CDC: Summer Swim Safety
AT A GLANCE Drowning is preventable. Follow these key prevention tips: learn how to swim and teach children how to swim, supervise children closely and constantly when they are in or near water, properly fence home swimming pools, and wear a properly fitted life jacket. Leading cause of death Drowning is a leading cause of […]
FDA: Vaccines Protect Children From Harmful Infectious Diseases
Vaccines are essential to getting children off to a healthy start in life and keeping them healthy as they grow up. Because immunization programs of the 20th and 21st centuries have been so successful, many parents today have never seen the many vaccine-preventable diseases that were once common. They may not realize that those infectious […]
CDC: Benefits of Physical Activity
KEY POINTS Immediate benefits By age Graphics show the health benefits for children, adults, and adults 65 and older in one page. Some benefits of physical activity for brain health happen right after a session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Benefits include improved thinking or cognition for children 6 to 13 and reduced short-term feelings of anxiety for adults. Regular physical activity […]
CDC: Preparing for Hurricanes or Other Tropical Storms
KEY POINTS Get ready for hurricane season Hurricane season starts on May 15 in the north Pacific and June 1 in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It ends on November 30. Hurricanes don’t only affect people living along the coast. They can cause damage hundreds of miles from the shore. Learn how to be prepared. […]
CDC: Controlling Asthma
KEY POINTS Common asthma triggers “Secondhand smoke,” smoke created by a smoker and breathed in by a second person, can trigger an asthma attack. If you have asthma, people should never smoke near you. Dust mites can trigger an asthma attack. Dust mites are microscopic bugs that are in many homes. To prevent attacks: Air pollution can […]
FDA: Facts about Sunscreen
The FDA regulates sunscreens to ensure they meet safety and effectiveness standards. Manufacturers are required to conduct certain tests before their sunscreen products are sold. How you use sunscreen, and what other protective measures you take, makes a difference in how well you are able to protect yourself and your family from sunburn, skin cancer, and early skin […]
CDC: Tips for Praising Your Teen
KEY POINTS Overview Parenting teens often gets a bad reputation. Every parent and caregiver experiences moments of doubt, frustration, and worry. We all need help figuring things out and can get caught up in the hard parts of a relationship. Let’s give equal airtime to the positive aspects of parenting a teen! It’s interesting and […]
FDA: Be Aware of Potentially Dangerous Products and Therapies that Claim to Treat Autism
Products or treatments claiming to cure autism are deceptive and misleading, because there is no cure for autism. The same is true of many products claiming to “treat” autism or autism-related symptoms. Some may carry significant health risks. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays an important role in warning companies against making improper claims about […]
CDC: About Tuberculosis
KEY POINTS Overview Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium (or germ) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the United States, the majority of TB disease cases in people are caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other mycobacteria (such as Mycobacterium bovis) can also cause TB disease in people. TB usually affects the lungs. TB can also affect other parts of the body, such […]
CDC: Reducing Risk for Skin Cancer
KEY POINTS Overview Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays come from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can damage skin cells. To lower your risk of getting skin cancer, you can protect your skin from UV rays from the sun, and avoid artificial sources of UV […]