01/06/2009 New treatment for older patients with Parkinson's As the U.S. population ages, so does the number of people with Parkinson's. A new study finds that one treatment option works significantly better than standard therapy.

Report: Adults will able to grow replacement teeth A new report in the Washington Post says adult humans may soon be able to use stem cells from wisdom teeth to grow new chompers.

01/05/2009 Domestic violence study could help prevent further tragedies Sixty-eight people in Washington State were murdered by an abuser during the last two years. A study of those tragedies reveals some surprising findings.

Studies: Adolescents frequently discuss high risk behavior on MySpace Researchers found that 54 percent of adolescents frequently discuss sexual behavior, substance abuse or violence using MySpace, a popular social networking Web site.

01/02/2009 Video game helps check kids' vision One in four kids in the U.S. has some kind of vision problems, yet millions of children don't get an annual vision screening. Now there's a cost-effective and fun solution.

01/01/2009 Nutrition menu labeling starts at King County chain restaurants Nutrition menu labeling will allow customers to make more informed food choices. 1550 restaurants in 160 chains

12/30/2008 Study: People continue smoking in bad economy A survey from the American Legacy Foundation shows people are more likely to smoke than quit during an economic downturn.

12/31/2008

2 cases of whooping cough reported in Ada County
Health officials in southwest Idaho are confirming at least two new cases of whooping cough.

12/24/2008 Researcher outsmarts brain tumors with math Two plus two equals four, but does it add up to a cure for brain cancer? It's probable when Kristen Swanson does the math.

12/22/2008

FDA warns against some diet pills sold on the Web
The government is warning you to stay away from nearly 30 weight-loss products that contain unlisted and possibly dangerous ingredients.

12/16/2008

WA to profit from Airborne settlement
Attorneys general from 32 states have reached the deal with the company behind the popular fizzing tablet.

12/11/2008 FDA advisers: restrict some asthma drugs Government health advisers Thursday called for restrictions on some long-acting asthma drugs, but spared Advair, a top-selling medication used by millions of patients.

12/10/2008 Generic drug prices falling in U.S. U.S. prices for generic prescription drugs, which already cost as little as one-third what their brand-name cousins do, have been getting cheaper and likely will keep doing so.

12/09/2008 Wash., Ore., Idaho get 'F' grades in emergency care In a new report issued by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the state of Washington received an "F" grade in access to emergency care.

12/03/2008

State to cut Basic Health Plan dramatically
The plan, subsidized by taxpayers, covers 105,000 low-income people. The state Health Care Authority plans to lower that number by 7,700 over the next seven months.

12/01/2008 Breast milk bank devoted to children with AIDS The iThemba Lethu Breast Milk Bank in South Africa provides immunity-rich breast milk to babies who will likely struggle with viruses and bacteria the rest of their lives.

Study: 1 in 5 young adults has personality disorder
The study released Monday in Archives of General Psychiatry also found that fewer than 25 percent of college-aged Americans with mental problems get treatment.

11/28/2008 New wash could make fresh produce safer In the United States alone, food borne pathogens are responsible for 76 million illnesses every year. 5,000 people die

11/27/2008 Mom's devotion credited with daughter's remarkable recovery Any parent will tell you that there is nothing stronger than a mother's love. But even that deepest of bonds can be tested by tragedy.

11/25/2008 Melamine found in U.S. baby formula The FDA says the amount is just a trace and that there is no widespread cause for concern. Only trace amounts found

Encouraging dip in rate of new cancers, deaths However, experts fear it could change as people lose their insurance coverage due to layoffs in the bad economy.

11/24/2008 A new cosmetic filler designed for smile lines There's a new wrinkle in the battle against aging: a cosmetic filler designed especially for smile lines. It takes only minutes and there's no down time.

11/21/2008 Drug being tested for female sexual dysfunction There are several FDA-approved drugs for men with sexual dysfunction, but none for women. Now, a drug being tested in Seattle and around the country may help women who've lost interest in sex. Return to passion

Preservative in beauty products may pose health risk Could a common preservative used in many beauty products be a potential health risk? One Seattle doctor is waging a campaign to build awareness of the potential hazard. What to look for

Investigators: Possible hospital mix-up throws family into turmoil When a 5-year-old girl had bladder infections, Harborview in Seattle ran a urine test. No apology from Harborview

11/19/2008 Use your cell phone to lose weight Researchers at the University of Washington and Intel have created a new cell phone application that could help you keep those holiday pounds off.

