Oregon public health officials investigated a record 119 norovirus outbreaks in 2006, and already this year 13 potential new outbreaks have been reported to the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Public Health Division. Investigations into 87 of the outbreaks have been completed; they occurred in 18 counties and affected more than 3,000 people, according to Mel Kohn, M.D., state epidemiologist in ODHS. The previous year, ODHS investigated 58 norovirus outbreaks in 22 counties that ... [full story]

If your obstetrician-gynecologist is also your primary physician, then your conversation should extend beyond reproductive health to include other health risks specific to women, such as high blood pressure. High blood pressure is an often-overlooked and easily detected risk factor that affects more than 39 million American women. Most women are astonished to learn that 80 percent of middle-aged women, ages 40 to 60, have one or more risk factors for heart disease, including high ... [full story]

The market is saturated with low-fat, low-carb and sugar-free foods. But despite the popular diets, "magical" pills and the latest, greatest fitness machines that all promise to melt away the pounds, more than half of American adults are overweight. For true weight-loss success, health experts stress the importance of changing your lifestyle for the long term and exercising regularly. Here are some creative ways to make fitness fun again and help you win the battle ... [full story]

Greg Wolf knows how to think like E. coli. He knows what the microbes like to eat, where they like to hide, how they like to nestle in the creases of spinach leaves and on the rough surfaces of cantaloupe. He knows how they travel from one source to another.   CLEAN GREENS - Wash spinach in a colander using cool running, fresh water. CNS Photo.He knows the destruction E. coli can wreak in a human ... [full story]

About half of all Americans take prescription drugs for one reason or another, yet a recent study indicates that for many of them their doctors have failed to adequately explain the reason, duration and time of their regular doses. That was the conclusion of a study published in the Sept. 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Some of the things doctors fail to explain is the potential side effects of pharmaceuticals and how long the ... [full story]

Free anonymous mental health screenings available October 5 An undetected mood or anxiety disorder may be affecting your sleep -- take a free, anonymous mental health screening on October 5, 2006.We all know the old saying, "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."  But for the nearly 57 million affected by a mental health disorder, getting a good night's rest is no easy task. According to the American ... [full story]

For any woman to fully understand her body, she needs to be aware of the impact that hormones can have on every phase of her development. The brain releases many different hormones which can cause internal and external changes to your body, mood and appearance, particularly during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. While each phase presents itself with unique side effects, there are some that are surprisingly common to all three. Here’s a guide to understanding ... [full story]

Spring break is coming. So is prom. Tanning salons are gearing up for the herd of high school-age and college-age young people trying to color winter-pale skin with UVA and UVB rays obtained through daily sessions in tanning beds. And, as surely as spring will give way to summer, medical experts are urging extreme caution, whether the rays they seek are natural or indoors. CATCH RAYS WITH CAUTION - Life under the sun is much ... [full story]

  Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve the general functions. Research suggests that the needling process, and other techniques used in acupuncture, may produce a variety of effects on the body and the brain.  [full story]

Disease Experts Raise Alarm Amid Concerns Global Health Funding Will Be Shortchanged WASHINGTON—The World Health Organization released staggering new data about the threat of tuberculosis and the toll it takes on people with HIV/AIDS today, in recognition of World TB Day. The TB-HIV co-infection crisis is twice as big as previously thought, the new WHO figures show. In 2007, there were at least 1.37 million cases of HIV-positive TB—or nearly 15 percent of the total ... [full story]

Tired of not filling out swimsuits and T-shirts to her satisfaction, 32-year-old Kristin Brackemyre decided it was time to get some serious breasts. But before that could happen, she knew she had to do some serious homework. She and her lawyer boyfriend researched breast-augmentation surgery as if they were preparing a case for trial. They consulted other plastic surgeons, checking the academic and surgical successes of each. They looked into risks, possible negative side effects ... [full story]

While President Bush remains steadfastly against human embryonic stem cell research, limiting federal funding on moral grounds, nations around the globe are pouring millions of dollars into the field. In the United Kingdom, the government has committed to spending $1.3 billion on stem cell research in the next 10 years. Some of the money will support the construction of five manufacturing facilities to produce millions of pure stem cells for research.   STEM CELL FUTURE - ... [full story]

Tip of the Week: Whatever it is you're looking for as you aim to reach your fitness goals, the odds are you won't find it in a pill. While I'm not implying that there aren't a number of good supplements on the market, I am saying that what you're looking to achieve can be reached primarily by way of diet and exercise. Of course, this isn't something many people want to hear. Being able to ... [full story]