The Parents Zone

A troubled marriage doesn’t just affect Mom and Dad — it can also mean sleep problems for baby, according to a new study.

Signs of marriage instability, such as parents contemplating divorce, when a child is just 9 months old are associated with problems falling and staying asleep when the child is 18 months old, said study researcher Anne Mannering, of Oregon State University. (Mannering was a research associate at the Oregon Social Learning Center at the time of the study).

“The quality of the parents’ relationship can influence the quality of the parent-child relationship and vice versa,” Mannering told MyHealthNewsDaily. “

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MONDAY, July 18 — Exposure to secondhand smoke could affect hearing development in children and increase their risk of hearing loss during adolescence, a new study indicates

These findings may warrant screenings for hearing loss among children exposed to secondhand smoke, the researchers warned

Roughly 60 percent of children in the United States are exposed to secondhand smoke, reported the studys authors These children are at greater risk for certain health problems, from respiratory infections to behavioral difficulties and otitis media acute ear infection Babies whose mothers smoked when pregnant are also at greater risk for low birthweight and other problems

“Secondhand smoke may also have the potential to have an impact on auditory development,” something that has significant implications for US public health, the researchers wrote

In the study, they questioned 1,533 teens about their health status and family medical history, exposure to secondhand smoke and their knowledge of whether or not they had a hearing problem The teens were also given physicals, which included blood testing for cotinine a byproduct of nicotine exposure and hearing tests

Teens who had been exposed to secondhand smoke had higher rates of low- and high-frequency hearing loss than their peers who were not exposed, researchers found The study noted that judging by cotinine levels, the severity of the hearing loss depended on how much exposure they had had The study pointed out, however, more than 80 percent of the teens suffering from hearing loss didnt even realize they had a problem

The findings were published in the July issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery

Since teenagers are not screened for hearing loss in the absence of risk factors for the condition, the researchers argued teens that have been exposed to secondhand smoke should be more closely monitored for hearing impairment

In today’s society, teen pregnancy has become an issue. If you step foot into a local high school, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a pregnant student. In fact, if you asked a student if they have a friend who is expecting or has already given birth, the answer would most likely be a yes. It seems to be that any form of contraception isn’t a priority for young girls today. As the rate of teenage pregnancy rises, it seems to me that the attitude about it is more relaxed and sadly, it is seen as desirable. Some

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A family pit bull attacked a one-year-old child in a home in Chula Vista, the second largest city in the San Diego, CA, metropolitan area. The attack occurred on Friday, June 24, 2011, and was the third in San Diego in one week, according to NBCsandiego.com.  The baby was reportedly taken to the hospital.  No further details were available. 

The family had five dogs living in the house with the child.  A family member confirmed the dog that attacked was a pit bull and described it as aggressive.  The dog was euthanized by animal control.

About 10:45 a.m. that sa

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