Pets, reaction to stress important - Mayo Clinic

If ever we doubt the role of stress, just "Google" it. I found 242 million citations today.

The theme of pets is so important. They provide unconditional love and affection no matter how bad was our day.

And even if we are in a funk, Fido the puppy has to be fed and walked and Spot the cat needs care. We have a purpose. They depend on us.

But if we do not take care of ourselves with rest, exercise, proper diet and time alone, it is very difficult to keep up the pace of life....

Organic Food Grows in Popularity - WebMD

Organic foods and local foods are becoming grocery list staples for some Americans, a new poll shows.

In the GfK Roper Consulting poll, about 1,000 U.S. adults answered questions about how often (if ever) they buy local or organic foods. They also dished on their diets and cooking habits....

Stress: Welcome to our new blog - Mayo Clinic

One day after I was asked to do six things at once, I "Googled" the word "stress." Guess what? 234,000,000, yes, million, citations erupted on my laptop. This is not funny. So, what can we do about a pandemic engulfing each of us?

Welcome to our stress blog community, where I have the privilege to hear from fellow travelers and share some of my experiences in dealing with stress. We learn from each other.

With cell phones, Blackberries, Palms, Treos, email, iPods, Wi Fi, it seems there is no place to hide....

Job Stress May Be Depressing - WebMD

On-the-job stress and unsupportive workplaces may foster depression, a new study suggests.

They interviewed more than 24,300 workers in Canada in 2002 about the workers' depression symptoms. Based on the interviews, the researchers concluded that 4.6% of the workers qualify for a diagnosis of major depression.

Work stress stood out among the depressed employees....

Smog Level Down in Eastern U.S. Cities - WebMD

Lung-threatening smog levels dropped 7% last year in the Eastern U.S., a new government report shows.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Thursday that levels of smog, also known as ground-level ozone, continued a six-year declining trend since 2000. Overall, smog pollution in the Eastern U.S. has dropped 60% since the beginning of the decade, the report concludes....

Study: Law prompts drop in heart attacks - AP

A study released Thursday credits New York's 2003 Clean Indoor Air Act with an 8 percent drop in heart attacks statewide because of reduced exposure to second-hand smoke....

1 in 5 adults smoke - WebMD

The CDC today released state-by-state statistics on the percentage of adult smokers nationwide who smoked cigarettes in 2006. The data show wide variation in the prevalence of adult smokers, including nearly a threefold gap between Kentucky and Utah (the state with the lowest percentage of adult smokers).

Here is the full list of smoking statistics....

Best Fitness Benchmarks - Forbes

If you've ever tried to set a fitness goal, you know it can be tricky business.
Set the bar too low and you may find you're lacking motivation. Aim too high--think a four-minute mile--and you're bound for disappointment.
So how do you set goals that are right for you?

One way to go, fitness experts say, is to assess and record your baseline fitness scores for such yardsticks as your body mass index or how many sit-ups you can do in a minute. These benchmarks, and others like them, can help you figure out what to shoot for and measure your progress along the way....

Three drinks a day ups breast cancer risk: study - Yahoo/Reuters

Three or more drinks a day, whether beer, wine or spirits, boost a woman's risk of breast cancer as much as smoking a pack of cigarettes, U.S. researchers said on Thursday....

1 in 12 Outpatient Visits Is for Prevention: Study - Medline Plus

In the United States, preventive health exams account for about 1 in 12 adult outpatient visits to doctors, says a study that found that, each year between 2002 and 2004, about 63.5 million adults had a preventive health or gynecological check-up, at an annual cost of $7.8 billion....

Adults in the Northeast were 60 percent more likely to have a preventive health exam than those in the West, and uninsured people were half as likely to have one as those with private insurance or in Medicare....

Alzheimer's may be third type of diabetes - UPI

Findings by U.S. researchers support the idea that Alzheimer's memory loss is linked to a novel, third type of diabetes.

The study, published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, showed a toxic protein found in Alzheimer's patients -- amyloid-beta derived diffusible ligand, or ADDL -- removes insulin receptors from nerve cells making them insulin resistant and stopping brain insulin signaling crucial for memory....

'Good' Cholesterol Earns Its Name - WebMD

HDL cholesterol is often nicknamed "good" cholesterol, and a new study shows just how good HDL cholesterol can be for people with heart disease.

Here's the take-home message: The higher HDL cholesterol levels were, the better, even when LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels were very low....

Effective treatment for shoulder pain - UPI

Staff members at a hospital in Spain found needle lavages so effective in treating their own shoulder pain, they offered the treatment to patients....

The results showed us that aspiration and lavage is a very efficacious technique in the treatment of calcific tendinitis. Calcific tendinitis is common and is highly disabling,” study lead author Dr. Jose Luis del Cura, of Hopital de Basurto, in Bilbao, Spain, said in a statement....

Heart Attack Survivors Benefit From Rehab - Health Day

Experts in cardiac care have issued new "performance measures" meant to boost patient enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

They say too many heart attack patients aren't getting the benefit of this form of care....

Flu Shot Tip Sheet - WebMD

The time for sniffling and sneezing is here. Wondering if you and yours should get the flu vaccine? Let these fast facts help you decide if vaccination is the flu prevention you've been looking for....

Health Tip: Wash Fruits and Vegetables - Health Day

While it's important to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables each day, it's also crucial to wash them before eating....

Are You Getting Enough Sleep? - Forbes

While it's not a new discovery that sleep makes us feel better, in the past several years medical research has shown that slumber has a much bigger impact on our overall health and fitness than just keeping away those under-eye bags.

The problem is that, in the midst of our hectic, workaholic lives, getting enough rest tends to be a low priority....

Being Angry All the Time Hurts Heart - WebMd

Fuming or furious frequently? Learning to soothe your chronic anger may help your heart.

A new report shows that having a short fuse may shorten the path to heart disease in men with prehypertension (blood pressure above normal but less than the high blood pressure range)....

Depression Care: The Business Case - WSJ

Employers who help minimize the toll that depression takes on employees may also benefit.

Depressed workers who were helped by telephone, and in some cases, referred to in-person treatment were less depressed and were more productive than those those who were told to get help on their own. Results from a study published in JAMA show the improvement lasted up to a year....

