Online Features
Health & Wellness
Age-related complications of iron overload in NTDT syndromes [Infographic]
Thalassemia, one of the world’s most common genetic diseases, affects red blood cell production, causing anemia. One group of thalassemias is called non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) syndromes, which predominantly affect people of South and Southeast Asian, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern origin. People who have NTDT are not symptomatic at birth, but symptoms begin to appear as early as age 10 and become increasingly common as people reach their 20s and 30s. Diagnosis of the disea...
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Healthy eating tips for a well-rounded diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is a popular new year’s resolution for many of us, but for the nearly 400,000 Americans with kidney failure, eating right is actually critical to well-being and survival. Without healthy kidneys, dialysis patients depend on regular treatments to remove waste products from their blood. And for...
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Why going gluten-free doesn't mean going grain-free
(BPT) - It’s impossible to stroll the aisles in your local supermarket without seeing package after package labeled “gluten-free.” But who really needs a gluten-free diet, and how can you still enjoy grains, even if you are eating gluten-free? Gluten is a protein found in just four grains: wheat, barley, rye and tritic...
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Who has time for sick days? Tips to fight the cold, cough and flu this year
(BPT) - People who have gotten sick report their cold and flu symptoms lasted up to six days, according to the Vicks Second Annual Global Cough and Cold Survey. While health experts advise sick workers to stay home to avoid spreading germs, few of us can afford to take that many sick days off from work or home life. Fo...
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Medicine cabinet makeover tips for people with high blood pressure
(BPT) - If you’re among the 68 million Americans who have high blood pressure, you may feel that taking your medicine, getting plenty of exercise and eating a healthy diet means you’re doing everything you can to manage your condition. But with cold season in full swing and many areas of the country recording record num...
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Frequent spring allergy questions answered
(BPT) - Spring is in the air – and that means pollen, mold spores and other airborne allergens are going to bring on sneezing and wheezing for an estimated 40 to 50 million Americans. The spring season can be especially bothersome with so much conflicting information on how to find relief. To help you better understand...
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Survival tips for every Alzheimer's disease family caregiver
Every 68 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. Approximately 5.4 million Americans currently have the disease, and nearly 15 million others are providing care. Often the equivalent of a full-time job, 80 percent of at-home care for people with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is provided by unpaid family caregivers. With the rise in the older population, many Americans may find themselves in the role of caregiver for a friend or family member with Alzhei...
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To comfort a cold or flu, home remedies make a world of difference
(BPT) - For generations, families have passed down home-spun remedies that can help loved ones feel that even during those sniffles and sneezes, they’re cared for. Having a bowl of grandma’s famous soup or your aunt’s special healing concoction can help your body heal and set your mind at ease. Recently, a group of Lati...
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The truth about losing weight: Separating facts from fiction (and magic pills)
(BPT) - Losing weight can dramatically improve your emotional and physical health, but it’s often a slow process. Millions of American adults use dietary supplements to lose weight, choosing a range of products that claim to decrease appetite, block fat absorption or increase metabolism. But with hundreds of products ...
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Keep your office healthy to prevent a flu outbreak
(BPT) - A flu outbreak in your workforce can cause problems in several different areas of your business. The best flu prevention is encouraging and educating workers on how to be proactive at fending off the flu virus. By making sure your employees do the best they can to stay in good health and flu free, you can keep y...
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Diabetic nerve pain is different than a muscle ache or sprained ankle
(BPT) - The prevalence of diabetes continues to increase significantly, and is expected to affect 53.1 million Americans by 2025, an increase of 64 percent from 2010. One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a form of nerve damage. More than one in five people with diabet...
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Eye-opening facts and myths about eye health [Infographic]
If you live long enough, you will get a cataract. Cataracts can limit the ability to see bright colors, read and, most frighteningly, drive a car – especially at night. Although more than 20 million Americans 40 years and older have a cataract in one or both eyes, there is a surprising lack of knowledge about the condition among U.S. adults. In fact, a recent survey found that 22 percent of Americans did not think that they were at risk for developing cataracts in their lifetime, when in rea...
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national news
Lawmaker, university spar over 'control' of Chinese dissident in U.S.

Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng speaks to journalists following an appearance in New YorkBy Paul Eckert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. congressman who has been blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng's main champion in Washington said people working for New York University have tried to keep him from meeting Chen, barging into a meeting on Capitol Hill and pulling Chen out on one occasion. U.S. Representative Chris Smith, an outspoken supporter of Chinese dissidents since the 1980s, described repeated instances of various people he says were from NYU interfering in his attempts to meet with Chen. ...


2013-06-19 23:07:17 -0500
North Carolina governor signs law aimed at restarting executions

North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate, former Charlotte Mayor McCrory meets supporters during U.S. presidential election in CharlotteBy Colleen Jenkins WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) - North Carolina's governor, hoping to resume executions in his state, on Wednesday signed the repeal of a law that has allowed death row inmates to seek a reduced sentence if they could prove racial bias affected their punishment. The Racial Justice Act, the only law of its kind in the United States, had led to four inmates getting their sentences changed to life in prison without parole after taking effect in 2009. ...


2013-06-19 20:20:27 -0500
Stop force-feeding Guantanamo prisoners: Senator

A selection of lunch meals offered to detainees are displayed in a food preparation area at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo BayBy Jane Sutton GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein urged the Pentagon on Wednesday to stop force-feeding hunger-striking prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and called the practice "out of step" with medical ethics and international norms. Feinstein, a California Democrat who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, saying the Guantanamo force-feeding policy was also out of synch with policies in the civilian federal prisons. ...


2013-06-19 18:07:32 -0500
Lawyers for accused Colorado gunman barred from psychiatric exam

James Holmes sits in court for an advisement hearing at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in CentennialBy Keith Coffman DENVER (Reuters) - Lawyers for James Holmes, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to killing 12 moviegoers in a Colorado theater last year, cannot be present during his court-ordered psychiatric examination, the judge in the murder case ruled on Wednesday. Arapahoe County District judge Carlos Samour Jr. rejected a motion by Holmes' public defenders, who argued that they should be allowed to attend the exam - especially since prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against their client. ...


2013-06-20 00:06:51 -0500