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Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV... making news this week... lawnmowing injuries ... more evidence linking diabetes and weight ... and the dangers of distracted driving. Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines, host of HealthDay TV. First up: Summertime is the prime season for mowing the lawn, which is an activity that can lead to serious injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics and several other medical organizations are urging parents and caregivers to keep kids safe from lawnmower injuries. They recommend that kids not operate a mower until the age of 12, or age 16 for riding mowers. Children should never ride as a passenger on riding mowers. And pick up sticks, rocks, and small objects from the lawn before mowing, and keep children out of the area that's being mowed. Next up: Maintaining a healthy weight is a key way for people to help protect themselves from diabetes. This is also important later in life, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers followed a group of people ages 65 and older. Those who gained the most weight between the age of 50 and the beginning of the study were nearly three times as likely to develop the condition in the following years than those whose weight stayed the same. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, losing just a small amount of weight with regular exercise and a sensible diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Finally: If you talk on the phone or use other gadgets while driving, your doctor just might want to discuss it with you. In a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a physician points out that people talking on a phone or texting while driving are at higher risk of crashes. She urges her fellow physicians to discuss this health risk with their patients. The US Department of Transportation has also created a website with more information on the dangers of driving while distracted. You can learn more at www.distraction.gov. I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.
