Want Creative, Curious, Healthier Children with 21st Century Skills? Let Them Play
The most powerful way children learn isn’t only in classrooms or libraries but rather on playgrounds and in playrooms, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In fact, a new AAP report states, “The importance of playful learning for children cannot be overemphasized.” According to the AAP clinical report, released Aug. 20, children’s play […]
Tennessee Deaths from Drug Overdoses Increase in 2017
Tennessee Department of Health data show 1,776 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses in 2017, the highest annual number of such deaths since reporting began. Prescription opioids are still the most common drugs associated with overdose deaths in Tennessee. “More Tennesseans died last year from drug overdoses than from automobile crashes. Few of us have escaped […]
Are Gluten-Free Products for Children a Healthier Option?
Are gluten-free products for children as healthy as their gluten-based counterparts? A study in the August 2018 issue of Pediatrics, “The Nutritional Quality of Gluten-Free Products for Children,” (published online July 23) examined the nutritional content of gluten-free products marketed specifically to children to see how they measured up to their traditional counterparts. The authors […]
Is Too Much Screen Time Harming Children’s Vision?
As children spend more time tethered to screens, there is increasing concern about potential harm to their visual development. Ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – are seeing a marked increase in children with dry eye and eye strain from too much screen time. But does digital eyestrain cause lasting […]
Tennova Healthcare Shares Cool Tips for Staying Hydrated in the Summer Heat
The “dog days of summer” have arrived in East Tennessee. With the high temperatures and humidity comes the chance that you could easily get dehydrated if you aren’t drinking enough water. But how do you know if you’re dehydrated and what can you do about it? Tennova Healthcare has the answers. “Water does more than […]
Tennova Healthcare Asks: “Is Your Sunscreen Protecting You?”
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than 3 million people diagnosed each year. Today, we know that wearing sunscreen when you are exposed to the sun can help protect you from skin cancer. But how well is your sunscreen protecting you? Depending on how you’re using it, […]
Immunizations Help Keep Children Healthy and Learning in the Classroom
Summer break is almost over for many students in Tennessee, and as plans are being made for another school year, it’s important to make sure students receive their required immunizations before going back to the classroom. “We want Tennessee children to be in school, learning in a safe and healthy environment, so it’s extremely important […]
TDH Urges Tennesseans at Risk for Hepatitis A to Get Vaccinated Now
The Tennessee Department of Health is investigating a hepatitis A outbreak in Nashville, Chattanooga and the Mid-Cumberland Region with nearly 100 cases statewide. This hepatitis A outbreak is linked to a large, multi-state outbreak that has been going on since early 2017, primarily affecting recreational drug users and persons experiencing homelessness in other states including […]
TDH Investigation Ongoing into Illnesses Associated with Zipline Tour in Gatlinburg
The Tennessee Department of Health continues to investigate an outbreak of illness after receiving more than 500 reports of gastrointestinal illness among visitors to the CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour in Gatlinburg. Testing is underway to try to identify the causes of the illnesses. Multiple patients who visited the facility since June 15, 2018 have […]
Most Youth Hookah Smoking Takes Place in a Home Setting
Use of any tobacco product by teens and adolescents, including hookah, is unsafe. A study in the August 2018 Pediatrics, “Social Aspects of Hookah Smoking Among U.S. Youth” (published online July 2), suggests parents may help decrease its use with no-smoking rules at home. Youth hookah smoking is a social behavior, researchers found, with the majority […]
Expecting A Stressful Day May Lower Cognitive Abilities Throughout The Day
There may be some truth to the saying “getting up on the wrong side of the bed,” according to Penn State researchers who say starting your morning by focusing on how stressful your day will be may be harmful to your mindset throughout the day. The researchers found that when participants woke up feeling like […]
‘Find Your Passion’ May Not Be The Best Advice After All
As the world becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, having diverse interests can help people make important connections across fields, such as between the Arts and Sciences. A new study by Yale-NUS College Assistant Professor of Psychology Paul A O’Keefe and colleagues suggests that one’s belief about the nature of interests might prevent those insights from happening. Those […]
Knowing the Difference Between Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion
Scorching temperatures and blistering sun seem to have been making the weather headlines for weeks now. With no sign of relief in sight, many of us are flocking to area pools and waterways in an attempt to cool down. While there may be some sanctuary outside, an important factor might be overlooked. Your overall heath. […]
Keeping a Watchful Eye Could Avoid a Damper on Summer Fun
Water safety is crucial this time of the year with children and families visiting water parks, pools and lakes. An unfortunate fact is that drowning seems to be one the top reasons for childhood deaths this time of year. Parents especially need to be alert when taking kids to the pool no matter how experienced […]
One Year of School Comes With an IQ Bump, Meta-Analysis Shows
A year of schooling leaves students with new knowledge, and it also equates with a small but noticeable increase to students’ IQ, according to a systematic meta-analysis published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. “Our analyses provide the strongest evidence yet that education raises intelligence test scores,” says psychological scientist […]
Using Bloodstains at Crime Scenes to Determine Age of Suspect or Victim
From the spatter analysis made famous in the TV show Dexter to the frequent DNA profiling of CSI and the real cases covered in the FBI Files, blood tests are ubiquitous in forensic science. Now, researchers report in ACS Central Science that a new blood test, which could be performed at a crime scene, could help determine the age of a suspect […]
