• E-mail
  • Save

Health Minute

Scientists look to help children with autism find a voice

When Ryan Wallace got a diagnosis of autism at age 2, his parents never thought they'd hear him speak.

updated Mon Mar 01 2010 16:27:14

Scientists look to help children with autism find a voice

When Ryan Wallace got a diagnosis of autism at age 2, his parents never thought they'd hear him speak.

updated Mon Feb 22 2010 11:30:43

Pet vaccinations are no longer one-size-fits-all

When Linda Thomas of Frederick, Maryland, found out her 2-year old beagle, Henry, had Lyme disease, she was pretty upset. Her dog hardly went outside. But after his diagnosis, Henry's vet told Thomas that Lyme disease, which is transferred to pets by deer ticks, is fairly common in Maryland, and Henry probably should have been vaccinated for it.

updated Mon Feb 15 2010 11:05:37

Blood bank helps four-legged patients

Diablo is not your typical blood donor. Fuzzy and four legged, the golden retriever is eager to jump up on a table and offer a half-unit or more of blood for a few goodies.

updated Mon Feb 08 2010 10:09:58

In sickness and in health ... couple's love endures

Tom and Vera Forkner have loved each other for more than 30 years.

updated Mon Feb 01 2010 10:58:59

Keep pets' choppers in tip-top shape to protect their health

When 8-month-old Astana started getting her adult teeth, her owner, Gayle Warren, didn't expect any problems. She has a number of Black Russian terriers and developing new incisors was never a big deal with her other dogs. But Astana had a condition known as "twinning," where two teeth form in the same area. It can cause discomfort, overcrowding and early tooth decay. Warren decided to take Astana to a specialist in animal dentistry to have the extra teeth removed.

updated Mon Jan 25 2010 09:27:19

Wheelchair mobility at the tip of the tongue

Cruise Bogle, 18, was skimboarding with friends in Delray Beach, Florida, when he took a wave that whipped his board out from under him. Bogle was thrown backward, and his head hit the ocean floor. When friends saw him lying still in the surf, they knew something was wrong and rushed him to the hospital.

updated Wed Jan 20 2010 10:57:24

Gene mappers untangling common cold mysteries

A cure for the common cold has eluded scientists since the dawn of mankind.

updated Mon Jan 11 2010 09:17:58

Preparing Rover for Junior's arrival

When Lydia Newscomb bought her Rottweiler, Reggie, five years ago, she knew she eventually wanted to have a baby. "I thought he'd protect the family," she says.

updated Mon Jan 04 2010 09:03:52

Five 'eating better' foods to slip into your diet in '10

A new year has arrived, and with it, a new list of resolutions. If "eating better" is on your list, experts say, there are a few items you can slip into to your diet that can improve your health and help you ward off certain diseases in 2010.

updated Tue Dec 29 2009 10:46:13

Metallica drummer struggles with ringing in ears

The noise in the concert hall is loud, throbbing. The crowd chants, "Metallica ... Metallica!"

updated Mon Dec 21 2009 07:42:43

'Nana, What's Cancer?' tackles tough questions

When Tess Hamermesh found out her nana had cancer, her questions were simple.

updated Mon Dec 14 2009 12:10:06

Rare dementias rob personality, then life

Life was good for Kenny Sparks. A handsome man with a big smile, he was well-known in his town of Little Compton, Rhode Island. He had a loving wife, two beautiful, college-age children and was the co-owner of a multimillion-dollar contracting business.

updated Mon Dec 07 2009 15:08:22

A day in the 'normal' life of a Nobel Prize winner

She was folding laundry when the call came at 5 a.m. After she hung up the phone, Dr. Carol Greider went upstairs to wake her children. She had to tell them, even if it meant getting them out of bed early.

updated Mon Nov 30 2009 11:05:12

Oral cancers in women rising, HPV sometimes a factor

Pat Folsom, 54, knows the importance of preventive medicine. As a health care worker, she goes for scheduled checkups. So when she went in for a routine dental exam last year, she didn't expect more than a cleaning, maybe a filling. But her dentist found something more serious.

