Health News
5/18/2013

Fracking Can Be Done Safely, but Will It Be?


FILE - In this March 29, 2013 file photo, workers tend to a well head during a hydraulic fracturing operation at an Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. gas well outside Rifle, in western Colorado. The Obama administration is proposing a rule that would require companies that drill for oil and natural gas on federal lands to publicly disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations. The new "fracking" rule replaces a draft proposed last year that was withdrawn amid industry complaints that federal regulation could hinder an ongoing boom in natural gas production. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)Fracking Can Be Done Safely, but Will It Be?



China's Ai Weiwei takes inspiration from milk scandal


Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei answers a question during an interview at his studio in BeijingBEIJING (Reuters) - Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has taken inspiration from fears in China about milk safety for his latest work of art, a huge map of China made out of milk powder tins appearing at an exhibition in Hong Kong which opens on Friday. Ai, whose 81-day detention in 2011 sparked an international outcry, has regularly criticized the government for what he sees as its flouting of the rule of law and the rights of citizens. ...



Bernanke upbeat on innovation outlook in commencement address


U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke attends the G20 finance ministers meeting during the Spring Meeting of the IMF and World Bank in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke painted an upbeat picture on Saturday for the potential of innovation to lift living standards, delivering a sweeping look at the last 100 years that included memories of his 1963 South Carolina home. Bernanke made no reference to monetary policy or the immediate outlook for the U.S. economy in prepared remarks to graduates of Bard College at Simon's Rock, Massachusetts. But the die-hard baseball fan did manage to work in a reference to one of the sport's greats. ...



Afghan parliament fails to pass divisive women's law


An Afghan woman in a burqa walks along a road on a windy day on the outskirts of KabulBy Miriam Arghandiwal and Ibrahimi Aziz KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's parliament failed to pass a law on Saturday banning violence against women, a severe blow to progress made in women's rights in the conservative Muslim country since the Islamist Taliban was toppled over a decade ago. President Hamid Karzai approved the law by decree in 2009 and parliament's endorsement was required. But a rift between conservative and more secular members of the assembly resulted in debate being deferred to a later date. ...



Men Struggle With Wives' Breast Cancer, Too


Men struggle with their wives' breast cancer, but don't always speak up. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

Flesh-eating disease victim gets prosthetic hands


In this Monday, July 2, 2012 file photo provided by Andy Copeland, Aimee Copeland smiles as she leaves a hospital in Augusta Ga., headed for an inpatient rehabilitation clinic. Copeland, who lost both hands, her left leg and right foot after contracting a flesh-eating disease, was on her way back from Ohio Friday, May 17, 2013 after being fitted with prosthetic hands. (AP Photo/Courtesy Andy Copeland, File)ATLANTA (AP) — A metro Atlanta woman who lost both hands, her left leg and right foot after contracting a flesh-eating disease was on her way back from Ohio Friday after being fitted with prosthetic hands.



OAS calls for softer approach toward illegal drug users


Colombia's President Santos receives a document from Insulza, General Secretary for OAS during a meeting at presidential palace in BogotaBy Eduardo Garcia BOGOTA (Reuters) - The Organization of American States on Friday published a report calling for decriminalization of drug use and for greater coordination between nations in tackling the scourge. "The report presented by the OAS today is a vital piece in the construction of a common way to fight this problem," Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said during the presentation of the 200-page report in Bogota. ...



Mini-Movies May Boost IVF Success


Mini-movies of growing embryos could help boost the success of in vitro fertilization, a new study found. But the number of women who could benefit from the time-lapse technology is unclear. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

Fever reducers don't slow children's recovery: study


By Trevor Stokes NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A review of past research finds that fever-reducing drugs have no effect on the speed of children's recovery from an infection, contrary to the fears of some doctors and parents. Researchers have debated for decades whether lowering a sick child's fever helps the recovery process or interferes with the body's ability to fight the infection. Some previous research has shown that giving children fever-reducing "antipyretic" medications, such as acetaminophen, after vaccinations interfered with their immune responses to the vaccines, for example. ...

Is MRSA the Godzilla of Superbugs?


