A closer look at the link between combat deployment and anger issues

The cop-killers in both Dallas and Baton Rouge had served in combat zones in the military; an Army study shows anger is commonly reported after combat deployments

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fis-there-a-link-between-combat-deployment-and-anger-issues-micah-johnson-gavin-long%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Cancer Experts Endorse CDC's HPV Vaccine Guidelines

Boys and girls should start the HPV vaccine shots at age 11 or 12 to prevent cancer-related virus

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fsexual-conditions%2Fhpv-genital-warts%2Fnews%2F20160719%2Fcancer-experts-endorse-cdcs-hpv-vaccine-guidelines%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Calif. toddler dead after complications from dental visit

The victim's father posted on Facebook: "God have mercy on you my daughter."

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fthree-year-old-toddler-dead-after-complications-from-dental-visit%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Advanced prostate cancer cases skyrocket

Researchers raise questions about the impact of reduced screening

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fadvanced-prostate-cancers-skyrocket-in-us%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

U.S. Teen Diabetes Rate Exceeds Prior Estimates

Most young people unaware they have it, study finds

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fdiabetes%2Fnews%2F20160719%2Fus-teen-diabetes-rate-exceeds-prior-estimates%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Which Diabetes Drug Is Best?

Study calls it a draw, with a slight edge for metformin

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fdiabetes%2Fnews%2F20160719%2Fwhich-diabetes-drug-is-best%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Implant Effective at Combating Opioid Dependence

Doctors call it new resource for those addicted to prescription painkillers, heroin

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fmental-health%2Faddiction%2Fnews%2F20160719%2Fimplant-proves-effective-at-combating-opioid-dependence%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Can You Be Pregnant and Not Know It?

Is it possible to carry a baby without knowing you’re pregnant? It happens more often than you think.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fbaby%2Ffeatures%2Fcan-you-be-pregnant-not-know-it%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Even High-Fat Mediterranean Diet Good for You

Still protected against diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fdiet%2F20160719%2Feven-high-fat-mediterranean-diet-good-for-you-review%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

IVF Won't Raise Risk for Breast Cancer

New findings should reassure the many women who undergo the fertility procedure, specialists said

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Finfertility-and-reproduction%2Fnews%2F20160719%2Fivf-wont-raise-risk-for-breast-cancer%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Mayo Clinic Minute: Researching the Trillions of Bugs in Your Body

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHBvRfpwW82E&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Wrestlers sue WWE over head injuries

The lawsuit is brought by Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and dozens of other retired wrestlers

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fwrestlers-sue-wwe-over-head-injuries%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Backyard Chicken Trend Can Be Risky

The rise in popularity of raising your own chickens has brought a rise in health risks, particularly from illnesses caused by salmonella bacteria.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Ffood-recipes%2Ffood-poisoning%2F20160719%2Fbackyard-chicken-salmonella%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Phase two HIPAA audits under way

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has sent emails to selected covered entities that will be included in phase two of its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act audit program.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ada.org%2Fen%2Fpublications%2Fada-news%2F2016-archive%2Fjuly%2Fphase-two-hipaa-audits-under-way&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Could fracking worsen asthma?

New research looks at the relationship between fracking and the chronic lung disease in children and adults

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fcould-fracking-worsen-asthma%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Researchers Develop New Stents for Complex Aortic Aneurysms - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dq05cTBu7_Bk&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Number of Advanced Prostate Cancer Cases Soars

Increase may be due to lax screening or more aggressive disease, experts say

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fprostate-cancer%2Fnews%2F20160719%2Fnumber-of-advanced-prostate-cancer-cases-soars-us-study%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Fewer allergies: A possible upside of thumb sucking and nail biting

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

As a pediatrician, I get a lot of questions about thumb sucking and nail biting. Both worry parents a lot: they worry about damage to teeth, about infections, and about teasing from other children.

Now a study published in the journal Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says that there may actually be benefits to having your fingers in your mouth.

As part of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, researchers in New Zealand followed about a thousand people born in 1972-1973 out until their 38^th birthday. When they were 5, 7, 9 and 11 the researchers asked their parents if they sucked their thumbs or bit their nails.

When they tested at 13 for allergies to common things such as dust, grass, cats, dogs and molds, they found that 38% of those who had an “oral habit” tested positive — whereas 49% of those who didn’t suck their thumbs or bite their nails tested positive. This “protection” was still there at 32.

This fits with the “hygiene hypothesis,” which says that when children are exposed to germs early in life, their immune system gets trained to attack germs, rather than attacking itself as we see in allergies, asthma, and eczema (of note, the researchers didn’t find protection against asthma or hay fever, and didn’t report a measure of eczema). This hypothesis doesn’t explain everything we see about allergies and other examples of the body attacking itself, but it certainly may play a role — and when kids suck their thumbs or bite their nails, they do put all sorts of new germs into their mouths and therefore their bodies.

There can be downsides to thumb sucking, as it can lead to problems from pushing secondary teeth as they come in. But those don’t come in until later, when children are in elementary school. Most children stop sucking their thumb by themselves before they get to elementary school. The American Dental Association recommends that parents start encouraging their children to stop sucking their thumb after age 4 — but even then, they advocate a gentle, positive approach. Many children suck to relieve anxiety, and making them anxious about sucking can backfire! Instead, praise children for not doing it — and help them find other ways of soothing themselves. Putting a Band-Aid on the thumb can help them remember; at night, using a sock or something similar can help with the child who sucks their thumb without realizing it. But again, this is only an issue for older children.

As for nail-biting, in my experience it’s a rare child who does real damage. If your child is biting to the point of bleeding, or getting skin infections where they bite, it’s a good idea to let your pediatrician know. But for most kids who bite their nails, the only thing they have is, well, short nails.

For both habits, the bottom line is that parents should take a deep breath and try not to worry. Not only are the habits likely to either go away by themselves or not cause any problems, they may even help your child’s health!

Related Post:

• Children who eat peanuts at an early age may prevent peanut…
• The latest on a simple way to help prevent food allergies in
• 10 ways to raise a healthy eater
• Protecting your children against Enterovirus D68
• Is it ADHD—or Autism?

The post Fewer allergies: A possible upside of thumb sucking and nail biting appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fupside-thumb-sucking-nail-biting-2016071910032&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

ADA seeks extension for ACA mandate

The Association has asked the Office of Civil Rights for an extension of the implementation deadlines for the recently released final rule issued under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ada.org%2Fen%2Fpublications%2Fada-news%2F2016-archive%2Fjuly%2Fada-seeks-extension-for-aca-mandate&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Wide Variation Seen in 'Dense' Breast Diagnoses

Doctors may misjudge a woman's cancer risks as a result, researchers say

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fwomen%2Fnews%2F20160718%2Fwide-variation-seen-in-dense-breast-diagnoses%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Utah man sickened with Zika after his late father infected

Mystery surrounds a Zika case in Utah, as an elderly man who contracted the mosquito-borne virus overseas died. But CBS News has learned his son, who was his caregiver, also got Zika. The state has called in federal experts for help. Dr. David Agus joins "CBS This Morning" from Los Angeles to discuss the case.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Futah-man-sickened-with-zika-after-his-late-father-infected%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

How to help kids cope with violence in the media

A physicians' group has new recommendations for parents and kids in a world full of virtual violence

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fviolent-videos-media-how-to-help-kids-cope%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8