Allergy Tests and Asthma - WebMD

If you have problems with allergies and asthma, your doctor may want to do allergy tests. Allergy tests may help your doctor find asthma triggers and find the best treatment to prevent breathing problems. While allergy tests alone are not sufficient to make a diagnosis, when the test results are combined with your personal history of reactivity to the allergen, your doctor will have a better idea if the suspected allergen is causing your asthma and allergy symptoms....

U.S. health care improves, but costs too much: report - Reuters

The quality of health care in the United States is steadily improving, with more patients getting recommended treatments, but there are a few notable gaps -- and costs are skyrocketing, according to a report released on Tuesday....

If You Have a Cold or Flu, Antibiotics Won't Work For You! - CDC

Colds and flu are caused by viruses. Taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. Get smart about when antibiotics are appropriate....

Health Tip: Finding Fiber in Your Diet - Health Day

Fiber should be an important part of every diet. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, dietary fiber can help prevent heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and even some types of cancer.
The academy offers this list of fiber-rich foods....

Study: Money can prod one to lose weight - Yahoo/AP

People will lose weight for money, even a little money, suggests a study that offers another option for employers looking for ways to cut health care costs.

The research published in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that cash incentives can be a success even when the payout is as little as $7 for dropping just a few pounds in three months....

Scientists Serve Up Better Fish Batter - Health Day

Deep-fried fish with less fat may be on the menu soon, according to Japanese scientists who say they've concocted a recipe for low-fat but crispy fish batter.

Reporting in Chemistry & Industry magazine, the Tokyo University of Technology team analyzed how the structure of batter molecules change during the frying process. They then altered the water content and frying time to create a highly-crisp batter with less fat....

Few Welcome Mats for Smokers - NYT

If you think the biggest pariah in the travel industry is an overzealous airport security screener, an unsympathetic gate agent or a pilot on a delayed plane, clearly you do not travel with a pack of cigarettes and a lighter in your carry-on bag....

New Research Adds to Debate About the Value of a Yearly Physical - WebMD

An annual physical exam is a tradition for many U.S. adults, but it is not always necessary, according to a new study.

"I'm not advocating we should get rid of these visits," says researcher Ateev Mehrotra, MD, MPH....

Rather, the preventive services and tests ordered at these exams that are actually necessary often can be received -- and often already are -- at other visits and times....

Acupuncture helps reduce back pain - UPI

German researchers found even superficial acupuncture treatments were more effective than conventional therapy for lower back pain relief.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found both traditional Chinese acupuncture -- with needles inserted 5 to 40 millimeters deep -- and sham acupuncture -- needles are only inserted to a depth of 1 to 3 millimeters -- were more effective than combining medication, physical therapy and exercise....

Lack of sleep may be deadly, research shows - Reuters

People who do not get enough sleep are more than twice as likely to die of heart disease, according to a large British study released on Monday.

A 17-year analysis of 10,000 government workers showed those who cut their sleeping from seven hours a night to five or less faced a 1.7-fold increased risk in mortality from all causes and more than double the risk of cardiovascular death.

A third of the population of the UK and over 40 percent in the U.S. regularly sleep less than five hours a night, so it is not a trivial problem....

Office exercise: How to burn calories while you work - Mayo Clinic

Sure, you know you can park at the far end of the parking lot and take the stairs instead of the elevator. These are great ideas, but there's even more you can do to burn calories during your workday — especially if you sit at a desk most of the day.

Consider 10 creative ways to make office exercise part of your routine...

Heart attack damage limited by H2S - UPI

Administering hydrogen sulfide, or H2S, directly into the heart during a heart attack significantly reduces tissue and cell damage, a U.S. study found.....

Hand Washing 101 - WebMD

Amazingly, about 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted by touch.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 36,000 people die from the flu or flu-like illness each year, and another 5,000 people die from food borne illness each year.

And your best protection from this type of illness is frequent hand washing. ...

If you see it, you'll eat it, expert says - CNN

Story Highlights :

• Expert: Eating most influenced by food's visibility and convenience
• 100-calorie snack packages provide "pause point," help most people eat less
• Advice: Keep unhealthy food out of sight, stock up on healthy snacks

Your friends may be your diet's worst enemies - MSNBC

As it turns out, not only does your diet influence which friends you pick, your friends influence your diet....

Support System Leads to Better Diet, Nutrition - Health Day

Could better nutrition and diet be as close as a helpful phone call away?

A new study found that women who received telephone counseling about healthy eating habits wound up consuming more vegetables, fruits and fiber and less fat, suggesting that a support system can pay big rewards for people looking to improve their eating habits....

Is evidence-based medicine - Stanford

50 minute Webcast on costs of treatment and use of expensive treatments....

To date, health insurance programs in the United States have based their coverage decisions on a treatment's proven efficacy. In light of today's skyrocketing healthcare costs, however, this needs to change, says Alan Garber, MD, PhD, professor of medicine. He discusses the concept of treatment value and what role it should play in deciding coverage.

Has your illness been misdiagnosed? - CNN

Here, from Torrey and from medical experts, are some red flags -- five reasons for suspecting your doctor might have made the wrong diagnosis:

1. You don't get better with treatment
2. Your symptoms don't match your diagnosis
3. Your diagnosis is based purely on a lab test
4. Your doctor attributes common complaints to an uncommon ailment
5. Your diagnosis usually involves a test you never received.....

Eating competence may lower heart risk - UPI

People confident, comfortable and flexible in their eating habits may be at lower risk of heart disease compared to those who aren't, a U.S. study said.

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University suggested that a curriculum that helps people understand their eating habits could prove to be an important medical nutrition therapy....

Emotional Stress Alters Heart Function, Ups Heart Disease Risk - WebMD

Here's a health fact most of us understand better than our doctors do: Emotional stress really can harm our hearts.

Intense grief, acute anger, and sudden fear can have direct -- sometimes fatal -- effects on the human heart. And long-term emotional stress shortens lives by increasing the risk of heart disease, notes Daniel J. Brotman, MD, director of the hospitalist program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore....

One-third of U.S. lacked health insurance: survey - Reuters

More than one-third of the U.S. population under the age of 65 went without health insurance for all or part of the last two years, a consumer group said on Thursday.....

Pfizer Antismoking Pill is On Fire - WSJ

Pfizer’s antismoking medicine Chantix is well on its way to becoming a blockbuster.