updated Mon Nov 23 2009 10:31:57

Parkour teaches the art of moving

Most people know him as Sean. But to his best friends, Sean Hannah is "Spiderman." Since he was a child, Hannah has been scaling fences, climbing trees and skinning knees -- all in the name of fun. He says he just likes to keep moving. "I am very active. I like to change my routine. Keep it different," he says.

updated Mon Nov 16 2009 10:10:58

Wheelchair rugby puts athletes back on the team

Talbot Kennedy became a quadriplegic on the last day of high school. He's still an athlete.

updated Mon Nov 09 2009 14:23:22

Trial drug may help smokers kick butts

When Katherine Frazier was a teenager in Silver Spring, Maryland, back in the '60s, smoking was the "in" thing to do. She thought it was glamorous. She thought it was cool. Her friends smoked, her parents smoked, and at the time, no one knew that smoking tobacco could kill you.

updated Mon Nov 02 2009 10:26:38

Lab-created skin helps wounds heal

Adell Tomas, who lives outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, admits she has a weight problem: Ten years ago, she tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds. Because of her obesity, she developed high blood pressure, arthritis and type 2 diabetes. She says she just didn't take care of herself.

updated Mon Oct 26 2009 14:39:23

'Death can tell us a lot about living,' mummy expert says

Throughout his life, Ronn Wade has been surrounded by death. And in most cases, it hasn't seemed to bother him.

updated Mon Oct 19 2009 18:09:12

Seniors Wii bowl for world record and for health

A world record was set recently in Houston, Texas. It wasn't the world's fastest quarter-mile run, the world's largest pumpkin or even the world's heaviest man. It was, however, as stunning to witness: the world's largest senior citizen Wii bowling tournament, as confirmed by Guinness World Records.

updated Mon Oct 12 2009 15:26:57

To fight flu, arm your immune system with diet, rest

A few weeks ago, 22-year-old Tatiana Gulenkina felt bad. Tired with a headache and high fever, Gulenkina knew she was coming down with something. Yet she wasn't sure with what.

updated Mon Oct 05 2009 12:51:35

Cookbook helps make food appetizing for cancer patients

Walk into Lisa Nasser's kitchen most evenings and you're greeted by rich aromas that indicate an exceptional cook is at work on a delicious creation.

updated Mon Sep 21 2009 22:11:18

Cold? Flu? H1N1? How can you tell the difference?

When Tyra Smith's boyfriend, Chris Lewis, first suggested they be guinea pigs in a H1N1 vaccination study in August, she wasn't so crazy about the idea. But then she warmed to it: While she doesn't like needles, she thought she'd help out because she knew H1N1 was a serious virus.

updated Mon Sep 14 2009 10:47:32

Awareness effort raises profile of ovarian cancer

When Josephine Hathcock of Newark, Delaware, went in for gallbladder surgery, she never dreamed she'd wake up an ovarian cancer patient. Neither did her doctors, who found the cancer accidentally while she was on the operating table. To make matters worse, the cancer was stage 3, aggressive and had spread to her abdomen.

updated Mon Sep 07 2009 09:41:31

New techniques slow progress of age-related vision loss

When Albert Budacz was young, he prided himself on having good eyesight; he never wore glasses. But as he eased into his late 40s, he couldn't see as well. "I noticed a change in my vision," he explained. "Primarily in church when I would open a Bible, or something like that, I had to position myself under a light to see it."

updated Mon Aug 31 2009 10:22:38

Tennis injuries, anyone?

Pick a day -- any day -- and you'll probably find Sean Bugg on the courts. A tennis fanatic, he's been playing the sport since he was 9 years old. Now at age 41, Bugg is definitely feeling the pain from his game.

updated Mon Aug 24 2009 17:05:26

For the body conscious, 'cankles' offer another focus for obsession

Barbara Simone of Glen Burnie, Maryland, considers herself terribly flawed. She refuses to show her ankles and she'd never allow them to be photographed. She barely wants to talk about them; in fact, when asked about her legs, she mumbles under her breath that she hates them.

