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Some of the signs of depression in children and teens could be different from what’s seen in adults. Experts say you may notice more irritability and loss of interest rather than just sadness or a depressed mood. Other warning signs are problems with sleep, withdrawing from family and friends and declining school performance. Source Link
Catching more cases of type-2 diabetes may take a wider net. Researchers say the current guidelines that prompt doctors to test for diabetes should be adjusted to cover more people. A study found that half of those with diabetes didn’t know it because they never tested. Source Link
If online privacy is a concern you can stop Google from tracking your searches and browser habits. Go to myactivity.google.com to delete your search history and stop tracking and then clear your browser history. To protect your privacy in the future you can switch to a search engine like DuckDuckGo that doesn’t track online activity. Source Link
A big belly is bad news for your heart regardless of what the scale says. A study found that people with a normal weight but a fat belly have more chance of heart problems than people without a fat belly, even if they’re obese. Because belly fat is such a risk factor some people may need to focus on waist loss instead of weight loss. Source Link
Facebook is making it clear what topics won’t be tolerated on the social network. The company has published a 27-page list of subject matter that will be banned from the site, ranging from threats of violence to drug sales, promoting terrorism and many kinds of sexual content. The guidelines will be used by Facebook moderators who review questionable posts. Source Link
If you haven’t booked those flights for your summer vacation there’s still a time to find the best deals, but don’t wait. Industry watchers say by the time the calendar turns over to May those ticket prices will begin to climb to cruising altitude. Six weeks before Memorial Day is traditionally when summer airfares are the cheapest. Source Link
You might be a dangerous drowsy driver and not know it. Researchers found that people who suffer with sleep apnea were more likely to be in a car crash and many of them go undiagnosed. Even those who got six hours of sleep a night were 33 percent more likely to be in a car crash as compared to someone who got eight hours of sleep. Source Link
Helping your kids be healthy eaters as adults might start in the kitchen when they’re teens. A study found that people who learned to cook as a teenager had better nutritional habits in their 30s. They were more likely to prepare meals with vegetables most days, ate less fast food and had more family meals. Source Link
It’s all the rage in schools today and now anyone can learn computer coding for free using a smartphone app developed by Google. The Grasshopper app for iOS and Android has already helped 5,000 people learn the basic principles of coding. Developers say putting coding lessons into a smartphone game makes them easier to fit into a busy schedule. Source Link
“Let it go” isn’t just good advice for Disney princesses - it could be your key to better health. A study found that adults who had trouble getting over the daily stresses of life reported more physical health problems a decade later. Researchers say even people who started in good health saw the adverse effects of spending too much time thinking “what if’” or “if only.” Source Link
Those strawberries in your fridge probably need a good washing before you eat one. A report puts them atop the list of produce with the most residual pesticides. That list also includes spinach, nectarines, apples and grapes. Experts say you should wash strawberries just before you eat them to avoid faster spoilage. Source Link
A bigger iPhone with a smaller price tag could be coming this year. Industry watchers say Apple is planning to offer a model with a screen bigger than the iPhone 8 Plus that could sell for around $600. It would be one of three new models that include versions of iPhone X with a regular or plus-sized screen. Source Link
The lingering winter weather that many have endured this month may be worse news for allergy sufferers. Experts say the swings between warm and cold weather can cause trees to pump out more pollen quickly leading to super bursts of allergens into the air. And wet winter weather may mean more mold growth that can also trigger coughing and sneezing. Source Link
Should yoga be part of the curriculum for your elementary student? A study found that third graders who began the school day with breathing exercises, guided relaxation and several simple yoga poses were less anxious in class, especially when taking tests. Third grade is often the year when classwork becomes more developmentally complex. Source Link
When packing for that next trip think about what to carry with you on your phone. You can download content from services like Spotify or Netflix to enjoy music or movies when you don’t have a data connection. Remember that GPS won’t work without the internet but you can download directions and maps from Google Maps for offline use. Source Link
So what are the bad habits that can put on more pounds? Health experts list the obvious ones like too much fast food, plenty of snacking and mindless eating while watching TV. But not planning how much you’re going to eat at each meal is a big problem too because you can overeat long before that feeling of fullness hits you. Source Link
