Community Safety

Silver Spring, MD – Caffeine found in coffee, tea and soft drinks doesn’t appear to be enough to ward off the negative effects of getting too little sleep over several consecutive nights, according to a study from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Bronx, NY – A majority of young adults with abdominal obesity are not aware they face an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, according to a study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Washington – Motor vehicle traffic deaths increased 7.7 percent – an estimated 35,200 people – in 2015, according to preliminary data released July 1 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Columbus, OH – Have you been experiencing knee, hip or back pain? “Dormant butt syndrome” – a condition found among people with weak gluteal muscles and tight hip flexors – is a possible cause, according to experts from the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.

Silver Spring, MD – When you’re baking cookies or making a cake, do you or your kids lick the bowl or spoon? If so, the Food and Drug Administration wants you to know that eating or handling raw dough or batter can lead to illness.

Bethesda, MD – The number of U.S. adults using prescription opioids without a prescription or not as prescribed has more than doubled in 10 years to nearly 10 million in 2012-2013, according to research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Beverly Hills, CA – The number of blind or visually impaired people in the United States is expected to double to nearly 9 million by 2050, according to a study from the University of Southern California Roski Eye Institute.

Washington – Taking a higher than recommended dose of the anti-diarrhea drug loperamide – also known by the brand name Imodium – can lead to serious heart problems and death, the Food and Drug Administration is warning after receiving reports that people are intentionally misusing the drug in an attempt to self-treat opioid withdrawal or get high.

San Francisco – With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding people about the dangers of handling fireworks.

Boston – A Harvard Medical School study of parents whose children have asthma shows roughly half don't know which type of asthma-control medication their child is taking and how often it should be used.