updated Fri Aug 21 2009 12:47:18

Elusive search for cellulite cure continues

Beverly Hunt is a mover and a shaker. A public relations executive who runs her own business in Laurel, Maryland, Hunt believes in looking good. She keeps active and stays in shape.

updated Mon Aug 10 2009 10:04:13

'Skinny jeans' class aims to aid your zip

To look at her, you'd never know Jessica Ordona, 25, has a problem with her jeans. "I don't like the fact that when you sit down, your stomach comes over them," she says.

updated Mon Aug 03 2009 09:58:32

'Ask Medicare' seeks to cut red tape for caregivers

Kim Mickens, 49, has always been the caregiver among her eight brothers and sisters. So when her mother, Delphine Mickens, was told she had Alzheimer's disease, Mickens took care of all the arrangements for her mother's care -- among them, she chose a nursing home not far from her place in Baltimore.

updated Mon Jul 27 2009 10:53:59

At Camp Twitch and Shout, Tourette kids can be themselves

For Brad Cohen, the barking and squealing noises he could not control began in the fifth grade.

updated Mon Jul 20 2009 10:14:29

Doctors seek causes of prostate cancer in black men

For 12 years, Georgia Dunston and Dr. Chiledum Ahaghotu have been trying to figure out why African-American men develop prostate cancer at an earlier age and are twice as likely to die from it than any other group in the United States.

updated Mon Jul 13 2009 14:56:56

For minorities, the wait for a bone marrow match can be long

In May, Denise Bertholin got married. She wore a white dress and carried beautiful lilies. She and her groom, Matt Braun, said "I do" in front of family and friends.

updated Mon Jul 06 2009 10:31:44

Heavy snoring can be a danger sign

It's been nine years since Kim and Curtis Christiansen were married. Since then they've had their ups and downs, but they've remained close. But when Curtis began snoring about three years ago, Kim began sleeping on the couch.

updated Mon Jun 29 2009 10:17:08

Group boxing classes deliver a one-two punch for fitness

It has been almost 30 years since Maggie Rajnic lost her leg in a motorcycle accident. Since that time, she's tried to stay competitive, not allowing her disability to alter her life.

updated Tue Jun 23 2009 13:55:02

Cancer spread to liver responds to experimental treatment

When Linda Campbell of Lexington, North Carolina, started to lose her vision in winter 2000 she knew something was wrong. After a diagnosis of ocular melanoma, a rare cancer, she went through numerous treatments to save her eye. Despite one recurrence, by 2007 Campbell was pretty sure she had beaten the odds. That was until last year, when her doctors found lesions on her liver. Her melanoma had spread.

updated Mon Jun 15 2009 09:45:15

Social support can be a lifeline during health crisis

Ken Gehle first noticed something was wrong about a year ago: He'd sit down to dinner and the first bite of food seemed to get stuck in his throat.

updated Mon Jun 08 2009 15:01:11

There's more to fab abs than just exercise

As the summer months creep ever closer, trying to achieve the perfect set of abs can seem like a lost cause.

updated Mon Jun 01 2009 11:39:23

Mindfulness training busts stress

"Just the facts" has always been Lillian Waugh's motto. A historian and former professor of women's studies at West Virginia University, Waugh is a stickler for facts and details. And because she was always the "go to" person at WVU, she was constantly in demand -- and busy.

updated Tue May 26 2009 13:20:14

Black bag and Blackberry in hand, this doc makes house calls

It's a Tuesday morning and Dr. Eric DeJonge is headed to work. But unlike most physicians, DeJonge's office is his car and his patients are waiting for him in their homes, not in a large waiting room.

updated Mon May 18 2009 09:48:40

Women's roller derby dishes out fun, friendship and fitness

Amber Mori drives a forklift in a warehouse in Gaithersburg, Maryland. As a working mom, she's on the go 24/7. But twice a week, Amber transforms into "Cykosis," a fishnet-wearing, skatin' diva, who bumps and jabs her way around a roller rink.

updated Mon May 04 2009 14:30:22

How to avoid the most common of cancers: Skin cancer

Stephanie White is a skin cancer expert. At 41, she's had all three types of the condition: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

updated Mon Apr 27 2009 11:14:25

Laptops help sick kids stay connected to school, friends

Ahmed Hamdi wants to be a superhero when he grows up. A lot of people at his school will tell you he already is one.

updated Mon Apr 20 2009 10:22:57

The dish on fish and mercury: How healthy is your catch?

