Helping children make friends: What parents can do
We all want our child to have friends. We want them to be happy, and to build the social skills and connections that will help them now and in the future. Sometimes, and for some children, making friends isn’t easy. This is particularly true after the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of isolation and remote school, many […]
Shift work can harm sleep and health: What helps?
We can feel groggy when our sleep schedule is thrown off even just a little. So what happens when shift work requires people to regularly stay awake through the night and sleep during the day — and how can they protect their health and well-being? What is shift work disorder? Mounting evidence, including several new […]
What happens when a drug goes viral?
The current shortage of semaglutide (Ozempic), an important diabetes drug, has an unusual origin: too many people without diabetes are taking it. Here’s how that happened, and how we might course-correct to help ensure that those with the greatest need for this medicine can get it. A diabetes drug with an important side effect: Weight […]
Does inflammation contribute to infertility?
Infertility is a remarkably common problem. It affects up to one in five people in the US who are trying to become pregnant, and 186 million people worldwide. A thorough medical evaluation can spot key contributing issues in many cases — whether in a woman, a man, or both partners — that might respond to […]
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Many people know the form of dementia called Alzheimer’s disease. But what is frontotemporal dementia (FTD)? Damage to nerves in certain parts of the brain causes a group of frontotemporal disorders, affecting behavior and language as I’ll describe below. Early signs of frontotemporal dementia Have you noticed someone behaving differently? Is your coworker doing odd […]
Slowing down racing thoughts
Everyone has moments when their brain suddenly goes haywire. They repeatedly fixate on the same thought, like being stuck on a hamster wheel. Or their thoughts aimlessly bounce from one random topic to the next like a pinball. People often refer to these thought patterns as racing thoughts, and the most common cause is anxiety, […]
What makes your heart skip a beat?
Love isn’t the only reason your heart may skip a beat. While abnormal heartbeats can be alarming, they’re usually harmless. They occur for different reasons. Which types are common — and when should you be concerned? Palpitations Your heartbeat normally keeps a predictable pace: speeding up when you’re active and slowing down when you rest. […]
Proton-pump inhibitors: Should I still be taking this medication?
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a common type of anti-acid medication, and are available both by prescription and over the counter. Omeprazole and pantoprazole are examples of PPIs. They are the treatment of choice for several gastrointestinal disorders, such as peptic ulcer disease, esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and H. pylori infection. New guidelines by the American […]
Close relationships with neighbors influence cardiovascular health in Black adults
Feeling rooted in community and socializing with neighbors may strongly contribute to better cardiovascular health by improving diet, exercise habits, and weight control, new research among Black adults in Georgia suggests. And better cardiovascular health may add up to fewer heart attacks and strokes, two leading causes of disability and death. “There’s a range of […]
Does your child need to gain weight?
Understandably, the sensitive topic of weight in children and teens often focuses on the health costs of overweight and obesity. Sometimes, though, a child needs to gain some weight. And while there are lots of ways to make that happen, not all of them are healthy. What to do if your child seems underweight If […]