PC THE TOWN

Have you ever been bullied by someone? If so, you likely have never forgotten the experience. Dealing with bullies is something that almost everyone goes through at some point or another during their lifetime�school, playground, job. Sometimes, it seems like it never ends for certain individuals. Most of the time, the situation is uncomfortable or irritating to you, but over time the bully goes away or finds another person to bother. Occasionally, however, the results can be catastrophic for the victim. According to Dr. Cindy Haines with HealthDay TV, being bullied in elementary school and high school can have a long-term negative impact on health. New research in support of this published in the journal Pediatrics is based on an analysis involving nearly 4,300 children. Starting in 2004, 5th graders were asked to describe any bullying they had experienced at the hands of their classmates. The same kids were surveyed again in both the 7th and 10th grades. More than 30% reported having...

Learning that you are going to have a baby in most cases is celebrated as wonderful news to the parents, family members, and friends, unless you are an unwed teenage girl. In those cases, the stigma and fear of the unknown with bringing a new life into the world can be almost devastating to the psyche and emotions of the pregnant teen. However, teen pregnancy is still a major health care issue, not only in the US, but around the world. Girls having sex with boys includes the risk of getting pregnant. Health officials worry about teen births because adolescent mothers often aren't prepared to handle motherhood either financially or emotionally, and may face more health risks from pregnancy. The good news: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the nation's teen pregnancy rate has been tumbling for two decades, falling by nearly half since 1991. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2011, a total of 329,797 babies were born to teenag...

Have you ever been in a car wreck? Whether you have experienced anything from a minor �fender bender� to a full blown accident and the vehicle was totaled, you likely had some type of injuries related to the event. Not only a physical trauma is possible, but your psychological and emotional well being can be affected as well. Sometimes, those with more dangerous accidents�those who are still alive to talk about it� may also suffer from PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. And, there is a large number of accidents that are fatal. Traffic accidents have come down over the past 10 years, but there are a lot that still happen every day. On average, another person dies in a car crash every 12 minutes in this country - that's approximately 123 deaths per day, according to CarInsuranceList.com. Through the coordinated efforts of automobile designers, manufacturers and organizations like the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institut...

One of the most dangerous forms of cancer is melanoma�a type of skin cancer that can be very aggressive, especially in its later stages. Melanoma is less common than other skin cancers. However, it is much more dangerous if it is not found early. It causes the majority (75%) of deaths related to skin cancer. The most dangerous form of skin cancer, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations (genetic defects) that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanomas often resemble moles; some develop from moles, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leadi...

February is Dental Health Month, and it should be celebrated by brushing, flossing, and a trip to the dentist for your semi-annual checkup. Not exciting? Well, just because you aren�t going to be eating cake and blowing out candles in the dental chair doesn�t mean you can�t feel great about good oral hygiene and a beautiful smile. Besides, you can go out for a good time later after you get your teeth cleaned and have them whitened with a really good professional teeth whitening system. Just remember to brush before you go to bed. And, your children need even more protection from poor dental health.   According to the American Dental Association (ADA), each February, the ADA sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a...

Ever hear anyone complain about tennis elbow, or perhaps feel you are suffering from it yourself? Is it because you are guilty of just playing too much tennis, or is the root cause something else?   Tennis elbow is a common term for a condition caused by overuse of arm, forearm, and hand muscles that results in pain in your elbow. You don't have to play tennis to get this, but the phrase developed because it can be a significant problem for some tennis players. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition of the elbow. Not surprisingly, playing tennis or other racquet sports can cause this condition. But several other sports and activities can also put you at risk. Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged from overuse � repeating the same motions again and again. This leads to pain and...