Give yourself a break with meditation
Do you start the day with anxiety and end it by thinking about how the day’s good intentions went awry? You can rework this cycle through meditation. While meditation can’t hold back all the curve balls thrown into your life, it does offer a way to cope and adjust your perspective. We recently discussed how ... Read More about Give yourself a break with meditation
Vitamin D: Absorption matters
If you’ve been hearing more about vitamin D recently, that’s because a growing number of studies have linked this nutrient to a range of potential health benefits, from a lower risk of flu to protection against cancer. Although the evidence isn’t firm for all of the many claims made about vitamin D, we do know ... Read More about Vitamin D: Absorption matters
Concussions: Prevention and recovery for athletes
Team sports such as soccer, lacrosse, football, and field hockey bring together all the benefits of rigorous exercise and fun with friends. However, participation also comes with the risk of injury. Concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury, are all too common among young athletes. Helmets and mouth guards reduce players’ risk of other injuries, ... Read More about Concussions: Prevention and recovery for athletes
The modified barium swallow study: What’s it like?
If your child has dysphagia or another swallowing problem, their physician may recommend a “swallow study.” Technically called a modified barium swallow study, this test can help clinicians determine whether a child is aspirating, which means that food or liquid is entering their lungs when they try to eat or drink. “This study is completely ... Read More about The modified barium swallow study: What’s it like?
Four things to know about your child’s kidneys
If you’re like most parents, you probably know that the kidneys filter waste from the body and produce urine. But fewer people understand the full extent of the role that these bean-shaped organs play in our health. “When we meet with families, we typically educate them on all the responsibilities that kidneys have in the ... Read More about Four things to know about your child’s kidneys
Sticking it to needle pain
Ask any kid what they dread most about a visit to the doctor and you’ll likely hear the same answer: “Needles!” Whether in the form of vaccinations or blood draws, the pain associated with needlesticks isn’t “just a small poke” to many children. It’s a major source of fear and distress — and not just ... Read More about Sticking it to needle pain
Vegan diets for adolescent athletes: A sports dietitian’s perspective
Vegan diets are a hit on social media, but is a 100 percent plant-based diet a good idea for athletes? A sports nutritionist looks at the pros and cons.
Developmental milestone checklists don’t always agree, finds study
Developmental milestones, such as sitting unsupported or babbling, are a cornerstone for tracking a child’s development and spotting potential delays. Yet fewer than half of pediatricians actually use formal developmental assessments. Hoping to make the process easier, Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD, in the Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Developmental Medicine, set out to incorporate a ... Read More about Developmental milestone checklists don’t always agree, finds study
Scoliosis bracing: How to support your child
Bracing is a family affair. Every member of the family should be on the same page with regards to the number of hours the brace needs to be worn and how brace wear fits into the child’s schedule.
Answers to six questions about anxiety in children and teens
Between school and social demands, lots of children feel stress, but at what point does anxiety cross the line and become a mental health concern? We sat down with Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, to better understand what separates serious forms of anxiety from normal worrying, ... Read More about Answers to six questions about anxiety in children and teens