Month: March 2013

Much as we hate to admit it, we’re covered in germs.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Applying for benefits under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul could be as daunting as doing your taxes.

New York City mayor calls judge’s ruling a “temporary setback” in fighting obesity epidemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly every woman takes a medication at some point during pregnancy. Yet there's disturbingly little easy-to-understand information about which drugs pose a risk to her baby, and what to do about it.

By Richard Cowan and David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A 10-year, $4.6 trillion balanced budget proposal unveiled by Republicans on Tuesday could either be shelved within weeks or help jump-start negotiations with President Barack Obama toward a major deficit-reduction deal. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's plan – his latest version of the "Path to Prosperity" measure that has been rejected by Democrats previously – likely will be approved this month by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. …

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — In a story March 10 about Sierra Leone charging 29 people with fraud, The Associated Press erroneously identified the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s vaccine program. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, or GAVI, is a recipient of Gates Foundation money, but it also receives funds from other sources including the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Bank.

By Kathryn Doyle NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – For pregnant women, supplements of an omega-3 fatty acid called Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may help to reduce the likelihood of giving birth very prematurely, according to a new study. The results add to evidence that omega-3 fatty acid supplements make pregnancy last a little longer, which means more development time for babies before birth, less hospital time after birth and a better long-term health outlook. That’s important for women in the U.S. …

Join Yahoo! News this Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. ET for a conversation with Beth Fouhy, Yahoo News senior editor for politics and national news; Holly Bailey and Dylan Stableford, Yahoo News reporters; and John Metcalfe, reporter at The Atlantic Cities, as we discuss Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s effort to ban large sugary drinks and how far government should go to push people to protect their health.

A survey of experts says that U.S. healthcare facilities aren’t gaining ground in controlling the spread of the bacterium known as Clostridium difficile (C. diff). This is despite increased efforts to stop the superbug.

Sleep patterns and markers in spinal fluid may hint at the first signs of the neurodegenerative disorder.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Diners will have to wait a little longer to find calorie counts on most restaurant chain menus, in supermarkets and on vending machines.