Health

Health & Safety

Do-It-Yourselfers Face Penalties Over Their Cut-Rate Health Insurance

11:47am January 27, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

People sometimes put together policies, such as short-term and critical illness plans, instead of buying more expensive health coverage. But they likely will be penalized under the federal health law.

The Super Food Express bus travels to schools in Mobile County, Ala., to ensure children are fed healthy meals when school is out of session. The bus is part of the USDA's summer food program, which President Obama says needs additional funding.

President Obama Wants More Funds To Feed Low-Income Kids In Summer

10:52am January 27, 2016

by Pam Fessler

The president will propose in his 2017 budget that families who qualify for subsidized school meals receive benefits to buy an extra $45 in groceries per child each month when school is out.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health advise against eating any fish from the Lower Passaic because it may be contaminated with toxic chemicals. But Owaldo Avad says he's been catching and consuming fish like these

New Jersey River Polluters Fund Toxic Fish Swap — But There's A Snag

7:10pm January 26, 2016

by Sarah Gonzalez

Passaic River polluters are telling local fishermen to trade contaminated catch for healthy tilapia. But there's no disposal plan for the toxic fish, and residents don't want them to be incinerated.

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Anti-Abortion Activists Indicted On Felony Charges In Planned Parenthood Case

7:06pm January 26, 2016

by Jennifer Ludden

A grand jury in Houston has returned indictments against two members of a group that targeted Planned Parenthood with a string of undercover videos last year. The felony indictments are a twist as the panel was originally tasked with investigation the group's claim that Planned Parenthood was selling fetal tissue.

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Depression Screening Recommended For Pregnant Women, New Mothers

7:00pm January 26, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

An independent task force chartered by the federal government says pregnant women should be screened for signs of depression both during and after pregnancy.

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Larvae of genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are pictured through a microscope viewfinder. The larvae will die before reaching adulthood.

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Join The Fight To Stop Zika Virus

6:23pm January 26, 2016

by Greg Allen

On a trial basis, a British company is releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in Brazil to try to reduce the Aedes aegypti population — the species spreading Zika.

Science writer Jo Marchant investigated the healing power of the mind for her new book, Cure.

How Meditation, Placebos And Virtual Reality Help Power 'Mind Over Body'

4:37pm January 26, 2016

Science writer Jo Marchant says that the mind can play an important role in dealing with a variety of health concerns, including pain, heart disease and depression. Marchant's new book is Cure.

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Untreated depression can harm the health of mothers and their children.

Depression Screening Recommended For All Pregnant Women, New Mothers

4:36pm January 26, 2016

by Joanne Silberner

Depression is common in women during pregnancy and postpartum, posing risks to both mother and child. More effort is needed to get women screened and treated, a federal advisory panel says.

Nations Across Latin America Grapple With Rapid Spread Of Zika Virus

4:28pm January 26, 2016

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Authorities in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica are encouraging women to delay getting pregnant due to the spread of the mosquito-borne illness, Zika. The virus has been linked to brain damage in infants. Delaying pregnancy is a challenge for women in the region where rape is the cause of many pregnancies, and women have little access to contraception.

Journal editors want researchers to unlock the data vault.

Journal Editors To Researchers: Show Everyone Your Clinical Data

3:19pm January 26, 2016

by Harlan Krumholz

The world's leading medical journals have a proposal that could transform medical science: Researchers would have to publicly share their clinical data to get their studies published.

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