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| Updated: 10/02/2012 5:47 pm |
Published: 10/02/2012 4:10 pm |
The Arkansas Department of Health is encouraging all expectant moms to get a yearly flu shot.
The shot helps reduce the risk of premature labor, delivery and serious illness in both mom and baby.
Flu shots for pregnant women are now available at local health units, pharmacies and clinics statewide.
The vaccine will be available for the general public, starting October 22nd.
Sleep is possible risk factor for heart disease
There's a new possible risk factor for heart disease that you may not have ever thought about: lack of sleep.
Researchers found a link between sleep disturbance and an increased chance for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity.
They say the findings are important because sleep disturbance often occurs in teenage years.
Doctors say poor habits lead to a cycle of poor energy and consumption of caffeinated beverages, and sleep medication.
One recommendation for breaking this cycle is keeping a set sleep schedule.
Vitamin D supplements study
Can increasing monthly doses of vitamin D reduce the frequency of colds in healthy adults? The findings of a new study reveal the answer.
322 adults were divided into two groups. Half got a placebo and the other half received an increased monthly dose of vitamin d.
The participants were studied over an 18 month period and given more than 5 times the adult recommended daily allowance of vitamin D.
Here's what researchers found:
"They had roughly the same number of days of missed work because of the cold the same duration of symptoms and the same severity."
Even though it didn't work for adults, past studies involving daily dosing of vitamin D did help reduce acute respiratory infections in children.
