Author: Melissa Patrick
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New research argues that Alzheimer’s disease should rank as third most common cause of death in the U.S.
Alzheimer’s disease may contribute to almost as many deaths in the U.S. as heart disease or cancer, says a recent study published in Neurology. Alzheimer’s is listed as the nation’s sixth leading...
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Kentucky Health Cooperative, a new kind of insurer, claims most of the business on the state insurance exchange
This story was updated Tuesday, March 4. The Kentucky Health Cooperative, a non-profit, consumer-governed health plan, says it has captured 61 75 percent of the business on Kentucky’s health-insurance exchange, according...
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Highly addictive, crushable pain killer to be released this month; political leaders beg FDA to reconsider its decision
A new narcotic pain pill is set to be released to the market this month, and critics are begging the Food and Drug Administration to reverse its decision, fearing its...
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Medical-marijuana bill clears House committee; cannabis-oil bill, more likely to pass into law, goes to full Senate
A bill to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky passed the Kentucky Health House and Welfare Committee Thursday, but whether the issue will come up for a vote in front of...
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Study shows a decline in obesity rates in preschool children; Kentucky ranks 6th in obesity among pre-kindergartners
The rate of obesity in preschool-age children dropped about two-fifths over the past decade, according to a federal health survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Betsy...
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Rural children are more likely to be obese, but rural communities have several strategies to fight the problem
Children living in rural areas are about 25 percent more likely to be overweight or obese than children in urban areas, studies show. Rural communities have come up with several...
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Henderson County jumps into the fight against childhood obesity, a major problem in Kentucky
Henderson County is investing in a holistic program to battle childhood obesity, a huge problem in Kentucky, Erin Schmitt reports for the Henderson Gleaner. Childhood obesity is at 18 percent...
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Bill to create panels to review medical-malpractice lawsuits passes Senate committee
UPDATE, Feb. 20: The Senate passed the bill 23-13, but House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he does not expect it to make any progress in the House. By Melissa Patrick...
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Kentucky hospitals disagree on how to battle MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant and highly contagious bacteria that plagues them
Hospitals agree that precautions must be taken to fight the potentially deadly super bug MRSA, but they differ in their approaches, Laura Ungar reports for The Courier-Journal. Swab kits are...