Health

Resarchers linked obesity in children to heart disease.

A study of nearly 18,000 volunteers in 26 countries found that a cholesterol-lowering drug slashed the risk of those flagged by the test by about half — even if their cholesterol was normal.

The aim of the study, said Laurie Cutting, director of the Education and Brain Research Program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, is to understand the neurological differences among students who are skilled readers, those who have difficulties and those with diagnosed learning disabilities.

Bad branch angles and heavy branches make the species susceptible to splitting, which is dangerous around roads and power lines.

A mental health parity bill tacked onto the federal economic bailout passed on Oct. 3 requires health insurance firms to extend coverage to treat substance abuse and mental health.

James Cook,  a surgical specialist in veterinary medicine and a faculty member at MU, developed a surgical procedure called TightRope, named after the rope-like material Cook uses to link the two bones in the knee joint. He hopes it will eradicate the extreme, though rare, problems dogs sometimes face after knee surgery.

Proposed bacteria-level designations could mean the county would have to disinfect effluent in certain streams deemed "swimmable."

A trip to the bathroom epitomizes the struggles faced by those who do not live within traditional gender definitions.

Missouri high school students are now participating in fewer risky behaviors, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jill Eisner lay still as an acupuncturist pushed thin needles into her face and feet, soft music playing in the background. In another room, an herbologist studied his antidote for severe acne: a concoction of 12 ingredients, including dandelion roots, tangerine peel and dried raspberries. A few doors down, Linda Lee, dressed in a white lab coat, used the tools of conventional medicine to treat a patient for digestive problems.

The Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center, which opened Sept. 2, is the latest indication that alternative medicine is making its mark in mainstream health care settings.

A survey presented by the Missouri Rural Crisis Center found that farmers with individual insurance plans spend $2,117 more each year on health insurance than counterparts who have employee-sponsored insurance or are covered by other jobs.

 A growing body of evidence indicates cheerleading has become one of the riskiest athletic activities for women. Sports safety researchers reported that cheerleading accounted for two-thirds of all catastrophic injuries among female high school and college athletes.

The flu season can bring headache, high fever, body aches and a dry cough to the people it infects. To help protect patients, hospitals around Boone County are recommending that their employees get vaccinated for the season.

The center has cut its lengthy waiting list by hiring three new health care providers.

Owners of Tan Time LLC, which operates The Spa, are still operating through a restraining order despite MU's attempt to shut down the service over the summer.

More than 100 college presidents signed a petition last month calling for a debate on whether the minimum legal drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18.

MU Chancellor Brady Deaton and UM System President Gary Forsee both oppose the petition, which calls for the federal drinking age recommendation to be knocked down from 21 to 19.

It will be shown starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Health Department building. The series investigates whether socioeconomic and racial inequalities, more than medical care, genes or behavior, affect the health of Americans.

Summer is almost over, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to pack away the sunscreen. Sunshine will continue to reflect off the water all fall, and when winter comes, it will reflect off the snow. 
Choosing a good sunscreen can be a daunting task.