The sooner a child starts to receive an education, the more likely that child will lead a healthy and productive life. So says a study published Aug. 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Led by Arthur Reynolds and Judy Temple, both of the University of Minnesota, the Chicago Longitudinal Study focused on minority preschoolers from low-income families who participated in a comprehensive school-based intervention. Reynolds is ... [full story]

The moves: Practice for a perfect squat. Works on: Lower extremity strength, back stabilization, and balance.   DON'T KNOW SQUAT - Emergency medical technician Clint McLaughlin performs the perfect squat using a long pole. CNS Photo by Peggy Peattie. Setup: Stand perpendicular to a flat bench with the feet shoulder-width apart and pointed slightly out. Choose something such as a broom handle or weighted wand that is long enough to reach from the tailbone to the top ... [full story]

  There are three types of muscle tissues in the body: smooth, cardiac and skeletal. There are more than 600 muscles in the human body. Myofibril, muscle fiber, fasciculus, muscle …  [full story]

Taking daily supplemental doses of vitamin C does not significantly affect the common cold, according to a new review of 30 past studies, with one exception: People exposed to periods of high physical stress, such as marathon runners and soldiers on sub-Arctic exercises, are 50 percent less likely to catch one if they take C supplements.   OJ IS OK - Researchers say they have found that orange juice, despite its high caloric load of sugar, ... [full story]

So you think it's the cookies, chips and bread that make you fat? Well, maybe. But in a major study published July 26, UCSD and Harvard researchers point the finger at an unlikely culprit: the subtle - perhaps even subconscious - influence of spouses, family members and, most important, close friends.   OBESITY STUDY - New research says that if people close to you are overweight or obese, you'll be more likely to think that such ... [full story]

In photos from September 2005, Jessica and Jon Mize are smiling. That's no surprise, as the camera caught the couple on vacation. Seeing the sights. In San Francisco. Fun, right? Wrong.   LOST AND FOUND - Traveling light: Jessica and Jon Mize land in San Diego after visiting Jon's hometown. Some didn't recognize them; they are much slimmer. CNS Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda.    THICK AND THIN - In 2005, Jon weighed 303 pounds. Before his trip ... [full story]

Urine leakage can be a debilitating problem that many women unfortunately accept as a natural part of aging.  Although an estimated 13 million Americans, both men and women, suffer from some type of urinary incontinence, only about half of women who experience urinary incontinence report it to their doctors.  Some women are ashamed about their problem or they decide to use absorbent pads or change their behavior to deal with it.  But in most cases, ... [full story]

Members of the U.S. military are not alone in facing danger when they are deployed in a war zone. A new study shows that more Army children find themselves in harm's way when a parent is sent to the front in the war on terror. The study, prepared by researchers at RTI International and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, shows that the rate of child abuse and neglect ... [full story]

The moves: Extending an arm and leg while on your hands and knees. Works on: Shoulder and hip strength, core stability and balance.   ARM EXCERCISE - Firefighter/paramedic Kurtis Bennett demonstrates an arm and leg extension. CNS Photo by Peggy Peattie. Setup: Assume a hands and knees position. The arms and legs should be 90 degrees to the torso with the head in line with the spine (eyes looking toward the floor). Steps: Using the abdominal muscles, ... [full story]

  Gum disease is the No. 1 cause of tooth loss in adults, and it can cause other serious health problems. There are many forms of periodontal disease. Here are some common gum conditions:  [full story]

Human papillo-mavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually trans-mitted infection and affects both men and women. HPV causes genital warts and cervical cancer. Most sexually active individuals will have an HPV infection in their lifetime, and 80% of women will have had one by the age 50.  Genital warts are growths that can appear inside or outside the vagina or on the penis and can spread to nearby skin.  Warts are usually treatable and are ... [full story]

Grapefruit has long been touted as a dieter's best friend, but there may be a downside as well: A new study suggests eating as little as one quarter of a grapefruit a day can raise the risk of breast cancer 30 percent in older women.   NOT-SO-GRAPE FRUIT? - Researchers are suggesting that eating as little as one quarter of a grapefruit a day can raise the risk of breast cancer 30 percent in older women. ... [full story]

A Canadian doctor has found a simple tool for determining whether you are at an increased risk for heart disease or diabetes. It's a tape measure. What's more, the tale of the tape can be a good one even if you have been packing a few extra pounds. That's because researchers led by Dr. Jean-Pierre Despres of the Laval University in Montreal, Canada, found the higher a man's cardiorespiratory fitness, the less fat he has ... [full story]