Catholic groups ask U.S. Supreme Court to block contraception coverage

By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Roman Catholic Church-affiliated organizations on Tuesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block implementation of a part of the Obamacare healthcare law that requires employers to provide insurance policies that cover contraception. Catholic University of America and nonprofits in Michigan and Tennessee were among those filing three separate applications asking the court to temporarily exempt them from the so-called contraception mandate while litigation continues. The mandate, which is due to take effect for the organizations on January 1, is already in place for many women who have private health insurance. The court did not immediately respond to the applications.

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Firm in Virginia governor's supplement scandal gets FDA warning

By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The company at the heart of a scandal involving the Virginia governor's promotion of one of its dietary supplement products, has received a warning from the Food and Drug Administration, the agency said on Tuesday. The FDA sent a letter to Star Scientific Inc on December 20, saying it was making claims on its website about the supplement, Anatabloc, that would require its approval as a drug, the FDA said on its website. Star Scientific has been at the center of a scandal involving Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell, a Republican whose term ends next month. Federal authorities are investigating the relationship between McDonnell and Star Scientific founder and former Chief Executive Jonnie Williams Sr, who sought state help promoting Anatabloc. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Daily High-Dose Vitamin E Might Delay Alzheimer's

Although study showed a small effect, experts note the nutrient doesn't attack underlying cause via Resurrection Health Care - Daily News More READ

West Nile virus blamed for death of eagles in Utah

An unusual wintertime outbreak of West Nile virus has killed more than two dozen bald eagles in Utah and thousands of shore birds around the Great Salt Lake, state wildlife officials said on Tuesday. At least 27 bald eagles have died this month in the northern and central parts of Utah from the blood-borne virus, and state biologists reported that five more ailing eagles were responding to treatment at rehabilitation centers. The eagles are believed to have contracted the disease by preying on sick or dead shore birds called eared grebes that were infected by West Nile virus, said Leslie McFarlane, Utah wildlife disease coordinator. The water birds have died by the thousands in and around the Great Salt Lake since November.

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Teen eating disorders may impact weight later: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Young teens who binge eat and those who are fearful of weight gain may be more likely to become overweight later in adolescence, according to a new study from the United Kingdom.

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Teen eating disorders may impact weight later: study

By Kathleen Raven NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Young teens who binge eat and those who are fearful of weight gain may be more likely to become overweight later in adolescence, according to a new study from the United Kingdom. Researchers looked for early symptoms of eating disorders among more than 7,000 13-year-olds and found certain symptoms predicted which children would have weight problems at age 15. Both boys and girls who severely restricted their eating at 13 had lower BMIs when they were two years older. "The most important message is that even at this young age, a high percentage of boys and girls have worrying eating disorders symptoms," Dr. Nadia Micali told Reuters Health in an email. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Vitamin E may slow Alzheimer's disease progression

Researchers say vitamin E might slow the progression of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease — the first time any treatment has been shown to alter the course of dementia at that stage.

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Judge strikes down Florida law mandating drug tests for welfare

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday struck down a Florida law requiring drug screening for welfare recipients, saying that it violated the constitutional protection against unreasonable searches. Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican who campaigned on a promise to expand drug testing, said he would appeal the ruling. The law took effect in July 2011 and required parents to undergo and pay for urine tests for illegal drugs when they applied for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federal-state program that helps poor people with children pay for food, shelter and necessities. Enforcement of the law was temporarily halted in October 2011 after the American Civil Liberties Union sued, arguing that mandatory testing of people who were not suspected of using drugs violated the constitutional prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Vitamin E may slow early Alzheimer's decline: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Taking vitamin E during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease slowed declines in patients' ability to perform basic tasks by about six months in a new study.

