In every state across the country, white men and women are outliving blacks, in some cases by a margin as wide as eight years, says a new life-expectancy study from the University of California, Los Angeles.
L.A. Times - Health (16 unread)
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Black Americans die up to 8 years sooner in some states
Posted: February 29th, 2012, 7:33am EST
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In every state across the country, white men and women are outliving blacks, in some cases by a margin as wide as eight years, says a new life-expectancy study from the University of California, Los Angeles. -
Birth control: IUDs and implants versus the pill
Posted: February 28th, 2012, 4:47pm EST
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With prices ranging from about $1 for a condom to more than $800 for an intrauterine device (IUD), some women who want to prevent pregnancy — maybe a lot of them — might switch methods if they could afford to.
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FDA advisors endorse weight-loss drug Qnexa
Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 3:00am EST
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A panel of medical experts voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to endorse the controversial weight-loss drug Qnexa, clearing the way for the Food and Drug Administration to approve a new prescription obesity medication for the first time since 1999.
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You could die of a broken heart, doctors say
Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:00am EST
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It appears there is medical truth to the notion that a traumatic emotional experience can lead to a severe cardiac condition, which can initially display all of the signs associated with those seen in a heart attack.
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Low birth weight may increase autism risk, study finds
Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 3:00am EST
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After studying 3,715 pairs of twins that include one twin with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a researcher learned that a weight difference of at least 15 percent or 400 grams made the smaller twin three times more likely to have an ASD.
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Pro/Con: Is sharing a bed with baby healthful or risky?
Posted: February 20th, 2012, 3:00am EST
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If Facebook is any indication, new parents love to take photos of their partners happily dozing with a sleeping baby. But while this moment may be picturesque, how safe is it?
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Alzheimer's: Trouble sleeping could affect memory later on
Posted: February 14th, 2012, 9:31pm EST
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People who have trouble sleeping may be at higher risk of developing memory problems, new research shows. Also, those who woke frequently in the night had a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
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Walk while you work? Many employees join healthful trend
Posted: February 14th, 2012, 5:32pm EST
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Samantha O'Lenick keeps a pair of tennis shoes stowed under the desk in her office — for company meetings. A dozen times a week, O'Lenick kicks off her heels, laces up her tennies, gathers her staff and hits the streets.
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Why the long wait for Whitney Houston's toxicology reports?
Posted: February 13th, 2012, 7:11pm EST
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Whitney Houston's death is still being investigated, and it might take weeks to get toxicology reports back, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office said. That’s not an unusual time frame for such a case, but why does it take so long?
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Measles at Super Bowl festivities threatens public health
Posted: February 10th, 2012, 5:16pm EST
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Less than a week after the game, the Indiana State Department of Health circulated a release that touched on a Super Bowl health hazard few had considered: measles vaccinations. State health officials reported two confirmed and two probable cases of the respiratory ailment.
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Salt therapy: A cure for breathing and skin problems?
Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:00am EST
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At spas opening up in Florida and throughout the country, clients sit in special rooms infused with high concentrations of salt. They say it opens up their sinuses, drains mucus, reduces swelling of the bronchial tubes and boosts their immune systems.
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10 things your cardiologist wants you to know
Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:59am EST
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Sure, you should keep your weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check. But getting there — and staying there — includes a multitude of physical, nutritional and emotional components. Here are cardiologists' top 10 secrets for getting heart healthy in a hurry.
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Gastric bypass can affect how medications work
Posted: February 9th, 2012, 11:53am EST
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Many medications are absorbed normally in people who have had gastric bypass surgery, including most pain medications. In some specific situations, though, medication absorption can be a concern.
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Birth-control fight turns into a campaign and fundraising tool
Posted: February 8th, 2012, 11:49pm EST
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The Obama administration's new requirement that most health insurance plans provide contraceptive services has exploded into a high-octane political weapon, with combatants on both sides scrambling to score points among the electorate and gin up fundraising from their most ardent supporters.
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Seeing more than just blurred vision in your eye exam
Posted: February 8th, 2012, 2:08pm EST
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According to a recent study, "eye care providers often detected signs of chronic disease before other healthcare providers — 65 percent of the time for high cholesterol, 20 percent of the time for diabetes and 30 percent of the time for hypertension."
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Sleep apnea may make people more prone to silent strokes
Posted: February 1st, 2012, 5:55pm EST
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Almost all (91 percent) of the study participants who had a stroke had sleep apnea. They were also more likely to have silent strokes as well as white matter lesions on their brains.