17 Day Diet: Does it deliver?
Dr. Michael Moreno explains the "17 Day Diet." Does it really work?
/ the17daydiet.com(CBS) How would you like to lose 10 to 15 pounds in 17 days?
Well the "17 Day Diet," which seems to mix numerology with calorie restriction, says you can. And lots of television shows, including "Dr. Phil," "The Doctors" and "Good Morning America" seem to have bought in.
The plan has four food cycles of 17 days each. It also recommends walking 17 minutes a day and we assume lots of other totally normal activities that are somehow enhanced with the number 17.
Why is 17 the magic number?
Continue »Liberal vs. conservative: Who has better brain?
CBS/AP
(CBS) Are political leanings hard-wired into the brain? That's the suggestion of a new study that reveals striking anatomical differences between the brains of liberals and those of conservatives.
Continue »Beer linked to huge increase in gastric cancer
istockphoto
(CBS) - If you drink beer to drown your sorrows, here's one more to add. Beer lovers who drink three glasses a day for years increase their chances of gastric cancer by 75 percent.
Still standing? It gets worse.
Teen drug abuse rising: Why?
iStockphoto
(CBS) Just say...yes?
Teenage drug abuse is trending upward, according to the Partnership at Drugfree.org. It announced results of a new study showing sharp increases in the use of marijuana and Ecstasy after years of declining use.
In addition, teens' attitudes about underage drinking have gotten more relaxed.
Continue »Most Americans want health care overhaul, but...
Congressman Paul Ryan wants to cut government spending on health care. Do Americans agree?
/ Alex Wong(CBS) Is Paul Ryan right when it comes to health care? According to a new survey, a shocking 72 percent of Americans think the system needs a major overhaul, but not in the way you might think.
Continue »Estrogen pills: Are health risks overblown?
iStockphoto
(CBS/AP) Are estrogen supplements safer than women have been led to believe? A new study shows that stroke and other health problems linked to the pills fade when women quit taking them after menopause.
It's good news for women who take the hormone in their 50s, when menopause usually begins.
Continue »Can strawberries stop esophageal cancer?
istockphoto
(CBS) Call it berry good news for people facing cancer.
Preliminary research from China suggests that freeze-dried strawberries may help prevent esophageal cancer, a malignancy that kills about 15,000 Americans a year.
Continue »Teen pregnancy way down, but not for everyone
Teen pregnancy is way down, but there are still 400,000 births to teen moms in America each year.
/ istockphoto(CBS) Teen pregnancy is down, way down in America, but teens in this country are still getting pregnant at rates that dwarf the rest of the developed world.
That's according to a new Centers for Disease Control report, which found teen birth rates dropped 37 percent over the last two decades and are now at a record low. But the agency says it's still not nearly good enough. Teen birth rates in America are up to nine times higher than many other developed countries. We find ourselves nestled between Bulgaria and Romania on the issue.
What's the big deal? Education for one. Only 50 percent of teen moms get a high school diploma by the age of 22, according to the CDC. That's compared with 90 percent of teen girls that don't give birth. Money is also a factor. The agency estimates that teen births cost taxpayers $9 billion each year.
There were around 400,000 teen births in 2009, the last year for which the agency has released data. Hispanic and black teens were two to three times as likely to be teen moms as whites. Geography also played a role.
Northeastern states had the lowest teen pregnancy rates, while some southern states still struggle. See our slide show for the rundown on which states have the highest rates of teen moms.
For parents worried about the issue, the CDC has a few tips.
- Talk to your teens about delaying sex, avoiding pregnancy, birth control, having respectful relationships, and being aware of dating violence.
- Get to know the parents of your teen's friends and be involved with what's going on in their lives.
- Talk to community leaders about the need for effective programs that prevent teen pregnancy and address overall sexual and reproductive health.
More at the CDC's teen pregnancy site.
Are flat-headed babies on the rise?
iStockphoto
(CBS) Flat-headed babies appear to be on the rise, at least in Texas.
A new review of the Texas Birth Defects Registry shows that cases of flattened heads (plagiocephaly) increased nine-fold between 1999 and 2007, rising from 2.6 cases per 10,000 live births all the way to 60.5 cases.
Continue »Stop working, your desk may be killing you
iStockphoto
(CBS) If you're reading this at work, go home.
That's the advice from new research showing that working long hours can dramatically increase your risk for heart attack.
Haven't left yet? Alright then, here are the gory details.
Continue »Cold sores linked to Alzheimer's: Self-defense?
istockphoto
(CBS) Painful, yes. Embarrassing, maybe. But new research gives scientists a clear picture of how cold sores can lead to a health concern that's a bit more serious:
Alzheimer's disease.
That's right. The same herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) that causes cold sores on the lips, mouth, or gums can contribute to dementia, according to a study published in the March 31 issue of the journal PLoS ONE.
Continue »Are CT scans setting kids up for cancer?
istockphoto
(CBS/AP) Have doctors gone scan crazy? A new study reveals that soaring numbers of kids are getting CT scans in emergency rooms, raising fears that the radiation exposure could increase their risk for cancer down the road.
Continue »Restless legs syndrome: Sign of heart trouble?
Restless legs syndrome can be a sign of heart trouble, new study suggests.
/ iStockPhoto(CBS/AP) Poor sleep may not be the only health problem caused by restless legs syndrome (RLS). New research suggests that people who have the controversial condition may be suffering from hidden heart problems.
In a recent study conducted at the Mayo Clinic, people with the condition were more likely to have thick hearts - a condition that makes them more prone to cardiac problems, stroke and death.
Continue »Antidepressants linked to heart attack
istockphoto
(CBS) Mood may not be the only thing that gets a boost from antidepressants. New research links the popular drugs to increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
In a first-of-its-kind study that involved more than 500 middle-aged male twins, researchers found that those who took antidepressants of any kind were more likely to have a thickening of the inner linings of arteries in the neck. Greater "intima-media thickness" is associated with heart attack and stroke, according to a written statement issued by the American College of Cardiology.
Pancreatic cancer: Can aspirin curb the risk?
istockphoto
(CBS) Can aspirin help prevent pancreatic cancer?
A new study shows that people who use the painkiller at least once a month are much less likely to get the often-deadly form of cancer. But the finding is preliminary, and researchers are cautious about its implications.
Continue »