Public Health

Studies may have overestimated cellphone crash risk

Increased risk of having a car crash attributed to cellphone use may have been overestimated in some past studies, a new analysis suggests.

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Big firms afraid to criticize Medco deal: senator

Major firms which oppose a proposed deal to merge Medco Health Solutions Inc and Express Scripts Inc feared retaliation and declined to publicly discuss…    

China probe finds Coke yogurt poisoning likely

Chinese police believe a child who died after drinking a Coca Cola-made yogurt drink was probably the victim of deliberate poisoning, official media said…    

Obama sets new U.S. goal on fighting AIDS

President Barack Obama vowed on Thursday to bolster U.S. efforts to fight AIDS, setting a new goal of providing treatment to 6 million people…    

2 out of 3 medical students do not know when to wash their hands

Only 21 percent of surveyed medical students could identify five true and two false indications of when and when not to wash their hands…    

Interethnic marriage between African and Native Americans produced many children

American Indians with African ancestry outdid ‘full bloods’ in reproductive terms in the early 1900s, despite the odds being against them, according to a…    

Working moms multitask more and have worse time doing so than dads

Not only are working mothers multitasking more frequently than working fathers, but their multitasking experience is more negative as well, according to a new…    

Food served in children’s hospitals rated largely unhealthy

Given the obesity epidemic among the nation’s young, one would hope that children’s hospitals would serve as a role model for healthy eating. But…    

Study: No decline in running economy for older runners

Runners over the age of 60 are the fastest-growing group in the sport. A new study from the University of New Hampshire suggests that…    

Athletes’ injury-prevention programs need time

Programs aimed at preventing knee injuries among soccer players take time to make any lasting impact on the way athletes move, according to a…    

States could see substantial savings with tobacco control programs

States that have shifted funds away from tobacco control programs may be missing out on significant savings, according to a new study co-authored by…    

Short waits, long consults keep most patients very happy with their physicians

Patients overall in the United States are very satisfied with their physicians and with treatment they receive in outpatient settings, according to new information…    

Zinc supplementation does not protect young African children against malaria

A study led by Hans Verhoef, a researcher at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and…    

Many above poverty line struggle to make ends meet

Nearly half of all Americans lack economic security, meaning they live above the federal poverty threshold but still do not have enough money to…    

New York sues “roll your own” cigarette shops

New York City sued the city’s first “roll-your-own” cigarette business on Monday in its latest attempt to reduce smoking rates and retain revenue from…    

Heart experts share some surprising findings

A shot that could lower cholesterol, a connection between blood type and stroke, and how income affects heart health were among more than 4,000…    

Philip Morris challenges Australia on plain pack

Tobacco giant Philip Morris on Monday launched legal action against Australian laws forcing tobacco products to be sold in drab, plain packaging from late…    

Canadian health system too expensive: report

Canada’s public healthcare system is becoming too expensive but could offer better value without drastic cuts or abandoning its state-funded structure, one of the…    

Doctors back “open market” insurance exchanges

The American Medical Association added pressure on U.S. states to steer toward the system that opens doors to all insurers who meet minimum standards…    

Catholic bishops to expand post-abortion counseling

U.S. Catholic bishops plan to expand efforts to provide professional and spiritual counseling to women who have had abortions and to their families.

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Blood disorders are a public health issue

Public health should focus not only on reducing the burden of common diseases but also address the needs of people with blood disorders ,…    

Prenatal Quality Initiative Improves Patient Safety

A new study published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality reveals that a multifaceted quality initiative can significantly reduce adverse obstetric outcomes, thereby improving…    

New Australia smoking law bans brand labels

Tough anti-smoking laws banning brand labels passed their last major legislative hurdle in Australia on Thursday and immediately faced the threat of court action…    

Clean indoor air laws encourage bans on smoking at home

Second hand smoke exposure among nonsmokers has declined over time as clean indoor air laws have been adopted. However, there has been concern that…    

Judge blocks graphic cigarette warnings

A federal judge blocked a rule requiring tobacco companies to display graphic images on cigarette packs, such as a man exhaling cigarette smoke through…