Online Features
Health & Wellness
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Science fiction is now science fact: There's hope for aging eyes with macular degeneration
(BPT) - Imagine what it’s like to slowly lose your vision over time - until one day you no longer can read, see the faces of loved ones or participate in your favorite hobbies. While most people accept achy joints or muscle weakness as part of the aging process, eyesight is a critical factor in maintaining a high qualit...
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Help your pet shed unhealthy weight
(BPT) - Are you killing your pet with kindness? We’re not talking about the compassion that motivates us to vaccinate our pets, or keep them warm in cold weather. Kindness that can be harmful to pets comes in the form of an overabundance of food and treats. The all-too-common result is a pet that becomes overweight or e...
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Facts matter when your health is at stake
(BPT) - Learning that you have a disease or medical condition can be overwhelming. You need to learn more about your condition. You may get advice from all directions – from well-meaning friends and family, the Internet, magazines, newspapers and television. But in the end, you want to understand your treatment options ...
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How your diet can help save your vision [Infographic]
Research shows that nutrition plays a critical role in maintaining the health of our eyes. Therefore, the American Optometric Association (AOA) reminds Americans that caring for eyes includes looking carefully at what you eat. According to the AOA’s American Eye-Q(R) survey, which assesses public knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues related to eye and visual health, only 30 percent of Americans indicate they incorporate specific foods or supplements into their diet to help ...
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Make laundry safety a priority this summer - and always
(BPT) - Sunnier skies and summertime fun are just around the corner, and with them comes plenty of outdoor activities like long days at the playground, sporting events and barbecues. With so many options, the last thing most people want to think about is household responsibilities … but all that outdoor fun can add up t...
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Bone and joint pain in America [Infographic]
Bone and joint health problems cause American workers to miss 440 million days of work and were the leading cause of disability claims in 2010. Fight for your mobility by visiting ANationInMotion.org .  
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Boomers turning 65 face complex healthcare choices
(BPT) - Every day, about 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. Not everyone will sign up, but it’s important to understand the importance of early choices when enrolling in Medicare for the first time. You can enroll in Medicare three months before turning 65, the month you turn 65 or up to thre...
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Hepatitis C a top health concern for baby boomers [Infographic]
Did you know that Hepatitis C affects an estimated 3.2 million Americans, yet most don’t know they’re infected? Referred to as a "silent epidemic," Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease that causes serious health problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Hepatitis C can affect anyone, but baby boomers – individuals born from 1945 through 1965 – are five times more likely to be infected than other adults. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...
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Expert fitness tips for a healthy, effective summer slim-down
(BPT) - While children long for the lazy carefree days of summer, many adults view the season as a reason to be active and get healthy. Whether it's to look good for an upcoming beach vacation or simply to have the energy to enjoy the season to the fullest, setting health goals is a great first step. Sticking to those ...
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Four health checks every woman must do - for herself and those she loves
(BPT) - American women spend more time taking care of their families, homes and jobs than themselves. With so much time invested in caring for others, women can overlook the importance of their own health. Yet, neglecting their own health needs can make it much harder for women to also take care of those they love. Wom...
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Why a normal Pap test may not mean you are cancer-free
(BPT) - Many women know that getting a Pap test regularly from their health care provider is a good way to check for signs of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide. What they might not know is that a “normal” Pap result does not necessarily mean they are cancer-free. A recent study involving...
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Hearing aid technology takes a giant leap forward
(BPT) - It’s no secret that today’s hearing aids are light years ahead of the hearing aids made just a decade ago. In fact, in size, shape, and technological advances, the changes in hearing aids have been nothing short of amazing. For example, new micro-processor technology has allowed hearing aids to be so tiny, they ...
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national news
FBI says it uses surveillance drones on U.S. soil

Robert Mueller gestures at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing about the FBI on Capitol Hill in WashingtonBy David Ingram WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States uses drones for surveillance in some limited law enforcement situations, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday, sparking additional debate about President Barack Obama's use of domestic surveillance. The acknowledgement came in response to questions from U.S. senators who said they wanted to know more about the federal government's increasing use of unmanned aircraft. "Does the FBI use drones for surveillance on U.S. soil?" Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa asked during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. ...


2013-06-19 17:19:45 -0500
Murkowski becomes third Republican U.S. senator to back gay marriage

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits next to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski during the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in KirunaBy Yereth Rosen ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska publicly backed gay marriage on Wednesday, becoming the third Republican senator to do so as she spoke out ahead of potentially landmark rulings from the Supreme Court on the issue. Murkowski, 56, wrote in an essay posted on her Senate website that her decision was swayed, in part, by meeting a lesbian couple from Anchorage, one of whom was in the National Guard, who had adopted four children. "This first-class Alaskan family still lives a second-class existence," Murkowski said in her essay. ...


2013-06-19 15:59:11 -0500
Three U.S. Naval Academy football players charged with rape
By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S. Naval Academy football players have been charged with raping a female midshipman and making false statements, the school said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of sexual assault allegations in the U.S. military. The midshipmen will face an Article 32 proceeding, similar to a preliminary hearing in civilian law. The hearing will kick off a process similar to a grand jury to determine if a general court-martial is warranted. ...
2013-06-19 17:09:34 -0500
Baby-size burritos lead to unusual photos
America’s problem with portion size has sparked a strange new photo trend, one in which parents set their newborn babies alongside massive burritos on restaurant tabletops. According to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, a Mexican restaurant in Seattle, Wash., is saying that any diners who take photos of their babies next to one of the restaurant's [...]
2013-06-19 15:51:08 -0500