Mother talks of baby joy after cancer scare

Woman who miscarried five times before falling pregnant was then diagnosed with cervical cancer.

A mum left heartbroken after losing five babies before being diagnosed with cancer when she fell pregnant for a sixth time has spoken of her joy after giving birth to a healthy girl.

Amy Newton, 28, began trying for a baby with her husband Michael, 30, in 2010 but almost gave up on having a family after she suffered five miscarriages in just 12 months.

She was thrilled when she fell pregnant for a sixth time last November but was left devastated when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer just nine weeks later.

Doctors advised her to terminate the pregnancy in order to undergo chemotherapy but she refused and she became one of only three British women ever to have cancer surgery while pregnant.

Middle-aged men at risk of diabetes

Men twice as likely as women to develop the disease

Middle-aged men are more than twice as likely to have diabetes as middle-aged women, according to a new report by Diabetes UK. The report found that in the 35 to 54 age group, 2.4% (92,960) of men have diabetes compared to 1.2% (47,000) of women. These are figures for England only.

Black tea 'may fight diabetes'

May also help against cancer and rheumatoid arthritis

White tea contains chemicals that could help slow the appearance of wrinkles. Now it seems that black tea could play a part in the fight against diabetes.

Note that by white tea and black tea we are talking about the way in which the teas have been processed, rather than meaning tea with or without milk. Black tea is the tea most common in the everyday British cuppa - it has been processed to increase its strength and shelf life.

Number of Babies Born Suffering from Drug Withdrawal Triples

The rate of babies born to mothers who use prescription painkillers during pregnancy has risen sharply over the last decade. Though the long-term effects of such drug exposure are uncertain, true harm can come of labeling these babies as "addicts" at birth.

The number of babies born suffering from withdrawal symptoms due to their mothers’ use of prescription painkillers during pregnancy more than tripled between 2000 and 2009, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The authors estimate that one infant is born every hour in the U.S. with symptoms of opioid withdrawal, accounting for some 13,500 babies each year. Over the same time period, the number of women using opioid pain relievers like Oxycontin during pregnancy nearly quintupled and related health-care costs — particularly the care of drug-exposed infants in neonatal intensive wards — rose to $720 million annually, from $190 million.

Is Mom’s Lack of Vitamin D in Pregnancy Linked with Child’s Weight?

Maintaining good health during pregnancy is one of the surest ways mothers can protect their developing babies’ well-being. A new study suggests that adequate levels of vitamin D could be one such protective factor.

Some data have linked low vitamin D levels to weight gain and obesity in women and children, but in the new study researchers at the University of Southampton in the U.K. found that association may begin the womb: children born to mothers with low levels of the vitamin during pregnancy had more body fat at age 6 than those whose mothers weren’t vitamin deficient.

Water during exams may help to boost grades

Findings could affect exam policies

Taking a glass of water into exams may help students boost their grades, according to the latest research.

Researchers from the universities of East London and Westminster found that students who took water into exam halls scored an average of five per cent higher than those who did not. The findings could have implications for exam policies on access to drinks during examinations at all levels of education, they said.

'Healthy drinks' sugar warning

People unaware of soft drinks sugar content

People underestimate the amount of sugar in soft drinks, particularly those, which are perceived to be healthy, according to new research. A Glasgow University study found that while many people slightly overestimate the amount of sugar in fizzy drinks, they significantly underestimate sugar levels in milkshakes, smoothies, energy drinks and fruit juices.

Study: Children Born Too Early Have Lower Reading and Math Scores

Children born too early show lower test scores in school, according to a new study published in Pediatrics. Even babies who are technically born at term — at 37 or 38 weeks — do worse than those who are delivered later.

Although a pregnancy is considered full term at 37 weeks, at which point experts say babies are developed enough to breathe on their own, doctors are increasingly recommending that women delay giving birth until 39 weeks if they can, because babies do a lot of critical development in those last two weeks. Yet many expectant moms, who still don't know that full-term pregnancies should last 39 weeks, have been opting for elective cesarean sections earlier, thinking that it’s safe.

What Does Dad’s Job Have to Do with Baby’s Birth Defects?

