Health & Fitness

Life & Style Outdoor or indoor exercise? Local docs say do what you like best (Photo Gallery)

By Rose Egge Published: May 31, 2013 at 10:45 AM PDT Last Updated: May 31, 2013 at 11:35 AM PDT

Local doctors say as long as you are exercising, it’s less important what activity you do.

Life & Style Study: Helmet law weakened, motorcycle injuries up

By JOAN LOWY,Associated Press Published: May 30, 2013 at 3:49 PM PDT Last Updated: May 30, 2013 at 3:49 PM PDT

The average medical claim from a motorcycle crash rose by more than one-fifth last year in Michigan after the state stopped requiring all riders to wear helmets, according to an insurance industry study. Across the nation, motorcyclists opposed to mandatory helmet use have been chipping away at state helmet laws for years while crash deaths have been on the rise.

Life & Style Feds recommend parents test public pools themselves, King Co says no need

By Rose Egge Published: May 30, 2013 at 1:31 PM PDT Last Updated: May 31, 2013 at 1:09 PM PDT

There’s a good chance your public pool is contaminated with feces, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which is going so far as to recommend parents test pool water themselves before letting kids jump in. But, local public health officials say there’s no reason for local parents to worry about King County pools, as long as the pool has enough disinfectant.

Life & Style Study: Menu labeling leads to baby steps toward healthier eating

By Rose Egge Published: May 29, 2013 at 12:14 PM PDT Last Updated: May 29, 2013 at 3:59 PM PDT

Local researchers study the impact menu labeling in King County has had on consumer behaviors.

Life & Style State to test more backyard chickens for deadly bird flu (Video)

By Rose Egge Published: May 29, 2013 at 10:08 AM PDT Last Updated: May 29, 2013 at 6:44 PM PDT

Washington is increasing efforts to screen backyard chickens and other domestic fowl for bird flu to prevent an outbreak of the H7N9 virus that has killed 36 people in China.

Life & Style Should gay men in Washington be vaccinated for meningitis?

By Rose Egge Published: May 24, 2013 at 8:11 AM PDT Last Updated: May 24, 2013 at 8:28 AM PDT

Despite recent cases of bacterial meningitis among gay men in New York City and Los Angeles, public health officials are not recommending Seattle residents be vaccinated. But, one local doctor says there’s no reason not to get the meningitis vaccine.

Life & Style Seattle students report getting pot from dispensaries

By Rose Egge Published: May 21, 2013 at 11:57 AM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 12:52 PM PDT

Marijuana use among Seattle's high-school students is holding steady, and more than a third of students who use the drug say they got it from a medical marijuana dispensary, according to results from a Seattle Public Schools survey released Tuesday.

Life & Style Local researcher: Ovary removal to prevent cancer is ‘reasonable option’

By Rose Egge Published: May 17, 2013 at 12:14 PM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 6:47 PM PDT

A Seattle researcher says preventative ovary removal can be a reasonable option for women and has little psychological impact.

Life & Style Hep C rising in baby boomers, but can they be treated? (Photo Gallery)

By Rose Egge Published: May 17, 2013 at 10:56 AM PDT Last Updated: Jun 3, 2013 at 11:51 AM PDT

The CDC is recommending baby boomers get tested for Hepatitis C, regardless of other risk factors. But, treatment may not be readily available for newly diagnosed patients, and the Affordable Care Act could make things even worse.

Life & Style Drug companies blast county's pill disposal plan

By Rose Egge Published: May 16, 2013 at 5:16 PM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 10:14 AM PDT

The county's plan to make drug companies pay for medication disposal faced opposition in a public hearing.

Life & Style County may force drug companies to pay to get rid of your pills

By Rose Egge Published: May 15, 2013 at 10:01 AM PDT Last Updated: May 15, 2013 at 10:42 AM PDT

The King County Board of Health wants to create a program for residents to easily get rid of their unwanted medications, and it’s expecting drug manufacturers to pay for it.

Life & Style VIDEO: What your body does in 30 seconds (Video)

By Hanna Brooks Olsen Published: May 16, 2013 at 12:35 PM PDT Last Updated: May 16, 2013 at 12:35 PM PDT

What are you doing right now? Nothing? Not true. This Buzzfeed video will make you reconsider what you're really doing when you're just sitting at your desk or waiting in traffic.

Life & Style New law could help high-school students save lives

By Rose Egge Published: May 10, 2013 at 10:47 AM PDT Last Updated: May 13, 2013 at 11:46 AM PDT

Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1556 into law this week, which will require all Washington state high schools to include CPR training in their health education curriculum.

Life & Style New law a victory for epileptic students

By Rose Egge Published: May 8, 2013 at 2:03 PM PDT Last Updated: May 8, 2013 at 2:04 PM PDT

Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill into law which will allow someone besides a school nurse to administer potentially life-saving nasal spray medications to students.

Life & Style Can Facebook be used to find young alcoholics?

By Rose Egge Published: May 8, 2013 at 11:48 AM PDT Last Updated: May 8, 2013 at 2:14 PM PDT

Local researchers are scanning college students’ social media sites to identify which will become alcoholics later in life.