Online Features
Health & Wellness
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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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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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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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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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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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Healthy summer skin: tips for every age
(BPT) - As people show more skin with the summer season, it is important to get into a skincare routine that fits your lifestyle. Extended time in the sun can result in unwanted wrinkles, blemishes and sagging skin, not to mention more serious consequences – melanomas, scarring and skin cancer. Current estimates show t...
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For chronic hepatitis C patients and their doctors, treatment discussions shouldn't wait
(BPT) - For the estimated 3.2 million Americans living with chronic hepatitis C, talking to a physician about treatment options for the disease now is an important first step. Untreated chronic hepatitis C may lead to serious health consequences, including cirrhosis - or permanent scarring of the liver - liver failure and liver cancer. Following a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C, a patient should ask their physician whether the liver is already damaged and whether they should begin treatme...
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New initiative celebrates unsung heroes of severe allergy awareness
(BPT) - Individuals at risk for anaphylaxis – a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction – know the importance of having people around them who can help with allergen avoidance, such as bringing allergy-friendly food options to the company party or helping to shield from bees on the playground. Now, there is a new way to say “thank you” to the teacher, relative or co-worker who has made a difference in the life of an individual at risk for anaphylaxis. Sanofi US has launched a Severe Aller...
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Baby boomers and age-related eye disease
(BPT) - As the population continues to age at an unprecedented rate, the concern about age-related eye disease comes more into focus. According to the US Census Bureau, the population of adults over age 65 is expected to double by 2025, and the American Optometric Association (AOA) reports that the incidence of Age-R...
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COPD and women [Infographic]
Results of a recent survey administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that women currently diagnosed with COPD outnumber men by almost two to one. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a serious lung disease, is the third leading cause of death in the United States and affects an estimated 24 million Americans – yet only half of them are diagnosed.  National Women’s Health Week is May 12 through 18 – learn more about how early diagnosis and treatment can im...
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Improving family connections with better hearing
(BPT) - Does this sound familiar? You tell your spouse all about the aggravating thing that happened at work today. He or she seems to be nodding in agreement, until you ask what you should do about the situation. Your spouse’s response? “Um – could you repeat that?” Beyond the emotional impact hearing loss has on you,...
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Simple ways to reduce excess sugar in your diet this summer
(BPT) - Warm weather offers many sweet delights, from trips to the beach and more free time, to seasonal foods and soirees with family and friends. Unfortunately, many of the foods we commonly associate with spring and summer are high in added sugars. Hidden sugar in summer foods can make it a challenge to regulate calo...
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national news

Jodi Arias listens as the verdict for sentencing is read for her first degree murder conviction at Maricopa County Superior Court in PhoenixBy David Schwartz PHOENIX (Reuters) - The foreman of an Arizona jury that deadlocked over whether Jodi Arias should be put to death for murdering her ex-boyfriend believes she was mentally abused, but said on Friday that had not been enough to excuse her crime. Arias, a former waitress from California, was found guilty this month of murdering Travis Alexander, whose body was found slumped in the shower of his Phoenix-area home in June 2008. He had been stabbed 27 times, had his throat slashed and been shot in the face. ...


Fri May 24 16:47:37 UTC 2013

Evanston police officer holds a firearm that was turned in as part of an amnesty-based gun buyback program in Evanston, IllinoisBy Joanne von Alroth SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives on Friday voted overwhelmingly to allow residents to carry concealed guns, taking the state one step closer to joining all others in allowing some form of carrying guns in public. Illinois is the only state in the nation to ban most people from carrying a concealed gun outside the home. Lawmakers acted on Friday after a federal appeals court in January struck down the ban, saying it violated the right to bear arms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. ...


Fri May 24 16:13:13 UTC 2013

I-5 Bridge Collapses On Skagit River In WashingtonBy Elaine Porterfield MOUNT VERNON, Washington (Reuters) - A bridge collapse that sent cars and drivers plunging into the frigid Skagit River in Washington state, raising concerns about the safety of the nation's aging infrastructure, was caused when a truck crashed into at least one girder, officials said on Friday. The truck, after the accident, rumbled across the bridge safely before a portion of the structure collapsed, sending two vehicles and a mass of concrete and steel into the river on Thursday evening. Three people had to be rescued, officials said. ...


Fri May 24 18:36:22 UTC 2013
From William Ray Fullmer: "My nephew, Sgt. Derek Tillman Roberts, spilled his blood on the sands of Iraq to extend the right to live free to the people of the Middle East. On June 14, 2007, Derek was killed by a roadside bomb in Kirkuk, placed by those too cowardly to face him on the [...]
Fri May 24 13:55:25 UTC 2013