Pediatric health Archive

In the journals

Need another reason to get your annual flu shot? It could protect you from a fatal heart attack or stroke if you suffer from high blood pressure, according to research presented at a 2019 joint conference of the European Society of Cardiology Congress and the World Congress of Cardiology.

Previous research has found that the inflammation from a flu infection can trigger a heart attack or stroke, and people with high blood pressure are especially at high risk.

If you’re a parent, part of your role is to prepare your children for adult life by teaching and otherwise encouraging independence. But how does one start to do this?

In the journals

A new study found that a simple blood test can detect beta-amyloid protein buildup in a person's brain years before Alzheimer's disease symptoms appear. The results were published online Aug. 1, 2019, by the journal Neurology.

High amounts of beta-amyloid can clump together and form plaques on the brain, which is strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease. Other research has found that amyloid plaques can appear as early as 20 years before the first sign of Alzheimer's symptoms, such as cognitive decline and memory loss.

Research we're watching

Are men or women smarter? A recent analysis, published online July 18 by American Psychologist, shows that a majority of Americans (86%) polled in 2018 think men and women are equally intelligent. But among those who see a difference, 9% gave the edge to women, compared with only 5% who think men are smarter.

The results are a far cry from public opinion polls conducted in the 1940s, when a majority of Americans thought that men were the smarter sex, and only 36% thought that men and women were equals when it came to brains. These figures were compiled using 16 different, nationally representative, public opinion polls conducted from 1946 to 2018.

When reading to a young child, does it matter whether the book is a physical book or in some electronic form? One small study did detect a difference.

If you think your child may have a disability or problem with development, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Talk to your doctor, and seek an evaluation, if needed.

Trauma from experiencing a natural disaster can have long-term effects on the mental and physical health of children. Supportive parents, teachers, and other adults can help children build resilience.

Most children have an occasional headache, but some children get recurrent headaches. These often run in families and may be migraine or tension headaches or might stem from other causes.