In the years I’ve spent writing about infectious diseases I can only think of a handful that have made me squirm: Guinea worm disease, which involves painful extractions of long worms from the human body (blech); Naegleria fowleri, the brain-eating amoeba (pretty self-explanatory); Ebola (because, well, it’s Ebola); and Staph A (full name, Staphylococcus aureus).

Exclusive: Onex fails to find buyer for Carestream Health


Onex CEO Schwartz speaks at their annual general meeting for shareholders in TorontoBy Soyoung Kim and Greg Roumeliotis NEW YORK (Reuters) - Onex Corp has called off its auction of medical imaging firm Carestream Health Inc after failing to find a buyer that was willing to meet its price expectation of as much as $3.5 billion, three people familiar with the matter said this week. Bain Capital LLC, the last remaining private equity firm that was talking to Onex about a possible deal, dropped out of the auction this week, the people said. Another interested party, Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, exited the process earlier, they added. ...



Death toll from new bird flu in China rises to 36: WHO


LONDON (Reuters) - Four more people in China have died from a new strain of bird flu, bringing the death toll from the H7N9 virus to 36 from 131 confirmed cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. The United Nations health agency said the four deaths were from cases that had already been identified in laboratories. Since May 8, there have been no new cases of infection with H7N9, it added. ...

Watch: Aimee Copeland Gets Bionic Hands


Touch Bionics donated prosthetics to Georgia woman, 25, who lost her hands to flesh-eating bacteria. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

Illinois Senate approves marijuana for medical uses


Martos holds a marijuana leaf at the Canna Pi medical marijuana dispensary in SeattleBy Joanne von Alroth SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - The Illinois Senate on Friday voted to approve the use of marijuana for medical purposes, which if signed into law would make it the second-most-populous state in the nation after California to allow the drug's use for medical purposes. The bill, approved by the Illinois House in April, now moves to Governor Pat Quinn's desk to await his signature. Quinn has indicated he is sympathetic to the bill, especially as it would benefit injured veterans. "We fully expect Gov. ...



Two states say 2014 Obamacare insurance costs on low side


A patient speaks to Dr. Vinci during his check up at University of Chicago Medicine Primary Care Clinic in ChicagoBy Sharon Begley and Caroline Humer (Reuters) - In a boost for President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law, two states in the Northwest said on Friday that insurance companies submitted applications to sell policies on the states' health insurance exchanges at rates well below what some insurance executives had predicted. The insurance marketplaces are a key element of the reform law, which is due to take full effect in 2014. A core principle of these exchanges is that competition, along with government subsidies and other measures, will keep rates affordable. ...



Surgeons-in-training dislike new work hours: survey


By Andrew M. Seaman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Most surgeons-in-training dislike new rules that limit how many hours they can work, according to a new study that also found the majority said they skirt the restrictions. Researchers surveyed 1,013 surgical residents - who train for years alongside more senior surgeons - and found that about two of every three said they disapproved of the 2011 regulations, which aimed to improve patient care as well as the residents' education and quality of life. ...

Sony to name Chugai Pharma's CEO as chairman: Nikkei


Logo of Sony Corp. is seen at an electronics store in Tokyo(Reuters) - Sony Corp plans to appoint Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Chief Executive Osamu Nagayama as chairman, the Nikkei reported. Nagayama's appointment will be finalized on June 20 at a board meeting to be held immediately after a shareholders' meeting, the business daily said. Outgoing chairman Howard Stringer, who served as Sony's CEO between 2005 and 2012, will retire in June, the Japanese paper said. (Reporting by Aditi Shrivastava in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das)



Judge blocks Arkansas law banning abortions after 12 weeks


By Suzi Parker LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday blocked a new Arkansas law that would ban most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, one of the most restrictive abortion statutes in the nation. U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright granted an injunction sought by abortion rights groups, saying the ban was "more than likely" unconstitutional and ordering that implementation be delayed until a legal challenge to the law can be tried in court. The law was to have taken effect in August. ...