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Vitamin E may slow early Alzheimer's decline: study

By Andrew M. Seaman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Taking vitamin E during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease slowed declines in patients' ability to perform basic tasks by about six months in a new study. "It will be very interesting to see to what extent this will change practice," Dr. Maurice Dysken said. Researchers have studied vitamin E for possible benefits in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's, but those studies have yielded mixed results. For example, the researchers write in JAMA, past research has found the vitamin slowed disease progression in people with moderately severe Alzheimer's. But the vitamin was not effective at slowing the transition to Alzheimer's for people with so-called mild cognitive impairment, which typically precedes Alzheimer's. To see whether vitamin E - or a combination of the vitamin with memantine, a drug approved in the U.S. to treat Alzheimer's - would slow the rate of decline in people with mild to moderate forms of the disease, the researchers recruited 613 trial participants from 14 Veterans Affairs medical centers. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

5 ways to cook healthier in 2014

If you’re resolving to eat healthier this year, consider starting in the kitchen. Mastering a few easy cooking skills can do wonders for your health and your waistline. Here are a few simple tips to get you started:

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27 Clever New Ways To Use Your Kitchen Appliances

You can definitely teach an old gadget new tricks.

Make easy ice cream in your food processor.

Just freeze the base in an ice cube tray, then blend into creamy perfection. Get the full explanation and recipe here.

sweets.seriouseats.com / Via firstwefeast.com

A processor is also the fastest, best way to make homemade pizza dough.

Seriously, better than hand-kneaded. Get the explanation and a recipe here.

slice.seriouseats.com

Use your waffle iron to make extra-crispy hash browns.

Triple the crannies! Get the recipe here.

teaandcookiesblog.com / Via firstwefeast.com

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Antioxidants in diet linked to cataract risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who eat foods rich in antioxidants may have a lower risk of cataracts as they age, according to a new Swedish analysis.

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Antioxidants in diet linked to cataract risk

By Kathryin Doyle NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who eat foods rich in antioxidants may have a lower risk of cataracts as they age, according to a new Swedish analysis. "Oxidative damage of the eye lens caused by free radicals has been suggested to be crucial in development of cataract," said Susanne Rautiainen of the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet, who led the study. "Previous studies have focused on individual antioxidants obtained from the diet or supplements and they have reported inconsistent results," Rautiainen said. "However, in diet much wider ranges of antioxidants are present than those studied previously." Instead of looking at single antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and plant flavonoids such as lycopene, the researchers used a measure of total antioxidant values in foods, which takes into account how the nutrients work together. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Smell Delight Or Disgust Lies In Genes

A floral odor was described by people with one version of a gene as aromatic, but by those with a different variation as sour. Chris Crockett reports. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Schumacher battles for life after ski fall

By Morade Azzouz GRENOBLE, France (Reuters) - Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was fighting for his life on Monday after suffering severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel, doctors said. "We can say that his condition is life-threatening," Jean-Francois Payen, head anaesthetician at the CHU hospital in the eastern French city of Grenoble, told a news conference. "For the moment we cannot say what Michael Schumacher's future is," he added. Philippe Quincy, the Albertville public prosecutor, told Reuters an inquiry had been launched on Sunday to identify the causes of the accident. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Schumacher fighting for his life after ski accident

Former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was battling for his life in hospital on Monday after a ski injury, doctors said, adding it was too early to say whether he would pull through. "We can say that his condition is life-threatening," Jean-Francois Payen, head anesthetician at the CHU hospital in the eastern French city of Grenoble told a news conference. "For the moment we cannot say what Michael Schumacher's future is," he added. Seven-times Formula One world champion Schumacher was admitted to hospital on Sunday suffering head injuries in an off-piste skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

City cycling may save the planet, but not your lungs: study

Urban cycling, while good for the environment, may pose a risk your health, a new Dublin study has found. Cycling in congested cities could do more harm than good to your heart and lungs, due to the breathing in of dangerous pollutants in the air, the study found. The study, led by Marguerite Nyhan of Trinity College, recruited 32 fit, healthy cyclers who opted for mostly traffic-free routes.

