This month's featured stories:

Insomnia: How to Get a Good Night's Sleep
By Alan Peterson, M.D.

People who have insomnia may not be able to fall asleep. They may wake up at night and not be able to fall back asleep, or they may wake up too early in the morning. Many things can cause insomnia, such as stress, too much caffeine, depression, changes in work shifts, and pain from medical problems. Click here to read more...

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Is Making a Comback
By Alan Peterson, M.D.

Despite widespread use of the childhood vaccine, pertussis remains a significant public health problem, with reported rates higher than they have been in many decades. It’s often milder in older persons and that can make recognition of the disease challenging. But with new vaccines licensed for use in adolescents and adults, the time is right for more prevention. Click here to read more...

Sleep Changes in Older Adults
By Alan Peterson, M.D.

Older adults might get sleepy earlier in the evening, or they may have trouble falling asleep when they go to bed. They might not stay asleep all night. They might wake up very early in the morning and not be able to go back to sleep. These problems can make older people very sleepy in the daytime. Many things can cause sleep problems. Click here to read more...

Youths and ATVs
By Alan Peterson, M.D.

Safe Kids Worldwide recently released its recommendation that no children under age 16 be allowed to ride an ATV under any circumstances. The reasons given for tighter restrictions on youth operating ATVs include their lack of judgment, maturity and physical development, the inherent risks associated with ATV operation, the increased numbers of injuries to youth operators in recent years, and a lack of safety devices to protect children against injuries common to ATV riding. Click here to read more...