Copyright 2009
News Generation, Inc.

Thousands of Florida families can access health insurance under a new law that went into effect this week. Lawmakers worked with children's advocates and state leaders to increase access to Florida KidCare, the insurance program for children under the age of 19. A new streamlined application process removes barriers that made it difficult for families to enroll.

With healthcare a hot topic in Washington, most support reforms that would reduce costs and expand coverage. While some have proposed creating a new government-run health plan, many experts have concluded that a government plan is unnecessary.

More than forty child patients treated at children's hospitals and their families are in Washington, DC this week to ask Congress to pass health reform legislation.

The key players involved in the health reform debate include some of the nation's heaviest hitters, from senior members of Congress, to insurance company giants, to Washington's top lobbyists.

Approximately four million Californians smoke, and each year 37,000 die from a tobacco-related disease.

A new report shows that health reform proposals currently being explored by lawmakers could save small business owners 855 billion dollars over the next ten years. Employers could apply these savings to preserving jobs, increasing wages and reinvesting in their companies.

A study being released at the of Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago from May 30 to June 4 shows that patients with private insurance have the best outcomes from gastric bypass surgery, and investigators said this is all the more reason to develop protocol to ensure that patients with public insurance are equally successful with the procedure.

Deep sedation during colonoscopy may result in greater detection of polyps, which could save more lives from colorectal cancer, according to a study released at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago. Colorectal cancer is survivable when found at the earliest, most treatable stages.

If you enjoy singing with your neighbors, congregation or classmates, you're taking an increasingly popular path to a successful life. According to a new study by Chorus America, an estimated 32.5 million adults regularly sing in choruses today, up from 23.5 million estimated in 2003.

A study released at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago suggests that patients with inflammatory bowel disease who require frequent hospitalization and medication often suffer from weakened immune systems, possibly making them more susceptible to Staph and other hospital-acquired infections.

A study being released at the of Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago from May 30 to June 4 is the first to show that there is a strong role for environmental pollutants in the prevalence of liver disease among the general U.S. population of adults building upon previous research demonstrating the link with liver disease in workers with frequent chemical exposure.

Designed for busy people good intentions but with little time to cook, Quick & Healthy Volume II, 2nd offers delicious, quick-to- prepare, low-fat recipes with lots of tips that make healthy eating easier than ever. With more people wanting to eat at home to save money, the convenient menus and grocery lists help them to get organized.

A recent study found that one in three cancers may be preventable. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is critical to the fight against cancer.

Eye injuries are a leading cause of blindness in children. Most eye injuries among kids aged 11 to 14 occur while playing sports. Each year in the United States, more than 100,000 eye injuries are estimated to be sports-related. More than 42,000 of these sports-related eye injuries require a visit to an emergency room.

The Cleveland Ohio Health Department reports that a 6 or 7-year-old girl died from E. coli O157:H7 last weekend and that the death has caused a meat recall in Ohio. But what is the E. coli bacteria and how can you find out if you have been infected?

One way to honor veterans this Memorial Day is to ensure they receive the health care they were promised.

Foodborne illness outbreaks have been regular features on the nightly news and are top of mind when consumers think of food and health issues, but new research shows fewer people are taking basic precautions that could potentially reduce their risk.

There is a significant knowledge gap related to the way consumers view calories and weight management. When asked about the relationship between the source of calories and weight gain, only 30 percent of Americans correctly identify that "calories in general are most likely to cause weight gain."

Nearly 90 percent of America's family doctors surveyed said their patients expressed concerns recently about their ability to pay for health care needs, according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure annual cycling event is not only challenging local cyclists to raise money for diabetes but is welcoming two of the nation's professional cycling teams, Team Type 1 and Team Type 2. The teams will join more than 40,000 other cyclists and volunteers at sites throughout the country.

HIV is now, HIV is here, and HIV is real. More than one million Americans are living with HIV and AIDS. Recent data show 48 percent of new HIV infections in the U.S. are among African Americans. Hispanics, represent 17 percent of HIV diagnoses. Gay men from all racial and ethnic groups account for 53 percent of HIV and AIDS diagnoses. These numbers show a critical need for tools to prevent HIV, including a vaccine.

On Monday, May 11, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health will release a report on gender-based differences in mental health.

People may not realize that even with insurance, children receive only 68 percent of recommended care for acute medical problems, 53 percent of recommended care for chronic medical conditions, and 41 percent of recommended preventive care. Children with asthma receive only 46 percent of the care they need.

As the U.S. economy continues to decline, a new survey shows the nation's 44 million family caregivers are struggling to provide care for an adult loved one with chronic illness or disabilities and are realizing their own well-being is at risk.