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Avoiding health insurance gaps takes persistence

CHICAGO (AP) — The deadline has passed, and so too the surprise grace period, for signing up for health insurance as part of the nation's health care law. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Life support extended for girl declared brain dead

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A California judge has ordered a 13-year-old girl declared brain dead to be kept on life support until Jan. 7. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Oklahoma doctor held for nine deaths linked to prescription drugs

(Reuters) - Texas police have arrested a former Oklahoma doctor on nine counts of homicide and 43 counts of illegal drug distribution for prescribing large doses of addictive medicines to patients he hardly knew in return for bribes, officials said on Monday. William Valuck, 71, was arrested on Friday in Kilgore, Texas and authorities in neighboring states were exchanging information about the case. "At least nine of his patients died from overdoses of the very same drugs he was prescribing in massive doses," the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics said in the affidavit filed in Oklahoma County. The doctor had been working out of an office in Oklahoma City and surrendered his license to practise medicine this month as authorities were closing in on him after a year-long investigation, Oklahoma authorities said. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Some current, former smokers should get annual lung scans: US panel

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Heavy smokers and former heavy smokers should get annual lung cancer screening tests, according to final guidelines issued on Monday by an influential U.S. panel.

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Walgreen offers month of prescriptions to backlogged Obamacare enrollees

(Reuters) - Walgreen Co said on Monday it will provide a month's supply of certain prescriptions at no upfront cost to U.S. participants who have not yet received a plan identification number under President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law. The offering comes as U.S. government officials struggle to roll out the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Walgreen, the largest drug store chain in the United States, said customers who have enrolled in Obamacare, but don't have an ID yet from an insurer, can bring proof of their enrollment from now through the end of January to a Walgreen's pharmacy. As soon as the customer receives the ID number, Walgreen will process the insurance claim and the customer at that time may be responsible for any co-pay, Walgreen spokeswoman Markeisha Marshall said.

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Numbers offer complicated story of health care law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government churns out tons of numbers, but here's one you won't see: 0.0002. That's the percentage of estimated online visitors to healthcare.gov who actually signed up for coverage the first day. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Family of girl on life support plans to sue

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The family of a 13-year-old California girl who was declared brain dead after a tonsillectomy says they will sue to keep her on life support. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..

Pay and Practice: Birth Control Cases Advance

(MedPage Today) -- The Supreme Court's consideration of the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage mandate may be several months away, but lower courts continue to hear various challenges. Pay and Practice is a blog for readers interested in health policy. via MedPageToday.com - medical news plus CME for physicians Read More Here..

California brain-dead girl nears deadline for ventilator

By Laila Kearney OAKLAND, Calif (Reuters) - Relatives of a 13-year-old California girl declared brain dead after complications from a tonsillectomy pressed an 11th-hour effort on Monday to get her moved to an extended-care facility as a deadline neared for taking her off a breathing machine. Doctors at Children's Hospital in Oakland have said they intend to disconnect Jahi McMath on Monday evening from a ventilator that has been keeping her heart and lungs going since she lost all brain function more than two weeks ago. An Alameda County Superior Court judge issued a restraining order last week barring the hospital from removing Jahi - without the consent of her family - from the ventilator before 5 p.m. local time on Monday, December 30. The judge then denied a petition from relatives to extend that deadline, after two pediatric neurologists who had examined Jahi affirmed the hospital's medical opinion that the girl was brain dead and beyond recovery.

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California brain-dead girl nears deadline for ventilator

OAKLAND, Calif (Reuters) - Relatives of a 13-year-old California girl declared brain dead after complications from a tonsillectomy pressed an 11th-hour effort on Monday to get her moved to an extended-care facility as a deadline neared for taking her off a breathing machine.

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Some current, former smokers should get annual lung scans: US panel

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Heavy smokers and former heavy smokers should get annual lung cancer screening tests, according to final guidelines issued on Monday by an influential U.S. panel.

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