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For women, the key to getting ahead at work could be getting more shut-eye. Quality sleep boosted women’s moods, which then made them more intent on work achievements, a new study found. Researchers from Washington State University and University of Minnesota-Duluth surveyed 135 U.S. workers (men and women) twice a day for over two weeks to study this issue, gaining 2,200 observations. The study asked the women and men at noon daily about the previous night’s sleep and their current mood. In the evenings, the investigators asked participants about their intentions to pursue more responsibility, status and influence at work. While men and women in the study had both good and bad quality of sleep over the two weeks, women had lowered intentions about their work status after a poor night’s sleep. Men’s work intentions weren’t impacted by sleep quality. “When women are getting a good night’s sleep and their mood is boosted, they are more likely to be oriented in their daily intentions toward achieving status and responsibility at work,” said study author Leah Sheppard, an associate professor in WSU’s Carson College of Business. “If their sleep is poor and reduces their positive mood, then we saw that they were less oriented toward those goals.” The reason for these gender differences may be men and women tend to differ in emotion regulation, as well… read on > read on >

Most pregnant women are told it’s safe to have one cup of coffee a day because it won’t trigger miscarriages or preterm deliveries, but new research suggests a surprising risk: Moms-to-be who consume caffeine, even in small amounts, may have shorter kids. “The main takeaway is that even low exposure to caffeine during pregnancy was associated with shorter height in childhood,” said study lead author Jessica Gleason, a research fellow at the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 milligrams (mg) per day. That is the equivalent of about two 6-ounce cups of coffee. Exactly how, or even if, caffeine affects stature isn’t fully understood yet, but the researchers have some theories. “Maternal caffeine metabolism slows down during pregnancy, caffeine and its metabolites … cross the placenta, and the fetus cannot metabolize or break down caffeine or its metabolites,” Gleason explained. “As pregnancy progresses, this means that the fetus can be exposed to accumulating caffeine.” In animal studies, this led to a change in normal growth patterns. What’s more, too much caffeine can also lead to increased insulin sensitivity in the fetus, which can potentially have lasting consequences for normal growth, Gleason added. It’s not just coffee either, she said. “Our study accounts… read on > read on >

A new analysis illustrates the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade: In numerous states, women now have no choice but to travel long distances to get an abortion. One-third of American women of reproductive age must now drive excessive distances, the researchers reported. Twice as many women must now travel more than an hour to get abortion care. And some are having to drive even longer distances to access an abortion. “We need to understand the diminished access to this essential health service in order to better understand what resources we need to invest to regain that access,” said senior study author Yulin Hswen, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). “We were startled to see that populations of major metropolitan areas now have to travel several hours for care,” she added in a university news release. In the South, where numerous neighboring states have eliminated access to abortion services, travel times grew the most, the findings showed. Median travel times to access an abortion had been 15 minutes, roughly, in Texas and Louisiana before the Supreme Court ruling this summer. It is now more than six hours, with an average increase of eight hours in Texas, the investigators found. In states with total or six-week abortion bans, travel times increased… read on > read on >

(HealthDay News) — From skin conditions like eczema to contagious diseases like ringworm, there are many reasons for itchy skin. Regardless of the cause, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says it’s important to avoid scratching, which will irritate the skin further. To soothe itchy skin, the academy suggests: Apply a cold, wet cloth or ice pack to the area. Take an oatmeal bath. Moisturize the skin with a fragrance-free product. Apply topical anesthetics that contain pramoxine. Apply agents like menthol or calamine. If the itch does not go away, the AAD suggests visiting a dermatologist.

(HealthDay News) — Job loss, promotion, a transfer and other life changes can force families to move. For children, a move can be stressful and accentuate negative aspects of their personalities, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. To help a child adjust to a move, the academy encourages parents to: Emphasize the positive aspects of what awaits at the new location. Let your child express his or her feelings and acknowledge sadness. Take your child to the community where you will be moving. Give the child the chance to participate in decisions, such as the new room color. Become involved in the new community yourself. Maintain contact with the old community.

Scientists have found one more way Flipper is a lot like people: The sharp rise in antibiotic resistance affecting humans is also happening to dolphins. The discovery stems from a 13-year study of bottlenose dolphins in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. “We’ve been able to provide a large database of information in order to continue learning from these impressive animals,” said Gregory Bossart, senior vice president and chief veterinary officer at the Georgia Aquarium, one of four partners in the new study. The research, published Sept. 15 in the journal Aquatic Mammals, follows a report last week that bottlenose dolphins in the English Channel harbor “a toxic cocktail” of chemicals, including some that have been banned for decades. For the latest study, the researchers analyzed antibiotic resistance in 733 samples of bacteria collected between 2003 and 2015 from 171 bottlenose dolphins in the lagoon on Florida’s eastern coast. Some of the bacteria are also a threat to humans. In all, over 88% were resistant to at least one antibiotic, the researchers found. Resistance was highest to erythromycin (nearly 92%), followed by ampicillin (77%) and cephalothin (about 62%). Similar to trends in people, resistance to ciprofloxacin among E. coli samples more than doubled during the study. And rates of resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa — a cause of respiratory and urinary infections in people — were the highest… read on >

