Will Smith CTE Brain Trauma, Facebook Viral Ab Challenge + Kids Focus

Good Morning America: Heat Index

Will Smith is fighting back in a problem with the NFL. If you have trouble staying focused during the day, you might want to become like a child. Can a pregnant woman’s stress affect her baby? Plus, a woman who’s Facebook post gathered 2.6 million supporters. All these stories on Good Morning America’s Heat Index.

GMA: Will Smith NFL CTE Brain Trauma

Will Smith might tackle the NFL’s concussion problems. Will Smith will be in a new untitled film playing the forensic neuropathologist who discovered CTE in a professional football player. CTE has been found in athletes with a history of repeated brain trauma. This is just one of many projects surrounding concerns of concussions in the NFL, and the problem doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.

Good Morning America: Staying Focused

A recent article in the New York Times talks about following in the footsteps of children to stay focused. Children find something they like, focus on it, and then bring it to their group of friends. Following this model can help us, as adults stay focused on the things we need to accomplish while sharing our passions with our friends.

GMA: Stressed Out Mama Affects Baby?

Researchers believe that sonogram photos reveal babies in the womb can feel their mother’s stress. Using 4-D sonogram scanners, researchers found that when the mother felt stressed, the baby would try to soothe itself by touching its head or sucking its thumb.

Dr. Jen Ashton was on Good Morning America and said this is a very small study. The study consisted of a questionnaire for women in the second half of their pregnancy, and then the researchers conducted 4-D and 3-D sonograms. The researchers then looked at the pregnant women’s questionnaire answers and compared them to the sonograms, and while there may be a correlation between stress and certain behavior in the fetus, it has not yet been proven to be a cause and effect relationship.

Dr. Ashton also added that she’s done thousands of fetal sonograms, and that she specifically looks for babies to flex and stretch their hands and arms, and does not want to see a limp baby. She feels this is a sign of normal health.

Good Morning America: Facebook Post Brings 2.6 Million People Together

One woman turned to Facebook to help her get killer abs, and started something way bigger than she expected. Her original Facebook post simply said, “I am starting this AB Challenge beginning June 1, feel free to join.” She was hoping for a few friends and family members to join her and support her. 2.6 million people have now signed up for the challenge. The challenge includes crunches, planks, and other exercises to work the abdominal muscles. Chris Powell was on Good Morning America to talk about how technology can be utilized to create community in exercising. He also said this community feel allows people to take these challenges who might not have done so alone.