Every week, Jackie Kaminer of Roswell, Georgia, buys fish for dinner at the local market. Although she knows it's full of nutrients -- including good-for-your-heart omega-3 fatty acids -- she's careful of the types of fish she brings home.

updated Mon Apr 13 2009 11:07:52

How to release the vise-grip of tension headaches

The stress of being unemployed and looking for a new job gives Lucille Jaesson a tension headache almost every day.

updated Mon Apr 06 2009 10:54:58

Beware the perils of caffeine withdrawal

Susan Todd loves her daily coffee fix. "I can drink four or five cups, easily, comfortably," said Todd, 59, of Clinton Township, Michigan.

updated Mon Mar 30 2009 12:39:10

It's not just an old people thing: Arthritis myths debunked

The bad economy and downturn in the housing market aren't the only painful things for Realtor Anne Stephens. Her knees, hips and ankles hurt from arthritis.

updated Mon Mar 30 2009 12:37:40

When STDs lead to infertility

Doctors don't have to tell 18-year-old "Rose" (who doesn't want to reveal her real name) the importance of using a condom every time she has sex.

updated Mon Mar 30 2009 12:36:33

Genetic tests can be crystal ball to see your heart's future

For years, Donna Mitchell has tried to lower her cholesterol through diet and exercise. She's had limited success.

updated Mon Mar 30 2009 12:06:40

Autism teacher celebrates every gain

A group of seven preschoolers gathered at a small table in the center of a brightly lit classroom and started playing with plastic blocks.

updated Mon Mar 23 2009 14:44:17

More patients tackling heart issues earlier

Ordinarily, walking on a treadmill is no big deal for Carol Elam -- except when she's dressed in a hospital gown and attached to a heart monitor.

updated Mon Mar 23 2009 11:41:12

No need to hang up your running shoes as you age

Amanda Wagner and Jessica Tuttle turn 50 this year, but they're not letting age hold them back from their favorite exercise: running. They've been lacing up their running shoes since their teens and show few signs of slowing down. Research on older runners suggests they may not have to.

updated Mon Mar 16 2009 10:06:19

Brave a shave to fight childhood cancer

The first swipe of the electric razor exposed a six-inch patch of bare skin on Dr. Craig Castellino's scalp. Within minutes, the pediatric oncologist with the Aflac Cancer Center in Atlanta, Georgia, was bald.

updated Mon Mar 09 2009 09:22:21

Kids and cholesterol: What to do when the numbers are high

Ask third-graders what cholesterol means and they will probably just shrug their shoulders, but not Maddie Zacks.

updated Mon Mar 02 2009 09:31:11

Antibiotic-resistant infections among children on the rise

It was 10 a.m. on a recent weekday and the emergency room at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, was quiet, except for a little boy crying in room 45.

updated Mon Feb 23 2009 10:26:37

Circus turns touchy-feely for visually impaired kids

An enormous Asian elephant stepped out from behind a big red curtain at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Atlanta, Georgia.

updated Mon Feb 16 2009 10:38:12

Longer lashes courtesy of the FDA?

Soft music filled the room as waiters served white wine and hors d'oeuvres. Two dozen well-dressed women chatted in small groups.

updated Mon Jan 19 2009 12:03:57

Don't let stress be such a grind

Alan Franco, a wealth manager from Atlanta, Georgia, has a confession to make: He's a grinder.

updated Tue Jan 13 2009 11:22:43

Donating bone marrow, saving lives

Steve Karas and Matthew Welling share a special bond.

updated Tue Jan 06 2009 16:07:12

For stress reduction, just say ommm

Managing the service department of an Atlanta, Georgia, car dealership is a stressful job, according to Debbie Peek.

