot flashes, or even those whose symptoms persisted later on after menopause started, also ended up having more heart problems.
Although high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity were more common in women with late hot flashes, researchers say that only accounted for part of their findings. For some reason they can't quite pinpoint, early hot flashes themselves seem to help protect women from heart problems.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
High School Athletes & Concussions
Are high school athletes suffering more concussions these days and why?
High school athletes are four times more likely to report a concussion today then they where just 10 years ago. And football players are the the ones out in front.
A new study from the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that both boys and girls are getting more concussions. Part of the reason is because there is more awareness of concussion signs and symptoms, so they tend to get reported more than before. But it's also because athletes today tend to be stronger and faster, so impacts are harder than before.
For boys, football was the riskiest, followed closely by lacrosse then soccer. For girls, it was soccer, then lacrosse and basketball.
But regardless of how and when it happens, any concussion needs to be taken very seriously. And avoiding them is something all schools, parents and athletes need to keep working on.
High school athletes are four times more likely to report a concussion today then they where just 10 years ago. And football players are the the ones out in front.
A new study from the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that both boys and girls are getting more concussions. Part of the reason is because there is more awareness of concussion signs and symptoms, so they tend to get reported more than before. But it's also because athletes today tend to be stronger and faster, so impacts are harder than before.
For boys, football was the riskiest, followed closely by lacrosse then soccer. For girls, it was soccer, then lacrosse and basketball.
But regardless of how and when it happens, any concussion needs to be taken very seriously. And avoiding them is something all schools, parents and athletes need to keep working on.
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