Harvard Health Content API

Sleep-related deaths of younger babies occur most often when they are sharing a bed, a new study finds. But older babies are more likely than younger ones to die when there are pillows, toys or other objects in bed with them. Doctors advise parents to place babies on their backs to sleep. This can help to prevent SIDS and other sleep-related deaths. This new study looked at how a baby’s environment, as well as sleeping position, affects the risk of death. The study focused on 8,200 sleep-related deaths. Nearly 70% of the babies were sharing a bed at the time of death. About one-third were sleeping with an object, such as a pillow or toy. Researchers looked separately at deaths of babies younger and older than 4 months of age. Younger babies were twice as likely to be sharing a bed at the time of death. They were also more likely to be sleeping in an adult bed or on a person.

Does bad weather make your back hurt? Researchers have taken a close look at this question and concluded that the answer is no. The study included nearly 1,000 people. All of them visited primary care clinics because of acute (sudden) low back pain. Researchers looked at weather conditions when the back pain started, as well as a week and a month before. They found no connection between back pain and temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind direction or precipitation. Higher wind speeds and gusts were slightly more likely at the time the pain started than at other times. The journal Arthritis Care & Research published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it July 10.

Doctors have a moral duty to help protect athletes from the effects of concussions, a new policy statement says. The statement comes from the American Academy of Neurology. Neurologists treat concussions and other brain conditions. The statement says doctors should resist pressures from coaches, parents and others to return athletes to play too soon. Doctors also should educate athletes and their families about concussion risks that occur in sports. The statement calls for more baseline tests of brain function before the sports season begins. The doctors also urged creation of a national concussion registry. Reporting should be required, they said. And neurologists also should receive more training about concussions, the statement said. The journal Neurology published the statement. HealthDay News wrote about it July 9.