Higher-stakes soccer matches tied to more injuries


By Kerry Grens NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Soccer matches played at a high level of competition are more likely to result in injuries - and in more serious ones - compared to less important games, according to a new study. The finding makes sense, according to HƄkan Bengtsson, who led the research, because prestigious games are likely to be "higher intensity and (result in) more situations with higher risks. ...

Endometriosis more common in lean women: study


By Genevra Pittman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Heavy women are less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than their slimmer peers, according to a new study. Researchers following more than 116,000 women found that morbidly obese study participants were 39 percent less likely than normal-weight women to develop the chronic condition - in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus and causes painful periods and bleeding. That link was especially strong among women with infertility, according to Dr. ...

Correction: Drunken Driving-Zero Deaths story


WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story May 17 about a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation on a blood alcohol threshold for drivers, The Associated Press incorrectly reported the definition of a drink. The standard definition of a drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof alcohol.

Virginia governor's race to test Tea Party Republicans' allure


File photo of Terry McAuliffe waving at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in DenverBy Gary Robertson RICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) - The most nail-biting U.S. governor's race this year is centering on whether a Tea Party Republican can win Virginia, the southern state that has twice backed Democratic President Barack Obama. So far, the answer is: maybe. Republican state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, known for his anti-abortion and tax-cutting positions, is in a tight race with Terry McAuliffe, a former national Democratic Party chairman. The election will take place in November. ...



The supervised after-prom party: Now with cars, iPads and other goodies


A 2004 Honda donated by a local car dealership is seen parked outside Unionville High School in Kennett Square, PennsylvaniaBy Alice Mannette WICHITA, Kansas (Reuters) - Sometime on Sunday morning, a Pennsylvania high school student will be presented with the keys to a black Honda Civic just for going to a party after the school's annual prom dance. In Roanoke, Virginia, one student will drive away next month with a new car and two others will get iPads. At a high school outside Dallas, two students received $500 college scholarships. ...



WWII Vets: ā€˜There’s No Such Thing As a Good War’


Every week, it seems, we hear about an even more tragic kind of military death—that of veterans who take their own lives, most often when they’re back at home, seemingly safe and sound. It is, of course, an even deeper loss because unlike most combat-related fatalities, these deaths seem to be much more preventable. If only we’d seen the signs. If only we’d stopped him or her before it was too late.

Aimee Copeland Gets Bionic Hands


Ā  Aimee Copeland, the 25-year-old who lost her hands, both feet and her entire right leg to flesh-eating bacteria a year ago, has received two new bionic hands. Copeland spent the week in Ohio at Touch Bionics, where she received two bionic hands free of... Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

What Teens Should Expect From Their First Gynecologist Visit


Visiting a gynecologist for the first time can be awkward and embarrassing for some teens. But the visit is crucial to help them understand their bodies and lay the groundwork for future health and wellness. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the first... Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

Canadian astronaut wrestles with gravity after spaceflight


Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield speaks on the phone after the Russian Soyuz space capsule landed some 150 km (90 miles) southeast of the town of Zhezkazgan, in central KazakhstanBy Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Back on Earth, Canadian astronaut and cyberspace tweeter Chris Hadfield is getting a rough re-introduction to gravity after a five-month stint aboard the International Space Station, the former commander told reporters during a video webcast from Houston. Hadfield became a social media rock star with his zero-gravity version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and a continuous stream of commentary on Twitter about his life in orbit. But living without gravity for five months has left him feeling dizzy, weak and prematurely aged. ...



Rising consumer demands aids organic industry sway


FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2009, file photo, bottles of Heinz organic tomato ketchup are on display inside Costco in Mountain View, Calif. The organic industry is gaining clout on Capitol Hill, prompted by rising consumer demand and its entry into traditional farm states. But that isn’t going over well with everyone in Congress. Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a late-night House Agriculture Committee debate on a sweeping farm bill that has for decades propped up traditional crops and largely ignored organics. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)WASHINGTON (AP) — The organic food industry is gaining influence on Capitol Hill, prompted by its entry into traditional farm states and by increasing consumer demand.



