Tomorrow’s Health: child mental disorders, safe infant sleeping & opioids with pacemakers

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) - One out of every five children suffers from a mental disorder that could jeopardize their health later on.

That's according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which says few children are getting services because of social stigma, costs, or shortages of mental health experts.

The AAP is releasing new guidance for pediatricians so more children get diagnosed and treated.

Safe infant sleeping

Many new parents are still using unsafe sleeping practices with their babies.

A study in Pediatrics shows 22 percent of mothers don't put their babies to sleep on their backs.

Many still bed share with their babies and do not avoid soft bedding.

Roughly 3,500 infants die each year from sleep-related causes.

Opioids & pacemakers

New findings from the Mayo Clinic show one out of every five patients is prescribed opioids after having a pacemaker or similar device implanted.

Researchers say 80 percent of those patients have never taken them before.

They say heart doctors need to give more attention to pain management and lower prescribing opioids.

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