A new education campaign provides people with the tools they need to deal with stressful times, and is being launched for Mental Health Month in May.

The added stress of tough economic times can take a toll on employees, contributing to increased anxiety, fatigue and health problems. But workplace wellness programs that incorporate even moderate physical activity like walking into the workday can help.

Hundreds of emergency physicians from across the country are converging in the nation's capital this week to advocate on behalf of emergency patients. They are asking Congress to pass the Access to Emergency Medical Services Act and to provide resources for emergency patients as part of health care reform.

For people with diabetes, medical emergencies can be life threatening. Hypoglycemia (low-blood glucose) can start with feeling shaky and uncomfortable, but it can end with seizures or a coma if left untreated.

Hundreds of emergency physicians are converging in the nation's capital this week to advocate on behalf of emergency patient just as a new study reports that the U.S. has too few emergency physicians to treat the growing number of people who visit emergency departments each year.

The medical helicopter industry has come under great public scrutiny recently - particularly regarding safety and appropriate usage concerns. In addition, questions related to foreign-travel access and evacuation-insurance coverage have been prompted by the tragic death of award-winning actress Natasha Richardson from a traumatic brain injury after a fall on a Canadian ski slope.

CHADD, the nation's largest family-based organization advocating for people with AD/HD, has announced that it will host a one day seminar entitled "Ages & Stages of Learning and AD/HD," at the Baltimore Hilton on Saturday, May 9.

Seventy percent of U.S. smokers report that they want to quit, but one in five say they've never talked to a health care provider about their smoking according to a national survey from the American Legacy Foundation.

This Easter or Passover, consider purchasing organic or locally grown meat and eggs from "smart pasture operations" because U.S.D.A.. certified organic animals are not fed antibiotics.

According to the Colorado Department of Health and the Enviroment, more than 9,000 people die from heart disease and stroke every year in Colorado. That's more than one life lost every hour.

Nearly one-third of Americans over 40 have a vision problem. Further, eleven million adults vision problems are uncorrected. It's important for people to realize that permanent vision loss is not a normal part of aging.

Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 24 million children and adults in the U.S. It is named the "silent killer" because nearly one-fourth of those with the disease - 5.7 million - do not know they have it, and for many, diagnosis may come seven to ten years after the onset of the disease.

Since the last significant health reform discussion ended without action in 1994, more people are going without health insurance, while insurance costs have outpaced incomes eight-fold, according to a new analysis of government data released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

According to government statistics, one in five African-Americans is uninsured and the number is expected to significantly increase as the economy worsens. To draw attention to this problem and highlight the need for health care reform, events are being held nationwide as part of Cover the Uninsured Week.

Nearly 240,000 patient admissions were studied in the first in-depth study of patient sharing, finding that hospitals share large numbers of patients with other acute care facilities without knowing it. This high underestimation of patient sharing has important implications for handling the potential spread of infectious disease among acute care facilities.

46 million Americans living without health insurance can find public and private resources, like Pfizer Helpful Answers, to help them pay for medicine.

Nearly 30 million Americans, or one in 9 adults, have kidney disease, and another 20 million are at risk. In conjunction with World Kidney Day and current health reform discussions in Washington, experts are calling for a stronger focus on prevention and increased federal funding for kidney research.

The world is mourning the loss of Father Joseph C. Martin, a noted authority on addiction treatment credited with saving thousands of lives around the world. With love and compassion, Father Martin reached grassroots America through his widely popular "Chalk Talk on Alcohol" lectures and videos, which touched on the inner struggles of alcoholism.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for people with diabetes. In fact, adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.

To advance the science and progress of integrative medicine in the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will convene the "Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public," February 25-27 in Washington, D.C.

The nation's recession and mounting job losses are playing out first in emergency departments, where the newly uninsured are turning for care. This economic reality is hastening a call to action from Senate and House sponsors of the Access to Emergency Medical Services Act.

The nonpartisan Institute of Medicine released a new report in Washington, D.C. demonstrating that evidence on the consequences of not having heath insurance is stronger than ever. The report was compiled by the IOM Committee on Health Insurance Status and Its Consequences.

Hunger is the most devastating, widespread global epidemic, impacting nearly one billion people, many of them children. Calling on the new administration and Congress, a broad-based coalition of aid, advocacy and religious organizations has developed a comprehensive U.S. plan to end global hunger.

This March, Texas Oncology is inviting Texans to kick colorectal cancer by educating family and friends about the importance of cancer screenings and early detection to protect their health.

