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  • 10 Common Myths About Measles—and the Real Facts

    Measles cases in the U.S. climbed to a 25-year high in April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 704 confirmed cases of measles so far this year have affected 22 states, including Florida. Although the viral infection was declared “eliminated” from the U.S. in 2000, this year’s rapid spread of measles has become a serious public health concern. Increasing numbers of travelers catch the viral infection abroad and bring it into the U.S., spreading it among pockets of people who are unvaccinated.

  • Childhood Ear Infections: When To See a Doctor

    Most children will have at least one ear infection by the time they’re 3 years old. The good news is that most will clear up on their own without any lasting effects.

  • Toddler Not Interested in Potty Training? Don’t Panic

    Potty training can be a stressful time for parents and kids, and even more so when your child shows no interest in giving up diapers.

  • Empowering Teens with Chronic Illnesses to Live Independent Adult Lives

    Teens are learning important skills in all areas of their lives as they get older – everything from driving to managing their own finances. Learning to stay healthy, especially for a teen with a chronic medical condition, should be a priority.

  • How To Safely Introduce Allergens to Your Baby

    Food allergies in infants and children are becoming more common in the United States, which can make it nerve-wracking for parents trying to introduce new foods to their babies.

  • Does Your Son Have Severe Testicle Pain? Go Straight to the ER

    If your son complains of severe pain in one of his testicles or his scrotum, don’t take a wait-and-see approach. You might only have hours to get treatment to save the testicle.

  • To Circumcise or Not: What To Consider

    Circumcision, the removal of the foreskin from your infant’s penis, is a personal decision that often can be stressful for parents.

  • How Too Much Social Media Can Affect Your Teen’s Behavior

    A new study shows that extensive social media use may increase teenagers’ risk of mental health problems. 

  • Is Your Teen Using Social Media Too Much?

    At the dinner table. Watching TV. While out with friends.  Teenagers are constantly using social media, and that might not be good for their mental health.

  • The “thigh gap:” A skinny rule reigning social media sites frequented by teenage girls

    The thigh gap. Have you heard of it? No? Perhaps your teenage daughter has. This “rule” for skinny is permeating social media sites: tumblr, facebook, instagram, to name a few. Even though this seems like a relatively new trend, women have been using their thighs as a way to measure their body image for years. I know, because a particular Oprah show is forever engrained into my mind. A few years back, as I was watching this show, I recall a vivid image of Oprah, standing with her feet touching, looking at the space between her legs and proclaiming that “skinny” women strive to have at least two gaps showing (a gap between the ankles and a gap just below the knees), and if they are lucky, three – the gap between the thighs. I’m even embarrassed to say that I catch myself every now and then looking at my thighs to see if I have “the gap.”

    What exactly is the thigh gap?

    The thigh gap is a one to two inch gap between the thighs when the feet are touching together. However, this “gap” is almost impossible to attain, and the process of obtaining a thigh gap is risky, oftentimes sparking unhealthy fitness and eating behaviors. This trend has also raised concerns among eating disorder experts, as they recognize that in order to obtain a thigh gap, one would most likely take on some form of disordered eating.