Novo Nordisk says completes hemophilia drug trial


COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's Novo Nordisk, the world's biggest insulin producer, said on Friday it had completed the first phase III trial of a hemophilia drug, N9-GP. Novo Nordisk said in a statement that in patients given the drug, 99 percent of bleeding episodes were treated with only one infusion and two-thirds of the patients had experienced complete resolution of bleeding. Patients had also reported an improvement in quality of life during the trial and the drug appeared to have a safe and well-tolerated profile, Novo said in the statement. ...

EU watchdog backs Bayer acne drug for certain patients


A general view shows the annual general meeting of Bayer AG in ColognLONDON (Reuters) - Bayer's acne pill Diane 35 and its generic versions are safe to use in certain women when other options have failed, the European Medicines Agency said on Friday. Following a formal safety review, conducted at the request of French authorities, the agency concluded that the benefits outweighed the risks - provided measures were taken to minimize the chance of blood clots forming in veins and arteries. ...



Sanofi says will keep Toulouse research site


Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Sanofi, attends the company's 2012 annual results presentation in ParisPARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi said it would overhaul rather than exit its Toulouse research site, as it seeks to break an impasse with the French government which opposed the drugmaker's reorganization plans and the loss of jobs. Sanofi has been regrouping its research operations around the world into regional hubs and closing some laboratories to cut costs as it grapples with the impact on revenues of patent loss on several top-selling drugs. Chief Executive Chris Viehbacher plans to move research facilities in France to Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg, while closing other sites and cutting jobs. ...



Great-Grandma, 79, Jumps From Plane


What do you do after you’ve survived six strokes, beat cancer twice and suffered from osteoporosis, arthritis and diabetes? If you’re 79-year-old Carolyn Meiselbach, you go skydiving. Of course. Meiselbach said she leaped into the upstate New York sky last month to settle some unfinished... Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

Organ donor cards hard to implement in China, official says


BEIJING (Reuters) - A system of donor cards indicating consent for organ transplants will not work in China as families will insist on having the final say, and many people see nothing wrong in using organs from executed prisoners, an official said on Friday. Nearly 1.5 million people in China need transplants every year, but only 10,000 can get organs, according to the Health Ministry. ...

WHO says single yellow fever shot is enough


GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says a yellow fever booster vaccination given 10 years after the initial shot isn't necessary.

Tiny preemies get a boost from live music therapy


Music therapist Elizabeth Klinger, right, quietly plays guitar and sings for Augustin as he grips the hand of his mother, Lucy Morales, in the newborn intensive care unit at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago on Monday, May 6, 2013. Research suggests that music may help those born way too soon adapt to life outside the womb. Recent studies and anecdotal reports suggest the vibrations and soothing rhythms of music, especially performed live in the hospital, might benefit preemies and other sick babies. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)CHICAGO (AP) — As the guitarist strums and softly sings a lullaby in Spanish, tiny Augustin Morales stops squirming in his hospital crib and closes his eyes.



Correction: New Virus story


NEW YORK (AP) — In a story May 15 about a new SARS-like virus spreading from patients to health care workers in Saudi Arabia, The Associated Press reported erroneously the location of the 20 deaths attributed to the virus. There have been no deaths reported in France and Qatar, only in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany and Britain.

Greying China taps rural elderly to care for those even older


An elderly couple feed their great-grandson with a piece of cake as they sit under the sun in winter in Jiaxing, Zhejiang provinceBy Li Hui and Maxim Duncan QIANTUN, China (Reuters) - Two years short of 70, Zhang Guosheng spends his days caring for an 81-year-old fellow villager - washing his clothes, bringing meals to his bed, and keeping him company - a routine he'll keep up until he himself needs the type of care he is now giving. "Living here is better than staying at home alone. We help each other and have a common language," said the spritely Zhang, an enthusiastic dancer. "We are very happy here. ...



Saudi Arabia has another case of new coronavirus: WHO


LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has reported another case of infection in a concentrated outbreak of a new strain of a virus that emerged in the Middle East last year and spread into Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. In a disease outbreak update issued from its Geneva headquarters, the WHO said the latest patient is an 81-year-old woman with multiple medical conditions. She became ill on April 28 and is in a critical but stable condition. ...

