Health

UNC Researchers Map American Eating Habits

Will Michaels — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:55:23 +0000

Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill are gathering massive amounts of nutritional information to create a better picture of what Americans are eating.

Scientists are looking at caloric data for every packaged food on the shelves and comparing that to food sales in order to see how they work into Americans' diets. Professor Meghan Slining says the research will show how quickly manufacturers change ingredients in each product and how that changes nutrition.

North Carolina Free Health Clinics In Flux

Leoneda Inge — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:02:26 +0000

North Carolina has one of the best networks of free clinics in the country. Support from funders like the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation has helped take care of some of the state’s neediest patients; those who don’t qualify for Medicare of Medicaid. Warren County – northeast of Raleigh – is home to one of the busiest free clinics in North Carolina. But funding cuts have resulted in less service at a crucial time in the nation’s health care fight.

Duke Identifies Shortcomings In HIV Vaccine

Will Michaels — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:29:39 +0000

Researchers at Duke University are using a flaw in an HIV vaccine in order to develop new formulas to fight off the virus.

Wake Forest Baptist Implements Cuts

Jeff Tiberii — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Thousands of employees at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem will be affected by several cost-cutting measures. The hospital is planning to freeze some hiring, reduce retirement contributions and ask employees to voluntarily take furloughs.

Author Sheds Light On Realities Of Mental Illness

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:10:46 +0000

When Alex McKeithen was a junior at Davidson College in the late '80s, his life changed. He was visiting Paris and studying art when one day he found himself stripping naked in public and proclaiming himself the seventh angel of the apocalypse. It was the beginning of an undiagnosed episode of bipolar disorder, and that experience is the focus of his memoir, "The Seventh Angel" (Lorimer Press/2012).

Wilkes Co. Program To Curb Drug Overdose Deaths Goes Statewide

Catherine Brand — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:06:58 +0000

In 2009, Wilkes County in the northwestern part of the state had the 4^th highest rate of prescription drug overdose deaths in the country. Two years later, those numbers dropped by 68 percent. That's because of a program called Project Lazarus, which is now going to be implemented statewide.

Workers Who Died On The Job Remembered

Gurnal Scott — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:13:59 +0000

Friends of workers who died on the job honored their memory in Raleigh. An observance of what they're calling Workers' Memorial Day included people reciting the names of employees killed on the job in North Carolina.

Duke To Cover Sexual Reassignment Surgery On Student Insurance

Will Michaels — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:04:44 +0000

The student health insurance plan at Duke University will soon cover procedures for sexual reassignment surgery.

The university will be the first in North Carolina to cover the service, starting this fall. Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek says the student health advisory committee recommended the change to complement existing benefits.

"A couple of years ago, we made certain that we had appropriate counseling support and hormonal therapy covered in the insurance policy for students," says Wasiolek.

Fayetteville Identifies With PTSD After A Traumatic Experience

Will Michaels — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:31:15 +0000

Mental health experts in Fayetteville are hosting a community forum on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder a week after the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Johnston County Teens Hold Safe Driving Summit

Gurnal Scott — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Johnston County teenagers will lead a discussion today aimed at stopping deadly crashes involving young drivers. Organizers of the Teen Driving Summit will welcome students from 12 other counties to discuss safer driving practices among teens. Johnston County currently has the 4th highest number of deaths among high school-age drivers.

Lynda Carroll is with the county's Teen Driving Committee. She says the dialogue will focus on five areas of risky behavior behind the wheel.