When a child gets sick, doctors are increasingly relying on what’s known as “off-label” use of medications, a new study says. Off-label use of a drug means that it hasn’t been specifically studied and approved for the condition, age group or weight of the person getting the prescription. For example, kids with asthma may be prescribed antihistamines (approved for allergies, but not specifically for asthma), because they may have allergies that trigger their wheezing, the researchers noted. The study found that doctors prescribed one or more off-label drugs for children in almost 1 out of every 5 office visits. “Off-label doesn’t mean a drug is harmful. There’s often good evidence behind the use of off-label drugs,” said study senior author Dr. Daniel Horton. He’s an assistant professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J. “But sometimes there isn’t good evidence, so it’s important for parents to discuss with the child’s doctor what is known and not known about off-label drugs, so they can try to ensure that the benefits of a drug outweigh the risks,” Horton said. Doctors often turn to off-label drug use because no alternative exists, the authors said. “Historically, children have been excluded from clinical trials of medications. This left a large gap in knowledge. Over time, legislation and policies to require more… read on >

If you own or use trampolines, you need to take steps to prevent injuries, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says. While trampolines are fun and can help improve coordination and strengthen the musculoskeletal system, serious injuries can occur without proper safety measures. In 2018, nearly 314,000 trampoline-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency departments, doctors’ offices and clinics, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A recent article in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons noted that a higher percentage of fractures have been linked to trampoline and jump parks than home trampolines. “Many injuries come from multiple people jumping at once,” AAOS spokesman and pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. L. Reid Nichols said in an academy news release. “To limit injuries, ensure only one participant on a trampoline at a time. … Ensure rules are implemented and followed. Check also with your insurance rider before purchasing a home trampoline.” The AAOS offered the following trampoline safety tips: Don’t let children younger than 6 years old use trampolines and remove trampoline ladders after use to prevent unsupervised jumping. Regularly check equipment and discard worn or damaged equipment if replacement parts aren’t available. Make sure that supporting bars, strings and surrounding landing surfaces have adequate protective padding. See that the padding is in good condition and properly positioned. Don’t depend only on… read on >

Don’t let foot problems hobble your autumn activities, a foot surgeon says. “Foot health contributes to your overall health. From beginners to advanced athletes, proper foot care is important to keep your body healthy,” said Dr. John Giurini, chief of podiatric surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston. One of the most common foot problems among active people is plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the thick band of tissue in the arch of the foot. “Under normal circumstances, your plantar fascia helps absorb the shock of pounding on pavement,” Giurini said in a medical center news release. “But repetitive stretching can lead to inflammation and irritation, and even small tears.” Along with overuse, other risk factors for plantar fasciitis include being flat-footed or having a high arch, being overweight, or doing activities in worn-out or inappropriate footwear. “When caught early, mild cases can be treated conservatively with rest, ice and stretching to give the inflammation time to heal,” Giurini said. “In some cases, physical therapy and orthotic devices can be helpful. In more severe or resistant cases, steroid injections and surgical procedures may be necessary to alleviate this pain.” Blisters are another common foot problem and develop due to constant friction and moisture. Blisters can be painful and, if they break open, can become infected. “This is where proper shoe fit is important —… read on >

What is the perfect amount of fats and carbohydrates for a healthy diet? Scientists from McMaster University in Canada analyzed food diaries from more than 135,000 people in 18 countries around the world to find out. The answer supports the old adage that moderation is good for your heart and a longer life, specifically that eating moderate amounts of carbs and fats rather than very high or very low intakes of either is better for you — with a few twists. The carb intake of study participants ranged from 46% to 77% of daily calories. The higher the percentage, the greater the association with an increased risk of death, heart attack and stroke. Yet going low-carb didn’t convey benefits — 50% of daily calories seems to be just right, as long as you focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains rather than white bread and other refined grains, white rice and foods high in sugar. More surprises came from fat intake. For one, people who got a full 35% of their daily calories from fat actually had a lower risk of dying than those who limited fat to 10%. And it might not be necessary for everyone to keep saturated fat, in particular, under 10% of total calories — in fact, going below 7% might even be harmful. A key takeaway is how to replace… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Does Good Sleep Help Women Climb the Corporate Ladder?

Even a Little Coffee in Pregnancy Might Stunt a Child’s Growth

Travel Times to Abortion Facilities Have Lengthened After Dobbs Decision: Study

Health Tip: Relieving Itchy Skin

Health Tip: Helping Children Adjust to a Move

Even Dolphins Are Threatened by Antibiotic-Resistant ‘Superbugs’

Kids Often Prescribed Drugs ‘Off-Label,’ Raising Concerns

Experts’ Guide to Trampoline Safety

How to Keep Your Feet on a Sound, Pain-Free Footing

What’s the Right Balance of Fats and Carbs?