Chantix, which contains no nicotine, works by toning down the brain’s cravings for nicotine and blocking the pleasurable effects for smokers whose willpower flags....

Common Cold--Causes - WebMD

More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Some, such as the rhinoviruses, seldom produce serious illnesses. Others, such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus, produce mild infections in adults but can precipitate severe lower respiratory infections in young children....

Secondhand smoke can affect teens' tests - UPI

Teens exposed to secondhand smoke at home are at increased risk of failing tests in school, a U.S. and British study suggests....

Researchers Pinpoint Link Between Caloric Restriction and Longevity - Health Day

Harvard researchers report they have uncovered a molecular clue that seems to explain why cutting calories might lengthen your life.

It turns out that mitochondria guard against cell death, and two specific genes within the mitochondria actually carry out that task, the scientists say. Mitochondria are compartments within a cell that are dedicated to energy production, and their loss is thought to be a major cause of aging....

Hands-free cell phone also risky - UPI

"Research conducted at the University of Sydney's Injury Prevention and Trauma Care Division indicates that people who use their cell phones while driving are four times more likely to crash -- and this includes people using hands-free devices"...

Research conducted at the Transport Research Laboratory in Britain found that drivers talking on both hand-held and hands-free mobile phones have, on average, 30 percent slower reaction times than those who have been drinking and 50 percent slower times than sober drivers, Purdy said....

Cell Phones May Cause Hearing Loss - WebMD

Long-time mobile phone users who talk more than an hour a day on the devices may be may be more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss, researchers say.

"Our intention is not to scare the public," says Naresh K. Panda, MS, DNB, chairman of the department of ear, nose, and throat at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, and researcher for the study. The study, he tells WebMD, is preliminary and small. "We need to study a larger number of patients." .....

Hand Foam Fights Bacteria Better - WebMD

new hand foam fights bacteria better and longer than commercially available alcohol gels, researchers report.

The new foam wiped out more than twice as much bacteria as a traditional hand gel....

Study says soccer is better than jogging - AP

A friendly game of soccer, a new study has found, works off more fat and builds up more muscle than jogging.

Danish scientists, who conducted their research on 37 men, also found the soccer players felt less tired after exercising than the joggers because they were having more fun....

Skin Patch May Stop Montezuma’s Revenge - WebMD

Researchers have developed a skin patch that prevents the curse of many trips abroad: travelers’ diarrhea.

In a study of more than 150 travelers to Mexico and Guatemala, the novel vaccine cut the risk of moderate to severe diarrhea by 75%. Those who did get sick had a shorter, milder course of illness,....

Officials say more should get flu shots - MSNBC

Come one, come all: After years of shortages and confusion, this fall promises plenty of flu vaccine to go around — up to 132 million doses, more than the nation has ever produced.

The ample supplies have the government urging vaccinations not just for people at highest risk of dying from influenza, but for anyone who wants to avoid a week of aching misery....

When Life Takes a Turn for the Better: Profiles of Success - ACE

It's never too late to start exercising. Exercise is the key to losing weight and feeling energized...

Fiduciary Responsibility for Executive Wellness

We all are familiar with the concept that the Board of Directors and Officers of a public corporation have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of the stockholders....

I suggest that it is encumbent on the Board of Directors to assure that appropriate efforts are applied to optimize the wellness of key personnel....

Insights: Two Paths: Religion and Psychiatry - NYT

Of all medical specialties, psychiatrists are the least religious, a survey has found, and the most religious doctors are the least likely to refer their patients to psychiatrists....

Hillary Clinton Choosy About Health Reform - WSJ

Now that the leading Democratic presidential candidates (Clinton, Obama, Edwards) and the top two Republican candidates (Giuliani and Romney) have released detailed health-care proposals, it’s time to choose. Here are some points to consider....

More Hospitals Lag Than Leap on Quality - WSJ

The Leapfrog Group anointed its latest crop of “top hospitals” that meet quality-of-care standards set by the consortium of big employers and other health-care buyers.

The 2007 honor roll for the health-quality set spotlights 41 institutions, including eight children’s hospitals.

But what struck the Health Blog wasn’t the accomplishments of the few, but the shortcomings of the many. “The vast majority of hospitals are not putting into place practices that are known to protect patients from mistakes and to improve quality,” Leapfrog CEO Suzanne Delbanco told the Health Blog....

Rating pain from 0 to 10 may not help much - UPI

A commonly used measure for pain -- rate pain from 0 for no pain to 10 for the worst pain -- may only be modestly accurate, a U.S. study found.

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina said that accurate pain screening is important because pain symptoms, both serious and not so serious, are among the most common complaints in primary care....

Getting high on exercise - MSNBC

The euphoria that some people report from exercise is often referred to as a "runner's high," though it's been linked with a range of other activities, from swimming to biking to grueling workouts at the gym.
But the phenomenon is not well understood....

Wal-Mart, Intel & Co. Try Again With Online Health Records - WSJ

A group of big corporations is taking a second crack at getting online medical records for its employees....

The companies say the records will make health care more efficient and easier to manage for employees and their families. They also say they’ll be able to ensure employee privacy. The group hopes to have some employees testing the system by the end of the year, and will require doctors and hospitals to use the electronic records in order to remain preferred providers, the WSJ reports....

Docs’ white coat falls prey to superbug fears - MSNBC/AP

British hospitals are banning neckties, long sleeves and jewelry for doctors — and their traditional white coats — in an effort to stop the spread of deadly hospital-borne infections, according to new rules published Monday.

Hospital dress codes typically urge doctors to look professional, which, for male practitioners, has usually meant wearing a tie. But as concern over hospital-born infections has intensified, doctors are taking a closer look at their clothing....

Brain's memory capacity less than thought - MSNBC

If you can't remember where you left the car keys, take comfort in a new study that suggests the brain's memory capacity may be far lower than once thought.

About 100 billion neurons, or brain cells, make up the average adult's brain, but the computer-based discovery shows our memory isn't based simply on neuron numbers. Instead, the limited amount of connections a neuron can make to other neurons may cut memory capacity....

Any kind of exercise helps diabetes, study finds - Reuters

Weight training works just as well as running on a treadmill or biking to help the most important symptom of type-2 diabetes -- long-term control of blood sugar -- Canadian researchers said on Monday.

