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March 4th, 2011
07:00 AM ET
Booster seat laws: what you need to knowThe Georgia senate passed a bill on Thursday that raises child car seat requirements in that state to include all children younger than age 8, with an exemption for those younger than 8 that are at least 4 feet and 9 inches tall, and weigh at least 40 pounds. Parents will be fined $50 if they don't comply. Georgia's House passed a similar bill earlier in the week. Although many parents don't take issue with the recommendations, some are weighing in and calling House Bill 279 a "nanny bill" and a "waste of lawmaking time." In a blog posted by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, several parents voiced their support of the bill, whiles others asked “don’t our elected officials have anything better to debate?” 
March 2nd, 2011
05:29 PM ET
Battle over 'Baby Joseph' intensifiesThe hospital treating Joseph Maraachli – a 13 month old Canadian boy with a progressively deteriorating neurological condition whose parents are fighting to have him transferred to the U.S. for care- has launched a public information campaign to address what hospital officials say are "outrageous and defamatory" allegations. 
February 28th, 2011
03:59 PM ET
Airline passengers exposed to measles in 4 statesPublic health officials in four states are contacting airline passengers and employees who might have been exposed to measles in various airports last week. A 27-year-old woman who was not immunized against the disease and had recently returned from a trip overseas passed through Virginia, Maryland, Colorado and New Mexico. CNN contacted the health departments of each state and here's what you need to know. All times are local.
December 27th, 2010
11:10 AM ET
Extreme winter weather increases risk of amputation and other injuriesWinter storms continue to paralyze the East Coast this week. The snow can be beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. Experts offer the following information to help keep you safe.
December 13th, 2010
10:41 AM ET
Moms going online to share breast milkWomen who can't breast-feed are turning to the internet and getting breast milk from mothers who have a surplus, but the government is warning new moms that breast milk sharing may not be such a good idea.
December 12th, 2010
07:15 PM ET
November 14th, 2010
10:31 AM ET
Cutting teen salt could save future health costsReducing the amount of salt teens eat by 3 grams per day – that's about 1,200 milligrams (of sodium) or a 1/2 teaspoon of salt – could lead to a 68 percent decrease in the number of teenagers with hypertension and also lower the number of U.S. adults with heart conditions in the future, says new research from epidemiologists at University of California, San Francisco. [Update: Some commenters expressed confusion about the 1,200 milligrams. This number is the amount of sodium in 3 grams of salt. The American Heart Association also answers questions about sodium on their website.] Hypertension or high blood pressure can lead to strokes and heart attacks, and although these problems are not common in teens, studies have found that young adults in their 20s and 30s who have high blood pressure often began the struggle as children. Dr. Kristin Bibbins-Domingo, lead author of the UCSF study, says the taste for salt is a learned behavior, and so early intervention is key. "We can hopefully change the expectation of how food should taste, ideally to something slightly less salty," she says.
November 4th, 2010
04:36 PM ET
U.S. to update low-income nutrition program
A federally funded food program that provides meals to more than 3.3 million adults and children from low-income families mainly through after-school programs, emergency shelters and child and adult day care centers, may soon undergo major revisions for the first time in more than two decades. At the request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Institute of Medicine reviewed the 42-year old Child and Adult Care Food Program and issued a series of recommendations to help "bring the meal requirements into alignment with the best available dietary guidance" and be more consistent with other programs of the Food and Nutrition Service.
September 7th, 2010
05:21 PM ET
More patients turning to ER for acute careWhere would you go if you had stomach pain? What about a really bad cough? Or a fever? More and more people are heading to the emergency room instead of a general practitioner, according to a new study. "Primary care is completely overwhelmed," says Dr. Stephen Pitts, lead author of the report: Where Americans Get Acute Care. "Patients have observed the fact that primary care physicians just don’t have time for unscheduled visits, and sometimes the emergency room is the only option."
September 7th, 2010
04:35 PM ET
Secondhand smoke exposure 'striking' in the U.S.
More than half of U.S. children between ages 3 and 11 show signs in their blood of exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which examined blood samples from more than 1,300 children. These children are more prone to pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, and decreased lung function, according to the CDC report. It also finds that 40 percent of nonsmoking adults have cotinine in their blood, a chemical that indicates exposure to secondhand smoke. For the most part, children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their own homes, the CDC said. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
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