CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nearly 2 million people receive physical therapy every day, a number that’s likely to increase as the population ages. And for many, it can be overwhelming and intimidating. So we talked to three experts about what to expect, the keys to getting … Read more
Attention swimmers: More than half of the public pools tested in a new study contained bacterial evidence that someone may have pooped in the pool. Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked with state and local public health departments last summer to collect samples from pool filters at 161 pools in the metro-Atlanta area. Some of the pools were public, some were in private clubs and some were in water parks. Read more
WASHINGTON – House Republicans voted for the 37th time Thursday evening to repeal all or part of President Barack Obama’s health care law, underscoring once again the deep partisan divide over the landmark 2010 legislation. The bill to roll back the entire Affordable Care Act passed 229-195, with just two Democrats crossing the aisle to join the GOP. No Republicans voted against the legislation, which is assured of going nowhere in the Senate. Read more
PORTLAND – Kaiser Permanente Northwest is apologizing to nearly 6,500 members in Oregon and Washington whose blood was tested for HIV without their knowledge or consent. The health organization implemented a screening policy a month ago in line with a federal recommendation that virtually all adults be tested – as long as they’re given the chance to decline the test. Read more
Dear Mr. Dad: With all the talk about bird flu and swine flu, I’m in a panic about germs. I’m putting antibacterial soaps all over my house and hand sanitizers in the car and my kids’ backpacks. Is there anything else I can do? A. The most important thing you can do right now is relax. There are a number of ways to reduce the risk that you or your children will get the flu, and antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers are at the bottom of the list: Get a flu shots every year, stay away from people who are sick, cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water (skip the antibacterial stuff, though – more on that in a minute), keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, or mouth (that’s the way most germs get into our body), get plenty of sleep and eat right. Read more
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Angelina Jolie says that she has had a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried a gene that made it extremely likely she would get breast cancer. The Oscar-winning actress and partner to Brad Pitt made the announcement in the form of an op-ed she authored for Tuesday’s New York Times (http://nyti.ms/17o4A0f ) under the headline, “My Medical Choice.” She writes that between early February and late April she completed three months of surgical procedures to remove both breasts. Read more
BOISE — Idaho’s potato industry is gazing north of the U.S. border to a tiny Canadian apple breeder for a sign of how the public may embrace a genetically modified potato proposed for commercialization by the J.R. Simplot Co. Read more
WASHINGTON – New research is raising fresh concern that an age-old treatment for troubled pregnancies – bed rest – doesn’t seem to prevent premature birth, and it might even worsen that risk. Doctors have known for years that there’s no good evidence that bed rest offers any benefit for certain pregnancy complications, and it can cause side effects in the mother, not to mention emotional and financial strain. Yet estimates suggest nearly 1 in 5 moms-to-be is told to cut her activity – ranging from quitting work to actually staying in bed all day – at some point during pregnancy. Read more
Many of us know someone who always has the television blaring or has difficulty participating in conversations because of hearing loss. Hearing loss can be more than just an annoyance; it can be a safety hazard if you do not hear cars or other vehicles. Read more
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have mild back pain. I sit at a desk all day and tend to slouch. My mother says that sitting up straight may help. Is she right? DEAR READER: I hope it’s true. Otherwise, my mother (like yours) was wrong. And I think it is true. Read more
Q. From about 1985 till about 2005, my blood pressure ran about 150/90, and I needed antihypertensive medications. In 2003, I planted several citrus trees, including two pink grapefruits. When they started to bear fruit, I ate lots of grapefruit and made gallons of juice (which I froze). I enjoyed the juice as the harvest faded. Read more
New listings Alexander Technique – A five-week class that begins on at 7:30 p.m. The Alexander Technique is a method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support, flexibility, and coordination. Come learn how to undo harmful tension and re-direct your movement habits and will improve how you feel. Holy Names Music Center, 3910 W. Custer Drive. For more information call (509) 326-9516. $75/five week series. Read more
LONDON — Two respiratory viruses in different parts of the world have captured the attention of global health officials — a novel coronavirus in the Middle East and a new bird flu spreading in China. Read more
Cancer patients could face high costs for medications under President Barack Obama’s health care law, industry analysts and advocates warn. Where you live could make a huge difference in what you’ll pay. Read more
PARIS – France has confirmed a second case of a deadly new respiratory virus related to SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, authorities said Sunday as they increased efforts to inform the public about how to avoid the illness and watch for its signs. A hospital roommate of the 65-year-old man who initially contracted the virus tested positive for the illness. The second patient’s condition has deteriorated, requiring treatment in intensive care, Health Minister Marisol Touraine said. The minister added that the first patient is “in a stable but worrisome situation.” Read more
NEW YORK – Coca-Cola says it will make lower-calorie options and clear calorie labeling more widely available around the world, intensifying a push against critics who say its drinks pack on the pounds. The Atlanta-based company, which makes Sprite, Fanta and Minute Maid, already offers diet drinks in most markets. But there’s no consistency in their availability, particularly in emerging markets such as China and India. Read more
DEAR DOCTOR K: My doctor thinks I may have hypothyroidism. How will he make the diagnosis? DEAR READER: Hypothyroidism is the medical term for an underactive thyroid. Some conditions are hard to diagnose, but fortunately hypothyroidism is not one of them. Read more
IDAHO Wednesdays Read more
LOS ANGELES – Forget boiling or antiseptic wipes: The best way to clean a pacifier may be putting it in your own mouth. It may sound gross, but evidence suggests that those bacteria may help reduce instances of allergy development in babies. Read more
