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(HealthDay News) — Bronchitis is typically caused by a respiratory virus, and much less frequently, by a bacterial infection, the American Lung Association says.
Risk factors include having close contact with someone who has bronchitis, failure to get age-appropriate vaccinations, and exposure to tobacco smoke, fumes, dust and air pollution.

The American Lung Association says symptoms of bronchitis typically include:

• • Coughing up mucus that may be yellow or green.
  • Runny and stuffy nose starting a few days before chest congestion.
  • Feeling tired.
  • Sore ribs from prolonged periods of coughing.
  • Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing.

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(HealthDay News) — Cooking with your child will help build confidence in tasting the unfamiliar, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
By exposing your child to different types of food, you will boost the child’s willingness to try new dishes.

The academy mentions these additional potential benefits:

• • You can help your child boost senses besides taste.
  • Use cooking as a way to teach concepts such as counting, measurement and fractions.
  • The family meal can celebrate your cultural heritage.
  • Teach your child the importance of staying safe while cooking. Show the child how to use kitchen tools safely, how to use oven mitts to protect hands, and how to turn appliances on and off safely.
  • Ask the child for input in planning meals.

Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All Rights Reserved.

MONDAY, Jan. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Strong limits on marketing and sales are needed to control and prevent teens’ use of electronic cigarettes, a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement says. Teens who use e-cigarettes are more apt to use traditional cigarettes eventually, studies show. The surge in vaping among American teens threatens to turn back five decades of public health gains in reducing tobacco use, the AAP warned. “Nicotine is highly addictive, and we know that the earlier that someone uses nicotine products in childhood, the more difficult it is to quit later,” said Dr. Brian Jenssen, lead author of the new policy statement. He is a primary care pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Most adult smokers started using tobacco before age 18,” Jenssen said in an AAP news release. The policy statement calls on federal officials to take immediate action to restrict marketing and...

MONDAY, Jan. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — When counting calories, don’t forget those in beverages. You might not realize how many you’re drinking. For instance, if you have a fancy coffee to start your day, a large soda with lunch and sweet tea with your afternoon snack, you could tally up hundreds of calories before you factor in your first bite of solid food. Here are seven ideas for cutting back on these calories to speed weight loss and give you more leeway for satisfying meals: Number 1: Make water, plain tea or black coffee your default drink. Even diet sodas aren’t good for your health, so avoid them. Instead, add a splash of fruit juice to a glass of sparkling water and top it off with a lemon, lime, cucumber or watermelon slice. Number 2: For every other beverage, consider its nutritional value before you take a sip. For...

(HealthDay News) — As your child ages, he or she should play a greater role in getting medical care, the American Academy of Family Physicians says.
The academy suggests how to empower your teen to make informed medical decisions:

• • At about age 14, kids should be able to: understand and explain any medical conditions they have, know which medicines they take and why, be aware of any allergies, and know whom to contact for medical equipment or supplies.
  • By age 18, your child should know: how to make doctor appointments. how to fill a prescription and pick it up from the pharmacy and how to look for a primary care doctor by asking for recommendations and checking insurance coverage.

Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All Rights Reserved.

(HealthDay News) — More than 12,000 women get cervical cancer every year, but more than 90 percent of cases may be preventable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
In 2012, some 8 million U.S. women aged 21 to 65 reported they had not been screened for cervical cancer in the last five years, the agency says.

The CDC recommends:

• • Vaccinate girls ages 11-12 against human papilloma virus (HPV), a primary cause of cervical cancer.
  • Obtain Pap tests every three years for women 21 to 29.
  • Women ages 30 to 65 should either get a Pap test every 3 years OR a Pap test and HPV test every 5 years.

Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All Rights Reserved.