It’s commonly found on resumes and might cost you a job offer. Employment coaches say you should never list that you are “proficient in Microsoft Office” unless you’re an Excel expert or a real wiz at PowerPoint. Everyone these days should know how to use Microsoft Office programs and seeing this can be a tip-off that you’re padding the resume. Source Link
Wouldn’t it be great to catch a few z’s in a bed during that long-haul flight? Airbus is planning to add sleeping modules to cargo holds in its new aircraft so airlines can offer you a place to catch a nap. The feature could be part of a new ticket class for flights like a 17-hour non-stop from the U.S. to Australia. Source Link
Don’t let an imposter take over your phone. Experts warn that fake apps made to look like the real thing can allow hackers to get your personal information. Bogus apps often have typos in their description, ask for too many permissions or are offered in email links. To be safe, only download apps from iTunes or Google Play. Source Link
Just like in humans, there are warning signs you can spot when your dog is sick. Unexpected accidents indoors could be a sign of a kidney failure or diabetes, and too much tail-chasing might be caused by an ear infection. And labored breathing can be a symptom of heartworm disease. Source Link
Swatting at a pesky mosquito may be the best way to keep it from biting you. Researchers discovered that mosquitoes could associate a human odor with a mechanical shock similar to swatting and would avoid biting. The scientists say a swat could be as effective as wearing bug repellent. Source Link
Identity theft isn’t something to worry about only when you’re online. A lost or stolen wallet can expose you, so limit what’s in there and never carry anything with your social security number. A mailbox with a lock can keep someone from stealing credit card offers or bank statements and shredding important papers before tossing them is an easy way to prevent identity theft. Source Link
The battle between parents and kids over too much screen time goes both ways. A survey of tweens and teens found that many would like to see their parents cut down on time with phones and tablets. And kids want parents to practice what they preach and not text while driving, even when sitting at a red light. Source Link
Maybe not wealthy or wise, but there’s evidence that early to bed and early to rise could make you more healthy. A long-term study found that night owls were more likely to have neurological problems, stomach disorders, diabetes, respiratory diseases and psychological problems. And early risers lived slightly longer than those who hit their peak late in the day. Source Link
“One a day” is good advice for more than just vitamins. A new study says adults should limit their alcohol consumption to one drink a day if they want to live longer. The current guidelines for men are two drinks a day and researchers say a 40-year-old man could expect to live up to two years longer if he has just one drink per day. Source Link
When it comes to an allowance for your kids remember the four C’s. Experts say you should be be clear on what the money's for, be consistent on the amount of allowance and use cash so they only spend what they have. And remember that you shouldn’t pay money for household chores. Source Link
Recycling can be more than plastic, paper and glass. There are national programs to recycle things like used crayons, wine corks and old eyeglasses. A juice box can’t go into home recycling because of the mix of plastics and aluminum but the company that makes juice boxes will donate two cents to charity for every one that you send to them and shipping is free. Source Link
Teens who are the oldest in their high school class are more likely to go on to college. A long-term study found that children with summer birthdays who begin elementary school a year later are more confident students who perform better. Researchers say the youngest students in a class had lower academic self-confidence. Source Link
If spring weather has you ready to join a gym to get back in shape there are ways to save money. Experts say you can often negotiate to waive a joiners fee and many gyms allow free visits so you can try it before you sign up. Beware of pricy lifestyle-oriented studio classes and remember that low-cost gyms may be packed when you want to work out in prime time. Source Link
A headache is always a pain, but when is it an emergency? If a headache comes on suddenly and feels explosive, is accompanied by high fever or nausea, or causes slurred speech, dizziness, confusion or an inability to move one side of your body, you should call 911. Such headaches could be the sign of a stroke, a brain tumor or even carbon monoxide poisoning. Source Link
Parents who hang on next to the crib until their baby falls asleep may be sabotaging themselves. Experts say if your baby sees you there as they drift off to sleep they’ll expect you to be there every time they wake up during the night. Leaving a baby to sleep while they’re awake helps them learn to fall asleep without you in the room. Source Link
Working overtime isn’t good for your health and the more hours you log, the worse it could be. A study found that working between 60 and 70 hours a week raised the risk of heart disease by 42 percent. Those who are on the job up to 80 hours a week had a 60 percent higher risk of heart disease, which claims the lives of half a million Americans each year. Source Link