Doing both aerobic and resistance training lowered blood sugar levels better than either alone, researchers said -- and both appeared to be safe....

Hand Washing Frequency Dips in U.S. - WebMD

Are we becoming a nation of dirty liars?

Researchers who discretely observed men and women in public restrooms found that only 77% washed their hands with soap and water -- a 6% decline from 2005.

But not many people are admitting to slipping up: In a separate telephone survey, 92% of Americans claimed they always lather up in public restrooms....

The Nutrition-Conscious Take a Bite Out of Fast Food - Health Day

So, maybe you'll have a side order of fruit instead of fries with that cheeseburger.

After a decades-long fast-food binge, the notion of watching what you eat seems to be hitting more Americans -- but certainly not all -- as they approach the counter of their favorite "quick-service" outlet, experts say.

Changing tastes -- along with some regulatory prodding -- means the nation's fast-food industry is also getting the message....

Depression Pushes Middle-Aged Workers to Retire - Health Day

In many cases, depression is a deciding factor for men and women considering retirement, according to new research.

Middle-aged men who suffer with symptoms of depression are more likely to retire early, while retirement-age women often take the leap even if their depressive symptoms are mild....

Health care spending highest in Northeast - AP

Staying healthy is a costly business in the United States, particularly in the Northeast, government statistics show.

Annual health care spending per person totaled $6,409 in New England and $6,151 in the rest of the Northeast, compared to a national average of $5,283, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports in Tuesday's issue of the journal Health Affairs....

Checklist: Your Low-Cholesterol Diet - WebMD

A low-cholesterol diet is one of the surest ways to improve heart health. In fact, studies show you can slash your bad cholesterol by as much as 10% to 20% by giving your diet a makeover. The secret? Follow a diet rich in healthy fats like vegetable oils and fish. And avoid foods high in saturated fats and trans fats. How do you know which foods keep your cholesterol low? Here are nine tips to help you get started....

Do We Really Know What Makes Us Healthy? - NYT

THIS IS A 9 PAGE IN DEPTH DISCUSSION OF HOW DRUG RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED, WHAT RESULTS REALLYMEAN, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERPRET THE RESULTS.

CONSIDER THIS A REFERENCE ARTICLE!!

Smokeless tobacco use linked to throat cancer - Reuters

A study from India shows that use of smokeless tobacco in the form of chewing tobacco or snuff is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer in the hypopharynx -- the area at the back of the throat immediately above the larynx, or voicebox....

Soft Drink Makers Back Federal Rules - WebMD

After years of opposition, soda and soft drink manufacturers are now backing efforts for new federal rules restricting snacks and sugary drinks in schools, an industry representative says.

The shift comes as lawmakers in Washington prepare to debate a proposal touted by supporters as a step toward stemming rising rates of childhood obesity. The bill would force the government to update 35-year-old nutrition standards that allow the sale of sodas and low-nutrition snack food in vending machines and at a la carte counters....

Mayo Clinic Calls for Universal Coverage - WSJ

Make everybody in America buy health insurance, and give subsidies to help the poor afford it. Force insurance companies to offer some coverage to everyone, regardless of health status. And have everybody buy their insurance directly, rather than getting it through their employer.

Those are the broad outlines of a plan (described here) created by the Mayo Clinic’s Health Policy Center after consulting with hundreds of academics, patient activists and health-care providers in the last year and a half. The group also got input from executives at companies such as Wal-Mart and Verizon that are not part of the health-care industry....

Healthy claims fool diners into eating extra - MSNBC

People who opt for a meal at a ”healthy” restaurant often consume more calories than they would dining at fast food joints that make no health claims, a new study shows.

The researchers found that individuals underestimate the calorie content of foods served at restaurants they see as healthier, to a degree that could easily lead to weight gain....

Drop that candy! Snack smart to stay energized - MSNBC

For some people, snacks can be a key to their good health and nutrition; for others, snacks may be their greatest downfall. Snacking itself is neither good nor bad. The effects of snacking depend upon what snack you choose and whether the snacks meet your nutritional needs....

9 Food Tips to Lower Cholesterol - WebMD

A low-cholesterol diet is one of the surest ways to improve heart health. In fact, studies show you can slash your bad cholesterol by as much as 10% to 20% by giving your diet a makeover. The secret? Follow a diet rich in healthy fats like vegetable oils and fish. And avoid foods high in saturated fats and trans fats. How do you know which foods keep your cholesterol low? Here are nine tips to help you get started. ....

Anti-aging quiz: Secrets to a longer, healthier life - Mayo Clinic

Anti-aging remedies sound easy: Take a pill and live forever. It's true that living a long and healthy life can be easy, but it doesn't involve secret anti-aging pills. It just takes simple changes to your daily routine to make you feel better and reduce your risk of disease. ....

Sleep After Hard Workouts? You Must Be Dreaming - NYT

It’s one of the mysteries of sleep: Why is it that mild exercise can be invigorating, but strenuous endurance exercise — whether it’s crew practice, long runs as training for a marathon or juggling back-to-back workouts to prepare for a triathlon — makes people groggy?....

Prepare for Pandemic With IBM - WSJ

IBM said last year that it was working with public-health officials to create some fancy, open-source tools that would help experts predict how a flu pandemic might spread around the world. Today, the company says it’s selling services to companies that want to figure out how a pandemic might affect them, and how they can best prepare....

Prevent Flu: Healthy Habits Beat the Virus - WebMD

The best flu prevention strategy is basic -- good nutrition, regular exercise, and enough sleep, she tells WebMD. "You can also wash hands frequently, and avoid people who have the flu. But really, it's hard to prevent contact with germs. Keeping yourself healthy is generally the best defense against the flu."....

Ocular migraine: What causes it? - Mayo Clinic

Usually, an ocular migraine is not cause for concern. But ocular migraine symptoms can interfere with daily activities, such as reading and driving. These episodes, also called migraine aura or optical migraine, occur without a headache and are relatively common. During an ocular migraine, you may see:

Flashes of light
Zigzagging patterns
Blind spots
Shimmering spots or stars....

Prevent Flu: Go to Work or Stay in Bed? - WebMD

It's a problem: Kids and adults going to work when they should stay home. Around any school or office, you hear them coughing and sneezing. Yet experts’ flu prevention advice is clear: Stay home when you are sick.

