Keeping Teens Safe in the Sun. Teens often enjoy the sun without worrying about wrinkles, sun damage, or skin cancer, but experts say that parents should have a conversation with their children about staying safe while outdoors during the warmer months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following for teens: stay out of the…

A Clean Bedroom Can Aid Sleep. An organized and comfortable bedroom can help you reduce stress and help you to sleep more soundly. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following to help organize your room: remove all electronics, including the TV; use light bulbs that are 60 watts or less; make sure curtains black out…

Protect Your Child’s Body Image. What you say can affect your children, even if you don’t think they are listening—so when talking about body image, remember to have a positive attitude. The United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services suggests the following: avoid speaking negatively about food, weight, body shape, and body size;…

A Good Night’s Sleep May Save Your Life. Good sleep quality for men may mean the difference between life and death. In this study, researchers analyzed long-term data on more than 823,000 men in the United States and found that men under the age of 65 who slept just three to five hours per night…

Poison-Proof Your Bathroom. The bathroom can contain many drugs and household products that can be harmful to children. To keep kids safe, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following: store medications inside a locked cabinet; safely dispose of all expired medications; store dangerous items separately from daily-use items, such as shampoo and toothpaste; do…

What Is Angina? Chest pain that occurs when your heart doesn’t get enough oxygenated blood is referred to as angina. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute mentions the following triggers: increased emotional stress, exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures, eating a heavy meal, smoking tobacco or using cocaine, and taking medication that narrows…

Make an Emergency Plan for Allergic Reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that needs to be treated right away. Creating an emergency plan is key to protecting a child from a deadly allergic reaction, especially when they’re at school. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a plan should include: a simple explanation of…

Folic Acid During Pregnancy May Protect Some Kids from High Blood Pressure. Researchers wanted to see if a woman’s folic acid levels and heart disease risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity) during pregnancy individually or jointly had an impact on a child’s blood pressure. They found an association between higher levels of folic…

Reducing the amount of sugar in your diet can lead to a more restful night’s sleep. The National Sleep Foundation notes the following: too much sugar may increase your risk of waking during the night; your energy may crash after a high-sugar treat, prompting you to feel drowsy during the day; and avoid refined sugars…

You Can Reduce Stress. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these stress reducing suggestions: exercise regularly; eat nutritious meals; get plenty of sleep; stretch, breathe deeply, or practice relaxation training; move past things that are out of your control, and don’t sweat the small stuff; prepare as much as possible for upcoming challenges; maintain…