NPR Topics: Children's Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1030&ft=1&f=1030 NPR reports on children's health and medical news including health insurance, new treatments for diseases, and child product safety recalls. Subscribe to the RSS feed. en Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:45:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Children's Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1030&ft=1&f=1030 America Hits Wall In Smoking Fight, But Some States Make Progress Smoking rates are stuck around 20 percent in the United States. But health advocates say lower rates in some states suggest progress can still be made. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/09/08/129723408/america-hits-wall-in-smoking-fight?ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/09/08/129723408/america-hits-wall-in-smoking-fight?ft=1&f=1030 Smoking rates are stuck around 20 percent in the United States. But health advocates say lower rates in some states suggest progress can still be made.

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]]> In Young Kids, Lack Of Sleep Linked To Obesity Later Infants and preschoolers who don't get enough nighttime sleep have higher odds of being obese as they grow up. And napping isn't a substitute. Over the past three decades, obesity rates have doubled among children age 2 to 5, and tripled among 6- to 11-year-olds. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129636783&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129636783&ft=1&f=1030 Infants and preschoolers who don't get enough nighttime sleep have higher odds of being obese as they grow up. And napping isn't a substitute. Over the past three decades, obesity rates have doubled among children age 2 to 5, and tripled among 6- to 11-year-olds.

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]]> 5 Big Health Issues On Campus Dropping off your wide-eyed 18-year-old on campus for the first time? Here's what college health officials say students and their parents need to keep in mind for a healthy school year. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/31/129562240/top-5-college-health-issues-this-year?ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/31/129562240/top-5-college-health-issues-this-year?ft=1&f=1030 Dropping off your wide-eyed 18-year-old on campus for the first time? Here's what college health officials say students and their parents need to keep in mind for a healthy school year.

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]]> Slightly Premature Babies At Risk For Cerebral Palsy Scientists have long known about the link between severely premature birth and cerebral palsy, a condition that limits mobility and movement.  But a new study shows that children born just two or three weeks before term also have a higher risk of the condition. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129556740&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129556740&ft=1&f=1030 Scientists have long known about the link between severely premature birth and cerebral palsy, a condition that limits mobility and movement.  But a new study shows that children born just two or three weeks before term also have a higher risk of the condition.

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]]> About A Third of Births, Even For First-Time Moms, Are Now By Cesarean The latest snapshot of how women give birth in the United States is sobering. Almost a third of women giving birth for the first time have C-sections. In the late '90s, about 1 in 5 of all deliveries were by cesarean. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/31/129552505/cesarean-sections-stay-popular?ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/31/129552505/cesarean-sections-stay-popular?ft=1&f=1030 The latest snapshot of how women give birth in the United States is sobering. Almost a third of women giving birth for the first time have C-sections. In the late '90s, about 1 in 5 of all deliveries were by cesarean.

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]]> Study: Concussions Soar Among Youth Athletes A new study in the journal <em>Pediatrics</em> shows a dramatic increase in the number of sports-related concussions for child athletes. NPR's Melissa Block talks to Dr. Lisa Bakhos, the lead author of the study. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129535012&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129535012&ft=1&f=1030 A new study in the journal Pediatrics shows a dramatic increase in the number of sports-related concussions for child athletes. NPR's Melissa Block talks to Dr. Lisa Bakhos, the lead author of the study.

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]]> 5 Worries Parents Should Drop, And 5 They Shouldn't Take a look at the evidence, and you'll start fretting more about accidents and less about nefarious strangers when it comes to childhood safety. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/30/129531631/5-worries-parents-should-drop-and-5-they-should?ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/30/129531631/5-worries-parents-should-drop-and-5-they-should?ft=1&f=1030 Take a look at the evidence, and you'll start fretting more about accidents and less about nefarious strangers when it comes to childhood safety.

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]]> With Birth Control Pills, New Isn't Always Better The latest generation of birth control pills has been marketed as doing much more than prevent pregnancy. They claim to clear the skin, make menstrual periods more benign, even prevent mood swings. But some critics suggest these benefits don't outweigh the health risks known to accompany oral contraceptives. Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129258505&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129258505&ft=1&f=1030 The latest generation of birth control pills has been marketed as doing much more than prevent pregnancy. They claim to clear the skin, make menstrual periods more benign, even prevent mood swings. But some critics suggest these benefits don't outweigh the health risks known to accompany oral contraceptives.