A study draws some unexpected links between a father's job — mathematician, for example, along with office workers and artists — and a greater likelihood of birth defects in his offspring

Dads who work as architects, dentists, firefighters, fishermen, car assembly workers or painters may have chosen wisely, at least according to a new study finding that these professions aren’t linked to an increased risk of birth defects in men’s offspring. The study, by researchers at the North Carolina Center for Birth  Defects Research and Prevention, found that certain jobs held by expectant fathers appeared to be associated with varying likelihoods of birth defects in their babies. In many cases, the connections seemed counterintuitive: ostensibly innocuous professions including mathematicians, office workers and artists fell into the increased risk category, while jobs that would appear to carry greater risk — painters who regularly inhale fumes, for example — did not.

One in three asthmatics at high risk of a fatal attack

Asthma attack risk underestimated

More than a third of people with asthma are at 'high risk' of having a potentially fatal asthma attack, according to a new survey. Asthma UK surveyed nearly 25,000 people with asthma using an online test known as the Triple A (Avoid Asthma Attacks) test.

The test is aimed at people with asthma to help them find out their risk of having an asthma attack and advise them what they can do to reduce it. Over half (55%) of those who took the test did not think they were at risk of an attack, but the results found that 93 per cent of people had either an increased or highly increased risk.

For More Weight Loss, Exercise Less?

As with so many other things in life, exercise may work best if you follow the Goldilocks rule: exercise neither too little nor too much, if your goal is to shed extra weight, a new study finds.

Previous research has shown that exercise alone doesn’t reliably lead to weight loss — without accompanying restrictions in diet — a dismaying fact that many hopeful weight-losers know firsthand. But a recent Danish study suggests that physical activity can indeed help shrink your pants size, so long as you hit the sweet spot — perhaps somewhere around a half-hour a day, at least for young men.

Mom’s Depression May Lead to Shorter Kids

Mom's mood in early childhood can have wide-reaching effects, both physically and mentally, for children.

Children of moms who reported depressive symptoms during the first nine months after giving birth were more likely to be shorter than their peers by the time they reached preschool age, according to a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Cutting Out Soda Curbs Children’s Weight Gain, Studies Show

Researchers provide the strongest evidence yet that soda and other sugary drinks contribute to the obesity epidemic in children.

The new findings, reported in a trio of studies published online in the New England Journal of Medicine, offer persuasive support for New York City’s first-in-the-nation ban on large-sized soft drinks at restaurants and sports arenas. Critics and the beverage industry immediately cried foul following the passage of the ban, arguing that there was little evidence that such drastic action would change people’s drinking habits — or their waistlines.

Should Children Be Allowed to Sip Mommy’s Drink?

Will allowing your child a sip of wine at an early age prevent him from engaging in dangerous drinking later? Probably not, but plenty of parents think so, finds a recent study.

A Survey published this week in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine interviewed 1,050 mothers and their third-graders, and found that a substantial proportion of parents — anywhere from 15% to 40% — believe that letting their kids taste alcohol at home will protect them from engaging in risky drinking behaviors with their peers later on. As expected, the children of moms who held such beliefs were more likely to have tried alcohol by about age 9.

2C-I or 'Smiles': The New Killer Drug Every Parent Should Know About

Witnesses described the 17-year-old boy as "shaking, growling, foaming at the mouth." According to police reports, Elijah Stai was at a McDonald's with his friend when he began to feel ill. Soon after, he "started to smash his head against the ground" and began acting "possessed," according to a witness. Two hours later, he had stopped breathing.

The Grand Forks, North Dakota teenager's fatal overdose has been blamed on a drug called 2C-I. The night before Stai's overdose, another area teen, Christian Bjerk, 18, was found face down on a sidewalk. His death was also linked to the drug. 2C-I--known by its eerie street name "Smiles"--has become a serious problem in the Grand Forks area, according to local police. Overdoses of the drug have also be reported in Indiana and Minnesota. But if the internet is any indication, Smiles is on the rise all over the country.

Confirming you are pregnant

Well, you’ve waited and waited, your body feels like it’s changing already (or perhaps it doesn’t) and you are dying to find out whether that sneaking suspicion is actually correct. So you ask yourself, am I pregnant? A lot of women planning to become pregnant keep a stash of home pregnancy tests – and that’s not a bad idea, these days they are pretty accurate when used correctly.