Lundbeck says drug shows improvement in depression symptoms


COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish pharmaceutical group Lundbeck and Japanese partner Takeda said on Saturday that data from clinical phase III studies with the antidepressant vortioxetine had shown significant improvement in patients' symptoms. Lundbeck said in a statement that the trial showed safety levels consistent with previously completed studies at lower doses. Lundbeck and Takeda submitted vortioxetine, also known as Brintellix, for regulatory approval in the United States and Europe at the end of last year. ...

Men Struggle With Wives' Breast Cancer


Men struggle with their wives' breast cancer, but don't always speak up. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

This is your brain on music


Whether you are rocking out to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in your car or reading with Bach in your bedroom, music has a special ability to pump us up or calm us down.

Help for special-needs moms


Mom2Mom is the only helpline in the United States focused on mothers of special-needs children -- and staffed by mothers of special-needs kids.

My son Jonah's 'clock is ticking'


Jill Wood's 4-year-old son has a rare and fatal disease. But she is determined to fight for a cure, saying he might be the first child to walk away.

Alicia Keys, women and HIV


Alicia Keys' latest initiative, "Empowered," is a campaign aimed at reaching out specifically to American women about HIV.

High-tech tools for STDs


Want to let others know you're STD-free? Need to tell former lovers to get tested? Or just having some strange symptoms? New sites and apps can help.

Active kids are healthier kids


CNN's Holly Firfer reminds us that kids need plenty of exercise to stay healthy and fit.

Learning to run


CNN's Holly Firfer tells us that learning to run starts with lots of walking and some jogging.

Spring health myths


CNN's Shelby Lin separates fact from fiction when it comes to our health in the spring.

Treating hair loss in men


HLN's Susan Hendricks gives us the latest on what's available to help men with hair loss.

Parents' food attitude and kids


A new study looks at the relationship between parental attitudes toward food and a child's weight.

Got allergies? Treat 'em


If you are new to spring allergies, what treatment options exist? Holly Firfer reports.

Teen drinking leads to death


Holly Firfer tells us that underage drinking can lead to fatalities from causes other than traffic accidents.

Is stress making you sick?


How you can detect if stress is getting to you? Holly Firfer reports.

Trust your memory? Maybe you shouldn't


You probably feel pretty attached to your memories -- they're yours after all. But one conversation with Elizabeth Loftus may shake your confidence about everything you think you remember.

Her vision: Better, clearer sight


Dr. Marguerite McDonald has spent years studying ways to help people see better.

Why you keep playing the lottery


We all know the odds. But broke, unemployed, unhappy or all three -- six numbers have the power to change your life.

Saved from life in the bathroom


In general, digestive diseases are hidden in the bathroom. You don't talk about anything that happens there unless it's with your spouse or a close friend.

You don't know these innovators


These virtual unknowns made major discoveries in the medical field that benefit millions of us every day. Learn more about these pioneers and their accomplishments.

Why you play the lottery


We all know the odds. But broke, unemployed, unhappy or all three -- six numbers have the power to change your life.

Saved from life in the bathroom


In general, digestive diseases are hidden in the bathroom. You don't talk about anything that happens there unless it's with your spouse or a close friend.

Fighting for gene monopoly


Angelina Jolie's news of a preventative double mastectomy brings a company, and a test into the limelight.

They've changed your life


These virtual unknowns made major discoveries in the medical field that benefit millions of us every day. Learn more about these pioneers and their accomplishments.

5 ways to maximize your doctor's visit


How did your last doctor's appointment go? If you're like most patients, your answer might be "too quickly."

Learn from my daughter's eating disorder


My daughter Catharine died after a four-year fight with anorexia nervosa. As a doctor and father, here's what I want parents to know.

Back pain? 7 ways to strengthen your spine


Slouching may be fashionable for some red carpet regulars, but it's one of several reasons why about 80% of us will have spinal problems in our lifetime.

5 questions on egg freezing


With egg freezing and the many new related technological advances in the field of reproductive medicine, women are now able to have children later in life. The key is not only knowing your options, but knowing them before it's too late.

