RALEIGH, N.C. —
State employees would have to stop smoking or lose weight if they want to receive more generous health benefits under a proposal presented to legislators Thursday.
The financial motivation for workers, retirees and their dependents to improve their health are contained in recommendations from North Carolina State Health Plan administrator Jack Walker to shore up the plan’s finances. The plan last year discontinued its wellness Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Grady Jackson, a defensive tackle with the Atlanta Falcons, said he used the weight-loss capsules. So did the Vikings’ Pat Williams and Kevin Williams. Kathie Lee Gifford was enthusiastic about them on the “Today” show. Retailers such as GNC and the Vitamin Shoppe sold them, no prescription required.
But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now says those weight-loss capsules, called StarCaps and promoted as natural dietary Read the rest of this entry »
December 28, 2008 12:15 am
Joi Harper had been working out at Champion Fitness for about four years, but it was an on-and-off kind of thing.
She says she knew she wasn’t consistent and was concerned about getting an injury as she grew older.
So, she chose certified trainer Kim Stephens to help her.
It made a difference.
“Definitely I pushed myself farther than before; she motivates me,” said Harper, 32. “One thing Read the rest of this entry »
Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
A $1 million federal grant is going to the Hormel Institute to study an herbal compound’s ability to help prevent prostate cancer.
The National Institutes of Health also is providing another $525,000 for supporting the costs related to the project, according to the Hormel Institute.
Junxuan “Johnny” Lu, a cancer biology professor at the Hormel Institute in Austin, will lead the five-year project to study an herbal Read the rest of this entry »
Alert on drugs, alcohol targets Orchard Park parents
Their attendance at lecture, video on dangers
Parents of Orchard Park Central High School students going to the prom will be required to attend a meeting on the consequences and dangers of drug and alcohol use and abuse.
“The mission is to keep kids safe,” Mary Wolf, a counselor at the high school, told School Board members Tuesday night. “Teens are less likely to use Read the rest of this entry »
OLYMPIA, Wash. —
State payments for disabled people who can’t work and plans to increase health coverage for kids will be among the spending cuts in Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget proposal, a senior state official has told The Associated Press.
The two cost-cutting moves are just part of Gregoire’s plans, and alone would not save enormous amounts of money, compared with a budget deficit that Gregoire has said could reach $6 billion.
But Read the rest of this entry »
Topical anesthetics, or skin numbing agents, are sold over the counter to treat minor burns, insect bites, poison ivy, and minor cuts. The creams and gels are now under advisory from the FDA. A statement released by the agency January 16 cautions consumers about the potential life threatening effects from improperly using the skin numbing anesthetics, and the warning targets women who use the products for special procedures, two of whom died.
The Read the rest of this entry »
ST. MARYS — New Year’s Day is right around the corner as are resolutions and Joint Township District Memorial Hospital has a way to help with those making fitness resolutions.
Wrapping up the 2008 Grand Lake Health Challenge, those at the Grand Lake Health System are announcing and sponsoring a new program.
The health challenge finished with a total of 5, 985 pounds being lost between 43 teams that finished and 321 participants Read the rest of this entry »
Health boards across Scotland are to be given tougher targets to tackle the Clostridium difficile (C.diff) bug, the health secretary has announced.
Nicola Sturgeon told the SNP conference in Perth that NHS boards must reduce the rate of the infection in hospitals by at least 30% by 2011.
She also said NHS bosses would be told they are to be barred from putting cleaning services out to contract.
Ms Sturgeon said tackling hospital infections was Read the rest of this entry »
TALLAHASSEE – The economy is in recession and the budget outlook is bleak. Could 2009 turn out to be state Rep. Ed Homan’s lucky year anyway?
The Tampa Republican is trying for a third year to force insurers to cover mental health treatment at the same level that they cover other health services. Florida law sets minimum requirements for mental health benefits, but does not require parity; as a result, insurers typically offer less coverage of those Read the rest of this entry »