THW | In the News

Texting While Driving Could Soon Be Outlawed

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:33:10 -0500

The prestigious American Medical Association (AMA) has publicly spoken out about the dangers of texting while driving. And it plans to lobby for laws banning the practice -- which only a few states currently have enacted. Physicians says that they’ve seen severe injuries and even deaths linked to texting while driving. They also cite a recent study that shows texting "causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with eyes off the road.” The bottom line: Texting while driving can be deadly, and could soon be illegal in many more states.

Bullies May Enjoy Causing Pain

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:33:28 -0500

This may not surprise you if you’ve ever been the victim of a bully – but new research shows that bullies may actually get pleasure out of seeing someone in pain. U.S. researchers found that a part of the brain associated with reward lit up in scans when aggressive teen boys watched a video of someone inflicting pain. But boys without a history of aggression didn’t have the same response. And these new findings may have implications for how we treat bullies.

Kidney Stones More Common in Teens, Kids

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:54:57 -0500

Teens and kids are experiencing an illness that in past years wasn’t common until middle age: Kidney stones. Doctors now diagnose kidney stones in kids as young as five, and the incidence of the illness is rising in teens and even people in their 20s and 30s. The culprits: Not drinking enough fluids and eating too much salt.

Youth Can "Rock the Vote" in '08

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:06:21 -0400

The U.S. presidential race is in its final days, and you can have a voice in choosing the next President. Polls show that young voters may be a decisive factor in deciding the presidency. So, if you can vote, get out and do it! And if you can't vote, there are still ways you can contribute to the democratic process.

Doctors Double Vitamin D Recommendations

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:40:11 -0400

Teens and kids should get twice as much vitamin D as usually recommended – 400 units daily – says the leading group of U.S. pediatricians. Vitamin D is crucial to keep bones strong and is believed by many to have a role in preventing cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Vitamin D is found in milk and fortified foods like cereal, along with oily fish like tuna and sardines. The human body also makes vitamin D when sunlight hits the skin. Teens who drink little or no milk will need to take daily vitamin D supplements, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Can Stress Over Family Finances Make You Sick?

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:31:22 -0400

Stress over family finances can affect your health, especially in these tough economic times. Parents who are stressed out are not only making themselves sick – they may be making their teens and children sick too, a new study says.

Researchers found that children of anxious or depressed parents were more prone to illness and had weaker immune systems than children of less-stressed parents. The good news: When parental stress diminishes, teens and kids tend to bounce back quickly.

AIDS Has Existed for a Century, Study Says

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:23:31 -0400

The AIDS virus has existed in humans for about 100 years, a new study suggests. That’s decades longer than scientists had thought previously, according to an article just published in the journal Nature.

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, originated between 1884 and 1924, according to genetic analyses. Experts estimate that it likely started in about 1908.

So while scientists around the globe continue to search for a cure for AIDS, others are making startling discoveries about its origin.

Identity Thieves Target Teens

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:33:17 -0400

Just because you don't have a full-time job,a long credit history, or a mortgage doesn't mean that you aren't a target for identity theft. More than 34,000 identity theft reports to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from 2005 to 2007 concerned teens and kids under age 18. Even more surprising: Who's stealing teens and kids identity. Over 50 percent of all identity theft of minors involves a parent or someone who is close to the family.

Texting While Driving Can Be Deadly

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:57:00 -0400

Texting while driving is more dangerous than driving after drinking alcohol or smoking pot, say researchers. Steering control worsened by 91 percent for young drivers who were texting, compared to 35 percent for those under the influence of marijuana, according to a study on drivers age 17 to 24 by Transport Research Laboratory. And reaction time slowed by 35 percent while texting, compared to 21 percent and 12 percent for those under the influence of marijuana and alcohol respectively.

The Real Deal on the Common Cold

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:03:02 -0400

Most adults have two to four colds a year. For teens and kids, that number nearly doubles, according to surveys. And colds can be caused by a number of common viruses—about 200 of them. So, as fall approaches, what’s the best way to stay healthy and avoid the common cold?