Pregnancy tests return a result based on the level of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which is released into the bloodstream soon after conception, initially at very low levels but increasing rapidly till about twelve weeks into the pregnancy. While research has shown that around five percent of women will return a positive result from a home pregnancy test as early as eight days into the pregnancy, most experts recommend waiting until at least 14 days past the likely conception date.

What happens after ovulation?

So you’re pretty sure you’ve ovulated, and you did your best to get pregnant – what now?

The waiting time after ovulation until you are able to either take a pregnancy test or experience menstruation can be agonising, particularly if you have been trying to get pregnant for a while. In the ‘average’ 28 day cycle, menstruation occurs on Day 1 and ovulation occurs after this at around Day 14.

Natural Fertility

There’s plenty of solid scientific evidence that suggests that your fertility is strongly influenced by your lifestyle (what you eat, what you do, your environment and how you live). Enhancing your natural fertility levels is often the first steps recommended by fertility experts – usually through diet and lifestyle changes. Focusing on your natural fertility doesn’t have to be a stand-alone tactic – it can be done before (or simultaneously with) any medical interventions.

Healthy lifestyle tips for new parents

Top tips to help you feel better every day

1. Spend at least one hour a day outdoors

Being indoors all day lowers serotonin levels. It is important to get out and about. Stop to smell the roses and enjoy a sunset regularly, it greatly improves your quality of life! Breathe deeply and breathe fresh air. Even 5 minutes can make a difference.

2. Keep your diet balanced

Good nutrition starts with eating a balanced diet and as many kinds of foods daily as you can. When you eat, slow down, enjoy your food and chew it well. Naturopaths suggest choosing a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and to not overcook them. Also try to eat fish at least twice a week especially salmon or tuna. Good nutrition also means less saturated fat – limit sauces, gravies and margarine and remove or trim excess fat from animal products. Reduce caffeine and alcohol, but increase the amount of water you drink. Aim to have at least 2 litres daily and try to use a water filter.

Increase Fertility

Can fertility be increased? If so, what can you do to increase your fertility?

When you look at the factors that need to be in place to ensure a successful pregnancy, it’s a wonder that humans are able to reproduce at all! Both male and female fertility rely on a delicate balance of hormones which can be influenced by environmental factors ranging from the food you eat to toxins in the environment, stress and other emotional factors, illness, physical activity – even the outdoor temperature.

One of the key things that women can do to increase fertility is to be aware of your usual cycle and how external factors can influence this.

For men, an understanding of their own fertility cycle and the steps to better sperm health is also a critical component of increasing fertility.

Fertility Monitor

If you’re trying to get pregnant, getting as much information about your own ovulation cycle and identifying those critical fertile days can really help you pinpoint the most likely days for you to get pregnant. For many women, using a fertility monitor can make the process much more straightforward.

The best time to have intercourse is in the 12 to 48 hours before ovulation occurs. This way, sperm have time to travel to the fallopian tubes to meet the egg when it is released from the ovary. Unlike many techniques such as monitoring the post-ovulation rise in body temperature, using a fertility monitor can identify the critical two days in the lead-up to ovulation, maximising your chance of getting pregnant.

Causes of Miscarriage

It is thought that around 50% of all miscarriages are due to a chromosomal problem occurring within the embryo. In women who are older than 35 years of age and those who have older partners, the incidence of this happening is increased. The other 50% of causes is not always clear. If a mother has a pre-existing medical condition then the cause of miscarriage can sometimes be attributed her diagnosis. The more common causes for concern and increased risk are lupus, diabetes or other endocrine disorders, infection, hormonal problems, or abnormalities with the uterus. Occasionally a blighted ovum is diagnosed where, in the very early days of conception, the embryo does not divide and multiply normally.

Middle age now begins at 55

Middle age starts at 55 and extends to nearly 70 years old, survey suggests.

Middle age now begins at 55, new research suggests. A survey of 1000 men and women over-50, found that the average Briton thinks that they are youthful until the age of 55 and old age does not set in until around 70, suggesting that middle age is the 14 years in between.

Dummies may 'stunt baby boys' emotional development'

Using dummies prevents babies from mimicking facial expressions, psychologists say.

They are recommended to reduce the risk of infant cot death – but now parents have yet another dilemma to deal with as scientists claim “dummies may stunt baby boys’ emotional development”. According to new research by American psychologists, heavy use of pacifiers in infancy can be linked to poor emotional maturity later. The study, published today, suggests that dummies prevent babies from mimicking the expressions of the people around them – a vital learning tool.

