As if there weren t already enough, a new study provides even further evidence of the extensive adverse health effects of smoking. According to a team of Italian researchers, people who continue to smoke after having a stroke have triple the risk of dying within a year.

Even as California finds itself in the midst of a whooping cough epidemic, more parents are actually foregoing some or all vaccines for their children at great risk to public health.

ACSH staffers couldn t help but shake their heads in disappointment this morning at a recent New York Times article questioning the safety of our furniture. The piece, entitled How Dangerous is Your Couch, is an extremely long recounting of Dr. Arlene Blum s crusade against the toxic chemicals found in furniture.

After reviewing new evidence since its previous recommendation, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is still advising against routine screening for ovarian cancer. The recommendation is very much in keeping with its recent recommendations for breast cancer screening and PSA screenings for prostate cancer.

Childhood obesity is a matter of concern not only because of its associated health risks, but also because obese children are more likely to become obese adults, where such excess weight can lead to even more serious health conditions. Hence the cautiously optimistic reaction to news that the childhood obesity rate has dropped significantly in Philadelphia.

Each year, more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Yet a new study shows that such numbers may only begin to describe the actual prevalence of the disease.

It is well established that women with certain genetic mutations known as BRCA1 or BRCA2 are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Now, a study published in BMJ has found that procedures involving radiation to the chest, such as mammograms or chest X-rays, may significantly increase the already high risk of breast cancer these women face.

In July, we looked at a meta-analysis finding that cranberry products greatly reduced urinary tract infections (UTIs) among women. Now according to a new study, the same appears to be true for children.

Ginkgo biloba, a Chinese herb, has been touted by some as a miracle herb that has the potential to boost mental agility, sharpen memory, and prevent Alzheimer s disease. Yet new research shows that it may actually do nothing of the sort.

For years now, the medical community has held onto the idea that counseling patients about their individual risk of diabetes based on genetic makeup could change their behavior for the better. Unfortunately, as a new study has found, when it comes to genetic diabetes counseling, high-risk people are no more likely to alter their lifestyle than are people at low risk for the disease.