Apps Can Help Keep Older Folks Healthy - But Most Don't Use Them

• HealthDay Reporter
• February 14, 2022
• Full Page

Mobile health apps can help older Americans but only about four in 10 use them, and those most likely to benefit are least likely to take advantage of them, a new survey reveals.

Health apps monitor everything from calories and exercise to blood pressure and blood sugar ...

Screens Near Bedtime Bad for Preschoolers' Sleep

• HealthDay Reporter
• Robert Preidt
• January 31, 2022
• Full Page

It's crucial to keep preschoolers away from screens and other sources of light in the hour before bedtime if you want them to get a good night's sleep, researchers say.

That's because even a little bit of light exposure can trigger a sharp drop in the sleep-promoting hor...

Telemedicine as Good as In-Person for Many Health Conditions: Review

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 3, 2022
• Full Page

Chatting with your doctor via video about your health issues works just as well as an in-person office visit, at least when it comes to managing chronic illnesses, a new review suggests.

Replacing office visits with video checkups delivered results that were just as effe...

Parents Underestimate How Much Time Teens Spent Online During Pandemic

• HealthDay Reporter
• Robert Preidt
• December 23, 2021
• Full Page

Parents, think you have a good handle on how much time your teens are spending on social media?

Don't bet on it. New research suggests your best guesstimate is likely way off.

Parents significantly underestimated their teens' social media use -- especially girls' -...

Online Programs, Phone Apps Can Help Treat Depression

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• December 14, 2021
• Full Page

People with depression symptoms might find some help from online programs or smartphone apps -- but the human component remains key, a new research review suggests.

Not everyone with depress...

Reminder Apps on Smartphones May Help in Early Dementia

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• November 18, 2021
• Full Page

Despite stereotypes about seniors and technology, a small study suggests that older adults in the early stages of dementia can use smartphone apps as memory aids.

The researchers found that older people with mild impairments in memory and thinking were not only able to l...

U.S. Adolescents' Daily Screen Time Doubled During Pandemic

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• November 2, 2021
• Full Page

As teens dramatically stepped up their screen time during COVID-19 lockdowns, their well-being took a hit, a new study reveals.

Recreational screen time among U.S. teens doubled from before the pandemic to nearly eight hours per day during the pandemic, according to the ...

Smartphone Apps May Aid in Heart Attack Recovery

• HealthDay Reporter
• Steven Reinberg
• September 27, 2021
• Full Page

After a heart attack, a smartwatch app may help keep patients from being hospitalized again, researchers say.

The app helps patients keep track of medications and make lifestyle changes. It may also reduce rehospitalization in the month after discharge by half, according...

Smart Phones, Watches Can Mess With Implanted Pacemakers

• Ernie Mundell and Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporters
• August 26, 2021
• Full Page

Do you have an implanted defibrillator or pacemaker? Try keeping your smart watch or smart phone a few inches away from them.

New research from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finds that your phone or watch could interfere with implanted heart devices.

B...

Too Much Screen Time Could Raise Your Odds for Stroke

• HealthDay Reporter
• Robert Preidt
• August 23, 2021
• Full Page

You've heard the warnings about kids who are forever glued to their screens, but all that screen time can have devastating health effects for grown-ups.

If you're under 60, too much time using a computer, watching TV or reading could boost your risk for a stroke, Canadia...

More 'Green Time,' Less Screen Time Boosts Kids' Mental Health

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• August 16, 2021
• Full Page

Want to see a temperamental tween or teen act happier?

The formula is simple, a large international study suggests.

"Screen time should be replaced by 'green time' for optimizing the well-being of our kids," said study author Asad Khan, an associate professor in bi...