A fitness expert, and a person who actually has diabetes, Jaynie F. Higgins solves meal-planning problems with her new kitchen-counter resource The Ultimate Diabetes Meal Planner. Published by the American Diabetes Association, the book offers personalized meal plans to fit four different calorie levels, so the family can cook a delicious meal that satisfies everyone and meets the nutritional needs of those with diabetes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the total number of Americans living with HIV is over one million people. Despite advances in medical care and treatment, the number of HIV infections in America has continued to grow, particularly among African Americans.

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President Obama's first budget provides an opportunity to get the process of health care reform moving and invest in programs such as health information technology that are fundamental for reform. That's why the nation's 39 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, which provide health insurance for 102 million Americans, back proposals that would mandate insurers cover all Americans regardless of their preexisting illnesses.

Despite an ailing economy, a new report shows that several states nevertheless enacted innovative health reforms over the past year. These state reforms might hold useful lessons for lawmakers in Washington who are now talking about working to make good on campaign promises about health reform.

Researchers are conducting studies on an experimental medication to block nerve damage and inflammation in the brain that can lead to progressive memory loss and behavioral changes in people with Alzheimer's disease.

California's biomedical industry created approximately 3,400 new jobs and generated a 2.3 percent increase in revenue over a one-year period, according to a report released by the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Two out of three Canadians are not aware of peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.), yet it impacts as many as 800,000 Canadians, according to a study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

Reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, also known as SCHIP represents a promising start to ensuring all children in our country have the health care they need and deserve.

The sixth annual National Body Challenge begins tonight on Discovery Health with all of the tools to help Americans ditch their bad habits and gain a healthier lifestyle in 2009.

The fluctuations in the stock market are literally enough to make some Texans sick. As a result, many Texans have less money in their pocketbooks to pay their monthly bills or spend on their health.

As reports about the extent of the recession in the U.S. are being released, a new poll from the American Psychological Association finds more than eight out of ten people anticipate a stressful holiday season, with the economic crisis impacting women and families most.

A decade-long study among identical twins with and without combat experience has provided new information on brain abnormalities found in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine gives the United States a mediocre grade of C- for its lack of support for emergency patients.

Discovery Health redefines what it means to be fit with COULD YOU SURVIVE? a new series that asks the average American one crucial question: do you have the strength, endurance and agility to survive in an emergency situation?

Each winter, people are exposed to seasonal safety hazards. Whether it's holiday plants or getting that tree, the holidays can pose some unforeseen risks. The cold weather poses risks as well, including dangers like frostbite and carbon monoxide poisoning with nearly 5,000 people in the United States treated in hospital emergency rooms each year.

As the new administration begins to set priorities for their first year in office, the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will convene a national town hall meeting, Proposals to Policy: A National Conversation on Health Care Reform on Thursday, November 20, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is promoting lifestyle intervention for adults at risk for developing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Select medical facilities around the United States have been recognized for providing better quality care resulting in better value, when compared with other facilities. These Blue Distinction Centers have a designation offering a credible, easily identifiable means of selecting facilities that best meet patients' healthcare needs.

This year's enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug program begins November 15th. . During this time, seniors who aren't enrolled can sign up for the program, and those already enrolled can re-evaluate their plan and make changes, if necessary. Eligibility statistics for DE, FL, GA, NJ, NY, PA, TN, and VA.

Medical students and physicians trained on chest compressions as part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while listening to the pop song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees maintained close to the ideal rhythm of 100 compressions per minute, even weeks after completing their training.

Millennial voters' between 18 and 28 demonstrate that while they are strong supporters of broad reform ideas, there is limited acceptance of the potential consequences of greater governmental control over health care.

Nearly 10.5 million cases of seven common chronic diseases were reported in New York in 2003. Chronic diseases account for seven in ten U.S. deaths and 75 cents of every health care dollar spent, costing the U.S. economy trillions of dollars annually, which is why the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is sponsoring the presidential debates.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. The disease kills more than 120,000 Americans each year - that's one death every four minutes - and causes serious, long-term disability.

Coming to the aid of America's endangered health care system, and taking on an increasing role in improving healthcare, is the Physician Assistant (PA).

A new report released by The Vision Council demonstrates that companies offering vision insurance can benefit in a big way. Annually, vision impairments and blindness costs employers more than $8 billion in lost employee productivity. In fact, studies show that employers gain as much as $7 for every $1 spent on vision coverage.

The southeast has some of the highest rates of chronic disease in the country, which is why the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is sponsoring the Belmont Presidential Debate. Chronic diseases account for seven in ten deaths in the U.S. and 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care, costing the U.S. economy trillions of dollars annually.