http://localhost:8033/Latest In the News items from Rosen Teen Health & Wellnesshttp://localhost:8033/article/155The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first medication that can help protect against multiple severe food allergies, including milk, eggs, and nuts. The drug, called Xolair, is not taken during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is taken at regular intervals, such as every few weeks, to help reduce the risk of allergic reactions over time. Xolair is not a cure, so people taking the drug must continue to avoid foods they are allergic to. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 6 percent of people in the United States have a food allergy that could lead to a potentially life-threatening reaction.Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:34:22 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/137The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new findings on why teens might experiment with drugs and alcohol. The study, the first of its kind, expands on limited research previously done on why teens use drugs. CDC researchers surveyed teens who were receiving treatment for substance abuse. While many participants said they turned to substances to feel calm or relaxed, nearly half said they used drugs or alcohol to stop worrying about their problems, forget bad memories, or to help with depression or anxiety. This aligns with previous reports that teens are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression.<br /> <br /> The study also found that half of the teens said they frequently used substances by themselves, without others present. Researchers noted that using drugs or alcohol while alone significantly increases the risk of overdose, especially with the rise of counterfeit pills that contain illegal substances but are designed to look like prescription medications. With no one else around, an overdose can easily become fatal.Mon, 12 Feb 2024 12:29:21 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/27Dating abuse is more common than you think. It&rsquo;s estimated that 1 out of 3 teens will be hurt by someone they date before becoming an adult. Dating violence happens when your partner tries to control you through emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. This could be name calling that puts you down, extreme jealousy or insecurity, isolating you from friends or family, explosive outbursts or mood swings, or physically harming you. It can happen in person or online.<br /> <br /> You have the right to be treated with respect in your relationships, and feeling afraid, controlled, or put down is a sign that something is wrong. It&rsquo;s important to talk to someone you trust, like a parent, teacher, or counselor. There are also resources like loveisrespect.org that provide confidential support and can connect you to services in your community.Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:47:34 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/119A recent survey of kids and teens revealed that mental health issues are their biggest concern, with 30 percent listing it as their top problem. The study, conducted by the nonprofit organization Common Sense Media, found that girls are more likely than boys to rank mental health challenges as most important. The majority of teens rate the mental health of youth in their community as just fair or poor. Girls are especially pessimistic, with 69 percent giving these low ratings compared to 59 percent of boys. When asked about causes of the youth mental health crisis, teens cite social media and bullying/discrimination as major contributing factors.Mon, 29 Jan 2024 11:55:11 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/347A high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is introducing a new emergency telecommunications course to train students to become 911 dispatchers immediately after graduation. With an urgent need for more dispatchers in the county, officials see this as a way to get teens into emergency response careers and help their communities decrease the time it takes to link people needing help to lifesaving support.<br /> <br /> The course teaches students the procedures and protocols to become certified to handle calls in a dispatch center, guiding them on calmly communicating with distressed callers and sending emergency responders. The 40-hour certification is completed through two hours of class time per week. Other Colorado schools have introduced similar programs where students practice CPR and other lifesaving skills to learn how to become emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians.Mon, 22 Jan 2024 11:53:12 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/121A new study published in the medical journal <em>JAMA Network Open</em> says almost one in ten teens have used ineffective and potentially harmful nonprescription weight-loss products like laxatives, diet pills, supplements, and diuretics. These types of products are promoted heavily on TikTok and Instagram, but they haven&rsquo;t been tested for safety or proven to produce meaningful weight loss. In addition to being linked to serious health problems, experts say these types of products can actually lead to gaining weight in the long term and may put some users at risk of developing eating disorders.Tue, 16 Jan 2024 09:45:58 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/120Researchers from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, say they have discovered a potential new treatment for type 1 diabetes. Scientists were able to manipulate existing pancreatic stem cells to start producing insulin. The treatment, which uses existing cancer drugs, could eventually replace the need for regular insulin injections.<br/><br/> Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that can appear at any time in life. It stems from the destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. While this technique is still in early stages, health officials say it represents a promising, rapid treatment approach compared to current type 1 diabetes care.Mon, 08 Jan 2024 10:39:34 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/292/6The start of a new year is a great time to think about what you want to accomplish in the months ahead. Setting goals can give you something to work toward and help motivate you to improve yourself. Come up with a few specific, realistic goals for the year. For example, you might want to raise your math grade, learn to play guitar, or join a new club at school. Write your goals down and revisit them every few months to track your progress. Don&rsquo;t be hard on yourself or get stressed if you encounter difficulties&mdash;keeping your goals in sight and moving forward is what matters.Tue, 02 Jan 2024 08:57:32 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/39Over the summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new treatment for teens with severe alopecia (a disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing serious hair loss). The drug, called Litfulo, inhibits the pathway in the immune system that attacks the hair follicles. It helps to lower inflammation at the follicle and has shown significant hair regrowth&mdash;including scalp hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes&mdash;in patients who participated in clinical trials. It is the first FDA-approved treatment for kids and teens 12 and up. Recently, Litfulo also received approval from Health Canada and the UK&rsquo;s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:53:43 -0500http://localhost:8033/article/434The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two new groundbreaking treatments for sickle cell disease, a painful and potentially life-threatening disorder that disproportionately affects Black youth and adults. Sickle cell disease turns red blood cells into a sickle, or &ldquo;C&rdquo; shape, instead of the normal disc shape. This makes it hard for blood and oxygen to flow through the body, causing pain, infections, and even organ damage.<br /> <br /> The new treatments take blood stem cells from sickle cell patients and genetically modify them in the lab using advanced technology. The modified stem cells are put back into the patient, giving them a new supply of healthy, normally shaped red blood cells that should help reduce symptoms. Scientists are hopeful that this represents an important advance in treating this life-threatening disease.Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:12:33 -0500