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Today’s events
AA Meeting
Noon to 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church
National Senior Health and Fitness Day
1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Lawrence Memorial Hospital Free
Masonic Blood Drive
2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., 1301 East 25th Street Free
Teen Fitness Connection Registration
4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Body Boutique Free
Friends of Buddha 12-Step Addiction Recovery Group
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., 1146 Orgeon Street
River City AA Group
Noon, Alano Club, 311 E. Ninth.
River City AA Group
5:30 p.m., Alano Club, 311 E. Ninth.
Special coverage
Get the facts: 2009-2010 flu season
Track flu data from state and federal public health agencies.
The Low Down
In depth
Poll
Have you been affected by a natural disaster?
Poll results
| Response | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| No. | 29% | |
| Flooding. | 25% | |
| More than one event. | 12% | |
| Other event. | 8% | |
| Hurricane. | 8% | |
| Earthquake. | 4% | |
| Blizzard. | 4% | |
| Hailstorm. | 4% | |
| Tornado. | 4% | |
| Total | 24 | |
Poll
What do you think is Lawrence's largest health issue?
Poll results
| Response | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking. | 33% | |
| Obesity. | 30% | |
| Uninsured adults. | 15% | |
| Smoking. | 10% | |
| Access to healthy foods. | 2% | |
| Crime. | 2% | |
| Air pollution. | 2% | |
| Sexual transmitted diseases. | 2% | |
| Total | 39 | |
Our health
Art therapeutic for Parkinson's patient
McLouth resident Sherry Leftwich enjoys artwork and says it helps with her Parkinson's disease.
Flu shot clinic
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department held a drive thru flu shot clinic free to the public.
E. coli scare prompts beef recall
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is recalling about 131,300 pounds of ground beef because a family in Ohio fell ill after eating meat produced by the company that was contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday.
Home births see a boost
Midwives like Fran Brier are seeing an increase in home births that may signify an increase in acceptance of birth outside the hospital.
Living with Mental Illness: Latonya Johnson
Lawrence resident Latonya Johnson talks about living and coping with bipolar disorder and severe depression and the help she got through therapy.
More Health
- Best weight loss plan: Planning ahead
- There’s no magic bullet, local experts say
- May 28, 2012
- They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For managing weight the healthy way, simply planning ahead is one of the best ways to prevent the need to “cure” unwanted pounds.
- The right path: Choose trails for skill, activity, safety
- May 14, 2012
- Leslie Swearingen, 66, once hiked regularly but hasn’t gotten out much in recent years. Now, the Lawrence resident says she has a number of health problems and doctor’s orders to start exercising again. “I was thinking I could walk on a trail, and the scenery would be so nice,” Swearingen says. “It wouldn’t be the same as just plodding along the sidewalk.” However, like many potential trail users tempted by spring weather and fresh air, Swearingen wonders, “How safe is it?”
- Expo on services for those with disabilities planned
- 04:30 p.m., April 6, 2012 Updated 05:12 p.m.
- Individuals with disabilities, their families and care givers will have a chance to gather information about service providers, organizations and support groups during the annual Community Resource Expo.
- Clue could help predict heart attacks
- March 22, 2012
- Too often, people pass a cardiac checkup only to collapse with a heart attack days later. Now scientists have found a clue that one day may help doctors determine if a heart attack is imminent, in hopes of preventing it.
- Statehouse Live: Kansas University law professor to help states fight Affordable Care Act before U.S. Supreme Court
- March 19, 2012
- Schmidt said the Affordable Care Act, which was passed by Democrats and signed into law by President Barack Obama, represented an “unprecedented federal power grab.” Supporters say it provides a number of consumer protections and will increase the availability and affordability of health insurance.
- Caregivers’ mental health may improve with short daily meditation
- March 19, 2012
- A yoga meditation program could reduce depression symptoms and boost mental health, a study finds, and that’s not all — it may also show benefits at the cellular level.
- Recognize when you’re stressed
- March 12, 2012
- If you feel irritable, have a hard time concentrating, have low energy or a hard time sleeping, you could be showing signs of stress.
- Lawrence resident Louise Krug chronicles life-changing brain injury in new book
- March 8, 2012
- Nearly seven years ago, at age 22, Lawrence resident Louise Krug suffered from a brain bleed that caused weakness, dizziness, headaches and difficulty with hearing and vision.
- Study: Old flu drug speeds brain injury recovery
- February 29, 2012
- Researchers are reporting the first treatment to speed recovery from severe brain injuries caused by falls and car crashes: a cheap flu medicine whose side benefits were discovered by accident decades ago.
- Pharmacists weigh in with advice about vitamin supplements
- February 20, 2012
- When it comes to understanding which vitamins are right for you, it can be tricky to know what your body needs. For some, a multivitamin can help fill in gaps in nutrition, for others, extra calcium and vitamin D are needed to help keep bones strong and healthy.
- Improving balance is important at any age
- February 20, 2012
- Some mature health concerns are obvious: osteoporosis, heart problems, loss of hearing, diminished eye sight and weight gain. One problem that doesn’t get much attention until it’s gone is balance.
- Study trimming super-size with half-orders, plate colors
- February 13, 2012
- Call it the alter-ego of super-sizing.
- Game-time nutrition: keeping your athlete healthy and strong
- February 13, 2012
- More than 7 million boys and girls across the country will participate in organized sports this year, and unfortunately, injuries are a part of every season. The mistake athletes, parents and coaches often make is overlooking proper nutrition as a sports injury prevention measure. A balanced diet to fuel your athlete is just as important as protective gear.
- Caffeine fix as easy as taking deep breath
- February 9, 2012
- Move over, coffee and Red Bull. A Harvard professor thinks the next big thing will be people inhaling their caffeine from a lipstick-sized tube. Critics say the novel product is not without its risks.
- Study: Electric boost helps brain learn better
- February 9, 2012
- People learned better when a key part of their brains got mild zaps of electricity, a finding that may someday help Alzheimer’s patients keep more of their memories.
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