Use of Media Devices Affect Teens’ Sleep Significantly. A Norwegian study has found that if it takes more than an hour for a teenager to fall asleep, there is an almost 50% likelihood that they are spending more than four hours per day outside of school using electronic devices such as computers, TVs, smartphones, and…

Good Bedtime Habits Result in Better Sleep for Kids. Sleep researchers say that children obtain better sleep in the presence of household rules and regular sleep-wake routines. Researchers evaluated 1,103 American households with children ages 6 to 17 years old and found that within the family dynamic, a consistent bedtime routine improved sleep, whereas television…

Proper Screening for Hearing Loss. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association suggests that adults undergo a hearing test every 10 years until age 50, after which they should undergo screenings every three years. Individuals who fail a hearing test should see an audiologist for a complete hearing evaluation. American Speech-Language Hearing Association, December 2014

How to Prevent Snoring. The National Sleep Foundation offers the following suggestions that may help prevent snoring: lose excess weight, have a regular sleep schedule, sleep on your side, do not eat for at least three hours before bed, do not drink alcohol for at least four hours before bed, and avoid medications such as…

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Vertebral Fragility Fractures. Blood samples from seniors who fractured one or more vertebrae as a result of a fall showed significantly lower vitamin D levels when compared with seniors who had not experienced such an injury. This suggest that older adults who are vitamin D deficient should take measures to…

Water Coolers at School Encourage Students to Drink More. When water dispensers were installed in a few New York City schools, students drank three times more water at lunchtime than students at schools that did not install water coolers in their lunch rooms. Researchers found that 80% of students noticed the water dispensers, two-thirds of…

Keep Your Feet Happy & Healthy. Because they are your body’s foundation, it is very important to take care of your feet to avoid pain and maintain their function. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends the following for keeping your feet happy: moisturize daily, stretch and/or massage daily, get a pedicure, and wear comfortable shoes.…

Americans Not Receiving Dementia Screening. More than 50% of Americans with dementia appear to never have undergone screening of their thinking and memory skills, according to a new study. Dementia affects one in eight people over the age of 65 in the United States and one in three individuals over the age of 80. Despite…

Parents Need to Help in the Prevention of Teen Concussions. Experts recommend that parents play an active role in protecting their children from sport-related concussions. Several steps can be taken to help reduce the risk of concussion such as making sure their teen has the right protective gear, voicing concern that coaches need to be…

Simple Breath Test May Help Detect Type 1 Diabetes Earlier in Children. Researchers claim to have identified a chemical marker for type 1 diabetes that could pave the way for early diagnosis in children by using a simple breath test. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs when a severe lack of insulin causes the body to break…