Health

Stay fit in winter

Running outside when it's 20 degrees can be a challenge. Running outside when it's zero degrees can be uncomfortable. Running outside when it's 20 below zero? Well, that gets downright miserable.

Special Section: Healthy Living

The crunch of winter

The second I went down, I knew something was wrong.

Alaska's winter brings cold, darkness -- and SAD

"A place of violent extremes -- the longest and shortest days, the harshest winters and most dazzling summers -- Alaska is a giant living laboratory for the study of light and temperature, the two greatest environmental influences on living things."

Suicide prevention aim of webcast

Someone commits suicide every 16 minutes in this country.

50 percent more US children went hungry in 2007

Some 691,000 children went hungry in America sometime in 2007, while close to one in eight Americans struggled to feed themselves adequately even before this year's sharp economic downturn, the Agriculture Department reported Monday.

In brief: Health updates (11/18/08)

Events this week related to medicine and health

Foster kids say medication is overprescribed

Before a roomful of important adults, foster kids and graduates of the system talked about being put on powerful psychiatric drugs and undergoing "treatment" when what might have helped more was a chance for a regular life with sports and clubs and jobs.

Study: As alcohol taxes go up, deaths go down

One way to stop so many people from being killed by diseases linked to alcohol abuse? Higher taxes on alcohol, say the authors of a University of Florida study.

Grant aims to integrate Native knowledge, cancer education

The American Cancer Society has awarded a $627,000 grant to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to explore arts-based cancer education programs targeting Alaska Natives.

State limits access to 2 free vaccines

For the first time in more than 30 years, the state of Alaska will no longer offer all vaccinations free to all Alaska schoolchildren, the state Division of Epidemiology reported this week.

Lung Association can't cut ties, Northwest chapter says

The Northwest chapter of the American Lung Association, which includes Alaska, said Monday it would fight the national charity's attempt to dissolve it.

Lung association cuts ties to Northwest region, Alaska

Claiming its Northwest chapter has gone rogue, the American Lung Association is dissolving the affiliate, which also includes the charity's Alaska branch.

Hamsters help shed light on gaining weight

A new research project involving hamsters brings some potential bad news for dieters. It appears that to lose weight you have to punish yourself twice: Not only should you eat less, but you should eat more of the same foods. In other words, if you wish to shed pounds, put limits on both quantity and variety in your diet.

Fighting back with fitness

Treadmills, dumbbells, weight machines -- this could be any gym, anywhere. The men and women in sweats, T-shirts and tennies could be fitness buffs anywhere too.

In brief: Health updates (10/21/08)

Events this week related to medicine and health

Hospital offers free flu shots next week

Alaska Regional Hospital will offer drive-through flu shots for free from 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and Oct. 16.

Cost of medical insurance rises faster than wages

Health care in Alaska has become harder to afford as modest wage increases this decade have failed to keep pace with big increases in the cost of health care insurance, according to a new study by Families USA, a national organization that represents health care consumers.

With new lungs, cystic fibrosis sufferer looks forward to hikes

A young man whose medical condition spurred the state to reverse its Medicaid funding policy on adult transplants has taken the first deep breath of his life.

Fairbanks mayor will make kidney donation

The mayor of Fairbanks plans to donate a kidney to a cousin who is suffering from a hereditary kidney disease.

Health officials report big jump in unusual intestinal infection

More than two dozen people have been diagnosed with a specific kind of intestinal infection.

State turns down imaging permit

The state last week rejected a state permit for Imaging Associates of Providence to run a Palmer-area facility that provides MRIs and other diagnostic services such as X-rays.