updated Mon Dec 29 2008 09:59:39

How to recharge your New Year's resolution

Mike Moriarty has big expectations for the new year. "My goal is to fit into these pants better," he said, patting his stomach.

updated Mon Dec 22 2008 12:14:57

Robbed by rare virus, boy gets his voice back

Singing "Frosty the Snowman" and "Jingle Bells" may not seem like a big deal to most third-graders, but for Joey Finley, 8, doctors say it's a miracle.

updated Fri Dec 19 2008 11:20:29

Olympic fencer inspires new generation

Sada Jacobson may be a world champion fencer with three Olympic medals, but dressed in a T-shirt and sweats, she looked like any other student getting a lesson at the gym.

updated Tue Dec 09 2008 17:23:52

Bringing up baby with safe and green toys

After last year's massive toy recall, Stacy Duran isn't taking any chances when shopping for toys this holiday season.

updated Mon Dec 01 2008 09:13:53

Holidays bring challenges for eating disorder sufferers

The sweet smell of sugar cookies baking filled the air in Kris Shock's kitchen.

updated Mon Nov 24 2008 09:14:10

Job loss leads to spending guilt for holiday season

There won't be any brightly wrapped packages under Annette Peterson's Christmas tree this year.

updated Fri Nov 21 2008 16:05:50

Job loss leads to spending guilt for holiday season

There won't be any brightly wrapped packages under Annette Peterson's Christmas tree this year.

updated Mon Nov 17 2008 09:14:13

Teens have fewer aids for kicking the habit

It was just after 7 a.m. and Cassie Graham was lighting up her second cigarette of the morning.

updated Mon Nov 10 2008 08:35:23

Swimming with sharks helps veterans feel whole again

Retired Army Spc. Scott Winkler had many scary encounters while serving in Iraq, but they were nothing compared with his recent experience at the world's largest aquarium: swimming alongside a massive whale shark.

updated Fri Nov 07 2008 11:42:51

Swimming with sharks helps veterans feel whole again

Retired Army Spc. Scott Winkler had many scary encounters while serving in Iraq, but they were nothing compared with his recent experience at the world's largest aquarium: swimming alongside a massive whale shark.

updated Mon Nov 03 2008 09:28:31

How to keep anger from bubbling over

Experts are predicting a record voter turnout for tomorrow's presidential election.

updated Fri Oct 31 2008 11:25:06

How to keep anger from bubbling over

Experts are predicting a record voter turnout for tomorrow's presidential election.

updated Mon Oct 27 2008 09:16:21

Biggest danger for hunters? Heart attack, not stray bullet

It's just after dawn on a chilly Monday morning. The leaves crunch under Van Lewis' feet as he treks through the woods in rural Monroe, Georgia, clutching a hunting rifle.

updated Fri Oct 24 2008 15:22:34

Biggest danger for hunters? Heart attack, not stray bullet

It's just after dawn on a chilly Monday morning. The leaves crunch under Van Lewis' feet as he treks through the woods in rural Monroe, Georgia, clutching a hunting rifle.

updated Mon Oct 20 2008 09:10:36

Seizure-alert dogs give new freedom to epilepsy sufferers

Ben, who's 15 months old, can already do a lot of things. He can turn on a light or open a door. He can pick up a remote control off the floor. He can pull a heavy object with his teeth.

updated Fri Oct 17 2008 17:36:43

Seizure-alert dogs give new freedom to epilepsy sufferers

Ben, who's 15 months old, can already do a lot of things. He can turn on a light or open a door. He can pick up a remote control off the floor. He can pull a heavy object with his teeth.

updated Mon Oct 13 2008 08:27:06

New dads can get postpartum depression, too

Rob Sandler comforted his infant son as he lifted him out of the crib, cooing in his ear while he walked to the living room.

updated Fri Oct 10 2008 13:02:35

New dads can get postpartum depression, too

Rob Sandler comforted his infant son as he lifted him out of the crib, cooing in his ear while he walked to the living room.

updated Mon Oct 06 2008 09:23:14

Ancient Chinese sport helps modern breast cancer survivors

The scene looked like a flashback to ancient China.