Do your kids know the sound of keys on a manual typewriter, the hum of a home movie projector or the clicking dial of a rotary phone? These kinds of audible relics are being cataloged and saved online. “Conserve The Sound” is a web-based museum of old sounds from household appliances, vintage technology and more. Source Link
Why is it important to get a good night’s sleep? Researchers found that just one sleepless night may cause the brain to fill with the substance linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Beta amyloid clumps together between neurons to form plaques that hamper the brain's ability to function. Source Link
Don’t ignore the scale and expect to crunch your way to washboard abs. Health experts say you need the one-two punch of exercise to firm muscle and diet to reduce fat. You can intensify ab workouts by increasing the number of reps per set and number of sets, shortening the resting time between sets and wearing ankle weights or holding a weight plate against your chest. Source Link
A trip to the phone store may not get you the best model a great price. Nine out of ten people purchase a phone from their carrier but most phone stores have few models beyond the best sellers. You can purchase your phone directly from the manufacturer and many offer as good or better features for less than the typical $700 iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. Source Link
If you want to be an organ donor you need to get it in writing. The American Heart Association says surveys show that 95 percent of people would like to be an organ donor but only about half take steps to make their wishes known. The supply of donor hearts continues to lag behind the need and most transplant recipients wait up to two years for a new heart. Source Link
Should the price you pay for an airline ticket be based on what you buy online? Some airlines are using what’s called “micro-target pricing” to base a ticket price on your browsing history. You can prevent this by clearing the cookies from your web browser before checking prices for flights or by using a “private” or “incognito” setting for your airfare searches. Source Link
You can make a bold fashion statement with a new iPhone and support a worthy cause. Apple is offering their iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in red with part of the purchase price going toward grants that fight HIV and AIDS. Apple has donated over $160 million to Project Red since 2006 including a portion of proceeds from the sale of red iPhones. Source Link
Need a reason to switch to automatic bill payment? Experts say missed payments are the number-one reason why your credit score can drop. And while you’re setting up those automatic payments, take a moment to check your credit report because mistakes there can also damage your credit score. Source Link
If you’re a couch potato, that Paleo diet or any that piles on the protein probably won’t help improve your health. Testing with older men found no evidence that a higher intake of protein improved lean body mass, muscle performance or physical function. Worse yet, experts say extra protein the body doesn’t use can turn to fat. Source Link
It’s the ultimate in low-tech gaming and it’s as close as your Google search bar. Type “solitaire” and you can play the solo card game or “tic-tac-toe” to take on a friend or Google in the battle of x’s and o’s. If you need some of the tools of gaming, type “flip a coin” or “roll a die” or “spinner” to use a “Wheel of Fortune”-style roulette wheel. Source Link
Need another reason to go easy on the antibiotics for your baby? A study found that infants who got more antibiotics where up to 50 percent more likely to develop allergies to dust, dander and pollen. Researchers say the introduction of more antibiotics so early in life may disrupt the body’s microbiome that keeps the immune system running properly. Source Link
You shouldn’t have to grab a pen at the checkout anymore when you pay with plastic. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover will no longer require signatures with purchases. Experts say a signature isn’t much protection from fraud and new options that let you pay with your phone don’t require you to sign anything. Source Link
The treatment could be worse than the illness in the minds of many Americans. A survey found that 40 percent of people worry more about the crippling cost of big medical bills than the illness itself. More than half of those surveyed said they experienced serious financial issues due to medical costs. Source Link
Is your boss paying you to scroll through your news feed for nearly two months a year? A report says the average worker spends an hour a day on the job using their phone. That’s five hours a week and about 250 hours or nearly seven work weeks per year. The study found that the average worker checks their phone 80 times a day. Source Link
Many people at the highest risk for skin cancer have never been screened for it. A study found that two out of three people who use tanning beds have never had a doctor check them for skin cancer. The same study found that people who frequent tanning salons are more likely to use low-SPF sunscreen and have more exposure to harmful UV rays. Source Link
Is locking lips good for oral hygiene? Yes and no. Experts say kissing increases saliva production and that helps to rinse your mouth and swapping spit also lets you exchange bacteria that can boost your ability to fight infection. But kissing can also introduce acids in your mouth that cause cavities and can spread cold sores or other diseases. Source Link
