Newsweek Health Headlines

What Diet? New Yorkers Digest Menu Calorie Counts

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:42:20 GMT

New York City officials begin enforcing a new rule requiring restaurants to post calorie counts, and some New Yorkers find the news hard to digest.

Wray Herbert: Why We're Bad at Judging Ourselves

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:47:40 GMT

Job interviews, dates, auditions—we all try to evaluate what others think of us. But why do we often get it wrong?

Are Mineral Water Facial Sprays Worth the Money?

Mon, 05 May 2008 17:28:18 GMT

Evian dreamed up a creative way to sell even more of its bottled mineral water: by repackaging and marketing it as a revitalizing spray for your face. A 5 oz. bottle of the mineral water mist sells for $10 on sephora.com, which touts the product as a way to rehydrate and invigorate tired skin. Other brands say their water sprays will moisturize skin and combat fatigue. But the pricey bottles probably aren't that much better for your skin than putting regular tap water in a spray bottle, or just washing your face, says New York-based dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Levine.

Kalb: Who’s A Good (Germy) Boy?

Sat, 03 May 2008 18:28:58 GMT

More than 7 million kids are enrolled in day care, so I know I'm not the only one wondering if it's actually good.

Begley: Whitewashing Toxic Chemicals

Sat, 03 May 2008 17:09:51 GMT

This book will shock anyone who still believes that 'science' and 'integrity' are soulmates.

The Four Worst Home Acne Cures

Thu, 01 May 2008 19:48:04 GMT

Teens (and some adults) will try almost anything to quell an outbreak of acne, but many traditional home remedies may do more harm than good.

Explaining Amy Winehouse’s Strange Skin Infection

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:22:06 GMT

A representative claims the sores on the troubled singer's face are the result of a surprisingly common skin infection.

Can the Government Regulate Your Weight?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:21:35 GMT

Is increased regulation the best way to tackle obesity and eating disorders?

Addiction: Sobering Messages, Via Cell Phone

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:37:31 GMT

When Tyrone, 41, can't make his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, he relies on something else to help him stay sober: text messages. The daily recovery-themed messages from a company called I Live Inspired remind him to "look to my higher power for guidance, and accept life," he says, quoting a recent dispatch. I Live Inspired is the brainchild of Rob Foster, a 28-year-old former cocaine addict from Virginia who came up with the idea after his second rehab stint in 2006. A friend sent him texts about sobriety every morning as Foster traveled to work "feeling crazy." The messages made him feel less alone, so he started forwarding them to others on the mend. Soon a business was born: $3.95 a month for daily bytes of inspiration sent to any cell phone.

World Malaria Day: Graca Machel on Vaccine Battles

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:50:16 GMT

Developing countries are making progress in getting vaccines to—and for—their people, says African activist Graca Machel.

Does Mouthwash Cure Bad Breath?

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:05:53 GMT

Does it cure bad breath? What you should know.

Health: Prevention is Worth the Money

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:06:21 GMT

Don't be misled by recent reports, changes in diet and lifestyle are still the most effective way to lower health-care costs. You'll feel better, too.

Unhealthy Chinese-Food Choices

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:26:54 GMT

The seven most unhealthy choices at a Chinese restaurant

Fact or Fiction: Is the freshman 15 real?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:04:13 GMT

Most high school seniors have been warned about the "freshman 15"--the extra pounds they'll allegedly pack on after a year in the dorms, eating mostly buffet-style on a meal plan. But scientists at Texas A&M International University in Laredo found that although first-year dorm residents consumed significantly more calories and sugar than students who lived off campus, neither they nor their counterparts gained weight over the course of the year.

Are Modern Kids Coddled?

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:38:30 GMT

A New York columnist lets her grade-schooler ride the subway alone, provoking a wave of criticism. But do kids really need more supervision than in generations past?

When Doctors Kill Themselves

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:50:49 GMT

Every year, between 300 and 400 doctors take their own lives—roughly one a day. No other profession has a higher suicide rate.

Top Teen Health Hazards

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:00:37 GMT

What adolescents don't know, can hurt them. The 28-year-old author of a new book on teen-parent relations offers these tips on how to talk safety with kids.

Who Judges Doctor's Care?

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:28:04 GMT

Doctors say insurance company rankings of doctors are based on cost, not quality. Will a new patient charter resolve the debate?

Is Echinacea Effective?

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:57:08 GMT

Maybe. Every couple of years, it seems, there's a new study of whether purple coneflower, or echinacea, prevents the common cold. The most recent assessment, reported in the British journal Lancet in July, concluded that one of America's favorite herbal remedies both prevents and shortens colds. When scientists at the University of Connecticut combined the results of 14 previous studies, (all clinical trials with human beings) they found that taking echinacea reduces the chances of getting a cold by 31 percent. And if you've already come down with one, the herb will make you feel better a day and a half earlier, they said.

Kids’ Book on Plastic Surgery

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:40:13 GMT

A new picture book about plastic surgery aims to explain why mom is getting a flatter tummy and a 'prettier' nose.