Medical Notes: Week of June 16, 2019

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Medical notes this week…

For parents, it may seem like a bad idea to remove a sleeping infant from its car seat and risk waking it after a drive. But a new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that using car seats for anything other than traveling in a car can be deadly for infants. It isn’t exactly clear why car seats are less safe for sleeping than cribs or bassinets, but doctors say it may be the angle of a car seat that puts babies at a higher risk of asphyxiation. Car seats are still the safest place for infants in a moving vehicle, but researchers say the seats should stay in the car after use.

Kids are eating less fish than ever. A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics finds children could be missing out on some essential vitamins and minerals by not including fish and shellfish in their diets. The trend could be the result of federal advisories on fish contamination in the past, making families less likely to feed fish to their children.

Women military veterans are not considering VA benefits as a first choice for health care. Research by UMass Amherst finds that some women view health care provided by the VA as military-like and uncomfortable. Fewer than one in three women vets use VA health care, according to a 2015 profile. Now, the VA is working to provide more attractive health care to women vets.

One of the most common treatments for acne used to be antibiotics, but a new report in the journal Dermatologic Clinics finds that doctors are scaling back. Researchers say dermatologists are concerned about antibiotic resistance and the ways longterm use of antibiotics affects the body. People who use antibiotics have an altered bacterial balance in the intestines, and more bacteria in the throat and tonsils, which can all lead to illnesses. Researchers say instead of antibiotics, doctors are turning back to topical treatments such as benzoyl peroxide.

And finally, it’s not the gym, it’s you. According to research presented at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference, your workout routine might fizzle if it doesn’t match your personality. Creative thinkers are more likely to prefer exercise outdoors, while those who think logically and objectively are more likely to stick with a structured gym routine. Researchers suggest taking a personality test before you plan your next workout routine.