The problem is, "With a lot of flu viruses, people can be infectious before they have symptoms," says Erica Brownfield, MD, a professor of internal medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta....

American life expectancy longer than ever - CNN

Story Highlights:

• U.S. life expectancy rises to almost 78 years in 2005
• Drop in deaths from heart disease, strokes led to rise
• U.S. still lags behind at least 40 other countries
• Spain has longest life expectancy, at 83.5 years

Signs get shoppers to choose stairs over escalator - Reuters

Signs advertising the health benefits of stair-climbing might get more people to forgo that easy ride up the escalator, a study suggests....

Workplace Stress and Your Health - WebMD

If you have a cruel boss or rotten co-workers, beware. It may not be just your job that's on the line.

Clearly, a work environment that includes insults, back stabbing and belittling can erode an employee's morale. What's less understood is that such a toxic work atmosphere can also lead to deteriorating health. At WebMD, we talked to the experts to find out what it is about negative work relationships that can cause so much stress, how our bodies react to chronic workplace stress, and what it takes to find relief....

Alzheimer's Disease Patients May Live Longer on Traditional Mediterranean Diet - WebMD

Eating a traditional Mediterranean diet may help people with Alzheimer's disease live longer, a new study shows.

Traditional Mediterranean diets feature vegetables, legumes, fruits, grains, olive oil, fish, cheese, yogurt, wine with meals, and relatively little poultry or meat, note the researchers, who included Nikolaos Scarmeas, MD, of New York's Columbia University Medical Center....

Vitamin E May Lower Blood Clot Risk - WebMD

Vitamin E proved to be a bust for preventing heart disease and cancer in a widely publicized study in women, but intriguing results from the same trial suggest a role for the vitamin in reducing the risk of life-threatening blood clots.

Researchers warn that the findings must be confirmed, and they say no one taking prescription blood thinners to prevent deep vein blood clots should stop taking them....

China cigarette packs to get skull health warnings - Reuters

Chinese cigarette packs will have skulls, blackened teeth or diseased lungs printed on them in the latest effort to tackle smoking, but one expert said the images may actually attract younger people to take up the habit.

The images would have to take up at least 30 percent of the pack's surface area under rules that would come into force from January 2009, the Beijing Morning Post said, citing an official at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention....

High gas prices could make you skinnier - MSNBC

Higher gasoline prices may slim more than just wallets, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis.

Entitled “A Silver Lining? The Connection between Gas Prices and Obesity,” the study found that an additional $1 per gallon in real gasoline prices would reduce U.S. obesity by 15 percent after five years....

Family Insurance Premiums Top $12,000 - WebMD

The cost of health insurance for the average family of four now tops $12,000 per year, according to an annual survey released Tuesday.

The report shows that workplace medical insurance premiums went up an average of 6.1% over the past year to reach $12,106. Average wages went up 3.7% over the same period, concluded the study, issued by the Kaiser Family Foundation....

Judge tosses New York City calorie count rule - CNN

Story Highlights:

• Federal judge strikes down fast food calorie count rule
• New York City rule conflicts with federal law
• Advocates said rule needed to help fight obesity
• Restaurants said it violated their First Amendment rights

Health Savings Accounts Aren’t Catching On - WSJ

A closely watched survey of employer-sponsored health insurance released today is getting attention for finding a 6% rise in premiums this year.

That headline number is climbing faster than inflation, though still below the double-digit increases of a few years back.

But the Health Blog was interested in a nugget buried inside the results. High-deductible insurance plans tied to special savings accounts continue to lag behind expectations, despite being praised high and low as a tool to slow the rise in health-care costs....

Pain Management: Physical Therapy - WebMD

Sometimes pain treatment can be accomplished through physical therapy. Physical therapy (PT) involves the treatment, healing, and prevention of injuries or disabilities. PT helps to relieve pain, promote healing, and restore function and movement.

PT is practiced by a professionally trained physical therapist under the referral of a doctor. A physical therapist is a specialist skilled and educated specifically in proper rehabilitation....

Heart Risks Rise With Extra Pounds - WebMD

Looking for the latest news on the link between extra weight and heart disease?

Here's the scoop: Overweight people are more likely than their leaner peers to have heart disease "events" including heart attacks, even if they control their blood pressure and cholesterol....

Depression May Be World's Most Disabling Disease - NIH

When compared with other chronic diseases, depression may well be the most disabling disease in the world, a new global study finds.

People with chronic physical diseases such as angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes also fare far worse if they also suffer from depression, the team of international researchers found.

"Being sad is bad for your health," according to lead researcher Dr. Somnath Chatterji, from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland....

FDA considers additional food labels - AP

Next month, General Mills Inc. and Kellogg Co. will begin emblazoning their breakfast cereals with symbols that summarize complex nutritional information — part of the growing use of logos to steer harried grocery shoppers toward healthier choices.

The proliferation of such symbols is a worldwide phenomenon, with government regulators in Britain, Sweden and elsewhere establishing logo systems that concisely indicate how nutritious food products are. In the United States, however, corporations have been left to devise their own schemes. That's led to a patchwork of systems that some fear further confuses consumers already unsure about how to eat wisely.

Some companies penalize for health risks - AP

First they tried nudging. Now companies are penalizing workers who have high health risks such as obesity and high blood pressure or cholesterol as insurance costs climb.

A small number of companies have linked health factors to what employees pay for benefits, but the practice is expected to grow now that some federal rules have been finalized, spelling out what's allowed by law. Employee advocates worry that other anti-discrimination laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act won't cover the person who is 20 or 30 pounds overweight....

Saturated Fat: Even a Little Splurge May Be Too Much - Health Day

How bad can it be to indulge in an occasional meal or snack loaded with saturated fat?

How about bad enough to diminish your body's ability to defend itself against heart disease.

A recent study by researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia found just that reaction after 14 trial participants, all healthy and between the ages of 18 and 40, ate just one piece of high-fat carrot cake and drank a milkshake....

Parents Who Exercise: Overcoming the Challenges - WebMD

Parents and exercise are not usually words you see in the same sentence. From the moment you step on the physical and emotional roller coaster known as parenthood, your needs often must come second to the needs of your children. Exercising, as a parent, becomes a much more difficult task....