Prevent Miscarriage

By definition, miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation, though 98% of miscarriages will occur in the first 13 weeks. Sometimes, miscarriage occurs even before a woman realises she is pregnant.

In Australia each year, it is estimated that around 55,000 women will experience a miscarriage. Statistically, this equates to around one in every four pregnancies not resulting in a live baby. Although miscarriage is a relatively common event, it is still not well understood. Preventing it from occurring is not only difficult, but in many cases is almost impossible. Many researchers believe that miscarriage is nature’s way of stopping an imperfect embryo from maturing. Miscarriage often results in cases where a congenital condition would be incompatible with life, there is embryonic deformity, a chromosomal defect or there has been an interruption to normal cell division.

Work Stress Could Raise Heart Risks: Study

Having a tough week at work? Make sure you de-stress -- a new review of studies highlights how work stress could be hurting your health.

The review, published in the Journal The Lancet and conducted by researchers at the University College London, shows that people with demanding, straining jobs have an overall 23 percent increased risk of heart attack.

Getting pregnant after miscarriage

Some couples try almost immediately to get pregnant after Others feel that this is way too soon and they need more time to recover their emotional and sexual mojo. Needing lots of recovery time is especially true if you miscarried in the second trimester.

Deciding when to start is entirely up to you and your partner and what feels best. There is no right or wrong way to go. Don’t let others pressure you into trying to have a baby after miscarriage if you aren’t ready. Everyone from your doctor to your mother-in-law will have an opinion, but the only opinion that counts is yours. And that can change from yearning to start right away to never wanting to get pregnant ever again, all within the space of a few minutes!

How your sex life will change as a dad-to-be

For some men, sex during pregnancy is an incredible turn-on, but for others, well, it's not even on their radar. Both are perfectly natural responses. Where you stand on the issue depends on a lot of factors, but one thing is pretty much guaranteed: when your partner is pregnant your sex life will change.

Dads: how to share in your partner's pregnancy

Pregnancy is seen as mostly a woman's thing. Few women believe that their partner really understands what's involved. And the fact is, many of us dads-to-be don't. We talk about it. We show interest. We empathise (without going overboard). We even try to read about it, at least a little. But let's face it, our experience of having a baby is fairly removed from the real thing until we're face to face with nappy changing and sleep derivation. No dad can possibly relate to the minute-by-minute, close-to-the-heart, kick-in-the-gut reality of carrying a baby to term.

But we can participate. We can be there to listen to the first heartbeat, we can cut back on the beer or wine, we can pore over the naming books together, and more. Here are 10 ways you can be there, too.

Dads: 10 ways to be the perfect birth partner

Although it's hard to watch a loved one endure pain, most dads find the birth of their baby to be one of life's greatest moments. Of course, it's even better if you know that you've been there to help.

So what are the best ways to support your partner through what's likely to be the experience of a lifetime? Here are 10 tips from dads who have been there before to help you be the perfect birth partner.

Not pregnant yet? Keep trying!

Nearly half of women struggling to conceive get pregnant without treatment.

If the man is producing enough sperm, and the woman ovulating regularly, a couple who is struggling to conceive stands a good chance of falling pregnant without treatment.
This has been shown by a study which found that many women aged up to 36 years with a history of infertility can achieve spontaneous conception and live birth without using fertility treatment, indicating (they) are sub-fertile rather than infertile.

Almost half of women who said they'd been struggling to get pregnant for at least a year ended up having a baby despite not getting fertility treatment, in a new study from Australia.



Teach NO SECRETS to ensure your child’s safety

Being an honest parent makes it easier to raise honest children.

In this big bad world we so often hear stories in the news about terrible things happening to children.  As parents, we all hope it will never happen to us but are we doing enough to ensure that our children are kept safe?

Mother-to-daughter womb transplant 'success' in Sweden

Two Swedish women could be able to give birth using the wombs in which they were carried, doctors say, hailing the world's first mother-to-daughter uterus transplants.

The weekend procedures were completed by more than 10 surgeons at Sweden's University of Gothenburg. The names of the patients have not been revealed. Doctors caution they will not consider the operations successful unless the women achieve pregnancy. "We are not going to call it a complete success until this results in children," said Michael Olausson, one of the Swedish surgeons told The Associated Press. "That's the best proof."

