Health

Pushing past Parkinson's

Vancouver woman vows disease, cancer won't keep her from helping others

A neurologist diagnosed Vancouver resident Helen Ramatowski with Parkinson's disease in January 2011. She had diagnosed herself months earlier.

Should doctors get random drug tests?

What if you're doctor smoked marijuana and then performed surgery on you?

Physical therapy: Getting better faster

Therapists explain why and when treatment needed

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly 2 million people receive physical therapy every day, a number that's likely to increase as the population ages. And for many, it can be overwhelming and intimidating. So we talked to three experts about what to expect, the keys to getting better, and how to avoid "PT" in the first place.

Hepatitis C follow-up testing lags

LOS ANGELES — Half of all patients who have tested positive for hepatitis C have not had follow-up testing to see if they are still infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Enlarged prostate can cause urination problems in men

Many men will experience prostate enlargement as they get older, some to the point that it will cause urination problems. Dr. Michael Naslund, director of the Maryland Prostate Center at the University Maryland Medical Center, said there are many options for treatment, including surgery, drugs and lifestyle changes.

FDA proposes warnings to young people on tanning beds, devices

WASHINGTON — The nearly 3 in 10 white girls of high school age who use indoor tanning beds likely will soon come face-to-face with a new and stiffer warning aimed at young people eager to get that sun-kissed glow in a hurry: Don't.

Playing Spider-Man for real heroes

My wife was no help at all when I came home with my latest exercise proposal. "How would you feel," I asked, "about me rappelling down a 15-story building?"

Study: Adults' mouth bacteria may help babies

LOS ANGELES — Forget boiling, or antiseptic wipes: The best way to clean a Binky may be putting it in your own mouth.

Restaurants try to push health through stealth

Okay, it was bright green. But that was the only clue that the kale-banana smoothie I was sipping included a cup of kale leaves and was certifiably "healthy." The only tip that my chicken, served alongside a medley of baby Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and dried cranberries, was good for me was that it had noticeably little salt. Had I been served the chocolate budin in a fashionable restaurant, I never would have guessed that it had just 211 calories.

Coca-Cola unveils global anti-obesity push

ATLANTA — In a sign of how health concerns have shaken the beverage industry, Coca-Cola Co. used a boisterous anniversary celebration this week to pledge to make low-calorie drinks and clearer nutritional information more available around the world.

Map out your meal to avoid menu mishap

You may have heard advice to dine out less often if you want to weigh less. That's like telling people to leave their cars in the garage if they want to avoid getting into an automobile accident.

Oregon gets peek at health market

Comparison of benefits prompts some insurers to seek to revise their rates

PORTLAND — This is what competition looks like: One health insurer wants to charge $169 a month next year to cover a 40-year-old Portland-area nonsmoker. Another wants $422 a month for the same standard plan.

Judge rejects limits on emergency contraception

LOS ANGELES — In yet another scathing critique of government health officials, a federal judge refused Friday to stay his order making emergency contraceptives available to consumers of all ages without a prescription.

Gravely injured by drunken driver, Joseph Reilly 'beat all the odds'

Joseph Reilly has been waiting for his victory shave for nearly four and a half months.

AP Exclusive: California exchange granted secrecy

LOS ANGELES — A California law that created an agency to oversee national health care reforms granted it sweeping authority to conceal spending on the contractors that will perform most of its functions, creating a barrier from public disclosure that stands out nationwide.