Bigger Waist, Bigger Colon Cancer Risk - WebMD

The bigger your waistline, the bigger your risk of colon cancer.

This finding, from an analysis of 30 long-term studies of colon cancer, reinforces the link between obesity and colon cancer in men and, to a lesser extent, in women. Obesity, the study shows, boosts the risk of rectal cancer in men but not in women.

Perhaps most importantly, the study suggests that belly fat is more relevant to colon cancer risk than fat in other places. For every 4 inches gained around the waist, the risk of colon cancer goes up 33% in men and 16% in women.

Cutting Salt Won't Affect Foods' Safety - NIH

Reducing the amount of salt in processed foods does not increase the risk of those foods spoiling, new research shows.

Cutting down on salt in processed foods may result in products that are healthier for consumers' hearts, but manufacturers have long been concerned about the longevity of these de-salted products.

Now, a research team at the University of Limerick in Ireland has checked safety levels of low-salt foods by studying the behavior of different strains of bacteria that contribute to food spoilage....

Walking hard for many exercisers - CNN

Story Highlights:

• Neighborhoods with sidewalks more conducive to fitness
  
• Walking, driving habits depend on where you live
  
• Exercisers and non-exercisers drove less in walkable areas

7 secretly healthy foods - MSNBC

Think these foods are artery-clogging diet busters? We've got a surprise for you.

Some foods get a bad rap even when they don't deserve it. We lift the lid on seven foods that are better for you than you might think. Try our suggestions for smarter ways of eating them and you’ll realize that sometimes, the tastiest foods can also be really good for you....

Health Tip: Keep a Health Journal - Health Day

A health journal is meant to be a complete record of a person's medications, illnesses, symptoms, surgeries or procedures.

A health journal helps you and your doctor keep track of what makes you sick or what causes symptoms, and you can use it to become a healthier person....

Fitness training: 4 elements of a rounded routine - Mayo Clinic

Want to achieve overall physical fitness? Make sure your fitness training routine covers the bases: aerobic fitness, muscular fitness, stretching and core stability.

Whether you're an exercise novice taking the first steps toward fitness or a committed fitness fanatic hoping to optimize your results, a well-rounded fitness training program is essential. Base your exercise goals on the four primary elements of fitness....

Yoga Is More Than Just Showing Up, but That Does Help - NYT

AFTER taking just a handful of yoga classes, Lisa Lew didn’t know the plow from the plank and wasn’t overly impressed with the age-old discipline. Still, she decided to tag along with a co-worker for the first day of a promotion at Levitate Yoga, a Manhattan studio, where students had committed to 21 consecutive days of yoga.

Ms. Lew, a 36-year-old administrator for an investment bank, sweated and stretched through three weeks of poses — all for a promotional price of $120. She fought aches and soreness, got stronger, and afterward she felt reborn: she lost waistline inches, but also shed stress and her tendency to overreact....

Here’s to an Alcohol-Free Pregnancy! - CDC

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. Remember, if a pregnant woman does not drink alcohol, she will prevent serious disabilities caused by alcohol in her unborn baby....

10 Tips to Get Better Sleep - WebMD

We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. But you can make it easier to get a good night's sleep every night with these simple steps....

Good Sleep: Can It Still Be Simple? - WebMD

Want a good night's sleep? It is not as easy as it may seem, but fortunately, these days there are plenty of aids to help with sleep problems.....

Filtered Cigarettes Blamed for Huge Rise in Type of Lung Cancer - Health Day

The introduction of filtered and low-tar cigarettes in the 1950s coincided with a steady rise in the incidence of a once-rare type of lung cancer that's now the most common form of the disease, a new study finds.

Decades ago, squamous cell carcinoma was the most common form of lung cancer. But between 1950 and 2007, adenocarcinoma became the most frequently diagnosed lung malignancy, as the market share of filtered cigarettes soared from just 1 percent to almost 100 percent, the study authors said.

Strauss and his colleagues suggest that the impact of filtered cigarettes on adenocarcinoma rates is due to the introduction of filter vents in filtered cigarettes, making it easier to draw in smoke. These vents allow smokers to take bigger and deeper puffs, thereby inhaling carcinogens further into the bronchial passages and lungs....

Health Tip: Some Must Be Extra Careful With OTC Drugs - Yahoo Health

The American Academy of Family Physicians says the following groups of people should check with their doctor before taking any drug or supplement:
Pregnant women, and women who are trying to get pregnant.
Women who are breast-feeding.
Children.
Older adults.
People with health conditions.
People taking any other medication, whether prescription or over the counter.

6 Ways to Conquer a Scary Diagnosis - WebMD

Imagine sitting in a doctor’s office and being diagnosed with cancer or some other grave illness. In this paralyzing moment, whatever was consuming your life minutes before suddenly recedes far into the background as you face completely new and seemingly terrifying territory. Though you may feel as if time has stopped, you must go on. But what is your next move?

To find out, we turned to the experts -- those who not only have lived through a scary diagnosis, but who have harnessed their coping mechanisms to share with others....

CEOs, Just Like Us? - WSJ

Corporate chief executives are usually portrayed as one-dimensional beings, totally focused on work. But of course they have personal lives, and many have families. So how do CEOs juggle their personal and work lives?

Do stresses at home affect their leadership performance?

Scholars Link Success of Firms to Lives of CEOs - WSJ

Should shareholders in a company care if the chief executive's child dies? What if the mother-in-law passes away?

Such things don't normally figure in investment decisions. But maybe they should, according to a recent study by three finance professors. Mining a trove of Danish government data on thousands of businesses, they were able to track links between CEO-family deaths and the companies' profitability over a decade

5 Tips for Better Work-Life Balance - WebMD

WebMD guides you through 5 practical steps toward better work-life balance.

Is Your Life Running You Ragged? - Web MD

You take care of your kids, your parents, your job, your home -- but what about yourself? Find out whether your balancing act needs a tune-up.

Almost everyone feels overwhelmed on occasion, but how do you know if your life is chronically out of balance? Prominent personal coach Laura Berman Fortgang tells WebMD, "You know it's time to make a change when misery and stress outweigh joy on a daily basis for two weeks or more." ,,

September is National Cholesterol Awareness Month - NHLBI

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) is pleased to present the 2007 National Cholesterol Education Month Kit. Please follow this link to see the full kit contents. The online format of the kit makes it easy to access and disseminate information on cholesterol.