The Lasting Effects of Neglect: Altered Brain Structure in Children

Fortunately, good foster care can help neglected children catch up developmentally, in part.

Kids who are neglected, growing up without normal emotional and social interaction, have measurably different brain structure from other kids, according to a new study from researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital.

The study compares kids raised in Romania’s infamous state-run orphanages with kids raised in normal Romanian family homes at the same time. MRI brain scans show that children raised in run-down institutions — typically with just one adult supervisor per 12 young kids — developed measurably lower grey matter volume and white matter volume in the cortex of the brain than children who grew up among their families.

Mindfulness: Why It Works, And Why We Should Teach It

Mindfulness, the practice of being present and in the moment, is easier for some people than for others. But it is a skill that many believe is worth cultivating—some say, starting with children. Preventing your mind from taking you into the past or future can, after all, be an antidote to depression (which can result from ruminating over previous mistakes, say) and anxiety (about bad things that might happen). Practicing attending to the sights, sounds and other sensations of the moment can, research shows, be calming. It can also train your focus. Both of these effects, it turns out, can have a fundamental impact on brain function.

Good night's sleep can help you diet

Getting a good night's sleep is just as important as diet and exercise when trying to lose weight, Canadian scientists have claimed.

A variety of studies suggest that getting at least seven hours' sleep every night can significantly improve the chance of losing weight while on a diet.

There is a growing body of evidence that a lack of sleep enhances hunger signals in the brain and increases levels of hormones which affect our appetite, causing us to eat more. Writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers said sleeping habits ought to be addressed along with diet and physical exercise in programmes designed to help obese people lose weight.

Stick to Sesame Street: Violent TV Disrupts Kids' Sleep

You might be surprised to learn what kinds of TV shows are too scary for kids

If your kid is having trouble sleeping, take a closer look at what he’s been watching on TV. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that violent or age-inappropriate programming could increase the odds that children have problems falling asleep and staying asleep or have nightmares.

Snoring at Night May Affect Kids’ Daytime Behavior

As any parent knows, an exhausted child is an ill-behaved one. So it’s no surprise that a new study finds that young children who snore persistently — which can disrupt the quality of their sleep — are more likely to have behavioral problems like hyperactivity, depression and inattention than kids who don’t snore. “A lot of kids snore every so often, and cartoons make snoring look cute or funny. But loud snoring that lasts for months is not normal,” said lead author and neuropsychologist Dean Beebe of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in a statement, “and anything that puts young kids at that much risk for behavioral problems is neither cute nor funny.”

Study or Sleep? For Better Grades, Teens Should Go to Bed Early

Staying up late cramming? Your grades might suffer for it

Teens who stay up late at night cramming are more likely to have academic problems the following day — doing poorly on the test they studied for — finds a new study by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), researchers.

Since students increasingly give up sleep for studying as they get older, the researchers say the problem compounds over time. The study involved 535 students from Los Angeles high schools. For 14 days during each of three school years — 9th, 10th and 12th grades — the participants kept diaries tracking the amount of time they spent studying, how much they slept at night and whether or not they experienced academic problems the next day, such as not understanding something taught in class or doing poorly on a test, quiz or homework.

Paying for Grades: What to Consider Before Promising Your Kids Cash for A’s

Here are helpful tips if you're thinking about rewarding good grades with greenbacks

s the school year begins, family conversations may turn to how friends spent their summer break, the back-to-school fashions that are hot this year and — oh yes, grades. While talk about vacations and blue jeans won’t generally cause conflict between family members, grades can be a tough topic — especially if a child’s performance in school doesn’t meet his or her parents’ expectations.

A Salty Diet Is a Recipe for High Blood Pressure in Kids Too

Eating too much sodium can contribute to high blood pressure in adults. Is a salty diet as dangerous for kids?

In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that young children are consuming as much salt as adults, putting them at a similarly increased risk of developing hypertension, a risk factor for heart disease and early death. The high blood pressure risk may greatest among the 37% of American kids who are considered either overweight or obese, the study found.

