Have A Child With A Special Need?
Public Services And Schooling For NYC Children With Special Needs
“The more information you have to help your child, the better your child can be served,” says Vanessa Markowitz, a lawyer and advocate for families with children with special needs. So for city parents who think that their child may have some kind of problem—be it developmental, physical or emotional—the most important thing is to take your child to a developmental pediatrician or clinical psychologist for an evaluation. Once your child is evaluated, and any delays or issues are identified, you will be much better prepared to determine how best to help. Read more
The Testosterone Test
Scientists continue to search for an effective male contraceptive drug
By Will Alden
The latest development in the search for a male birth control pill isn’t a pill at all—it’s an injection.
Last year, a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism revealed that Beijing researchers have successfully tested a testosterone-based injection, intended to be used monthly by men to induce temporary sterility. Read more
Baby Fat
Prospective parents should worry about their own weight when deciding to get pregnant
Many women worry about how to take the weight off after a pregnancy, but according to many doctors, taking the weight off before a pregnancy might increase fertility, promote healthier pregnancies and healthier babies. Men could also increase their fertility by losing weight. Read more
Stick It To Me
More women and men use acupuncture to treat reproductive issues
It’s a story all too familiar to young couples today: Two people who have lived a relatively healthy lifestyle decide to have a baby, but after months of trying, they’re still unable to conceive. Whatever the reason, more than 3 million couples suffer from infertility, according to the American Pregnancy Association. These couples often undergo assistive reproduction techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF), but more and more are turning to holistic alternatives or, more specifically, to acupuncture. Read more
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Summer options for hirsute men who want to shed fuzz
By Keysha Whitaker
While many men are opting for the burly and bearded look these days, the sultry summer months may mean that some will opt to manage their unwanted body hair. But deciding between the various techniques—including creams, shaving, waxing, electrolysis and lasers—can appear intimidating. Luckily the city offers just about any option one can imagine. Read more
Don’t Take a Doc Holiday
Many men shy away from booking that appointment, but they should receive better preventative health care
Each year, some 9.2 million American men are afflicted with coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death for men in the United States. Heart attacks afflict about 5 percent of the male population annually, double the rate for women. The average life expectancy of the American male has increased since 1990, but is still five years less than that for women. These findings suggest the need for better preventative care and regular doctor visits. Yet many men cannot be coaxed to make an appointment. Read more
How Well Can a Treadmill Count?
Figuring out how many calories you burn remains harder than it appears.
By Patrick Egan
You want to lose weight. You understand the basic principle: burn more energy, measured in calories, than you take in. It’s math, pure and simple. The consumption numbers are easy to find—on food packaging, in nutrition books, even on some menus. Nailing down the calories you burn, though, is a more elusive task. Read more
Skin Deep
Preparing for a long-awaited summer glow.
By Ashna Ali
After the long spell of seasonal confusion, we’re all counting the days until we can face a full sun—no peek-a-boo. Since winter has beaten our faces dry, it will be essential to give our skin some TLC for the summer. Here are some tips for the healthy maintenance of a summer glow. Read more
Hot Stuff
Bikram classes burst with New Year yogis
By Michael Martin
Ashley and Tyler Rodriguez, 20-something siblings who live in Spanish Harlem, enrolled at Bikram Yoga Harlem last Monday evening. Waltzing in on the second week of the New Year, they looked a bit like fair-weather yogis.
Ashley was determined to turn her life around. “I’m 23… I’m too young to be out of shape,” she said. “I’ve gotta do this.”
Her brother was less optimistic. He admitted that when he returns to Brown University, where he is currently pursuing his undergrad, he won’t search for a local Bikram chapter. He was just supporting his sister, while reaping the associated health benefits. Read more
Heart of the Matter
Women should be aware that heart disease isn’t just a man’s problem
By Aline Reynolds
Stephanie Chan had type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol all at age 16. She was overweight, fatigued and had tightness in her upper body. Eight years later, at the age of 24, Chan drove herself to Johns Hopkins Hospital with chest pain, which she had been experiencing for eight months. After examining her arteries, doctors detected 85 to 95 percent blockages. Chan was kept there for seven days to undergo heart surgery. Read more
