TikTok‘s “Sleepytime Swirl” Challenge Sparks Health Warnings

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2025-10-06 07:04
What was intended to be a funny trend on TikTok has taken a serious turn. The new “Sleepytime Swirl” challenge, where teens mix cold meds like Benadryl and cough syrup to try to “nap hard,” has landed teens in the hospital with serious side effects like seizures and slowed heart rates.

Health experts say combining these drugs can lead to overdose or long-term damage. They are urging teens to skip risky challenges and to understand that misusing cold medicine isn’t harmless—it’s a form of drug abuse with potentially life-altering consequences.
Categories: Teen Health

Nearly half of drivers killed in crashes had THC in their blood

Teen Health 2 - Sun, 2025-10-05 21:40
Over 40% of fatal crash victims had THC levels far above legal limits, showing cannabis use before driving remains widespread. The rate didn’t drop after legalization, suggesting policy changes haven’t altered risky habits. Experts warn that the lack of public awareness around marijuana’s dangers behind the wheel is putting lives at risk.
Categories: Teen Health

Why the brain’s GPS fails with age, and how some minds defy it

Teen Health 2 - Sun, 2025-10-05 09:16
Stanford scientists found that aging disrupts the brain’s internal navigation system in mice, mirroring spatial memory decline in humans. Older mice struggled to recall familiar locations, while a few “super-agers” retained youthful brain patterns. Genetic clues suggest some animals, and people, may be naturally resistant to cognitive aging. The discovery could pave the way for preventing memory loss in old age.
Categories: Teen Health

Scientists finally explain the real reason pregnant women get morning sickness

Teen Health 2 - Mon, 2025-09-29 20:50
Morning sickness isn’t just random misery—it’s a biological defense system shaped by evolution to protect the fetus. By linking immune responses to nausea and food aversions, UCLA researchers show these symptoms are signs of a healthy pregnancy.
Categories: Teen Health

Why Gen X women can’t stop eating ultra-processed foods

Teen Health 2 - Mon, 2025-09-29 07:57
Researchers found that middle-aged adults, especially women, are far more likely to be addicted to ultra-processed foods than older generations. Marketing of diet-focused processed foods in the 1980s may have played a major role. Food addiction was linked to poor health, weight issues, and social isolation, highlighting long-term risks. Experts warn that children today could face even higher addiction rates in the future.
Categories: Teen Health

Kissing Bugs Are Creeping Into More U.S. States

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2025-09-29 07:03
Kissing bugs might sound harmless, but these nighttime biters are showing up in more parts of the U.S.—and they can carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease, which can damage your heart over time. They usually bite people while they sleep, especially around the face.

To stay safe, experts say to seal up cracks in your home, use window screens, and keep pets indoors at night. Spot a bug with a long snout and orange stripes on the side? Snap a photo and report it—catching it early can make a big difference.
Categories: Teen Health

Tylenol in pregnancy linked to higher autism risk, Harvard scientists report

Teen Health 2 - Wed, 2025-09-24 00:00
Researchers reviewing 46 studies found evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen (Tylenol) exposure with higher risks of autism and ADHD. The FDA has since urged caution, echoing scientists’ advice that the drug be used only at the lowest effective dose and shortest duration. While important for managing fever and pain in pregnancy, prolonged use may pose risks to fetal development. Experts stress careful medical oversight and further investigation.
Categories: Teen Health

AI breakthrough finds life-saving insights in everyday bloodwork

Teen Health 2 - Tue, 2025-09-23 06:33
AI-powered analysis of routine blood tests can reveal hidden patterns that predict recovery and survival after spinal cord injuries. This breakthrough could make life-saving predictions affordable and accessible in hospitals worldwide.
Categories: Teen Health

Childhood plastic exposure could be fueling obesity, infertility, and asthma

Teen Health 2 - Mon, 2025-09-22 08:05
A sweeping review from NYU Langone Health reveals that everyday exposure to plastics—especially during childhood—poses lasting risks for heart disease, infertility, asthma, and even brain development issues. These chemicals, found in packaging, cosmetics, and common household items, can disrupt hormones, ignite chronic inflammation, and lower IQ.
Categories: Teen Health

The Rise of the “Crunchy” Teen: Wellness Goes Viral

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2025-09-22 07:06
More high schoolers are ditching soda and fast food in favor of “clean” eating, red light therapy, and fluoride-free toothpaste—and they’re documenting it all online. Self-described “crunchy” teen influencers are gaining tens of thousands of followers by promoting wellness routines and health advice aimed at their peers.