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]]> Listeners Sound Off On Moms Mistaken As Nannies Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Producer Lee Hill, the program's digital media guy, comb through listener feedback and offer news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. Listeners offered their reactions to a recent parenting conversation with moms who have been mistaken as the nannies of their multiracial children. Also, hear what listeners to the program have to say following a Tell Me More producer's blog post about choosing to use a sperm donor to conceive her child. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129324354&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129324354&ft=1&f=1030 Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Producer Lee Hill, the program's digital media guy, comb through listener feedback and offer news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. Listeners offered their reactions to a recent parenting conversation with moms who have been mistaken as the nannies of their multiracial children. Also, hear what listeners to the program have to say following a Tell Me More producer's blog post about choosing to use a sperm donor to conceive her child.

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]]> CDC: Teen Vaccination Rates Rising A study in the weekly CDC report provides new numbers on how many teens are getting the vaccinations they need. Officials say that is still far from the government goal of reaching 90 percent vaccine coverage for everyone.This is the second year the centers have tracked and emphasized the need for shots for tweens and teens. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129315679&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129315679&ft=1&f=1030 A study in the weekly CDC report provides new numbers on how many teens are getting the vaccinations they need. Officials say that is still far from the government goal of reaching 90 percent vaccine coverage for everyone.This is the second year the centers have tracked and emphasized the need for shots for tweens and teens.

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]]> Should Boys Also Get Vaccinated For HPV? The HPV vaccination rate among girls in the U.S. has been low: Just 11 percent now get all three doses of the vaccine. Some experts suggest that also immunizing boys could enhance the vaccine's effectiveness. But others say there's not much benefit in giving the shot to boys. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129298144&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129298144&ft=1&f=1030 The HPV vaccination rate among girls in the U.S. has been low: Just 11 percent now get all three doses of the vaccine. Some experts suggest that also immunizing boys could enhance the vaccine's effectiveness. But others say there's not much benefit in giving the shot to boys.

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]]> Smoking On Screen Declines, But Half Of Top Films Still Feature Tobacco After peaking in 2005, on-screen smoking in the top movies declined by almost half in 2009. Even so, 49 percent of top-grossing films that year showed some smoking. Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/19/129301401/cigarette-smoking-in-movies-declines-but-half-of-top-films-still-feature-tobacco?ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/19/129301401/cigarette-smoking-in-movies-declines-but-half-of-top-films-still-feature-tobacco?ft=1&f=1030 After peaking in 2005, on-screen smoking in the top movies declined by almost half in 2009. Even so, 49 percent of top-grossing films that year showed some smoking.

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]]> Younger Kids In Class May Be Overdiagnosed With ADHD Younger kids in a classroom appear more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Researchers suggest the findings show a bias that penalizes slightly younger kids for acting their age. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/17/129255572/a-second-thought-on-the-accuracy-of-adhd-diagnosis-in-kids?ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/17/129255572/a-second-thought-on-the-accuracy-of-adhd-diagnosis-in-kids?ft=1&f=1030 Younger kids in a classroom appear more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Researchers suggest the findings show a bias that penalizes slightly younger kids for acting their age.

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]]> Study: Hearing Loss Increases In U.S. Teens Researchers found 1 in 5 adolescents now suffers some sort of hearing impairment. While the hearing loss is described as only slight or mild, earlier studies have found that even mild hearing loss can negatively affect academic achievement and social interaction. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129259165&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129259165&ft=1&f=1030 Researchers found 1 in 5 adolescents now suffers some sort of hearing impairment. While the hearing loss is described as only slight or mild, earlier studies have found that even mild hearing loss can negatively affect academic achievement and social interaction.

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]]> Drowning Risk More Acute For Minorities The drowning deaths of six Louisiana teens served as a tragic reminder of how many Americans have never learned to swim. Minority children are at particular risk of drowning, but there are ways bystanders can identify and assist someone who needs help. Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129233136&ft=1&f=1030 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129233136&ft=1&f=1030 The drowning deaths of six Louisiana teens served as a tragic reminder of how many Americans have never learned to swim. Minority children are at particular risk of drowning, but there are ways bystanders can identify and assist someone who needs help.

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