Meditation benefits patients with heart disease

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- In a study of adults with coronary heart disease who were stable and were receiving optimal medical care, 16 weeks of transcendental meditation not only led to significant reductions in blood pressure, but also improved heart rate variability and insulin resistance, which is associated with an increase risk of diabetes.

Coffee may cut alcohol liver damage

CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- Could Irish coffee be the perfect drink?

Who can safely skip chemo for breast cancer?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Claudia Lowry had a scary decision: Could she safely skip chemotherapy after surgeons removed her breast cancer?

Experts: Half of Americans risk diabetic condition

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Poor control of blood sugar may be a much bigger health risk factor than most people realize, experts told a meeting on Monday.

Family cat unlikely to give baby Johnny asthma

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Exposure during infancy to pets or airborne "allergens," such as house dust mites and Timothy weed, does not seem to increase the likelihood a child will develop airway hyperresponsiveness -- a hallmark of asthma in which the lungs overreact to pollen, dust or other airborne particles by closing up tiny airways.

Green tea may help explain lower cancer rates in Asia

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Smoking is a well-known cause of heart disease and lung cancer, but the rates of these diseases have remained inexplicably low in Asian countries where smoking is common. Researchers say there is growing evidence that green tea is one piece of the puzzle.

AMA to target unhealthy diets

CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- Americans' unhealthy eating habits will be the target of the top U.S. physicians' group this week, when it votes on resolutions calling for reducing salt in food and for taxes on sugary soft drinks.

After dropping for years, U.S. teen smoking levels off

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- The long, steady decline in teen smoking in the United States since the late 1990s appears to have come to a standstill, health officials said Friday.

Bhangra workout is a sweaty fitness celebration

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sarina Jain tells her students to pretend they are dancing at her wedding. And as her class steps, claps and sweats to the pulsating sounds of Indian drumbeats, she encourages them to "Celebrate! Celebrate! Celebrate!"

Child restraints safer than seat belts in a crash

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- In a car crash, toddlers and other young children are less likely to be killed if they ride in a booster seat or use some other type of child-restraint system rather than just a seat belt, new study findings show.

High blood pressure common in ethnically diverse teens

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- About one-quarter of U.S. 14-year-olds from ethnically diverse backgrounds have high blood pressure, and a substantial proportion have cholesterol and other lipid abnormalities, researchers report.

Working out might cool hot flashes

ALBANY, New York (AP) -- Once at the mercy of hourly hot flashes, Margaret Corino has been keeping them at bay with regular trips to the gym.

Infants' food allergies less common than parents believe

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Parents are more likely to think their infant is allergic to certain foods than is actually the case, according to a new study from England.

FDA OKs first cervical cancer vaccine

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first vaccine for cervical cancer -- Gardasil, manufactured by Merck and Co.

Low-carb diets not a threat to bone health, study finds

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Contrary to concerns raised by animal studies, people on low-carbohydrate diets don't run a risk of weakening their bones, Florida researchers report.

Study: Blood pressure drugs raise birth defect risk

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Some blood pressure drugs previously thought to be safe when taken early in pregnancy now appear to substantially raise the risk of major birth defects, doctors say.

Health panel: Americans want universal care

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The federal government should guarantee that all Americans have basic health insurance coverage, says a committee set up by Congress to find out what people want when it comes to health care.

Candy makers slimming down treats

CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- The latest big idea in the candy aisle is smaller servings.

Stress of caregiving may lead to dental ills

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- While providing care for others, many caregivers seem to forget about their own well-being, including their oral health, new study findings suggest.

Contact lens designed to give athlete an edge

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee (AP) -- When Camille Walters plays soccer, her normally brown eyes have a spooky red tint.