But health experts are worried. While some teens say these habits help them feel better, doctors and dietitians warn that unverified advice and obsession with “clean living” can trigger anxiety, shame, and even eating disorders. Bottom line: If you’re into health trends, stay curious—but don’t let sensational posts replace real science.
Categories: Teen Health

Smoking’s hidden gut bacteria trick may lead to new colitis treatments

Teen Health 2 - Fri, 2025-09-19 18:28
For decades, scientists have puzzled over why smoking makes Crohn’s disease worse but seems to protect people from ulcerative colitis. Now, researchers at RIKEN have discovered that smoking creates metabolites like hydroquinone that allow mouth bacteria—especially Streptococcus mitis—to settle in the gut. These bacteria spark an immune response that reduces inflammation in colitis but worsens Crohn’s. The findings open the door to new therapies using probiotics or targeted compounds that mimic smoking’s protective effects without its deadly risks.
Categories: Teen Health

Stanford scientists reveal simple shift that could prevent strokes and obesity nationwide

Teen Health 2 - Tue, 2025-09-16 19:52
Switching clocks twice a year disrupts circadian rhythms in ways that harm health. Stanford scientists found permanent standard time would reduce obesity and stroke rates nationwide, making it the strongest option over permanent daylight saving time or seasonal shifts.
Categories: Teen Health

Ozempic’s hidden pregnancy risk few women know about

Teen Health 2 - Tue, 2025-09-09 19:38
Thousands of women are using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for weight loss without contraception, leading to unintended pregnancies and potential risks for unborn babies. Experts warn clearer medical guidance is urgently needed.
Categories: Teen Health

Study Finds Teens Can Thrive After Bullying with the Right Support

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2025-09-08 07:15
A new study from Lurie Children’s Hospital found that bullying during the teen years has a stronger link to anxiety and depression than when it happens in childhood. But it also showed that teens who feel supported and connected at school are more likely to recover emotionally.

That means your relationships—with friends, classmates, and trusted adults—really matter. Even if you’ve been through bullying, you have the power to heal and grow, especially when you surround yourself with people who truly see and support you.
Categories: Teen Health

One number at age 7 could predict how long you live

Teen Health 2 - Sun, 2025-09-07 16:51
Children with higher blood pressure as young as age 7 face a sharply increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by their mid-50s, according to a massive decades-long study. Researchers found that even moderately elevated readings, not just full hypertension, raised the danger, with risks climbing as much as 40–50%.
Categories: Teen Health

Cells “vomit” waste in a hidden healing shortcut that could also fuel cancer

Teen Health 2 - Sat, 2025-08-30 04:56
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new healing mechanism in injured cells called cathartocytosis, in which cells "vomit" out their internal machinery to revert more quickly to a stem cell-like state. While this messy shortcut helps tissues regenerate faster, it also leaves behind debris that can fuel inflammation and even cancer.
Categories: Teen Health

Rats walk again after breakthrough spinal cord repair with 3D printing

Teen Health 2 - Tue, 2025-08-26 08:24
University of Minnesota researchers developed a 3D-printed scaffold that directs stem cells to grow into functioning nerve cells, successfully restoring movement in rats with severed spinal cords. This promising technique could transform future treatment for spinal cord injuries.
Categories: Teen Health

Progress in Orally Administered GLP-1 Diet Drugs

Teen Health & Wellness - Sat, 2025-08-23 09:42
The overwhelming popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs such as Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Saxenda for weight loss has always been undercut by the fact that, with a single exception (Rybelsus, a diabetes drug taken orally), they’re only available in injectable form.

Now, drug manufacturer Eli Lily and Company has announced promising findings with its experimental GLP-1 pill orforglipron. In an 18-month clinical trial, around 60 percent of participants lost at least 10 percent of their body weight when taking orforglipron on a daily basis, and an average weight reduction of more than 12 percent of body weight occurred in people with obesity. The pill is intended to be an alternative to the company’s popular Zepbound weekly injectable.
Categories: Teen Health

Why some people age faster. And the 400 genes behind it

Teen Health 2 - Thu, 2025-08-21 23:48
Researchers identified over 400 genes tied to various forms of frailty, offering fresh insight into why people age differently. The study highlights six distinct pathways of unhealthy aging, opening the door to more precise, targeted anti-aging interventions.
Categories: Teen Health

Genetic evidence confirms early puberty accelerates aging and disease

Teen Health 2 - Wed, 2025-08-20 03:13
Researchers discovered that early puberty or childbirth doubles women’s risk for major diseases and accelerates aging, while later timing offers protective benefits. Genetic analysis reveals evolutionary tradeoffs, where reproductive advantages early in life create health burdens later.
Categories: Teen Health

Pages

RMC facebook RMC twitter
Scroll to Top