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  • A Study Finds Staying Home with Kids is more Stressful than Working

    A Study Finds Staying Home with Kids is more Stressful than Working

    It’s well known that raising and educating a child demands commitment, focus, patience, and a significant amount of time. Parents must juggle their days between school runs, extracurriculars, doctor visits, meal preparation, work, and personal responsibilities.
    Image Credits:romanews

    It’s well known that raising and educating a child demands commitment, focus, patience, and a significant amount of time. Parents must juggle their days between school runs, extracurriculars, doctor visits, meal preparation, work, and personal responsibilities.

    According to a survey by Aveeno Baby involving 1,500 parents in the UK, 31% said that taking care of a child at home is more stressful and demanding than working a full-time job outside the home.

    Family Guidance and the Pressure of Social Media

    The survey also found that 45% of mothers turned to their own mothers for advice on raising their babies. In addition, 71% of participants said social media adds pressure, making parenting feel more competitive.

    Parents’ main concerns include their child’s development (27%), nutrition (22%), and sleep (9%). Despite these challenges, 42% said that becoming a parent was their first experience of unconditional love.

    Another study by the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium found that physical and emotional exhaustion affects one in ten parents. Published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, the research surveyed around 2,000 families.

    A Growing Concern Among Mothers and Fathers

    The findings revealed that 13% of respondents experienced all the typical symptoms of parental burnout—such as sadness, feelings of inadequacy, and fatigue—with rates of 12.9% among mothers and 11.6% among fathers.

    Burnout Syndrome stems from emotional strain and prolonged stress brought on by overwhelming work conditions. The word “burnout,” derived from the English terms “burn” and “out,” describes a form of occupational stress that leads to exhaustion and heightened irritability or aggression.

    Researchers noted that the issue emerged following a shift in parenting roles that began in Europe during the 1990s, when parents started devoting increasing amounts of time and energy to their children.

    Read the original article on: Romanews

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  • Measles Causes Long-Term Harm in kids, But Vaccines Fully Prevent It

    Measles Causes Long-Term Harm in kids, But Vaccines Fully Prevent It

    Measles is fatal in 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 infected children. However, even those who recover from the initial illness may face serious long-term effects. The virus weakens the immune system well after recovery, and in rare instances, it can remain hidden in the nervous system and resurface years later as a deadly condition.
    Credit: CDC/ Allison M. Maiuri, MPH, CHES

    Measles is fatal in 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 infected children. However, even those who recover from the initial illness may face serious long-term effects. The virus weakens the immune system well after recovery, and in rare instances, it can remain hidden in the nervous system and resurface years later as a deadly condition.

    In the short term, measles—a highly contagious viral illness—typically leads to fever, respiratory issues such as coughing, and a recognizable rash that spreads from the hairline down the body. Patsy Stinchfield, an infectious disease nurse practitioner and former president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), describes the rash as looking like a “bucket of rash” poured over the head.

    MMR Vaccine Once Eliminated Measles in the U.S, But Cases Are Rising Again

    Thanks to the two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is 97% effective at preventing measles, many healthcare providers in the U.S. have never encountered the illness. Experts told Live Science that measles cases became so rare that health officials declared the disease eliminated in the U.S. in 2000—but now, it’s making a comeback, especially in Texas and neighboring states.

    Credit:Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images

    Ross Kedl, an immunology professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, explained that the measles virus can replicate within the brain. In some instances, even after the immune system appears to fight off the virus and the individual seems to recover, the virus can remain hidden in the nervous system.

    This lingering presence can lead to a devastating condition known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)—a rare, progressive brain disorder. It may begin with subtle symptoms like mood shifts and muscle tremors, but gradually worsens, leading to the loss of speech, vision, and hearing. Within roughly two years, the affected person typically slips into a coma and dies.

    “It’s heartbreaking to watch—someone you know slowly fades before your eyes, and then they’re just gone,” Kedl said in an interview with Live Science.

    Risk of Deadly Measles Complication Far Outweighs That of Vaccination, Experts Say

    According to Ross Kedl, the likelihood of developing SSPE is highest in children who contract measles before the age of 2, with a risk of about 1 in 1,000. For older individuals, the risk drops to around 1 in 10,000—still significantly higher than the risk of serious side effects from any currently available vaccine. To put it in perspective, 1 in 10,000 equals 20 in a million, whereas serious vaccine-related adverse events occur at a rate of just 1 to 2 per million, based on data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

    SSPE most commonly affects children who had measles before their second birthday, typically surfacing around seven years later, which means victims are often about 9 or 10 years old when symptoms begin.

    This condition arises because the measles virus can lie dormant in the nervous system—much like the varicella virus, which causes chickenpox and can later reactivate as shingles. Just as the chickenpox vaccine helps prevent future cases of shingles, the MMR vaccine serves as a critical defense against SSPE by preventing measles infection in the first place.

