—MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, mayor of New York City, who signed legislation on Feb. 22 prohibiting smoking in parks, beaches, marinas and on boardwalks and pedestrian plazas. The new law takes effect May 23. [via The Wall Street Journal]
Is teen binge-drinking “just a phase?” Or do most teens who drink heavily become alcoholics?
We all know that high cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure can increase the risk of having a heart attack. On the behavioral side, triggers include getting angry, exerting yourself and feeling stressed. But none of these individual risk factors account for as many heart attacks as population-level influences like the quality of the air [...]
Percentage increase in hospital admissions due to obesity-related conditions in the U.K. between 2008 and 2009 [via BBC]
Sometimes, even in medicine, where it’s all about evidence, we slip and take some things for granted. Such as, for instance, the fact that women who have survived breast cancer should get regular mammogram screenings, so they and their doctors can stay ahead of any potential recurrent tumors.
He may be little more than a massive carbohydrate, but that doesn’t mean Mr. Potato Head isn’t capable of cutting himself down.
Boobs and bosses: it’s a combination that can unsettle even the savviest supervisor. That’s why the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a widespread “request for information” from employees, employers and breast-feeding advocates to share insight and personal stories about how they’ve managed to abide by the new law mandating break time for nursing [...]
Knocking back a drink after work may help keep your heart healthy, according to two meta-analyses from scientists at the University of Calgary. Overdoing it, however, can be dangerous to health, increasing the risk of heart disease, cancer and depression.
Giving birth is never entirely safe or even remotely easy — especially in the developing world, where prenatal care may be nonexistent, postnatal care little better and access to hospitals or midwives is unreliable. That’s why roughly 350,000 women die in childbirth each year — 99.5% of them in the developing world.
—SAM KASS, White House chef and senior policy adviser for healthy food initiatives, on the importance of making gradual changes to the American food source — and palate. Kass delivered the keynote address [PDF] at the International Association of Culinary Professionals conference in New York City on Feb. 18. [via FoodPolitics.com]
