Your health: Water better for you

Stick with water

Sports drinks aren't necessary for children and teenagers and are likely to contribute to obesity, according to U.S. researchers urging parents to limit consumption of the beverages.

While adolescent athletes engaged in vigorous physical activity may benefit from the carbohydrates and electrolytes provided by drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade, researchers said water should be the beverage of choice for hydration, according to The Washington Post.

Some energy drinks have more than 500 milligrams of caffeine, or the equivalent of 14 cans of soda, Schneider said in a statement. Rockstar, made by Las Vegas-based Rockstar Inc., has 80 mg. of caffeine per 8-ounce serving, more than twice the amount in the same-sized serving of Coca-Cola.

Find time to de-stress

From natural disasters to economic woes to grappling with layoffs, illness, money problems or rush-hour traffic, we're surrounded by stress. Those outside pressures can takes a toll on us physically, emotionally and mentally.

In the face of all that, the Harvard Medical School newsletter offers a few ideas on how to decompress.

Are you always late? Apply time management principles. Consider priorities and delegate or discard unnecessary tasks and map out your day.

Often angry or irritated? Maybe you are magnifying a problem or leaping to conclusions? Take the time to stop, breathe, reflect and choose.

Unsure of your ability to do something? Don't try to go it alone. If the problem is work, talk to a co-worker or supportive boss. Ask a knowledgeable friend or call the local library or an organization that can supply the information you need.

Feeling unbearably tense? Try massage, a hot bath, mini-relaxations or a brisk walk. Almost any exercise — a quick run, a sprint up and down the stairs — can help.

Concussion app

When a child suffers a potential concussion while playing a sport, parents and coaches alike might search anywhere nearby for help. Now they can start by picking up a smartphone, according to The Washington Post.

Gerard Gioia, chief neuropsychologist at Children's National Medical Center, helped develop the “Concussion Recognition & Response” application for parents and coaches. It's available for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android devices for $3.99.

App users answer yes-no questions about signs of a concussion, such as memory and balance problems, vomiting and confusion. There are also yes-no questions about symptoms including headache, blurry vision and sensitivity to light.

The app user is alerted that there's a “Concussion suspected” or “A concussion is NOT suspected at this time.”