    MMR Vaccine’s Success Has Made Measles Seem Less Threatening, But Its Dangers Persist

    The MMR vaccine has drastically reduced the number of measles cases in the U.S., which used to range from 3 to 4 million annually before the vaccine became available, according to the CDC. Due to the vaccine’s effectiveness, many people have lost sight of just how severe the disease can be, said Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director of infection prevention and control at UCHealth in Colorado.

    Credit: KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

    As vaccination rates decline in certain areas, active measles outbreaks have emerged in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Ohio, with additional cases reported across 16 other states, Dr. Michelle Barron told Live Science. Outbreaks are also occurring in Mexico and Canada. She emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated—not just for your own protection, but also to safeguard those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants under the age of 1.

    No Proven Treatments for Measles Complications, Despite Misleading Claims of “Natural” Remedies

    Dr. Michelle Barron explained that there are no treatments available that can lessen the risk of measles-related complications. So-called “natural” remedies promoted by figures like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—such as vitamin A—aren’t actual treatments for measles. Instead, she said, vitamin A is used to address malnutrition, particularly in regions where children face extreme poverty and undernourishment, to help support their recovery if they contract measles.

    Read the original article on: LiveScience

    Read more: Kids Who Read For Pleasure Grow into Better-Adjusted Teens

  • Kids Who Read For Pleasure Grow into Better-Adjusted Teens

    Kids Who Read For Pleasure Grow into Better-Adjusted Teens

    According to a recent study, although young children may find electronic devices intriguing, traditional reading has been found to contribute to their improved social and emotional adjustment during their middle school years.
    Credit: Unsplash.

    According to a recent study, although young children may find electronic devices intriguing, traditional reading has been found to contribute to their improved social and emotional adjustment during their middle school years.

    A recent study conducted on over 10,000 U.S. tweens has revealed that those who started reading for pleasure at an early age tend to exhibit various positive outcomes. These children achieved higher scores in tests assessing skills like memory and speech development, displayed fewer behavioral issues and symptoms of depression, and showed advantages in certain aspects of brain structure. However, the study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine on June 28, does not establish a causal relationship between early reading and these benefits.

    Caitlin Canfield

    According to Caitlin Canfield, a developmental psychologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, it is challenging to separate the effects of children’s reading habits from other factors in their lives, such as their relationship with parents and school environment.

    Nevertheless, the study does demonstrate an association, and since promoting reading is beneficial, it provides more reasons to encourage children to read.

    The study’s findings align with previous research indicating that children’s reading is linked not only to improved test scores but also to less loneliness and higher self-esteem. Additionally, traditional printed books may offer greater advantages compared to e-books, as evidence suggests that children acquire more knowledge and derive more enjoyment from reading printed materials.

    Canfield highlighted the interesting aspect of the study, which involved brain imaging data in addition to test results and parental reports. The researchers found that differences in brain structure partially accounted for the connection between early reading and better academic performance and mental well-being.

    Children aged 9 to 13

    The study involved over 10,000 children aged 9 to 13 as part of a long-term investigation into brain development and child health. Parents provided information on their child’s daily activities, including their engagement in recreational reading. The study found that slightly over half of the children were classified as “early” readers, having enjoyed reading for pleasure for three to ten years. The remaining 48% either did not engage in reading for fun or had only recently started.

    Overall, the study revealed that early readers achieved higher scores on standardized tests assessing memory, speech, and verbal information processing. According to parental reports, they also exhibited fewer behavioral issues such as aggression and showed fewer signs of depression.

    When analyzing the MRI brain scans of the children, the researchers discovered some indicators that connected the various findings. Early readers generally exhibited greater tissue volume in brain regions associated with reading-related processes, attention, and behavior. These differences partially explained the benefits associated with early reading.

    Barbara Sahakian,

    Co-author Barbara Sahakian, a professor at the University of Cambridge, emphasized that reading goes beyond being a pleasurable experience. It is widely recognized to inspire critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and stress reduction. Moreover, the study provided significant evidence linking reading to crucial developmental factors in children, such as improved cognition, mental health, and brain structure, which lay the foundation for future learning and well-being.

    The study also highlighted other noteworthy patterns among early readers. They spent less time using screens, including televisions, tablets, and phones, and they had more sleep compared to their peers. These habits may further contribute to the higher test scores and improved mental well-being observed among early readers, according to Caitlin Canfield.

    Canfield stressed the importance of reading, even in a world dominated by electronic devices. She encouraged parents to allow their children to take the lead, selecting books and turning the pages. As children grow older, Canfield mentioned that it is acceptable to let them read comic books or graphic novels, as the goal is to spark their interest in reading rather than focusing solely on literary classics.

    Read the original article on Phys.

    Read more: Online Reading and It´s Benefits.