With the World Health Organization declaring the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern, mosquitos have gone from being a nuisance to a cause for concern over spreading disease. While Zika is a serious virus that can cause severe birth defects, it is one of several viruses being spread by mosquitos. What else…
Infant car seat? Convertible car seat? All-in-one car seat? Travel system? What’s the difference? Why does it matter? Is one brand really better or safer than another? These were some of the questions I asked myself as we started down the path of making our first major baby purchase. Because, let’s face, I really had…
“Flames were shooting into her hand. She kept screaming.” That’s how Marc Janson recalls his Fourth of July last summer. Janson and his daughter Caroline, then 6 years old, were playing with handheld smoke bombs, lighting the end that shoots smoke while holding the other. It seemed simple enough — they’d used these fireworks dozens…
Staying hydrated can go a long way toward keeping your child out of the doctor’s office this summer. Not surprisingly, experts say to lay off sugary drinks like sodas and fruit juices and stick to water, especially when playing outdoors in the summer heat. How much water should your child drink, and what are the…
The children are grown and out of the house. You’re closer to the end of your working life than the beginning. You and your partner have more time than ever to enjoy each other’s company. So what happened to a little “afternoon delight” and romantic, candlelit evenings? It might make you feel better to know…
I didn’t know Pat Summitt, nor did I play basketball, but as a former college athlete, I know all she did for female athletes. Anyone who follows sports knows about Summitt’s on-the-court accomplishments. But for me, how she went about her work and what she did for women are what define her legacy. When Summitt…
In addition to saving more babies’ lives, breastfeeding also is tied to better behavior in children, according to new research. A study in South Africa looked at 1,500 children and found that those who were exclusively breastfed for the first six months were less likely to have behavioral issues once they started school. Researchers stated…
You need that form filled out and signed for your child to play sports, so you dash off to the local retail clinic. Sound familiar? Probably too familiar, according to Drew Duerson, M.D. Dr. Duerson is a pediatrician with Norton Children’s Hospital Medical Associates – Shepherdsville, who also has a certificate of added qualification in…
My friend just became a statistic. At age 42, he died from complications suffered during a stroke. His life was too precious for me let it slip by without learning from it. He was so much more: educator, friend, brother and son. When we think of someone having a stroke, we tend to think of…
The breastfeeding classes I took before having my first baby were far and away the best thing to prepare me. No books could have prepared me for what I was about to experience after Jude was born. Without those classes and the support of my family in those first 10 to 14 days, I think…
More than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It affects 11 percent of seniors in Kentucky alone. Chances are you know someone with one of these diseases — a family member, friend or neighbor. Alzheimer’s and other dementias slowly take away a person’s ability to communicate. These changes in…
You don’t normally see soccer players wearing head protection. But for 15-year-old Ruby Fitzer, it’s a requirement. “I don’t like wearing it — it leaves a mark on my forehead,” said Ruby, a goalie for Dupont Manual High School in Louisville. “But the reality is I need it in order to keep playing.” Unfortunately, between…