11/20/2008 Investigators: Assisted living residents face eviction This spring Washington State enacted a law to stop Medicaid evictions, but a loophole is allowing them to continue. Running out of money | Why we did this story By the numbers: Who is affected

11/18/2008 Study: Diabetes cost:total - $218 billion As diabetes is rapidly becoming one of the world's most common diseases, its financial cost is mounting, too, to well over $200 billion a year in the U.S. alone.

More nonsmokers getting lung cancer Lung cancer has long been associated with smoking. But a local doctor is seeing more and more patients who've never smoked and the majority of them are women.

Doctor house calls making a comeback
Back in the 1930's, almost half of all doctor-patient visits were house calls. That number has dropped to less than one percent.

• House calls making a comeback

11/17/2008 MRSA cases skyrocket in Washington state hospitals Over the past decade, the number of patients infected with a frightening, antibiotic-resistant germ called MRSA has risen from 141 a year to 4,723.

11/13/2008 Oregon scientists research the science of love If you thought love was just an emotion, think again. New research is showing that love has a lot more to do with the brain than the heart.

Marrow transplant may have cured AIDS An American man who suffered from AIDS appears to have been cured of the disease 20 months after receiving a targeted bone marrow transplant normally used to fight leukemia, his doctors said.

11/11/2008 TIMES: Seattle home-care agency to close Seattle's Solid Ground is shutting down its in-home care service, a move some regard as a sign of tough economic times.

11/10/2008

Economy stress keeping people awake at night
Is the financial crisis causing you to lose sleep? A recent survey says the majority of us are stressed out and sleep deprived because of it.

• More people seeking help

11/09/2008 Diabetes jumps 62 percent in Oregon State officials unveiled a $43 million plan they hope will curb a dramatic rise in obesity-related diabetes in Oregon that threatens the health of upcoming generations.

11/06/2008 Migraine sufferers less likely to get breast cancer Fred Hutchinson researchers have found that migraines may reduce a woman's risk for breast cancer by as much as 30 percent.

11/05/2008 Furry flu carriers exposed in study A new study by USGS research virologist Jeff Hall shows that not only do raccoons carry human flu, they carry avian flu. A bad combination

11/03/2008 Mastering anger management could improve your health We all get angry at crazy drivers, thieves and liars, people without manners, etc., but it's what sets us off that sets us apart.

Skagit Co. budget cuts could hurt needy families Budget cuts in Skagit County are forcing the county's health department to make some tough choices.

10/30/2008 TB at 30-year high in King County Health officials say in 2006, 161 people were diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease, an 11 percent increase from 2006.

10/28/2008 Doorknobs and TV remotes are germ hotbeds A new study finds that cold sufferers often leave their germs on the refrigerator door and the TV remote, where they can live for two days or longer.

Family of child sickened by E.coli still devastated A 9-year-old girl Snohomish County girl infected with E.coli was just released from the hospital, and her parents have filed a lawsuit. 'we just got angry'

Small heart pump an alternative to bypass surgery
Patients who are told they are too high-risk for bypass surgery or even angioplasty now have another option, and it doesn't involve surgery.

10/27/2008 Studies: Staph germs harder than ever to treat Doctors are increasingly concerned about drug-resistant staph bacteria that are increasingly acquiring "superbug" powers and causing far more serious illnesses than they have in the past.

Diabetes drug costs soaring Americans with diabetes nearly doubled their spending on drugs for the disease in just six years, with the bill last year climbing to an eye-popping $12.5 billion.

10/24/2008

Tough economy taking bite out of dentist visits
Some dentists say they've seen a significant drop in visits, and they believe it's linked to the poor economy and layoffs.

• Tough choice: health or bills

10/23/2008 I-1029 may not be as simple as it sounds The initiative would require more training for long-term care workers, but opponents say it will cost patients and taxpayers.

10/22/2008 Flu shots from Kaiser may have gone bad during shipping Kaiser Permanente was checking with the manufacturer to determine if the vaccines possibly went bad during shipping.

10/21/2008 Portable dialysis machine gives kidney patients freedom The NxStage system weighs 75 pounds and treatments take only two hours.

Source of Snohomish Co. E.coli found Health officials say 13 of the 17 people who got sick ate at the Ixtapa restaurant in Lake Stevens between Oct. 2 and Oct. 13.

10/17/2008 Seattle, Swedish researchers working on diabetes vaccine Are we close to preventing type one diabetes? A vaccine may not be far off. Researchers from Sweden are in Seattle this weekend to announce their findings on a promising new study.