Cholesterol Month 2007 extends the theme "Know your cholesterol numbers—Know your risk—Give yourself some TLC." Cholesterol Month 2007 features information to help the 65 million American adults with high blood cholesterol make the therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) needed to lower their cholesterol and, with it, their risk for heart disease.

Store Chain’s Test Concludes That Nutrition Sells - NYT

The chain, the Hannaford Brothers Company, said that the program had a major impact on steering purchases in the expansive packaged-food section of the store, including cereals, soups and breads.

The system that Hannaford developed, called Guiding Stars, rated the nutritional value of the grocery items in the store on a scale of zero to three stars, with three representing the most nutritious products.

After analyzing a year’s worth of sales data, Hannaford found that customers tended to buy leaner cuts of meat. Sales of ground beef with stars on their labels increased 7 percent, and sales of chicken that had a star rating rose 5 percent. Sales of ground beef labeled with no stars dropped by 5 percent, while sales of chicken that had a zero-star rating declined 3 percent.

The Statin Switcheroo: Lipitor and Simvastatin - WSJ

Pfizer’s been trying for years to prove that its cholesterol-fighter Lipitor is better than Merck’s competitor Zocor — with mixed results. Today, Pfizer-sponsored researchers are at it again, presenting this poster at a big European cardiology conference that says patients who switched from Lipitor to Zocor had a higher risk of death or serious cardiovascular problems than those who continued taking Lipitor.

The analysis, which mined data on British patients between 1997 to 2005, also found that those who switched had higher average cholesterol levels at the time they switched and were less likely to stick to their new therapy.

High Co-Pays Cause Seniors to Go Without Meds - Health Day

Seniors enrolled in Medicare plans that charge higher co-pays for brand name or non-preferred medications fill almost 15 percent fewer prescriptions than their peers who have a flat co-pay for all prescription medications, a new study finds.

The data highlights a tough decision for older Americans: Spend more or skip some of their medicines, including those for chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Knee Pain May Signal Lung Cancer -Health Day

Heavy smokers with knee arthritis may be experiencing an early sign of a difficult-to-treat lung cancer, research shows.

Researchers at Prato Hospital in Italy reviewed the case files of 296 patients with inflammation in one knee between 2000 and 2005.

In just under 2 percent of these patients, the mild knee arthritis was accompanied by non-small cell lung cancer. All patients were middle-aged men who had been heavy smokers for most of their lives. Once the cancer tissue was surgically removed, the knee pain cleared up as well.

Exercise may generate new blood vessels - Yahoo

Having a bad heart doesn't mean you can skip exercise, doctors said Wednesday. In fact, it may even help your heart to repair itself. Research presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting showed that exercise sparks the creation of new heart vessels.

In a small study of 37 people at Leipzig University in Germany, Dr. Robert Hollriegel found that people with serious heart failure who rode a bike for up to 30 minutes a day for four months produced new stem cells in their bones.

They also had more small blood vessels in their muscles. Those who didn't exercise had no change in their vessels or muscles.

How Much Booze Is Good For You? - WebMD

Light drinking helps heart health. But more than one drink a day for women and more than two daily drinks for men are harmful.

That's the bottom line from a state-of-the-art review of drinking and health by University of Missouri cardiologist James H. O'Keefe, MD, and colleagues.

The researchers note that study after study shows health benefits for moderate drinking. These benefits appear to come not from the type of alcohol, but from the alcohol itself.

That's been seen as terrific news for tipplers. If a little is good, wouldn't a little more be better? No, O'Keefe and colleagues assert. More is not only not better -- it's harmful. Just a little too much is worse than none at all.

Healthy meals: Cooking for one or two - Mayo Clinic

Fed up with limited healthy meal options? Tired of eating leftovers all the time? Annoyed that you must throw food away because the package contained more than you could eat?

If you usually cook for one or two people — or if members of your family rarely have time to eat together — you probably face such frustrations. But small-quantity cooking can be made easier and more interesting even for small numbers.

Here's how....

Heart attacks tumble after Irish smoking ban - Reuters / Yahoo

Ireland's rate of heart attacks fell by around a tenth in the year following the introduction of the world's first nationwide ban on workplace smoking, boosting the case for more similar bans, doctors said on Tuesday.

Edmond Cronin and colleagues at Cork University Hospital said an analysis of people admitted with heart attacks to public hospitals in southwest Ireland showed an 11 percent fall in the year after the ban came into effect in March 2004.

Stealth Health: Get Healthy Without Really Trying - Web MD

"You can infuse your life with the power of prevention incrementally and fairly painlessly, and yes, doing something, no matter how small, is infinitely better for you than doing nothing," says David Katz, MD, MPH, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center and of the Yale Preventive Medicine Center. Katz is also co-author of the book Stealth Health: How to Sneak Age-Defying, Disease-Fighting Habits into Your Life without Really Trying.

"If you let yourself make small changes, they will add up to meaningful changes in the quality of your diet, your physical activity pattern, your capacity to deal with stress, and in your sleep quality -- and those four things comprise an enormously powerful health promotion that can change your life," says Katz.

And yes, he says, a nap on the couch can be a health-giving opportunity -- particularly if you aren't getting enough sleep at night.

Scientists discover ‘skinny’ gene - MSNBC

Scientists now say they have discovered the “skinny” gene. And they’ve found this lucky batch of DNA in a variety of animals, according to a report published Tuesday in the journal Cell Metabolism.

"This gene is in every organism from worms to humans," says the study’s senior author, Dr. Jonathan Graff, an associate professor of developmental biology and internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. "We all have it. It's very striking."
Graff and his colleagues had been hunting for a gene that might naturally keep people thin. Eventually, they turned up a promising candidate in a gene that controls fat formation.

Hand-rolled cigarettes more carcinogenic: study - Reuters / Yahoo

Smokers of hand-rolled cigarettes tend to consume less tobacco, but face a greater risk of developing lung cancer than those who smoke manufactured cigarettes, a study on Norwegian lung cancer patients has found.

While smokers of hand-rolled cigarettes "consumed (fewer) cigarettes, and statistically had fewer years of smoking, hand-rolled cigarettes were more carcinogenic, resulting in a higher incidence of lung cancer development," the study by Heidi Rolke, of Norway's Sorlandet Hospital, said.

