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Seniors step up efforts to protect against cuts to Medicare

First, AARP tried to convey disappointment. In May, the group launched a TV ad warning that Congress might try to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits as part of a deal to raise the national debt ceiling.

15 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 14, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about how tempers are flaring in the midst of debt-ceiling negotiations, and how failure to reach an agreement could lead to tough choices about which of the nation's obligations will be left unpaid.

14 Jul 2011

Variation in DNA sequence linked to increased risk of sudden cardiac death

In a large and comprehensive investigation into the underlying causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) - a surreptitious killer of hundreds of thousands annually in the United States - researchers have discovered a variation in the genome's DNA sequence that is linked to a significant increase in a person's risk of SCD.

13 Jul 2011

Strength exercises boost bone density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Women with osteoporosis - a skeletal disease that erodes bone density, weakens bone strength and increases the risk of fractures - might think taking it easy is the best way to prevent bone breaks.

13 Jul 2011

Study looks at fresh food access and influence on eating habits

According to a new U.S. study living closer to supermarkets and grocery stores did not mean that urban dwellers ate more fruits and vegetables, or had a healthier overall diet. On the other hand having more fast-food restaurants nearby did mean that low-income men ate at the chain restaurants more often. The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

13 Jul 2011

College drinkers with blackouts may face higher risk of alcohol-related injuries

"I don't remember how I got home from the party." This could be a text from last night to one hard-partying college student from another.

12 Jul 2011

Epidemiologic and physiologic research on sedentary behavior

Lack of physical exercise is often implicated in many disease processes. However, sedentary behavior, or too much sitting, as distinct from too little exercise, potentially could be a new risk factor for disease.

12 Jul 2011

CMS finds states that lack authority to review health insurance rate hikes

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a report identifying ten states that currently lack sufficient authority to review health insurance rate hikes as required under the Affordable Care Act.

11 Jul 2011

Three hours exercise each day necessary for babies and toddlers

According to latest British Government guidelines to be released this week, children under the age of five should exercise for at least three hours a day.

10 Jul 2011

Democrats fear political pain from entitlement cuts

Though some Democrats view the Obama's strategy to reach a budget deal as a positive development, others are making pleas to take Medicare and Social Security cuts off of the bargaining table — fearing that changes to these programs would make them vulnerable in the upcoming election cycle.

8 Jul 2011

Postmenopausal women can benefit from self-paced walking test

The self-paced walking test, known as the 400-meter walk test, is effective in measuring improved physical function in postmenopausal women who have lost weight through healthy physical activity and dietary changes, according to collaborative research conducted by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and The University of Pittsburgh.

7 Jul 2011

Current prevention strategies may not be very effective at reducing in-hospital falls

While falls are a common cause of injury, particularly in older, hospitalized patients, some may not be as preventable as once thought. According to a new literature review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, many of the risks that frequently cause falls are not adequately addressed with the fall prevention initiatives used in healthcare facilities.

7 Jul 2011

First transcatheter aortic valve implantation performed at Loyola University Hospital

Toni Meyer's heart-valve disease was so severe that she suffered shortness of breath even while sitting in a chair. But after Loyola University Hospital physicians replaced her diseased aortic valve in a catheter procedure as part of a clinical trial, Meyer said she is feeling "100 percent better."

From Medtronic 7 Jul 2011

Fruit flies with poor posture help scientists understand human intellectual disability

Clumsy fruit flies with poor posture are helping an international team of scientists understand inherited intellectual disability in humans - and vice versa.

5 Jul 2011

Checklist to stay healthy and active in summer

The summer is a great season for getting in shape. Whether by playing a sport, doing an aerobic exercise routine, or just returning to that familiar running path -- this is the time for activity.

2 Jul 2011

U.N. Somalia coordinator warns about increasing rates of malnutrition

Mark Bowden, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, highlighted the "rapidly deteriorating" situation there resulting from drought and high food prices, Agence France-Presse reports.

1 Jul 2011

Study links foot positioning during running and walking with risk of ankle sprains

The position of the foot just before ground contact during running and walking may put people at risk for ankle sprains, according to a new study published by a University of Georgia kinesiology researcher.

1 Jul 2011

Tips to stay healthy during vacation

Do you ever wonder why you feel so exhausted after returning from a vacation? The flights, car rides, hotel stays and on-the-go activities just might play a part in the way you feel. Dr. Marbella Zumaya, a physician with Covenant Medical Group, gives some tips on how to stay healthy while vacationing as well as how to come back feeling refreshed.

30 Jun 2011

Fidgeting contributes to cardiorespiratory fitness

Walking to the photocopier and fidgeting at your desk are contributing more to your cardiorespiratory fitness than you might think.

29 Jun 2011

Obese people already drink diet soda, so soda tax won't help

To many, a tax on soda is a no-brainer in advancing the nation's war on obesity. Advocates point to a number of studies in recent years that conclude that sugary drinks have a lot to do with why Americans are getting fatter.

29 Jun 2011