FRIDAY, Jan. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Rented electric scooters have become all the rage in getting around cities, but they are also accidents waiting to happen, a new study reveals. In two Southern California emergency departments, nearly 250 people were seen for injuries linked to electric scooters in a single year, researchers found. “Riders of electric scooters share roads with fast-moving vehicular traffic and share sidewalks with lots of pedestrian traffic and uneven curbs, and riders seem to underestimate hazards,” said senior study author Dr. Joann Elmore. She’s a professor of medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. Injuries associated with these electric scooters are a new phenomenon, she noted. “While the injuries vary in severity, some are serious, including fractures and head injuries,” Elmore said. These data are likely a conservative estimate because the researchers only included patients seen in emergency rooms. “Our findings do not cover...

FRIDAY, Jan. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — While one in five kids may have a learning disability that requires one-on-one intervention, others may simply need to develop good study habits to improve their grades. But good study habits don’t always come easily or naturally. You can help your ‘tween or teen develop them with a few easy steps, and save both of you hours of stress and arguments. Organization is key. Using a paper calendar, the calendar program on your child’s computer or one offered through the school’s online system, have your child plot the dates of all upcoming tests and assignments. Use a different color for each class to avoid confusion and enable your child to see requirements for each one at a glance. Then break down how to prepare for each test or report by week and by month — this may involve specifics like due dates for...

THURSDAY, Jan. 24, 2019 (American Heart Association) — The start of a new year is a ripe time to branch out — and try those fruits and vegetables you may have noticed but keeping passing by at the supermarket. Perhaps the finger-like appendages of a Buddha’s hand have called out. Or you’ve been curious about that one vegetable you don’t know how to pronounce, much less prepare for consumption. Go ahead — give it a try. Food experts say diversifying your diet can even help you stick to your weight control plan, if that’s among your New Year’s resolutions. “More variety helps keep things interesting,” said Jo Ann Carson, a registered dietitian and nutritionist. “And adding interest when it comes to fruits and vegetables, rather than relying on a variety of desserts, will help us stick to keeping healthier items on our plate.” Carson, a professor of clinical nutrition at...

(HealthDay News) — Talking with your baby helps the child’s language development, the Nemours Foundation says. Researchers have found that the number of words a parent said to a child was strongly associated with the depth of the child’s vocabulary at the age of 3. And when parents used different words and sentences in conversation, their children had higher rates of vocabulary growth, vocabulary use and IQ scores at age 3, the foundation added. Nemours suggests these approaches in each phase of your child’s life: In the first five months of life, use “tummy time” as an opportunity to describe out loud what you can see, smell and hear from your baby’s point of view. From ages 6 to 11 months, talk through your actions with your baby during everyday tasks, such as baths. From 12 to 17 months, use finger movements when sharing nursery rhymes to encourage the child...

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Just a few exercise breaks — or “snacks” — a day can provide significant benefits, a new study says. Specifically, it found that short sessions of intense stair climbing spaced throughout the day can improve heart and lung (cardiorespiratory) fitness. “The findings make it even easier for people to incorporate ‘exercise snacks’ into their day,” said study senior author Martin Gibala. He’s a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. “Those who work in office towers or live in apartment buildings can vigorously climb a few flights of stairs in the morning, at lunch and in the evening and know they are getting an effective workout,” Gibala said in a university news release. Other studies have found that short bouts of vigorous exercise — sprint interval training (SIT) — are beneficial when done in a single 10-minute session, with a...

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For many, a microwave is indispensable, but questions remain about the safety of containers used to cook and reheat food in it. Most of the controversy surrounds the chemicals used to make plastic containers soft or clear, like BPA and phthalates. These chemicals are called endocrine disrupters, because they can mimic hormones such as estrogen in a bad way. The chemicals can leach into your food, especially when containers are heated. According to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, other chemicals, even replacements for BPA, haven’t been tested enough to know if they’re truly safe. Some experts recommend not using any plastic container in the microwave, even if it is stamped “microwave safe.” Microwaves heat unevenly and can create hot spots where plastic is more likely to break down. Instead, use ceramics or glass labeled microwaveable. Also, rather than covering even a glass dish...