DUD: The Nightmarish Dangers of Drowsy Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is known to increase the chances of causing an accident. For instance, marijuana can impair drivers' reaction time. But what about drowsiness? As many as a third of all fatal car crashes might involve fatigued drivers, according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.And a new study finds that driving while under the influence--of...

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Budget battles threaten to limit Obama's second-term agenda

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After a brutal "fiscal cliff" battle, President Barack Obama's looming budget confrontation with Congress threatens to sharply curtail his second-term agenda and limit his ambitions on priorities such as immigration reform and gun control.Obama has vowed to push ahead with other legislative priorities during the fiscal fight, but faces the likelihood that they will be elbowed...

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2012 was worst year for whooping cough since 1955

The nation just suffered its worst year for whooping cough in nearly six decades, according to preliminary government figures.Whooping cough ebbs and flows in multi-year cycles, and experts say 2012 appears to have reached a peak with 41,880 cases. Another factor: A vaccine used since the 90s doesn't last as long as the old one.The vaccine problem may continue to cause higher than normal case counts...

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Poll: Fight obesity crisis but keep the junk food

WASHINGTON (AP) — Everyone could use a little help keeping those New Year's resolutions to slim down. But if it means the government limiting junk food, the response is an overwhelming, "No."Americans call obesity a national health crisis and blame too much screen time and cheap fast food for fueling it. But a new poll finds people are split on how much the government should do to help — and most...

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Massachusetts governor seeks tighter rules on compounding pharmacies

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Friday proposed new state rules to more closely regulate the type of pharmacy at the heart of a U.S. meningitis outbreak that has killed 39 people.The proposed legislation would require special licenses for compounding pharmacies, allow the state Board of Pharmacy to fine companies that violate its rules and require out-of-state pharmacies...

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U.S. teen smoking declines to record low in 2012: study

Cigarette smoking among American teenagers dropped to a record low in 2012, a decline that may have been partly driven by a sharp hike in the federal tobacco tax, researchers said on Wednesday.An annual survey of about 45,000 students in the eighth, 10th and 12th grades found that the overall proportion of those saying they had smoked in the prior 30 days fell by just over a percentage point to 10.6...

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Truth About Santa Still Stings Adults

Emily Charlton, as a wide-eyed fourth grader, said she felt betrayed by her classmates on her elementary school playground during recess just before the holidays."It was a day or two before Christmas break so we were talking about what we had asked for and I remember saying at one point, 'Well I asked Santa for...' and everyone started laughing," said Charlton, now a 29-year-old waitress from San...

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Acortar las internaciones no significa peor atención: estudio EEUU

NUEVA YORK (Reuters Health) - Los hospitales de Asuntos delVeterano (AV) de Estados Unidos pudieron reducir la duración delas internaciones sin aumentar la cantidad de reingresos."A medida que los hospitales se volvieron más eficientes,creció la preocupación porque estuvieran dándole el alta apacientes más enfermos y más rápido", dijo el autor principal deun nuevo estudio, doctor Peter Kaboli, del...

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Cliff poses many risks to U.S. public sector, few severe: Moody's

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The "fiscal cliff" of impending federal spending cuts and tax increases set for the beginning of the year poses a wide variety of risks to the public sector, but many of the threats hanging over state and local governments are not severe or direct, Moody's Investors Service said on Thursday.President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders are in the middle of tough negotiations...

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AP IMPACT: Big Pharma cashes in on HGH abuse

A federal crackdown on illicit foreign supplies of human growth hormone has failed to stop rampant misuse, and instead has driven record sales of the drug by some of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, an Associated Press investigation shows.The crackdown, which began in 2006, reduced the illegal flow of unregulated supplies from China, India and Mexico.But since then, Big Pharma has been...

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Why Older Workers are Better Workers

At a time when high unemployment numbers constantly make the headlines, companies can be selective about whom they want to hire. Older workers  generally don't make the top of lists of potential job candidates for a variety of reasons, some real and some imagined. But with 10,000 baby boomers reaching the age of 65 each day for the next twenty years, hiring companies would do well to re-evaluate...

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Baby Boomers Plan Their Retirement Careers

Retirement for the baby boomers is likely to be far different from what their parents experienced. Work will probably be an integral part of everyday life, both to meet financial requirements and to keep busy during an increasing lifespan. Workers approaching retirement should plan now for their pending retirement career.[See 10 Places to Launch a Second Career in Retirement.]Most baby boomers (72...

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The Real Best Places to Retire in 2012

A blizzard of articles give advice about the best places to retire. They generally recommend fleeing the North and heading for the Sunbelt, to places in the Carolinas, Florida, or Arizona. Occasionally they offer a surprise retirement spot in Iowa or Indiana. Sometimes they even tout retirement locales outside the United States.[See The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012.]These articles rely on statistics...

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Sexual Activity Deemed Safe for Many Heart Patients by AHA

 The American Heart Association  has released its first scientifically based statement with recommendations for sexual activity for people with heart conditions or cardiovascular disease. The good news for many with heart problems is that sex is safe.AHA Scientific Statement on Sex and Cardiovascular DiseaseFor many heart patients, if they are able to walk briskly or climb two flights of...

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Need to Exercise More? Think How It Will Help You Now

FRIDAY, Jan. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Health and fitness experts have for years tried to entice people to exercise more by flogging long-range benefits such as losing weight or avoiding long-term illness caused by chronic disease.They might have been going about it all wrong. Research now appears to show that "improve your heart health" may be a less effective message than "feel better now."A University...

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