LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Being fired is not just bad news, it could be fatal -- especially if the individual is middle aged, according to a study published on Wednesday.

Among a sample of 4,301 people aged between 51 and 61, the study found the incidence of heart attack and stroke among those who had lost their jobs was more than double that in those still working.

"For many individuals, late career job loss is an exceptionally stressful experience with the potential for provoking numerous undesirable outcomes including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (heart attacks and strokes)," the researchers wrote in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

"Based on our results, the true costs of unemployment exceed the obvious economic costs and include substantial health consequences as well," wrote the team led by William Gallo of Yale School of Medicine.

Diabetes rate doubled in last 30 years

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The occurrence of new cases of type 2 diabetes has doubled over the past three decades, according to a report in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

Parental smoking a threat to kids' lungs, new study confirms

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A new international study of more than 20,000 children confirms that exposure to cigarette smoke before and after birth impairs their lung function and that parental smoking remains a serious public health issue.

Patients help fight most lethal cancer even after death

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pancreatic cancer killed William Schunk. Now scientists are using his body to fight back.

Exercise: Key to good sex, good sleep

(CNN) -- Everybody knows exercise is key to a good ticker and a more sleek physique. But did you know working out may improve your sex life, trigger a better night's sleep and help you stop smoking?

Heart Association sets new limit on trans fat

(AP) -- The American Heart Association has become the first big health group to urge a specific limit on trans fats in the diet -- less than 1 percent of total calories -- in new guidelines released Monday.