Teen Sexting Linked to Real-World Risky Sexual Behavior

Teens aren't using digital sexual behavior as a safer alternative to real-world sex, a study finds

Teens who send and receive sexually explicit texts or photos, colloquially known as “sexting,” are likely engaging in the same kinds of risky sexual behaviors offline, finds a new survey of Los Angeles high school students.

The recent survey of about 1,800 mostly Hispanic L.A. students, ages 12 to 18, found that teens who said they had sexted were seven times more likely to be sexually active than their peers who had never sent a naughty text. About three-quarters of surveyed teens had cell phones they used regularly; 15% had sexted and 54% said they knew someone who had. Kids who said their friends were sexting were 17 times more likely to sext themselves.

Early Music Lessons Have Longtime Benefits

When children learn to play a musical instrument, they strengthen a range of auditory skills. Recent studies suggest that these benefits extend all through life, at least for those who continue to be engaged with music.

But a study published last month is the first to show that music lessons in childhood may lead to changes in the brain that persist years after the lessons stop.

Fish Oil Supplements in Pregnancy Boost Infants' Immunity

A new study adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements in the diet of pregnant women can bolster their infants' immune systems.

In this case, babies overcame their colds faster if during pregnancy their mothers had taken 400 milligrams of a supplements containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). "DHA is important to the unborn and newborn child, and pregnant women should make sure that they get enough of it, preferably from fish, but otherwise from supplements," said Philip Calder, a professor of nutritional epidemiology at the University of Southampton in England, who was not involved with the research. The study is published online today (Aug. 1) in the journal Pediatrics.

Blood Test Predicts Baby's Sex at 7 Weeks

Some prenatal gender tests that use mom's blood are very accurate at determining baby's sex, a new study finds. But curious parents-to-be should be wary of online marketers that claim to be able to figure out fetal gender using just a woman's urine.

New research to be published Aug. 10 in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that after seven weeks into a pregnancy, tests that analyze mom's blood for fetal DNA can correctly identify a male fetus 95.4 percent of the time and a female fetus 98.6 percent of the time on average. In comparison, tests that analyzed DNA from urine instead of blood were only accurate 41 percent of the time, said study researcher Diana Bianchi, a reproductive geneticist at Tufts University School of Medicine.

"It was worse than flipping a coin," Bianchi told LiveScience.



Folic Acid Helps Tots Avoid Language Difficulties

Babies born to women who took folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy are at a lower risk for difficulties in developing their language skills, a new study says.

Taking folic acid for a period starting four weeks before conception through eight weeks after conception more than halved a child's risk of developing a severe language delay at age 3. Three year olds who spoke in one-word utterances, or who were intelligible, were considered to have a severe language delay, the study said.

Spanking Linked to More Aggression in Kids

Spanking or slapping your child has long-term, harmful effects on their development, according to a new review of 20 years of research.

Over the past two decades, research has increasingly found links between such "everyday" types of physical punishment and higher levels of child aggression, according to the review. In fact, no studies have found this type of child discipline to predict a positive long-term effect. "I think it's important for parents to understand that although physical punishment might get a child to do something in the immediate situation, there are many side effects that can develop over the long term," said co-author Joan Durrant, a child clinical psychologist at Family Social Sciences at the University of Manitoba in Canada.  

Too Much Exercise Can Be Bad for the Heart

Exercise is generally great for health, but extreme forms of it may be bad for the heart in some cases, experts say.

Recent evidence suggests training for and participating in extreme endurance exercises, such as marathons and triathlons, may cause heart problems in some, researchers say. There's very little to gain from doing more than about an hour of exercise a day, said Dr. James O'Keefe, at cardiologist at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

Exercise Wards Off Anxiety During Stressful Events

Exercise not only improves mood, it may help people maintain reduced anxiety in the face of stressful or emotional events, a new study says.

While many studies have shown a link between exercise and better mood, it was not known "whether these positive effects endure when we're faced with everyday stressors once we leave the gym," said study researcher J. Carson Smith, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

Moms Gain Health Benefits From Breast-Feeding, Too

Breast-feeding not only delivers health benefits to babies, it also improves mothers' health.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed its policy on breast-feeding, and in its statement, along with explaining the well-known benefits for babies of being breast-fed, the pediatricians' group also detailed the evidence for health benefits of breast-feeding for women. "Both short- and long-term health benefits accrue to mothers who breast-feed," the policy statement said.