Cloning stem cells: What does it mean?


Earlier this week we saw a breakthrough in this field: A group of researchers published in the journal Cell proof that they had created embryonic stem cells through cloning.

'Lose weight or die' prompts 130-lb loss


After his gastric bypass surgery, Dale Benzine's life changed drastically. It wasn't easy, he says, but it was definitely worth it.

Triathlete conquers first time in the ocean


Being outside of her comfort zone has helped Rae Timme conquer her fears and self-doubt as she trains for her first triathlon.

Workers sickened by new virus


Two health care workers in Saudi Arabia were sickened while treating patients with a dangerous new virus, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

Yuck! What's in your pool water


Chlorine is supposed to take care of most of the microbes floating around in pools, but human waste, it seems, is stubbornly resistant to being sanitized.

Company fights to keep monopoly on gene


Angelina Jolie's news of a preventative double mastectomy brings a company, and a test into the limelight.

Young adults and a 'hookup culture'


Romance may be getting short shrift among college students these days, replaced instead with quick "hookups" devoid of any real emotion, a new book argues.

Your breast cancer questions


When Angelina Jolie revealed she'd had a double mastectomy, she probably had a pretty good idea that her bravery would empower other women to tell their breast cancer stories.

Formula may boost breast-feeding


One of the surprising ways to boost breast-feeding rates among new moms may involve formula, according to the latest research.

Elementary school goes vegetarian


The Active Learning Elementary School in the New York borough of Queens is believed to be one of the first in the nation to offer students an all-vegetarian menu.

Unlocking crime using biology


Adrian Raine, author of "Anatomy of Violence," argues that acts of violence have to do with bad biology. Numerous studies have showed correlations between brain impairments and aggressive adolescents and violent adult offenders. But it's not too late to intervene, he said. Biology is not destiny.

I'm also an abduction survivor


Only those of us who have experienced the terror of threatened captivity may truly appreciate the heroes that three Cleveland women became as they seized the chance of escape.

'They call me burnt toast'


As a 9-year-old, Lesia Cartelli was severely burned in an accident. Today, she runs a healing retreat for girls with burn injuries like hers.

Twins create slimmer allergy device


Evan and Eric Edwards have life-threatening allergies and wanted to develop a better way to deliver epinephrine. Their vision started when the brothers were high school seniors and became a reality soon afterward.

Mom's death inspires doctor


"How much did you weigh when you were born?" Dr. Alfred Brann asks the first time we talk.

'Dr. Dancer' didn't want to choose


Nadine Kaslow struggled over whether to follow ballet or her passion for psychology. Then she found a way to combine the two worlds.

These women changed medicine



Workouts may prevent cancer


Less cancer treatment may be better, and being in good physical shape may help keep cancer away, according to the latest research being presented at the largest convergence of cancer experts worldwide.

How she lost 276 lbs


After being immobile for years, Theresa Borawski no longer needs a wheelchair, walker or cane to get around.

Photos: '6-pack' hits Florida



Surgery to get back at your ex


Revenge plastic surgery -- getting back at your ex by having work done to become more attractive -- is becoming more and more common.

Woman shakes off 170 pounds


In less than two years Deidre Robinson went from a size 24 to a size 2 -- and was ready turn her healthy lifestyle into her livelihood.

Pregnant and homeless


Martha Ryan couldn't believe it. She had never heard of women who were pregnant and homeless. But in one night, she met three.

Developmental milestones


HLN's Susan Hendricks tells us what developmental milestones parents can expect during their baby's first year.

Mosquito season: Fight the bite


CNN's Holly Firfer reports on how you too can fight mosquito borne illnesses.

Reducing risk of breast cancer


CNN's April Williams gives us tips on how we can lower our risk for breast cancer by changing our lifestyle habits.

Mammograms save lives


HLN's Susan Hendricks focuses on National Women's Health Week, a time to remind women to get their mammograms.

Getting fit after baby


HLN's Susan Hendricks introduces us to a fitness program that helps new moms get back into shape.

Cook your own food


Reporter Holly Firfer tells us that cooking our own food can help us stay healthy and keep our weight down.