10/16/2008 Disco tune 'Stayin' Alive' could save your life A study from the University of Illinois medical school found that at 103 beats per minute, the old disco song has almost the perfect rhythm to help jump-start a stopped heart.

10/20/2008 Source of E. coli still unknown Doctors in Snohomish County still haven't figured out how more than a dozen people got sick. Investigation ongoing

10/16/2008

Brain's reaction to yummy food may predict weight
Drink a milkshake and the pleasure center in your brain gets a hit of happy -- unless you're overweight.

10/15/2008 Idaho warns public about possible flu pandemic It's not your typical flu, and now the state of Idaho is warning everyone about the possibility of a national flu pandemic.

UW scientists closer to a cure for paralysis University of Washington researchers using monkeys may have found a new way to treat paralysis caused by stroke or spinal cord injury.

10/14/2008 Study: Bottled water has contaminants too Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group.

New test detects wet macular degeneration earlier An estimated 80 percent of patients with the wet form of macular degeneration are diagnosed too late for effective treatment. Now, there's a new computerized test that can detect it earlier than ever before.

10/13/2008 Wireless devices helping patients improve health Patients suffering a stroke or other neurological damage often face a long and difficult rehabilitation, but now two new medical devices can give them a jump-start, helping muscles remember how to work.

Who should get a flu shot this year? Flu season is almost here. Last year, many people who got flu shots still got sick because the vaccine didn't match up well with the strains of flu that were going around. Will the flu shot be more effective this year?

Economic stress permeating workplace
Nearly half of Americans say stress over the economy is making it difficult to perform well at work. 

• Stress-soothing strategies

10/11/2008 Drive-through flu shots available in Seattle Virginia Mason Medical Center is offering drive-through flu shots at clinics around Puget Sound this fall.

10/10/2008 Old-fashioned play keeps tension at bay Remember the carefree days of childhood? Research shows kids may have a secret weapon in their stress-reducing arsenal, one that adults should definitely copy.

10/09/2008 Protect your eyes from computer vision syndrome If you're like most people you sent a lot of time in front of the computer, but what is it doing to your eyes? Now there are new ways to protect your vision.

10/08/2008 Shell, partner agree to curb cig sales to kids Shell Oil Co. and joint venture company Motiva Enterprises LLC have agreed to crack down on cigarette sales to minors at nearly 600 gas stations in Washington State.

10/07/2008 Honey used to treat hard-to-heal wounds When it comes to treating hard-to-heal wounds, some hospitals are turning to an age-old remedy: honey. But it's not your typical grocery store variety - this honey comes from New Zealand and is known for its ability to kill bacteria, even MRSA. A new study finds it can help treat slow-healing leg ulcers.

Economic stress may cause more smoking
Money and the economy represent Americans top stressors right now. Washington health experts say people are more likely to light up a cigrette right now.

• Free help for participants

Wash. people worried, but not desperate about economy
People worried about the economy are more likely to seek help paying their bills or feeding their families than turning to suicide or violence as one man did in Los Angeles this week, mental health experts in Washington state said Tuesday.

Investigators: Accidental overdoses on the rise Unintentional Rx overdoses in Washington State have increased 17 times in little more than a decade. Fatal combination Stats: More overdoses than car accidents Blog: What are you taking?

10/06/2008 'Invisible' hearing aid for people with hearing loss A new study reveals 29 million Americans might have at least some hearing loss. Many people refuse to wear bulky hearing aids, but now there's a new alternative.

10/04/2008 Idaho woman dies after contracting West Nile virus Officials with the Southwest District Health department say an elderly woman from Adams County may have died because of West Nile virus.

10/02/2008 Washington defines 60-day medical pot supply The state Health Department has set a final rule defining a 60-day supply of medical marijuana at 24 ounces and up to 15 plants.

10/01/2008 Yum Brands to add calorie info to menu boards The parent of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food said Wednesday it will voluntarily place product calorie information on menu boards at its company-owned U.S. restaurants.

09/26/2008

Coffee, candy made with tainted milk recalled
The FDA is recalling candy and coffee sold made with Chinese milk products that may be tainted with melamine, a toxic chemical used in the making of plastics.

09/25/2008

Urine test for ovarian cancer promising
Locally-funded research is leading the way for early detection.

• Quick and inexpensive test

09/24/2008 Seattle doctor is always on call A Swedish Medical Center neurosurgeon takes the exceptional step of handing out his personal cell phone number to patients. He says call anytime

Renton woman offering comfort food to cancer patients A Renton woman offers comfort to people battle life-threatening illnesses in the form of home cooking.

09/23/2008