updated Mon Oct 06 2008 09:19:02

Ancient Chinese sport helps modern breast cancer survivors

The scene looked like a flashback to ancient China.

updated Mon Sep 29 2008 09:18:04

Campaign targets teen prescription drug abuse

A dozen old family photos were strewn across the table as Gary Neal picked them up one by one.

updated Mon Sep 29 2008 09:16:52

Campaign targets teen prescription drug abuse

A dozen old family photos were strewn across the table as Gary Neal picked them up one by one.

updated Mon Sep 22 2008 10:09:01

Zumba zooms to the top of the exercise world

Latin music pulses from the stereo as 40 women jump, shimmy and sway to the beat.

updated Thu Sep 18 2008 14:05:14

Zumba zooms to the top of the exercise world

Latin music pulses from the stereo as 40 women jump, shimmy and sway to the beat.

updated Mon Sep 15 2008 09:17:25

Teen drivers with ADD a problem on the road

It was hard to miss the bright yellow Student Driver bumper sticker on the back of the car driven by Tosha Mulligan.

updated Thu Sep 11 2008 17:12:49

Teen drivers with ADD a problem on the road

It was hard to miss the bright yellow Student Driver bumper sticker on the back of the car driven by Tosha Mulligan.

updated Mon Sep 08 2008 09:21:55

Grandparents take on parenthood, again

Rosa Foster sat down at the kitchen table with a plate of fried chicken and a salad. Before taking a bite of food, she bowed her head and prompted her grandchildren to say the blessing.

updated Mon Sep 01 2008 10:34:32

Baseball gives special-needs kids 'something to brag about'

The crowd cheered as Morgan Lawless faced her first pitch of the fall baseball season.

updated Mon Aug 25 2008 09:28:20

How to help your child cope with a bully

A week before the start of the new school year, principal Denise Magee roamed the hallways of Campbell Middle School in Smyrna, Georgia, preparing for battle.

updated Mon Aug 18 2008 09:24:30

UGA footballers' hearts get special attention

Makiri Pugh is not your typical college freshman. At age 18, he knows more than most young adults about the structure and health of his heart, and it's not because he's sick.

updated Tue Aug 12 2008 11:47:01

Pole dancing helps strip off pounds

The lights were turned down low and the music was pulsing as Kimberly Wright made her way toward a 16-foot tall dance pole to do some tricks.

updated Mon Aug 04 2008 08:29:19

Learning to live with lupus

Before Amy Harned goes outside to work in her garden, she coats her face and neck with sunscreen, then puts on a hat, jacket and work gloves.

updated Mon Jul 28 2008 08:25:32

Got insomnia? Here's how to get your ZZZs back

It's the middle of the night and Steven Ford is wide awake.

updated Mon Jul 21 2008 09:16:55

Navigating the ups and downs of perimenopause

Lisle Nolan started noticing the symptoms four months ago: headaches, mood swings and a menstrual cycle that was out of whack.

updated Mon Jul 14 2008 11:55:14

Fibromyalgia: Little understood, often frustrating

You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but at any given moment Dana Poole hurts all over.

updated Mon Jul 07 2008 12:14:29

Mower season means risks for eyes, toes, fingers

Andre Rives no longer mows his own lawn and it's not because he's too busy. The thought of cutting his grass brings back some bad memories.

updated Mon Jul 07 2008 10:14:04

Finding the right words to comfort cancer patients

A good friend of mine recently learned she has breast cancer. Even though I spend most of my time writing for a living, I was at a loss for the right words to comfort her.

updated Wed Jun 25 2008 11:08:52

CDC expert gets West Nile bug -- literally

All Lyle Petersen wanted to do was get his mail.

updated Mon Jun 16 2008 10:55:39

Surviving triple negative breast cancer

Cheryl Reed's morning routine starts like that of millions of other mothers around the country. She makes breakfast for her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, piles them into a minivan and drops them off at school.

updated Mon Jun 09 2008 16:39:15

Advice for men: Don't wait to see a doctor

During the first seven years of their relationship, Judy Kelly doesn't remember her boyfriend, Bill Horrisberger, ever going to a doctor.

Advertisement