Monday Morning Madness: Health Risk We Need To Avoid
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
When I first launched this blog, one format that readers enjoyed was a summary of the major headlines and studies out and about. With the new year upon us, no time like the present to go revisit an old post friend again.
Here are the headlines that caught my eye that impact today’s kids and families:
Early Caecareans Pose Risk to Newborns
A study this month in the New England Journal of Medicine shows a dramatic increase in respiratory issues and NICU admission when infants are born by c/section before 38 weeks. With so many scheduled, repeat c/sections occurring these days, parents and physicians need to keep this study in mind. Convenience is not worth the risk of a very sick newborn.
COBRA too costly for unemployed
The Washington Post reported that current COBRA rates are eating up 30-84% of people’s benefits after losing their jobs, placing people in the difficult position of having to opt out of health insurance in order to feed their families and pay other important bills. This situation will leave our nation with a new and potentially devastating issue: a dramatic increase in the uninsured, including children. As the article points out, new options are clearly needed - and quickly.
All smoking is bad: 1st, 2nd and now 3rd hand smoke!
A study in this month’s Pediatrics points out what we already know - smoking is not good for kids. But, what you may not know is that it is not just the second hand smoke but what’s called third hand smoke - the smoke that lingers in hair, clothes, furniture, etc. You’ve noticed this often any time you walk into a room and smell smoke coming from a smoker who isn’t smoking right at that time. I’ve been talking with parents about this for a long time and always suspected that was just as harmful as the real McCoy - good to now have the proof to support the claim! Yet another reason to quit!
(Image: Winter madness in New England in Dr. Gwenn’s neighborhood)
