Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women (lung cancer is first).  One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. To date it has been difficult to conclusively identify those lifestyle measures that can make a difference in the one in eight odds of getting breast cancer.  Scientists are increasingly coming to believe that life events before the age of 20 can largely determine whether a woman will ... [full story]

New Zealand scientists have discovered that some cows have genes that give them a natural ability to produce skim milk. Plans are already under way to begin developing herds of such cows, according to Chemistry & Industry, the journal of the Society of Chemical Industry.   WAITING FOR THE CHOCOLATE MILK COW - New Zealand scientists have discovered that some cows have genes that lets them produce skim milk. CNS Photo.    MEDTRONICA - The Inside Cancer Web ... [full story]

How much does former smoker Donna Patrick believe in the new stop-smoking prescription drug, Chantix? "I like it so much, I bought 100 shares of Pfizer," she says. "I really think I'm going to reap from the benefits."   STOP SMOKING - A new drug will make you kick butts for good. CNS Illustration by Anthony Michael Noel. Patrick hasn't smoked since January, which may be benefit enough. But Pfizer Inc., the pharmaceutical company, ought to be ... [full story]

The case for combating metabolic syndrome is growing in the world of health science. Now a study finds that metabolic syndrome might also be associated with compromised heart structure and function, according to a paper published in the online journal BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. While some questions exist whether the metabolic syndrome is a byproduct of obesity, more and more scientists are accepting it as disease with many symptoms. Now a study shows that metabolic syndrome ... [full story]

THE MOVE: Side lunge.   SQUAT AND LUNGE - To strengthen the legs and hips while stretching the groin, firefighter Nancy Shuster squats down and lunges to the side, keeping the knee directly over the ankle. CNS Photo by Nadia Borowski Scott. WORKS ON: Strengthening the lower extremities and dynamic stretching of the groin. SETUP: Start in a standing position with hands on your hips. STEPS: Initiate the move by taking your hips back slightly as if ... [full story]

  Congenital cataracts – Clouding of the eye’s lens that is present at, or develops shortly after, birth. About 1,500 babies are born with congenital cataracts each year in the U.S. Timing is critical – especially in cases in which only one eye is affected. Surgery before two months of age provides the best chance of good vision.  [full story]

You know the rule: Food dropped on the ground is safe to eat if you pick it up within five seconds. Kids have been citing it for years as justification for eating, well, anything they want to eat.   THE 5-SECOND RULE - New England Researchers found no bacteria present on food samples that remained on the floor for five, 10 or 30 seconds. CNS Photo.    MEDTRONICA - The Family Patient Web site at www.familypatient.com is a ... [full story]

In an effort to educate Americans about everyday dangers they might encounter at home, the Home Safety Council has named the month of June as Home Safety Awareness Month. The council is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing the home-related injuries that each year are responsible for an average of 20,000 deaths and 21 million doctor's office and emergency-room visits. "We hope to bring attention to the serious problem of preventable home injuries and ... [full story]

This stretch lets your fingers do the walking. THE MOVES: Simple cross legs, forward reach. WORKS ON: Hip and lumbar spine mobility, groin flexibility.   SIMPLE STRETCH - To increase hip and back mobility, firefighter Bob Macy sits in a cross-legged position, then slowly reaches out as his chest sinks to the floor. CNS Photo by Nadia Borowski Scott. SETUP: Sit upright on the floor. Cross your legs in front of you so the calf muscle of ... [full story]

After years of yo-yo dieting, that familiar and potentially dangerous cycle of losing weight and gaining it back, accounting professor Roger Gee was ready to give up on permanently shedding some of his 321 pounds.   TEAMING UP FOR HEALTH - College accounting professor Roger Gee credits a health coach with helping him shed nearly 75 pounds. The role of a coach can range from helping a client remember to take medicine properly to helping with ... [full story]

  A kyphotic spine can leave a patient with a hunched posture. In addition to loss of height, vertebral fractures create pain, poor mobility and a host of other side effects including depression and weight loss. Balloon kyphoplasty is a procedure to repair the fracture and improve quality of life. [full story]

If you don't do windows, you might want to start. Canadian researchers say "urban organic films," a fancy name for window grime, may be contributing to air pollution inside homes and buildings.   AN UNCLEAR THREAT - Canadian researchers say 'urban organic films,' a fancy name for window grime, may be contributing to air pollution inside homes and buildings. CNS Photo.    MEDTRONICA - The Museum of Menstruation & Women's Health at www.mum.org is unusual. Once you get ... [full story]

I'm writing this 20 minutes after a dialysis treatment. For the past seven years, I'd be in bed now, recovering from the shock running all of my blood through a machine to filter out the toxins and water. Eight hours later, I'd be fine and ready for work.   HOOKED UP - Jim Hillibish logs his vital signs every half hour on his NxStage home dialysis machine. Then he reads, watches videos or listens to his ... [full story]