A flip of the switch can help prevent being hacked at home. Experts suggest turning off your computer when it’s not in use and doing the same with your router, which should be located in a central part of your home and further away from the street where someone can cruise by looking for home networks to invade. Source Link
Eating at the airport doesn’t have to be expensive and bad for you. Food poisoning on a flight is no joke, so stick with foods you know and simple choices like fresh fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, roasted chicken or a salad you can make yourself. The easiest and most affordable choice is to bring your own food through security. Source Link
You may not need to take pasta off the menu for fear that it puts more pounds on you. A review of earlier studies found that eating pasta as part of diet that’s high in fiber and low in sugar doesn’t contribute to weight gain. Pasta has been considered a bad carb but some testers actually lost weight with a diet that included pasta. Source Link
You’re finishing up this year’s income taxes and wondering how long you need to keep those old returns? The IRS says the average filer should keep tax returns for three years because a typical audit is a three-year lookback. But keep your W-2’s for four years and if you’re self-employed or a freelancer you should hang on to your tax records for seven years. Source Link
If you want to train yourself to not crave junk food there’s an app for that. The Food Trainer for Android smartphones shows you pictures of foods with some that are healthy and others that aren’t. You tap the image for healthy foods and skip those with a red stop sign. Developers say some people found improvements in willpower after a few weeks of use. Source Link
Science may finally have an answer to that age-old question, “Why is cracking your knuckles so loud?” Researchers using a computer-designed virtual model of the knuckle found that bubbles created in the fluid between the bones make a sound when they collapse that can be as loud as 83 decibels. That’s what it sounds like when a diesel truck passes by at 40 miles an hour. Source Link
The way to stop peanut allergies in children may be eating more peanuts earlier, but many new moms aren’t getting the message. Half of those surveyed said they wouldn’t offer peanut products to their baby for fear of an allergic reaction. Experts say the best way to prevent peanut allergies in high-risk children is to introduce peanuts in their diet at four to six months old. Source Link
A noisy workplace isn’t just hard on your ears - it could also hurt your heart. Researchers found that people who worked in noisy environments were more likely to have high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. About 41 million Americans say they’ve worked in a noisy place and 14 percent say they regularly work at a job where it’s very noisy. Source Link
You’d think staying at an Airbnb saves you the most in a big city, but a new report says otherwise. Compared to hotel rates, an Airbnb stay in places like Buffalo, New York, New Haven, Connecticut and Charleston, West Virginia offered savings up to 38 percent. Booking an Airbnb in New York City saved about 18 percent compared to a hotel room. Source Link
If your exercise routine is stuck in neutral, you can get back in gear by getting real. If you use a stationary bike, try riding outdoors on a real bike or step off the indoor running track and into nature by running on a park trail. Interval training with a number of exercises can add new variety and setting a new goal for weight loss or performance can help jump-start your exercise efforts. Source Link
Reading with a young child can do more than build their communication skills. New research says it may also good for social and behavioral skills. Testers uncovered positive effects for both parent and child in psychosocial functioning, which includes mental well-being, emotions, behavior and relationships with others. Source Link
You can keep your toilet automatically fresh with a new product that’s the darling of the Kickstarter crowd. LooLoo clips onto the side of the bowl and automatically senses when someone takes a seat and sprays a film of essential oils that will lock any unpleasant spells under the water. Early adopters can get the LooLoo now for $36 with two refills. Source Link
There’s an important change in Medicare coming this month for 59 million Americans. The government is issuing new Medicare cards that replace the Social Security number with an 11-digit personal ID. The new cards will stop the identity theft that’s happened when senior citizens had their Social Security number stolen by giving out their Medicare number. Source Link
Keeping your kitchen healthy means more than tossing out the mystery leftovers in the back of the fridge. Experts say you should change your cleaning sponge often because even microwaving it won’t kill all of the germs. And throw away a cutting board that has lots of cracks where bacteria can survive a good cleaning. Source Link
America’s most popular dog is still the Lab, but a French favorite is moving toward the front of the pack. The American Kennel Club says the Labrador retriever had the most registrations for the 26th straight year. The French bulldog that’s popular with urban owners ranked sixth, finishing behind the German shepherd, golden retriever, bulldog and beagle. Source Link