Meeting fitness guidelines


Only a fraction of U.S. adults are getting the amount of physical activity recommended by the government.

Teens don't admit concussions


New study finds high school football players do not tell coaches or parents they may be suffering from concussions.

Aches and pains from technology


CNN's Holly Firfer tells us that using our high tech devices incorrectly or too often can leave us in pain.

Digital dentures


HLN's Susan Hendricks tells us that new dental technology means people can now get dentures that fit precisely.

VIDEO: Diseases become art under a microscope


The strange beauty of infections under the microscope

Study to understand teenage brain


Researchers in Cambridge have begun a study to understand the adolescent brain

Asian couples hit by UK egg shortage


Egg shortage forces Asian couples abroad

'Jolie effect' on breast cancer?


Will more women now go for breast screening?

Do famous role models help or hinder?


Do famous role models help or hinder?

Should therapists cry?


Is it wrong for therapists to get tearful?

Sadie's story


How dementia robbed a vibrant woman of her final years

Time-lapse imaging 'improves IVF'


Time-lapse imaging which takes thousands of pictures of developing embryos can boost the success rate of IVF, according to British research.

Brain stimulation maths boost link


Applying high-frequency electrical noise to the brain can boost maths skills up to six months later, say Oxford University researchers.

Mental health 'bible' update due


An update to one of the most important manuals in mental health - known as the bible of psychiatry - is to be published later on Saturday.

Malaria parasite 'controls mosquito'


Mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite are more attracted to human body odour than uninfected insects, scientists report.

Milestone in medical human 'cloning'


Human cloning is used to produce early embryos, marking a "significant step" for medicine, say US scientists.

Retirement 'is harmful to health'


Retirement has a detrimental impact on mental and physical health, says a new study by the Institute of Economic Affairs, a think tank.

WHO data shows narrowing health gap


The World Health Organization says its annual statistics show progress is being made in cutting child mortality, but not enough.

India shows cheap diarrhoea vaccine


Scientists in India unveil a new low-cost vaccine against a diarrhoea virus that kills about half a million children around the world each year.

Hospital probes E German drug tests


A top Berlin hospital plans to investigate drug trials in the former East Germany amid allegations that some patients were used as human guinea pigs.

Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy


Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie undergoes a preventative double mastectomy after doctors told her she had an 87% risk of getting breast cancer.

'Weight loss gut bacterium' found


Bacteria that live in the gut have been used to reverse obesity and Type-2 diabetes, animal studies show.

Barefoot running injury concern


The trend for barefoot running could lead to injuries in some runners, a small study suggests.

Children shun fictional 'fat Alfie'


Young children reject storybook characters who are overweight, research reveals.

Care of the dying 'litmus test'


People need a choice about where they die, say campaigners

Test promises end to leprosy torment


Swifter diagnoses could avert lifelong torment

VIDEO: Malaria mosquitoes 'quicker to bite'


Mosquitoes carrying malaria are more attracted to human scent than non-malarial ones, research has suggested.

VIDEO: Time-lapse embryo imaging 'improves IVF'


A fertility clinic says tests on a new embryo monitoring system significantly increases the chances in IVF treatment resulting in a successful pregnancy

VIDEO: Jolie: Genetics, cancer and you


Actress Angelina Jolie has had a double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer after being told she had a dangerous genetic mutation. Is this something for everyone to worry about?

VIDEO: Could you eat a meal of insects?


The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation wants to increase insect-farming and consumption to help boost nutrition and reduce pollution as the world's population steadily grows.

VIDEO: Autistic teen tipped for Nobel Prize


A teenager who was diagnosed with autism and told he would never be able to read has been tipped as a future Nobel prize winner.

AUDIO: 'How I made it with a stammer'


Research by the British Stammering Association suggests two thirds of employees with a stammer hold back on sharing ideas at work and hold back on going for promotions.

VIDEO: Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy


Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie has explained why she chose to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of getting breast cancer.

VIDEO: Concern grows over deadly new virus


The World Health Organization says it appears likely that the novel coronavirus (NCoV) can be passed between people in close contact.

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