Hazard Pay For Grandma?

By David Bjerklie

In child-care emergencies, grandmothers are often the first line of defense. But pitching in to help with the baby-sitting may be taking a toll on Grandma's health. According to an ongoing survey of 55,000 registered nurses, grandmothers who provide child-care for nine hours or more a week have a 55% higher risk of having a heart attack. The study did not try to determine why, but stress may be a factor. It may also be that grandmothers with heavy child-care demands have less time to practice good health habits. So Grandma may need--and want--to help take care of the kids, but she must also take care of herself. --By David Bjerklie