 |
|
|
|
July 6th, 2011
06:34 PM ET
U.S. teen births down, early drug use upNew statistics from the annual report on America’s children and their well-being point to some good news and bad news when it comes to the health of our kids. The report, which is a compilation of statistics from numerous organizations, found that births to adolescents declined for the second consecutive year in the U.S. A drop in the adolescent birth rate, from 21.7 per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 17 (2008) to 20.1 per 1,000 (2009, preliminary data) was reported. And the preterm births declined for the third consecutive year, with a drop in the proportion of infants born before 37 weeks, from 12.3 percent (2008) to 12.2 percent (2009, preliminary data). “It is reassuring to see continued declines in the preterm birth rate and adolescent birth rate,” said Dr. Alan E. Guttmacher, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Guttmacher noted although the numbers were promising, the federal government did not identify reasons for the declines.
July 6th, 2011
12:01 PM ET
Could bump on my wrist be a ganglion cyst?Every weekday, a CNNHealth expert doctor answers a viewer question. On Wednesdays, it's Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society. Question asked by Rebecca from Toledo, Ohio Something is wrong with my left wrist. When I bend it or touch the area or put pressure on it, it hurts really badly. Could this be a ganglion cyst? What should I do about it? 
July 6th, 2011
10:11 AM ET
Tri Challenge: Not every workout is a good oneSince January, six iReporters have been training in the Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge. We’re following along as they prepare to compete alongside Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the August 7 Nautica NYC Triathlon. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It’s good to hear about all the positive workouts and events that I and the other 6-packers have had, but sometimes it’s comforting to know that no matter how hard you train, you’re just going to have a bad day or two. I’m human and sometimes things just aren’t going to go my way. I had a longer run scheduled for this past Sunday. Six miles. Mentally, I know I can do this distance; I raced a 10k back on April 2 without any problems. I wanted to use this run as a test of how far I’ve come and pace myself according to my NYC race plan. I wanted to rock this run, so I went to bed early. (9:30 on a Saturday night. Ahh, the exciting nightlife of an aspiring triathlete!) 
July 6th, 2011
07:55 AM ET
Hope or letting go: The final goodbye
Ten years ago, as part of a Burn Unit team, I faced a moral dilemma. Should a doctor give a patient’s loved ones hope no matter the situation? Or should he allow them to say goodbye when a situation seems hopeless? The decision we made haunts me to this day. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
 |
|
|
|
Anthony Youn, M.D., is a plastic surgeon in Metro Detroit. He is the author of 