There's growing concern about medical tests -- whether you're getting too many of them, and which ones should be part of a regular doctor's visit. Should you always get an EKG or cholesterol screening? And how often do women really need bone scans for osteoporosis? Health care costs in the United States have skyrocketed to more than $2 trillion a year -- up from $253 billion in 1980. The concern is that tests can waste time and money and sometimes do more harm ... more→
Chemicals found in microwave popcorn bags may interfere with vaccine protection
Can microwave popcorn mess with childhood vaccinations? The two may seem completely unrelated, but a new study suggests chemicals that are widely used for making popcorn bags and lots of other products may counter the immune system benefits from vaccines in kids. The chemicals in question are called perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). The compounds are found in household items such as food packaging, stain repellents, and non-stick coating in pots and pans. The compounds don't break down easily and are often found in the environment and wildlife. ... more→
Patient with dropped heart leaves hospital after successful transplant
A heart made headlines earlier this month when it was dropped on the ground while being transported to the hospital for a transplant. Where's the heart now? Beating healthily in the body of a 28-year-old hair stylist. Dr. Jaime Saldivar says Erika Hernandez doesn't yet know that her new heart survived a stumble. When a medic tripped after exiting the helicopter, the plastic-wrapped heart tumbled out of a water cooler and onto the street. The medic immediately returned the heart to the cooler and ... more→
FTC pulls plug on fake news sites pushing acai berry diet pills
Ever been directed to a "news" website that contains scientific articles touting the benefits of acai berry pills? The Federal Trade Commission says those sites are all a scam. Federal regulators announced settlements Wednesday with six online marketers who were accused of using fake news sites on the Internet to entice customers to buy acai berry weight-loss products. The sites promised rapid and substantial weight loss, sometimes claiming people could lose 25 pounds in four weeks without changing their diets or exercising. But the FTC accused the marketers ... more→
School lunches get healthy makeover from USDA and First Lady
The days of square pizzas and beef burritos in school cafeterias are numbered. First lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that big changes are coming to school lunches - the first changes in more than 15 years. Most school meals will have less sodium, more whole grains and more fruits and vegetables as sides. The popular pizzas will still be on school lunch lines - but will be made with healthier ingredients. Mrs. Obama and Vilsack made the announcement at Parklawn elementary school in ... more→
USDA school lunch changes: What’s on the menu? Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-504763_162-57365835-10391704/usda-school-lunch-changes-whats-on-the-menu/#ixzz1kaQvi3rO
Big changes are coming to school lunches, First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack of the announced today. Meals for more than 32 million children - who have school lunches subsidized by the government - will be much healthier, with less sodium, more whole grains and more fruits and veggies as sides. Lunchtime staples such as potatoes and pizza will remain, after debate between Congress and the USDA about what foods constitute vegetables. These dishes will be made with more healthful ingredients, and kids might ... more→
Federal study of Morgellons yields no answers
Imagine having the feeling that tiny bugs are crawling on your body, that you have oozing sores and mysterious fibers sprouting from your skin. Sound like a horror movie? Well, at one point several years ago, government doctors were getting up to 20 calls a day from people saying they had such symptoms. Many of these people were in California and one of that state's U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein, asked for a scientific study. In 2008, federal health officials began to study ... more→
Understanding introverts and their influence
There may be more introverted people out there than you'd ever imagine. According to writer Susan Cain's definition, introverted folks are not shy and they're not anti-social. The author of "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking" said on "CBS This Morning" that introverts are really people who simply prefer a less-stimulating environment. "Shyness and introversion are different," she said. "Shyness is about the fear of negative judgment, whereas introversion is simply about a preference for ... more→
PIP breast implant ex-boss arrested in France
Police in southeast France on Thursday arrested the former head of a French company at the center of a breast implant scandal affecting tens of thousands of women worldwide, a police official said. Jean-Claude Mas, who ran the now-defunct French company Poly Implant Prothese, was detained at his residence in the Mediterranean coastal town of Six Fours Les Plages shortly before dawn, the official said. A police search of the residence was under way, said the official, who spoke on condition ... more→
Avastin fights early breast cancer in 2 studies: Will it be re-approved?
Is Avastin back in running for breast cancer treatment? The FDA revoked Avastin's approval for treating breast cancer in November 2011, saying the drug didn't extend life and could cause dangerous side effects. But two new studies released this week show the drug made tumors disappear in women with early stages of breast cancer. The studies' surprising results may reopen the debate about the value of Avastin for breast cancer. These were the first big tests of the drug for early ... more→
