Month: February 2015
Quit smoking with help from an app
The state Department of Health wants to help you kick your tobacco habit and is using a smartphone app to do it. The health department is offering 1,900 free downloads of […]
Uninsured rate drops in Washington
Washington’s uninsured rate dropped nearly 7 percentage points since the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to have insurance took effect at the beginning of 2014. A new Gallup poll found Washington’s uninsured […]
Nestle is ditching artificial flavors, colors
Butterfinger and Crunch bars are about to get a makeover. Nestle announced this week it will remove artificial flavors and colors from all of its chocolate candy by the end of […]
More people are purchasing health insurance – for their pets
In 2014, pet owners spent more than $15 billion ($15 billion!) on veterinary care for their pets. That’s up nearly $1 billion from 2013 – from $14.37 billion to $15.25 billion. The […]
Are you getting enough sleep?
Humans spend up to 1/3 of their lives asleep. But are you getting enough? While the standard recommendation is eight hours per night, the National Sleep Foundation recently came out with […]
Survey: Mind and body practices are widespread
The number of Americans using mind and body approaches to improve their health and well-being has remained high over the last decade. One approach’s popularity nearly doubled from 2002 to 2012: […]
The Jolie Effect
BRCA testing rates jumped nearly 40 percent after actress Angelina Jolie announced that she carried the gene mutation and opted for an elective double mastectomy. A new study by AARP Public […]
Rumored revival of measles parties
Rumors of parents hosting “measles parties” in California are spreading across the country. Health officials haven’t received any reports of such parties taking place, but they have received a number of […]
58 million people exposed to secondhand smoke
While secondhand smoke exposure has declined significantly since 1999, about 58 million nonsmokers are still exposed to secondhand smoke. And some groups – children, black people, those living in poverty and […]
More young adults say vaccines are parent’s choice
The majority of Americans think vaccines for childhood diseases should be required for all children, but younger adults are less likely than older generations to agree. A recent Pew survey examined […]