Two separate studies have linked Mediterranean diet to a lower risk of heart disease in women and prostate cancer in men.
Researchers from Simmons College in Boston found that women whose diets most closely resembled the Mediterranean diet were 29 percent less likely to suffer from heart disease, and 13 percent less likely to have a stroke compared with those whose diets least resembled it.
This type of diet is includes monounsaturated fats, vegetables, Read the rest of this entry »

SANTA CRUZ — Carol Fuller was approaching 65 and in fine health.
The longtime Santa Cruz resident and former business owner had little reason to visit the doctor in previous years and relied mostly on annual visits to the gynecologist to catch anything wrong.
Just before her 65th birthday, Fuller was surprised to discover that in leaving her private medical insurance provider and becoming a Medicare recipient, she would need to find a primary Read the rest of this entry »

Studies emphasize the important role played by physical activity in public health efforts to combat obesity and diseases. Frequent and regular physical activity boosts the immune system, helps prevent diseases, improves mental health and helps prevent depression. It may help decrease the effects of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has become a major reason of concern, as most of the obese children are more likely to develop obesity-related diseases. Read the rest of this entry »

When the snow falls and the temperature drops each winter, the instinct to stay inside where it’s warm and snack on potato chips instead of heading outdoors and getting some exercise can overtake even the most physically active of us.
Then comes the weight gain.
But hope doesn’t have to be entirely lost — there are several exercise options available, both outdoors and indoors, to help get you back on track to meeting your fitness goals.
Read the rest of this entry »

Question: So here I am, quite frankly disgusted at my failed attempts at New Year’s Resolutions of losing weight. I desperately need to lose at least 30 pounds and every time I try, I end up quitting. What do I do this year to make it different than the last?
Answer: It can feel so defeating to have tried to lose weight and not accomplished your goal. But take heart — most people fail before succeeding. It takes trial and error to find a workout Read the rest of this entry »

Health insurers set rates so late in year, companies find budgeting hard
Every year at this time, Chuck Fried is faced with a dilemma.
The owner of technology firm TxMQ in Amherst must prepare a budget for the next year and get employees to enroll for health coverage. His wife has the same task with her adoption agency, Adoption STAR.
The problem: They usually don’t know how much the health insurance will cost, because the insurers Read the rest of this entry »

10:55 a.m. — A medical study group needs volunteers to help find the genetic causes of diabetes and kidney disease.
The National Institute of Health and the Micronesian Institute of Prevention and Research hope to test 70,000 Pacific Islanders and Filipinos in the next two years.
Research Coordinator Tanisha Franquez said the study is intended to better understand why the conditions are so prevalent in the Pacific.
“We are looking for the particular Read the rest of this entry »

A woman claims she awoke from sedation to find a hospital employee fondling her Thursday night at Weiss Memorial Hospital.
The woman, believed to be in her 50s, told police she was assaulted by an employee of Weiss Memorial Hospital about 6:45 p.m., police said. The woman claims the assault happened while she was an emergency room patient.
A Town Hall District officer said the woman was sedated, and when she awoke, a male employee was fondling Read the rest of this entry »

A former soldier from Glasgow who was jailed for six-and-a-half years over a plot to sell Army explosives is facing more prison time over drugs charges.
Police found more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition and 2kg of heroin when they raided Andrew Quinn’s flat in Dennistoun last December.
The 26-year-old was later jailed with three others over the munitions plot.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Quinn admitted being caught with heroin. Sentence was Read the rest of this entry »

Finding a doctor can be tough these days, and it’s going to be getting even harder if the
practicing altogether is any indication. Here’s advice gleaned from doctors around the country on how to work the system and find medical care when you need it:
1. Call your local hospitals. They often have free physician-referral services, and can tell you which doctors who have privileges there are taking new patients.
2. Work your way through your insurer’s Read the rest of this entry »