The School Cafeteria, on a Diet - NYT

As students return to school this week, some are finding unusual entries on the list of class rules: fewer fried foods, smaller servings and no cupcakes.

School districts across the country have been taking steps to make food in schools healthier because of new federal guidelines and awareness that a growing number of children are overweight.

In California, deep fryers have been banned, so chicken nuggets and fries are now baked. Sweet tea is off the menu in one Alabama school. In New Jersey, 20-ounce sports drinks have been cut back to 12 ounces.

Note: Similar approaches could be taken in businesses!!

More vitamin D could mean fewer cancers: study - Reuters / Yahoo

Thousands of cases of breast and colon cancers might be averted each year if people in colder climates raised their vitamin D levels, researchers estimate in a new report.

A number of studies have suggested that vitamin D may be important in cancer risk. Much of this research is based on cancer rates at different latitudes of the globe; rates of breast, colon and ovarian cancer, for example, are lower in sunnier regions of the world than in Northern climates where cold winters limit people's sun exposure.

'Sparky' knows lightning's threat intimately - CNN

Story Highlights:

• Lightning is the second-leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.
• It is a constant threat from spring through fall no matter where you live
• In a storm, go inside a large, enclosed building; sheds don't give much protection
• If stranded outdoors, squat low, tuck your head, touch ground as little as possible

Health Tip: Help Prevent Medical Errors - Health Day

Medical errors can occur when doctors don't have all of the information they need from a patient, including a comprehensive list of medications the patient takes, patient symptoms, and advice the patient has received from other doctors.

To reduce your risk, follow these suggestions from the American Academy of Family Physicians ....

Picture boards speak in health crisis - AP

With more ill and injured people needing emergency care but do not speak English, hospitals, clinics and rescue squads are turning to picture boards to bridge the communication gap with easily understood images.

The large, double-sided panels let patients point to icons showing their problem — such as pain, a burn, breathing trouble or a fall — as well as the part of the body that is affected. They also can point to their native language in a list so an appropriate interpreter can be located.

"They ought to be in every ambulance, in every hospital, in every clinic....

Tips to build your muscle mass at any age - MSNBC

If you think 20 to 30 minutes of cardio a few days a week is all you need to keep your health in check over the next few decades, it's time to wake up and smell the iron.

In August, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association updated their physical activity guidelines, encouraging Americans to strength-train at least twice a week and work out all of the major muscle groups on top of regular cardio activity.

Save That Holiday 'To Do' List in a Drawer - Health Day

Labor Day marks the end of the U.S. summer holiday season and the resumption of hectic work and home routines that can cut into sleep time.

Even if people manage to get to bed at a decent hour, they may lie awake thinking about their "to do" list for the next day, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Don't take your mental "to do" list with you when you go to bed....

Study finds smokers have higher risk of dementia - Reuters / Yahoo

People who smoke are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia than people who have quit or have never smoked, Dutch researchers reported on Sunday.

Smokers over the age of 55 were 50 percent more likely to develop dementia than similar nonsmokers...

Work Time Predicts Sleep Time - Health Day

The more hours adults work and the more hours they spend commuting to the job, the less time they spend sleeping.

That's the finding of new research that shows the impact of work on slumber.

More Kids Diagnosed as Bipolar but Should They Be? - WSJ

In the mid-1990s, 25 out of every 100,000 children were diagnosed as bipolar. By 2003, that number had increased by a factor of 40, to 1,003 out of every 100,000 children, according to an analysis published this week in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

The researchers aren’t sure what to make of their findings, which are based on an annual federal survey. “[E]ither bipolar disorder was historically underdiagnosed in children and adolescents and that problem has now been rectified, or bipolar disorder is currently being overdiagnosed in this age group,” they write. (It’s also possible that both are true.)

I’ll Drive, I’m Just Having a Heart Attack - WSJ

Hey, tough guy: It’s OK to call 911 if you think you’re having a heart attack. In fact, it can help you save precious heart muscle and lower your chances of death.

ACSMFIT SOCIETY® PAGE

Quarterly newsletter from American College of Sports Medicine - Late summer/early fall 2007

Work Stress Equals Fewer Workouts - ACE

An older story worth a relook

Fifty-four employees were classified as having a high-stress job, which was defined as having high demands and little control over their work.

Not only did these workers express lower self-confidence in their ability to stick to an exercise program, they also exercised less frequently than did their colleagues.

Furthermore, the employees who said they intended to exercise but were unsuccessful were most likely to cite work demands as the reason they didn't make it to the gym.

Lung tumors are top cancer killer - Yahoo Health/ AP

In the United States, 213,380 new cases and 160,390 lung cancer deaths are expected this year.

Nearly 60 percent of people die within one year of diagnosis. Nearly 75 percent die within two years. Only about 15 percent survive five years or more.

Are you your own worst enemy? - MSNBC

7 mental roadblocks that undermine your success

Lack of Access Could Be ‘Bigger Cancer Killer than Tobacco’ - WSJ

One connection between the rising number of uninsured Americans and the Cancer Society’s mission of reducing the toll of cancer: The uninsured are less likely to get recommended cancer screenings, and more likely to be diagnosed in more advanced, and often more deadly, stages of the disease.

“I believe, if we don’t fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco,” Cancer Society chief John R. Seffrin told the Times.

Secondhand smoke may kill 2 million in China - MSNBC

Nearly 2 million older people alive today in China are likely to die from emphysema and other chronic lung diseases caused by second-hand smoke, researchers predicted on Thursday.

How four women quit smoking -- and you can too - CNN

Story Highlights

• Women 3 times as likely as men to get aggressive lung cancer, and earlier
• Women seem to experience stronger withdrawal symptoms
• Cutting back can be an effective way to break smoking routines

Calorie Catch in Healthy Fast Food - WebMD

People Tend to Underestimate Calories in 'Healthy' Fast Food, Study Shows

Is work a pain? 5 fixes for occupational ills - MSNBC

1. Driving a desk all day - Occupational hazard: Deep-vein thrombosis
2. Hectic travel schedule - Occupational Hazard: Depression
3. Desks of Women at work - Occupational hazard: Superbugs
4. The air around you - Occupational Hazard: Asthma
5. Gabbing on the phone Occupational hazard: Shoulder pain