Study: Kids Who Watch Age-Appropriate TV Sleep Better
What preschoolers watch during the day affects how well they sleep at night. Researchers analyzed the sleep habits of 565 kids ages 3 to 5, and found that those whose parents cut exposure to violent or age inappropriate videos were 20 percent less likely to have a sleep problem than kids whose parents didn't make such a change. Study findings were published today in Pediatrics. It's unclear exactly how violent, frightening videos interfere with sleep, but researchers theorize that these could cause nightmares or make it more difficult to fall asleep. "We know that media is already playing a large role in the lives of many families," study author Michelle Garrison of Seattle Children's Research Institute told USA Today. "We felt that just by changing the content, we could have an impact on the health and development of these kids. There are so many immediate and long-term effects from sleep loss at this age that it's really worth taking those extra steps to try and get sleep on a good track."
Teaching Your Kids About Sex: Do's and Don'ts
For many of us, "the talk" went something like this: Mom and/or Dad sat you down at the age of, say, 12, announcing, amid sighs and seat shifting, that it's time to learn about "the birds and the bees." The conversation takes about two minutes because everyone's so uncomfortable (remember, you're in puberty, so you pretty much exist in a state of discomfort.) Mom and/or Dad may explain, in bizarrely unsexy terms, the physical mechanics that happen between two loving adults, and then leave you with an approximate nanosecond for questions. "Ok, I think that went well," Mom and/or Dad may say to you, each other, or themselves, after another major exhale. The end.
What's wrong with this picture? Um, all of it. It's no one's fault, really. We're left with a centuries-old legacy that has made sex taboo, says Deborah Roffman, teen sexuality expert and author of Talk To Me First: Everything You Need to Know to Become Your Kids' "Go-To" Person About Sex. However, kids who grow up in families where sexuality is openly discussed are not just healthier and happier, but they also postpone participation in a range of risky behaviors including sexual activity, Roffman says. "Talking with your kids is protective ... a buffer against what goes on around them." [Read more: Teaching Your Kids About Sex: Do's and Don'ts]
5 Ways Your Health Can Hold You Up at Airport Security
The Transportation Security Administration regularly makes headlines as travelers protest increased security measures. It's easy to grow aggravated with the long lines, numerous hoops to jump through, and invasive screening methods. The process is even worse for travelers who are not in peak condition—not many travelers know that even common medical issues can cause major hold-ups at airport security.
Below, five ways your health can keep you in the company of TSA agents for longer than expected.
1. You Have Sore Feet. Since December 2001, when Richard Reid unsuccessfully attempted to detonate a bomb hidden in his shoe onboard a flight from Paris to Miami, TSA officials have paid particular attention to passenger footwear. This has caused passengers with sore feet (and conditions resulting from orthopedic issues) some distress when passing through airport security. Whether they are in your shoes or in your carry-on, gel insoles—like those sold by Dr. Scholl's—will be confiscated during the screening process. You will have to simply endure discomfort until you reach baggage claim at the other end of your flight. [Read more: 5 Ways Your Health Can Hold You Up at Airport Security]
Angela Haupt is a health reporter for U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter or reach her at ahaupt@usnews.com.
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